Research belongs to your account, not to a planet: a technology you learn applies everywhere you rule. Here is what to learn first, what to learn next and what waits at the top of the tree.
How research works
You research in a Research Lab, and a bigger lab researches faster. Research also runs at the universe's speed, so technologies that would take days at standard speed take minutes or hours here. Two things speed it up further: the Intergalactic Research Network, a technology, lets the labs on your other planets work on the same research, and the Cybernetics Lab, a building, cuts research time on its own planet.
The openers
- Energy Technology. The classic first research, and a requirement for much of the tree.
- Combustion, Impulse and Hyperspace Drive. The three drives that move your ships. The Small Cargo needs the Combustion Drive, the Colony Ship needs the Impulse Drive, and bigger hulls need better drives.
- Espionage Technology. Builds the Espionage Probe, gives deeper spy reports and makes you harder to spy on.
- Computer Technology. One more fleet in flight at the same time for every level.
- Astrophysics. Unlocks expeditions. Level 1 already allows your first colony, and every second level after it allows one more.
Economy research
- Plasma Technology. Stronger weapons and a production bonus for metal, crystal and deuterium.
- Mineral, Crystallization and Fuel Technology. A flat production bonus per level for one resource each, on every planet, with no level cap.
- Cargo Technology. More cargo space on every hull, with a large extra bonus for freighters.
- Fuel Efficiency. Your fleets burn less deuterium, up to a cap.
- Ion Technology. Better ion weapons, and tearing a building down recovers more of what it cost.
Combat research
Weapon Technology, Shield Technology and Armour Technology raise the attack, shields and hull of every ship and defence you own. Laser, Ion and Plasma Technology unlock the heavier weapons and hulls of the shipyard and the defence grid.
Milestones
Some technologies grant an extra bonus at milestone levels. Astrophysics is the one most players meet first: its milestone levels add bonus expedition slots on top of the regular ones.
The capstones
- Graviton Resonance. Unlocks the Leviathan and strengthens the Juggernaut, Deathstar, Tempest and Leviathan with every level.
- Planetary Fortification. Unlocks the Singularity Cannon, the Orbital Sentinel and the Planetary Shield Dome, and hardens every defence you own.
- Stellar Forge. Harvests deuterium from each planet's spare energy every hour. The surplus is not used up.
The capstones ask for a large free energy surplus, and the surplus they need grows with every level. Build your energy grid with them in mind.
Lifeform technologies
Each Lifeform race brings its own technologies, researched apart from the main tree. The Lifeforms article explains them race by race.
Next step
Read Fleet & Expeditions to put your first ships to work.