diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/unsorted.dm b/code/__HELPERS/unsorted.dm
index 9a364f15324..0ff0cc927d0 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/unsorted.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/unsorted.dm
@@ -1194,6 +1194,59 @@ B --><-- A
 
 	return L
 
+//similar function to RANGE_TURFS(), but will search spiralling outwards from the center (like the above, but only turfs)
+/proc/spiral_range_turfs(dist=0, center=usr, orange=0)
+	if(!dist)
+		if(!orange)
+			return list(center)
+		else
+			return list()
+
+	var/turf/t_center = get_turf(center)
+	if(!t_center)
+		return list()
+
+	var/list/L = list()
+	var/turf/T
+	var/y
+	var/x
+	var/c_dist = 1
+
+	if(!orange)
+		L += t_center
+
+	while( c_dist <= dist )
+		y = t_center.y + c_dist
+		x = t_center.x - c_dist + 1
+		for(x in x to t_center.x+c_dist)
+			T = locate(x,y,t_center.z)
+			if(T)
+				L += T
+
+		y = t_center.y + c_dist - 1
+		x = t_center.x + c_dist
+		for(y in t_center.y-c_dist to y)
+			T = locate(x,y,t_center.z)
+			if(T)
+				L += T
+
+		y = t_center.y - c_dist
+		x = t_center.x + c_dist - 1
+		for(x in t_center.x-c_dist to x)
+			T = locate(x,y,t_center.z)
+			if(T)
+				L += T
+
+		y = t_center.y - c_dist + 1
+		x = t_center.x - c_dist
+		for(y in y to t_center.y+c_dist)
+			T = locate(x,y,t_center.z)
+			if(T)
+				L += T
+		c_dist++
+
+	return L
+
 /atom/proc/contains(var/atom/A)
 	if(!A)
 		return 0
diff --git a/code/controllers/master.dm b/code/controllers/master.dm
index 2c0d653c5b2..ddf734c0085 100644
--- a/code/controllers/master.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/master.dm
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ var/global/datum/controller/master/Master = new()
 /datum/controller/master
 	name = "Master"
 
-	// The minimum length of time between MC ticks (in deciseconds).
-	// The highest this can be without affecting schedules is the GCD of all subsystem waits.
-	// Set to 0 to disable all processing.
+	// are we processing (higher values increase the processing delay)
 	var/processing = 1
 	// The iteration of the MC.
 	var/iteration = 0
@@ -158,8 +156,8 @@ var/global/datum/controller/master/Master = new()
 #endif
 						break
 #if DM_VERSION >= 510
-					if (priorityrunning)
-						if (!priority_queue.len || !(SS in priority_queue))
+					if(priorityrunning)
+						if(!priority_queue.len || !(SS in priority_queue))
 							priorityrunning = 0 //end of priority queue items
 						else
 							priority_queue -= SS
@@ -167,8 +165,9 @@ var/global/datum/controller/master/Master = new()
 					if(SS.can_fire > 0)
 						if(priorityrunning || ((SS.next_fire <= world.time) && (SS.last_fire + (SS.wait * 0.75) <= world.time)))
 #if DM_VERSION >= 510
-							if ((world.tick_usage + SS.tick_usage > 75) && (SS.last_fire + (SS.wait*1.25) > world.time))
-								priority_queue += SS
+							if(!priorityrunning && (world.tick_usage + SS.tick_usage > 75) && (SS.last_fire + (SS.wait*1.25) > world.time))
+								if(!SS.dynamic_wait)
+									priority_queue += SS
 								continue
 #endif
 							//we can't reset SS.paused after we fire, incase it pauses again, so we cache it and
@@ -184,10 +183,10 @@ var/global/datum/controller/master/Master = new()
 #endif
 							SS.fire(paused) // Fire the subsystem
 #if DM_VERSION >= 510
-							if (priorityrunning)
+							if(priorityrunning)
 								priorityrunning--
 							var/newusage = max(world.tick_usage - tick_usage, 0)
-							if (newusage < SS.tick_usage)
+							if(newusage < SS.tick_usage)
 								SS.tick_usage = MC_AVERAGE_SLOW(SS.tick_usage,world.tick_usage - tick_usage)
 							else
 								SS.tick_usage = MC_AVERAGE_FAST(SS.tick_usage,world.tick_usage - tick_usage)
@@ -204,9 +203,9 @@ var/global/datum/controller/master/Master = new()
 								SS.wait = Clamp(newwait, SS.dwait_lower, SS.dwait_upper)
 								SS.next_fire = world.time + SS.wait
 							else
-								if (!paused)
+								if(!paused)
 									SS.next_fire += SS.wait
-							if (!SS.paused)
+							if(!SS.paused)
 								SS.times_fired++
 #if DM_VERSION < 510
 							sleep(0)
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm
index 0c4e39bdae9..21639ce6bc1 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/air/SSair
 
