Research

How research works

You start research in the Research menu. Unlike buildings, research does not belong to a planet but to your account: every finished level takes effect immediately on all your planets. You pay with the resources of the planet where you start the research.

You need a Research lab for this. Its level on the research planet determines the research time: level 2 halves it compared with level 1, level 3 cuts it to a third. The labs on your other planets don't count. That is why you can switch the level tables on the research pages by lab level. No research takes longer than 360 days – very high levels eventually hit this limit.

Only one research at a time

Your account can only run one research at a time – no matter how many labs you own. The Engineer assistant (Assistants) gives you an extra waiting slot: the next research starts automatically as soon as the current one is finished. Its costs are paid as soon as you queue it, and its duration depends on the lab level that applies when it starts.

What should you research first?

1. Energy technology – gives you more energy right away and is required for Weapons factory, Mining technology and many defenses.
2. Mining technology – more Pig iron, Kryptonite and Spice on all planets. The more mines you run, the more it pays off.
3. Engine research and Rocket engine – needed for your first ships, such as Small fighter, Small transport ship and Spy probe.
4. Spy technology – for spy probes and useful spy reports.
5. Weapons technology, Shield technology and Defense systems – as soon as you build a fleet, they make every ship and every defense stronger.

Speeding up research

• Upgrade your Research lab – by far the most important lever.
• Instant finish with Urplasma (see Urplasma): once a fifth of the research time has passed, a button showing the price appears in the queue. It requires a Research lab at level 10 or higher on the planet you are currently on. The price depends on the remaining time.
• Items from events and rewards from the Space Pass that cut the running research by several hours or even days.
• An active Speed-Up also shortens your research times.