AI War Ships and Structures

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Fleet Ships

Fleet ships will form the backbone of your fleet. Numerous and cheap to make, you start with the Fighter, Bomber, Missile Frigate, and an additional bonus ship type for each homeworld you start with. The AI starts with at least one bonus ship, or two bonus ships if the difficulty is 7 or above (See here for more details.)

The basic mechanics of fleet-ship balance revolves around the Ship-Triangle, where ships types have damage bonuses against each other. In this, Fighters beat Bombers beats Missile Frigates beats Fighters:

Fighter Inexpensive, with a small attack range.
Bomber Inflicts high damage on heavy defenses. Best ship class for hitting force fields and the final AI command stations.
Missile Frigate Fires powerful, long-range missiles, but has a very slow reload time.

Most bonus ship-types either place themselves in-relation to this triangle, or provide some new role not previously available. The various fleet-ships unlockable by the player can then be roughly categorised by their roles below. Note that some ship-types are versatile and have been listed in multiple categories, and that the Triangle-Ship counter are highly ship-type dependent:

Fleet Roles Sub-types Ships list
Fleet combat Role: Brawling (archetype: Fighter)
  • Large numbers, easily replaceable
  • geared towards general combat and attacking assault-craft
  • tend to be lighter hulls
  • Cheap DPS
  • Short range
Role: Tanking (archetype: Shield Bearer)
  • Emphasis on survivability
  • Possesses immunity to some ammunition, or high HP
  • Can lead ahead of other ships
Role: AOE-attack (archetype: Electric Shuttle)
  • Damage increases with enemy fleet size
Role: Utility (archetype: Missile Frigate)
  • Bonuses against specialised hull-types such as Neutron, Refractive and Composite
Assault-craft Role: Assault (archetype: Bomber)
  • geared towards larger and/or armored targets
  • Rarer hulls such as Swarmer, Neutron and Polycrystal
  • Large damage, or bonuses to Heavy/Ultra-heavy/Structural
  • Usually require fleet support unless on suicide run
Sub-Role: Alternative
  • Uses other mechanics
  • Increased damage against specific types of targets
Long-range Role: Fleet-oriented (archetype: Missile Frigate)
  • Out-ranges combat ships (range >6000)
  • (usually) bonuses to Light, Ultra-Light, and/or Swarmer
  • no armour piercing
  • relies somewhat on first-strike
  • Slow to medium speed
Sub-role: Kiting ships (archetype: Raptor)
  • Fast AND long-ranged
  • Relatively brittle
Sub-Role: Super-sniping (archetype: Sniper)
  • Very long-range/Planet-wide attack
  • High-DPS against target, armour-piercing
  • Retreats
Strike-teams Role: Assassination (archetype: Eye Bot)
  • Cloaking, free reign in absence of tachyon
  • Bypasses some defenses
  • Flexible in role
  • Generally Refractive hulls

(Top-ranks lean towards anti-light, e.g. fleet-ship combat)

(Bottom-ranks lean towards on anti-heavy, e.g. neutering)

Role: KO-ships
  • Suicides
  • Optimised in roles
Role: Teleportation (archetype: Teleport Battle Station)
  • Instant movement within wormholes
  • High mobile defense
  • Positioning critical for targeted attacks
Support ships Role: Fleet-support (archetype: Munitions Booster)
  • Increases effectiveness of other ships
  • by altering stats or DPS, or
  • directs damage away from friendly ships

Simple boosters:

Damage redirection:

Repair:

Tachyon Detection:

Role: Disablers (archetype: Spider Bot)
  • Provides some form of delaying
  • Generally useful on defense
  • Can complement attack depending on situation

Paralyse/Remove attacker:

Slows/stops attacker (but not damage):

Tractors:

Role: Reclaimers (archetype: Parasite)
  • Does reclamation damage
  • Converts enemy ships


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Starships

Starships are large centerpieces that you build your fleet around.
Most Starships have extra abilities to boost your fleet or increase your strategic options.
While a single starship has vastly more health and damage dealing potential then a single fleet ship, a ship-cap of starships has roughly twice the health and half the dps of a ship cap of an equivalent Mark of fleet ships.