 	var/list/excited_groups = list()
 	var/list/active_turfs = list()
-	var/list/processing = list()
+	var/list/currentrun = list()
 	var/list/hotspots = list()
 	var/list/networks = list()
 	var/list/obj/machinery/atmos_machinery = list()
@@ -132,10 +132,12 @@ var/datum/subsystem/air/SSair
 	//cache for sanic speed
 	var/fire_count = times_fired
 	if (!resumed)
-		processing = active_turfs.Copy()
-	while(processing.len)
-		var/turf/simulated/T = processing[1]
-		processing.Cut(1, 2)
+		src.currentrun = active_turfs.Copy()
+	//cache for sanic speed (lists are references anyways)
+	var/list/currentrun = src.currentrun
+	while(currentrun.len)
+		var/turf/simulated/T = currentrun[1]
+		currentrun.Cut(1, 2)
 		if (T)
 			T.process_cell(fire_count)
 		if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
index c840add735c..bbc9ac5afde 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/garbage_collector/SSgarbage
 //If you see this proc high on the profile, what you are really seeing is the garbage collection/soft delete overhead in byond.
 //Don't attempt to optimize, not worth the effort.
 /datum/subsystem/garbage_collector/proc/HandleToBeQueued(time_to_stop)
+	var/list/tobequeued = src.tobequeued
 	while(tobequeued.len && world.timeofday < time_to_stop)
 		if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
 			break
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/garbage_collector/SSgarbage
 	delslasttick = 0
 	gcedlasttick = 0
 	var/time_to_kill = world.time - collection_timeout // Anything qdel() but not GC'd BEFORE this time needs to be manually del()
-
+	var/list/queue = src.queue
 	while(queue.len && world.timeofday < time_to_stop)
 		if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
 			break
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/lighting.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/lighting.dm
index 6aebe1f33ed..a293bc3c954 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/lighting.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/lighting.dm
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/lighting/SSlighting
 //Any light that returns 1 in check() deletes itself
 //By using queues we are ensuring we don't perform more updates than are necessary
 /datum/subsystem/lighting/fire(resumed = 0)
+	var/list/changed_lights = src.changed_lights
 	if (!resumed)
 		changed_lights_workload = MC_AVERAGE(changed_lights_workload, changed_lights.len)
 	while (changed_lights.len)
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ var/datum/subsystem/lighting/SSlighting
 		if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
 			return
 
