Research
Every research area, the cost of each level and what it unlocks.
Engineering
| Area | Starts at | Max level | Prerequisites | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock World Colonisation | 0 or 1 | 1 | None | 1 item |
| Ice World Colonisation | 0 or 1 | 1 | None | 1 item |
| Gas World Colonisation | 0 or 1 | 1 | None | 1 item |
| Ship Construction | 1 | 9 | None | 8 items |
| Base Construction | 1 | 3 | None | 3 items |
| Fighters | 0 | 5 | Construction 1 | Nothing yet |
| Troops | 0 | 3 | Construction 1 | Nothing yet |
| Mines | 0 | 5 | Construction 1 | Nothing yet |
| Weapon Platforms | 0 | 3 | None | Nothing yet |
| Satellites | 0 | 3 | None | Nothing yet |
| Space Yards | 1 | 3 | None | 3 items |
| Drones | 0 | 3 | None | Nothing yet |
| Propulsion | 1 | 12 | None | 11 items |
| Armour | 0 | 6 | Chemistry 1 | 3 items |
| Shields | 0 | 10 | Physics 1 | 5 items |
| Cloaking | 0 | 3 | Physics 3 | Nothing yet |
| Sensors | 0 | 6 | Physics 1 | 3 items |
| Scanners | 0 | 3 | Physics 2 | Nothing yet |
| Combat Support | 0 | 4 | Military Science 1 | 3 items |
| Computers | 0 | 6 | Industry 1 | 3 items |
| Resource Manipulation | 0 | 3 | Chemistry 2 | 3 items |
| Minerals Extraction | 1 | 9 | None | 12 items |
| Organics Extraction | 1 | 9 | None | 12 items |
| Radioactives Extraction | 1 | 9 | None | 12 items |
| Stellar Manipulation | 0 | 8 | Astrophysics 1 | Nothing yet |
| Applied Research | 1 | 3 | None | 3 items |
| Applied Intelligence | 0 | 4 | None | Nothing yet |
| Medical Technology | 0 | 5 | Biology 1 | Nothing yet |
| Planet Utilization | 0 | 9 | Planetary Engineering 1 | Nothing yet |
| Advanced Military Science | 0 | 6 | Military Science 2 | Nothing yet |
| Applied Political Science | 0 | 3 | Psychology 1 | Nothing yet |
| Gravitational Technology | 0 | 3 | Astrophysics 2 | Nothing yet |
| Stellar Harnessing | 0 | 6 | Astrophysics 1 | 6 items |
| Cargo | 1 | 3 | None | 10 items |
| Repair | 0 | 3 | None | 3 items |
| Resupply | 0 | 5 | None | Nothing yet |
The area for your home world's surface type starts at level 1. This table is the same for every empire, so it cannot say which type that is - the other two start at level 0.
Scientific Foundations
| Area | Starts at | Max level | Prerequisites | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophysics | 0 | 2 | None | Nothing yet |
| Biology | 0 | 1 | None | Nothing yet |
| Chemistry | 0 | 2 | None | Nothing yet |
| Construction | 0 | 1 | None | Nothing yet |
| Industry | 0 | 1 | None | Nothing yet |
| Military Science | 0 | 2 | None | Nothing yet |
| Physics | 0 | 4 | None | Nothing yet |
| Planetary Engineering | 0 | 1 | None | Nothing yet |
| Psychology | 0 | 1 | None | Nothing yet |
Armaments
| Area | Starts at | Max level | Prerequisites | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directed-Energy Weapons | 0 | 12 | Physics 1 | 12 items |
| Pulse Weapons | 0 | 6 | Physics 1 | Nothing yet |
| Guided Ordnance | 1 | 7 | None | 1 item |
| Projectile Weapons | 1 | 5 | None | 4 items |
| Torpedo Weapons | 0 | 10 | Military Science 1 | Nothing yet |
| High-Energy Beam Weapons | 0 | 10 | Propulsion 7 | Nothing yet |
| Phase Weapons | 0 | 5 | Physics 2 | 1 item |
| Point-Defence Weapons | 0 | 5 | Military Science 1 | Nothing yet |
| Shield-Piercing Weapons | 0 | 10 | Shields 4 | 1 item |
| Tractor/Repulsor Beams | 0 | 9 | Astrophysics 1 | Nothing yet |
| Weapon Disruptors | 0 | 5 | Military Science 2 | 1 item |
| Engine Disruptors | 0 | 10 | Propulsion 4 | 1 item |
| Gravitational Weapons | 0 | 5 | Astrophysics 2 | Nothing yet |
| Warp Weapons | 0 | 3 | Physics 4 | Nothing yet |
| Biological Weapons | 0 | 5 | Biology 1 | Nothing yet |
| Planetary Weapons | 0 | 10 | None | Nothing yet |
| Boarding Systems | 0 | 5 | Military Science 2 | Nothing yet |
| Electronic Warfare | 0 | 3 | Computers 4 | Nothing yet |
| Voidspace Weapons | 0 | 3 | Astrophysics 2 | 1 item |
| Troop Weapons | 0 | 3 | Troops 1 | Nothing yet |
| Explosive Warheads | 0 | 3 | None | Nothing yet |
| Weapon Miniaturisation | 0 | 3 | None | Nothing yet |