The following Starships can be build at the Starship Constructor:

Starship Role
Flagship A front line combatant to stiffen your fleet.
Boosts the attack power of nearby units.
Zenith Starship A powerful combat starship reverse-engineered from scavenged Zenith technology. Mounts many medium-range missile launchers.
Spire Starship A formidable combat starship built using technology based on alien artifacts discovered years ago. Mounts a single photon lance (sustained fire beam weapon).
Bomber Starship Fast, tough starship that cannot attack small targets, including most fleet ships.
Cloaker Starship Equipped with a Cloaking Super-Booster, this ship can grant cloaking to ships near it that do not have it themselves.
Leech Starship Starship that reclaims enemies.
Reclaimed ships are converted to your side and join your fleet.
Neinzul Enclave Starship Starship that can build the same units as a Space Dock but can build them anywhere, even outside of Supply.
Plasma Siege Starship Starship that excels against large ships and structures.
Also does massive engine damage to multiple ships when it attacks.
Specializes in attacking Force Fields.
Raid Starship Extremely fast Starship designed for raiding.
Is Immune to Black Hole Machines and Tractor Beams.
Is also Immune to Force Fields and can attack enemy units protected by them.
Riot Control Starship Starship designed to counter swarms of smaller ships.
Can be equipped with various modules to customize its loadout.

Does moderate Engine Damage.

Scout Starship An unarmed, cloaked Starship designed for scouting.
Is immune to anything that would slow it down or block its path.
Spire Corvette The only bonus starship. Can be customized with various modules, making it quite versatile.


The following Starships can be build at captured Core Fabricators:

Starship Role
Core Starship (Mk V) A front line combatant to stiffen your fleet.
Boosts the attack power of nearby units.
Is the Mark V ship in the basic starship line that begins with the Light Starship.
Beam Starship A starship equipped with a powerful beam weapon.
Fires the Zenith Beam Weapon.
Warbird Starship A fast starship equipped with a burst weapon for attacking multiple ships at once.


The following Starships are non-combat support ships built from the SUP tab of the system build menu:

Starship Role
Decloaker A mobile Tachyon Beam Emitter with a massive range for revealing Cloaked units.
Transport An unarmed but fast and heavily armored ship for carrying smaller units.
Is immune to Tractor Beams and Mines.


The following Starships are only available to the AI or a non-controllable Minor Faction:

Starship Role
AI-Neinzul Hybrid A strange fusion of AI technology with Neinzul Youngling biology.
The primary actor of the Hybrid Hives minor faction.
Avenger A massive, mobile space station that the AI sends after you in retaliation for destroying an AI Home Command Station.
Enabled by the Avenger AI Plot.
Beachhead A highly disruptive structure that the AI has a chance of sending along with its waves.
Enabled by the Beachheads AI Plot.
Carrier A storage location for AI ships when there are too many located in a single star system for the AI to keep online. Once activated, it carries its cargo towards human territory.
Hunter/Killer Extremely strong starship that the AI sends from outside the galaxy to attack human territory once the AIs concern at the Human alliance with the Fallen Spire has reached unacceptable levels.
Mothership A colossal armed planetoid that the AI sends when even the Hunter/Killer is not enough.
Neinzul Preservation Warden The Wardens are enthralled by the beauty of the celestial realm and horrified by the human's rapid resource extraction and use of nuclear weapons and will attack humans for their affront against the sanctity of space.
Enabled by the Neinzul Preservation Wardens minor faction.
Neinzul Roaming Enclave The Neinzul who have not allied with either the Human or the AI forces roam space trying to survive.
Enabled by the Neinzul Roaming Enclaves minor faction.