+	var/list/changed_turfs = src.changed_turfs
 	if (!resumed)
 		changed_turfs_workload = MC_AVERAGE(changed_turfs_workload, changed_turfs.len)
 	while (changed_turfs.len)
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm
index 2fd79cb29bd..8491da09678 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ var/datum/subsystem/machines/SSmachine
 	if (!resumed)
 		for(var/datum/powernet/Powernet in powernets)
 			Powernet.reset() //reset the power state.
-		currentrun = processing.Copy()
+		src.currentrun = processing.Copy()
+
+	//cache for sanic speed (lists are references anyways)
+	var/list/currentrun = src.currentrun
+
 	var/seconds = wait * 0.1
 	while(currentrun.len)
 		var/datum/thing = currentrun[1]
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/mobs.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/mobs.dm
index 090af7cff79..aa7910c0af3 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/mobs.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/mobs.dm
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ var/datum/subsystem/mobs/SSmob
 /datum/subsystem/mobs/fire(resumed = 0)
 	var/seconds = wait * 0.1
 	if (!resumed)
-		currentrun = mob_list.Copy()
+		src.currentrun = mob_list.Copy()
+
+	//cache for sanic speed (lists are references anyways)
+	var/list/currentrun = src.currentrun
+
 	while(currentrun.len)
 		var/mob/M = currentrun[1]
 		currentrun.Cut(1, 2)
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/objects.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/objects.dm
index 0bac6bb249b..cb50e86e8a0 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/objects.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/objects.dm
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ var/datum/subsystem/objects/SSobj
 
 /datum/subsystem/objects/fire(resumed = 0)
 	if (!resumed)
-		currentrun = processing.Copy()
+		src.currentrun = processing.Copy()
+	//cache for sanic speed (lists are references anyways)
+	var/list/currentrun = src.currentrun
+
 	while(currentrun.len)
 		var/datum/thing = currentrun[1]
 		currentrun.Cut(1, 2)
diff --git a/code/game/atoms.dm b/code/game/atoms.dm
index bf994aafcd8..ee146dca555 100644
--- a/code/game/atoms.dm
+++ b/code/game/atoms.dm
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@
 /atom/proc/contents_explosion(severity, target)
 	for(var/atom/A in contents)
 		A.ex_act(severity, target)
+		CHECK_TICK
 
 /atom/proc/ex_act(severity, target)
 	contents_explosion(severity, target)
diff --git a/code/game/objects/effects/effect_system/effects_smoke.dm b/code/game/objects/effects/effect_system/effects_smoke.dm
index 63b95cd1ac8..2b6d36361fa 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/effects/effect_system/effects_smoke.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/effects/effect_system/effects_smoke.dm
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
 
 /datum/effect_system/smoke_spread/freezing/start()
 	if(blast)
-		for(var/turf/T in trange(2, location))
+		for(var/turf/T in RANGE_TURFS(2, location))
 			Chilled(T)
 	..()
 
diff --git a/code/game/objects/explosion.dm b/code/game/objects/explosion.dm
index f4fd000a505..c8f11e5b786 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/explosion.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/explosion.dm
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
 //TODO: Flash range does nothing currently
 
-/proc/trange(Dist=0,turf/Center=null)//alternative to range (ONLY processes turfs and thus less intensive)
-	if(Center==null) return
-
-	//var/x1=((Center.x-Dist)<1 ? 1 : Center.x-Dist)
-	//var/y1=((Center.y-Dist)<1 ? 1 : Center.y-Dist)
-	//var/x2=((Center.x+Dist)>world.maxx ? world.maxx : Center.x+Dist)
-	//var/y2=((Center.y+Dist)>world.maxy ? world.maxy : Center.y+Dist)
-
-	var/turf/x1y1 = locate(((Center.x-Dist)<1 ? 1 : Center.x-Dist),((Center.y-Dist)<1 ? 1 : Center.y-Dist),Center.z)
-	var/turf/x2y2 = locate(((Center.x+Dist)>world.maxx ? world.maxx : Center.x+Dist),((Center.y+Dist)>world.maxy ? world.maxy : Center.y+Dist),Center.z)
-	return block(x1y1,x2y2)
-
-
 /proc/explosion(turf/epicenter, devastation_range, heavy_impact_range, light_impact_range, flash_range, adminlog = 1, ignorecap = 0, flame_range = 0 ,silent = 0)
 	set waitfor = 0
 	src = null	//so we don't abort once src is deleted
@@ -91,7 +78,7 @@
 	var/y0 = epicenter.y
 	var/z0 = epicenter.z
 
