Research
Research
Research develops technologies through the science network. The page displays network levels, available technologies, prerequisites and research queues. Availability depends on the network and the relevant planet and player research state.
Robotic Acceleration level 1 unlocks G.E.L.D. building speedups after Robot Engineering level 8. Additional completed levels reduce the fee by 0.25 percentage points each; its maximum level is 100 (24.75% discount). The first level costs 256,898 Aslit, 770,694 Crlit, 513,796 Iopla and 64,225 SEM before normal research cost modifiers: approximately 10% more than Robot Engineering level 8. It applies to resource and infrastructure building upgrades and downgrades, not ships, defenses or research.
A research at its maximum level shows a disabled MAXED button instead of an upgrade, and no next-level cost. Every research has its own page with effect, prerequisites, what it unlocks and its costs; the full list is below.
All research
Core research
- Dyson Ring – Unlocks Dyson Ring construction. Completed rings supply unlimited energy to your planets in the same solar system.
- Energy Density – Amplifies energy output by 0,5% per level.
- Energy Grid (Research) – Creates a high-capacity energy grid for advanced planetary and interstellar systems.
- Energy Research – Provides essential power for all systems and operations.
- Espionage – Adds a spy probe slot per level and a survey probe slot every 2 levels. Spy success rises 5% per level above the target’s Espionage. Survey probes scan free planets for fields and a resource bonus before you colonize.
- Government Network – Expands the government network and unlocks additional governing doctrines.
- LYRA Autonomy – Lets you hand colonies to LYRA. She builds a colony up to the median economy of your planets (plus 5%), focusing on economy, economy and infrastructure, or economy and ships from your newest combat design. One colony per level, up to 3.
- Matter Compression – Increases cargo capacity by 5% and reduces ship mass by 0,25% per level.
- Mining Efficiency – Increases mining production of basic resources by 0,25% per level.
- Neural Networks – Reduces research time by 25% per level; Biolab research excluded.
- Photonic Computing – Moves beyond classical computing and unlocks far more advanced technologies.
- Rift Navigation – Charts a safe course through the Rift. Unlocks the Rift colony ship, which founds your first colony in the Void realm.
- Robot Engineering – Reduces building construction time on all planets by 5% per level.
- Robotic Acceleration – Level 1 unlocks G.E.L.D. speedups for active resource and infrastructure building upgrades or downgrades: 3 seconds remaining. Each additional level reduces the price by 0,25 percentage points (level 100: 24,75%). Requires Robot Engineering 8. Excludes ships, defenses and research.
Combat research
- Assembly Engineering – Grants an additional custom ship modeling slot.
- Chassis Integrity – Improves ship integrity and reduces structural weaknesses in assembled vessels.
- Drone System – Improves drone systems and unlocks advanced drone technology.
- Energy Shield – Increases the energy shield strength of ships and drones by 10% per level.
- Energy Weapon – Increases energy weapon damage by 10% per level.
- Engine Engineering – Increases ship and command-engine performance by 5% per level.
- Hull Plating – Increases the hull strength of ships and drones by 10% per level.
- Physical Weapon – Increases physical weapon damage by 10% per level.
- Ship Skeleton – Strengthens ship frames and unlocks higher assembly tiers.
- Subspace Drives – Reduces interstellar travel duration through more efficient subspace drives.
- Vulnerability Protocols – Improves shield bypass by exposing structural weaknesses in enemy units.
- Weapon Research – Provides the foundation for advanced physical and energy weapon systems.
Fleet research
- Fleet Tactics – Unlocks one boss-fight tactic per level (8 modes). Analyze near impact, then confirm a counter to the boss positioning for up to +20% damage. Without a confirmed tactic you get +0%.
- Intergalactic Rocketry – Unlocks the Rocket Silo concepts for expensive, cooldown-limited intergalactic strikes.
- Retrofit – Enables advanced refits that expand the capabilities of existing ship designs.
- Tactical Modules – Unlocks a tactical module every 3 levels: Surger, Bomber, Aegis, Charger and Disruptor.