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Turrets

Turrets are immobile, Human-only defensive structures:

Turret Description
Basic Turret Inexpensive, basic defense for planetary bases.
Counter Dark Matter Turret Negates all Dark Matter weapons fire in a radius around itself.
Most commonly used to counter AstroTraims.
Counter Missile Turret Negates all Missile weapons fire in a radius around itself.
Counter Sniper Turret Negates all Sniper weapons fire in a radius around itself.
Flak Turret Short range turret that fires exploding canisters for taking out swarms of lighter ships.
Only has its attack power reduced by 25% by friendly Force Fields.
Gravitational Turret This turret slows the Move Speed of enemy ships in a radius around itself.
Heavy Beam Turret This turret is armed with a massive long-range beam cannon.
Laser Turret This turret fires powerful lasers at a moderate range.
Lightning Turret Emits an Electrical Blast in a radius around itself.
Only has its attack power reduced by 25% by friendly Force Fields.
MLRS Turret Fires multiple, mid-powered rockets.
Missile Turret Fires high powered and extremely long ranged missiles but has a slower reload time.
Sniper Turret Fires Sniper Shots that can target any ship in the same system.
Spider Turret Fires Sniper Shots that can target any ship in the same system and damage the engines of any target it strikes.
Tachyon Beam Emmitter Emits tachyon beams around itself to reveal cloaked ships.
Tractor Beam Turret Emits Tractor Beams that lock on to enemy ships and immobilize them.

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Guardians

This page is updated for game version 5.035 and should still be correct

The AI currently have no Turrets to defend their planets with. Instead, they employ large structures called Guard Posts and unique ships called Guardians (the number and variety depends on difficulty). Many of these will have abilities or characteristics that players will want to watch out for before they commit to an attack. This applies especially to Counterattack Guard Posts and EMP Guardians, whose abilities do not add to the defense of an AI planet, but a subsequent counter-offensive.

A short-list of assets will be provided here soon. Back to Top

Guard Posts

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Military Structures

Modular Fortresses

These are only available with the Ancient Shadows expansion.

Human Modular Fortresses are researched with any Science lab for 3000 knowledge. Other races' modular fortresses are unlocked as rewards for completing nebulae.

All modular fortresses can mount 8 light and 4 heavy modules, which never exceed Mark III, and must follow the same racial restrictions as champion modules. Mark I Needler, Laser Cannon, MLRS, Missile, and Shield Modules are always available. Higher marks are unlocked by researching higher marks of the corresponding turrets or regular (non-hardened) forcefields. Mark I and higher versions of other modules are unlocked along with the corresponding champion modules as nebula rewards or by spending unlock points.

There are two special cases:

  • Missile Modules are light for modular fortresses but heavy for champions.
  • Heavy Beam Cannon Modules for modular fortresses are made available by researching the corresponding turrets.

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Economic Structures

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Fallen Spire Campaign

The following Starships are part of the Fallen Spire Campaign:

Starship Role
Spire Frigate The smallest of the Spire's combat ships.
Mounts a powerful Spire Beam Weapon designed for engaging Starships and Heavy Defenses.
Spire Destroyer A medium Spire combat ship.
The smallest Spire ship that can mount weapon and shield modules.
Spire Cruiser A medium-large Spire combat ship.
Can mount more powerful weapon and shield modules.
Spire Battleship A large Spire combat ship.
Can mount the most powerful weapon and shield modules.
Spire Dreadnought A gigantic Spire combat ship.
Can mount several of the most powerful weapon and shield modules.
Spire Super Dreadnought A stupendously large Spire combat ship that can only be built outside our galaxy.
Mounts many of the most powerful weapon and shield modules.


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Ancient Shadows

These are only available with the Ancient Shadows expansion.

Light/Heavy Modules on Champion Ships

Race \ Class FrigateDestroyerCruiserBattleship
Human6/212/316/420/5
Zenith6/28/410/612/8
Spire2/34/56/78/9
Neinzul 6/26/48/5

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Champion Modules

Mark I versions of Needler, Laser Cannon, MLRS, and Shield Modules are always available. Mark I Missile Modules can be unlocked for 1 unlock point. All other modules become available at Mark I as rewards for completing nebulae, although not every module is unlocked in an ordinary game. Mark II / III / IV / V modules are unlocked by spending 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 unlock points.

Modules' Racial Compatibility

ModuleHumanZenithSpireNeinzul
Light modules
Needler
Laser Cannon
MLRS
Acid JetXX
Doom AcceleratorXX
FlakXX
Impulse Reactor CannonXX
Insanity InducerXXX
NanosubverterXX
ParalyzerXX
PolariserXX
Rail CannonXX
TranslocatorXX
Heavy Modules
Shield
MissileX
Bomber BayX
Interceptor BayX
Slicer BayX
Heat BeamXXX
Heavy Beam CannonXXX
Photon LanceXXX
Plasma Seige CannonXXX
Rail ClusterXX

Spirecraft

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Golems

This page is updated game version 5.050 and should still be correct

Golems from the Zenith expansion come in two flavours: broken wrecks of the ancient Zenith empire that can be utilised by players (and AI-versions that may appear under select circumstances), and the survivors who may interact with both players and AIs in different ways.