-	var/list/affected_turfs = trange(max_range, epicenter)
+	var/list/affected_turfs = spiral_range_turfs(max_range, epicenter)
 
 	if(config.reactionary_explosions)
 		for(var/turf/T in affected_turfs) // we cache the explosion block rating of every turf in the explosion area
@@ -112,7 +99,7 @@
 			CHECK_TICK
 
 	for(var/turf/T in affected_turfs)
-		CHECK_TICK
+
 		if (!T)
 			continue
 		var/dist = cheap_hypotenuse(T.x, T.y, x0, y0)
@@ -156,6 +143,7 @@
 				I.throw_speed = 4 //Temporarily change their throw_speed for embedding purposes (Reset when it finishes throwing, regardless of hitting anything)
 				I.throw_at_fast(throw_at, throw_range, 2)//Throw it at 2 speed, this is purely visual anyway.
 
+		CHECK_TICK
 
 	var/took = (world.timeofday-start)/10
 	//You need to press the DebugGame verb to see these now....they were getting annoying and we've collected a fair bit of data. Just -test- changes  to explosion code using this please so we can compare
@@ -172,7 +160,7 @@
 
 
 /proc/secondaryexplosion(turf/epicenter, range)
-	for(var/turf/tile in trange(range, epicenter))
+	for(var/turf/tile in spiral_range_turfs(range, epicenter))
 		tile.ex_act(2)
 
 
@@ -214,7 +202,7 @@
 	var/x0 = epicenter.x
 	var/y0 = epicenter.y
 	var/list/wipe_colours = list()
-	for(var/turf/T in trange(max_range, epicenter))
+	for(var/turf/T in spiral_range_turfs(max_range, epicenter))
 		wipe_colours += T
 		var/dist = cheap_hypotenuse(T.x, T.y, x0, y0)
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm b/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm
index c32e57010c4..0768c881c75 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/mine_items.dm
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@
 		used = TRUE
 		sleep(50)
 		var/clear = TRUE
-		for(var/unclear in trange(3, src))
+		for(var/unclear in RANGE_TURFS(3, src))
 			var/turf/T = unclear
 			if(istype(T, /turf/simulated/mineral) || !T.density)
 				continue
diff --git a/code/modules/power/singularity/singularity.dm b/code/modules/power/singularity/singularity.dm
index 2555f23b35e..6c94b0dcce5 100644
--- a/code/modules/power/singularity/singularity.dm
+++ b/code/modules/power/singularity/singularity.dm
@@ -236,8 +236,7 @@
 
 /obj/singularity/proc/eat()
 	set background = BACKGROUND_ENABLED
-	var/list/L = grav_pull > 8 ? urange(grav_pull, src, 1) : orange(grav_pull, src)
-	for(var/atom/X in L)
+	for(var/atom/X in spiral_range(grav_pull, src, 1))
 		var/dist = get_dist(X, src)
 		var/obj/singularity/S = src
 		if(dist > consume_range)
diff --git a/code/modules/procedural mapping/mapGeneratorModule.dm b/code/modules/procedural mapping/mapGeneratorModule.dm
index 847b679225d..b951e0f317d 100644
--- a/code/modules/procedural mapping/mapGeneratorModule.dm	
+++ b/code/modules/procedural mapping/mapGeneratorModule.dm	
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 			//You're the same as me? I hate you I'm going home
 			if(clusterCheckFlags & CLUSTER_CHECK_SAME_TURFS)
 				clustering = rand(clusterMin,clusterMax)
-				for(var/turf/F in trange(clustering,T))
+				for(var/turf/F in RANGE_TURFS(clustering,T))
 					if(istype(F,turfPath))
 						skipLoopIteration = TRUE
 						break
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 			//You're DIFFERENT to me? I hate you I'm going home
 			if(clusterCheckFlags & CLUSTER_CHECK_DIFFERENT_TURFS)
 				clustering = rand(clusterMin,clusterMax)
-				for(var/turf/F in trange(clustering,T))
+				for(var/turf/F in RANGE_TURFS(clustering,T))
 					if(!(istype(F,turfPath)))
 						skipLoopIteration = TRUE
 						break