How Research Works
Research advances your empire’s capabilities. You queue one technology at a time (Xantha race can queue two). Each tech node requires a minimum Research Lab level and, often, one or more prerequisite nodes. Once researched, a node’s bonus applies permanently for the rest of the round.
Research cannot be undone or transferred. Choose your path based on your government type and intended playstyle before spending Crystal.
Research Time Formula
Research time (ticks) = base_crystal_cost / (lab_level × research_speed_modifier)
Where research_speed_modifier includes:
- Theocracy government: +20%
- Xantha race: +10%
- Advanced Methodology tech (Tier-2 economic branch): +15%
- Research Lab level scaling (each lab level adds 12% speed)
A Theocracy with L8 Research Labs and Advanced Methodology researches 60% faster than the baseline.
The Four Tech Branches
Military Branch
Improves combat effectiveness, ship stats, and fleet capacity.
| Node | Tier | Effect | Prereq |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Weapons | 1 | +5% attack all ships | — |
| Advanced Targeting | 2 | +10% attack, -5% travel time | Basic Weapons |
| Capital Weapons | 3 | +20% Battleship/Cruiser attack | Advanced Targeting |
| Fleet Command | 3 | +25% fleet size cap | Advanced Targeting |
| Annihilation Drive | 4 | +40% Battleship attack | Capital Weapons |
Economic Branch
Speeds up production and reduces costs.
| Node | Tier | Effect | Prereq |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Metallurgy | 1 | -8% construction cost | — |
| Industrial Logistics | 2 | +12% income all resources | Basic Metallurgy |
| Advanced Methodology | 2 | +15% research speed | Basic Metallurgy |
| Nano-fabrication | 3 | -20% ship build time | Industrial Logistics |
| Economic Supremacy | 4 | +30% income, -10% market fee | Advanced Methodology + Industrial Logistics |
Espionage Branch
Powers covert operations and spy effectiveness.
| Node | Tier | Effect | Prereq |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Infiltration | 1 | +10% spy success | — |
| Signal Intercept | 2 | See enemy research queue | Basic Infiltration |
| Counter-Intel | 2 | +20% counter-spy | Basic Infiltration |
| Shadow Network | 3 | +30% steal ship efficiency | Signal Intercept |
| Ghost Protocol | 4 | Spy operations undetectable | Shadow Network + Counter-Intel |
Defense Branch
Hardens planets and reduces incoming damage.
| Node | Tier | Effect | Prereq |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deflection Fields | 1 | +5% all planet defense | — |
| Orbital Hardening | 2 | +15% defense platform HP | Deflection Fields |
| Shield Resonance | 2 | +25% Planetary Shield effectiveness | Deflection Fields |
| Fortress Doctrine | 3 | +40% defense, -20% reinforcement travel time | Orbital Hardening + Shield Resonance |
| Omega Defense | 4 | Immune to EMP ship effects | Fortress Doctrine |
Cross-Branch Dependencies
Some Tier-4 nodes require nodes from two different branches, forcing strategic trade-offs. You cannot fully complete all four branches in a single round unless you have Xantha dual-queue and Theocracy government — and even then you will be very late.
Diminishing Returns
Stacking multiple attack bonuses from tech follows diminishing returns beyond 50% total bonus:
Effective bonus = stated_bonus × (1 - (current_total_bonus / 200))
This prevents any single tech path from becoming overwhelming. Economic tech does not apply diminishing returns.
Continue to Ships & Fleets for ship classes and fleet management.