In order to use a golem wreck, players must repair it and also constantly maintain it once they bring it online. This is because golems have constant attrition damage to themselves unless they are put in low-power. The attrition will slowly bring its health down to 1 (it will not kill the golem by itself) usually over a span of 2 hours except for the Cursed Golem.

Note that when playing against the AI-type Golemites, their healths are a fraction of the player based golems. this is 50% of normal value except for Botnets, which are 10%.

A rule of thumb on maintenance costs: an Artillery Golem (10M m+c) will cost ~350 metal and crystal per second (in addition to energy costs) to keep online. This is calculated via (0.25)*(build cost)/(attrition time). Between Unity release and 5.046, this rate has been reduced by Engineers in a ratio with their repair rate - this exploit has been fixed in 5.050.

Broken Golems Descriptions 5.035 "nominal" maintenance cost per sec
Armored Golem A heavily armoured golem suitable for frontal assault. 1041.67
Artillery Golem Siege artillery with a powerful, infinite range attack against large targets. 347.22
Black Widow Golem Carries paralysing tractor beams for superb riot-control. 868.06
Botnet Golem Reclaimer - converts masses of enemy fleet-ships into zombies. 1388.89
Cursed Golem Powerful infinite range attacks, but attritions faster than other golems. 694.44
Hive Golem Produces and stores Wasps for release in swarms. (NB: 1 wasp every 2 seconds.) 694.44
Regenerator Golem Resurrects other player ships when they are destroyed on the same planet, at a cost to its own health. 208.33 (equiv. 27.8K HP, has bonus of 1/10 repair cost)
Golems of Minor Factions Descriptions
Devourer Golem A lone vessel that traverses the galaxy, consuming any non mark-V military ships (mobile ships with weapons and scouts) it encounters, player or AI. Triggers AI alert.
Dyson Sphere A stationary golem at the edge of a system. Produces powerful Dyson Gatlings that have different alliances depending on who owns the planet.
Mining Golem Fleets of minor golems will periodically travel to a planet in the galaxy, and consume all of its metal and crystal deposits in order to maintain their vessels.
Trade Ship A lone vessel that traverses the galaxy, who will sell unique structures to the player (at exorbitant prices) or AI (for no cost?!).

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Warheads

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Astrotrains







Ships and Structures
Fleet Ships

Built at
Space Dock

FighterBomberMissile Frigate
Acid SprayerAnti-ArmorAnti-Starship ArachnidArmor BoosterArmor ShipAttractor DroneAutocannon MinipodBulletproof FighterDecoy DroneDyson GatlingElectric ShuttleEtherjetEye BotGrenade LauncherImpulse Reaction EmitterInfiltratorLaser GatlingMicroParasiteMLRSMunitions BoosterNeinzul BomberNeinzul ScapegoatNeinzul Viral SwarmerNeinzul Youngling CockroachNeinzul Youngling CommandoNeinzul Youngling FireflyNeinzul Youngling NanoswarmNeinzul Youngling TigerNeinzul Youngling VultureNeinzul Youngling WeaselParasitePreservation Warden BomberRaiderRaptorResistance Fighter/BomberResistance FrigateSaboteurScoutSentinel FrigateShield BearerSniperSpace PlaneSpace TankSpeed BoosterSpider BotSpire Armor RotterSpire BladeSpire Blade SpawnerSpire Gravity DrainerSpire Gravity RipperSpire MawSpire Mini RamSpire RailclusterSpire Stealth BattleshipSpire Teleporting LeechSpire Tractor PlatformTachyon MicrofighterTackle Drone LauncherTeleport Battle StationTeleport RaiderTranslocatorVampire ClawVorticular CutlassWaspZenith Auto BombZenith Beam FrigateZenith BombardZenith ChameleonZenith Electric BomberZenith Medic FrigateZenith MirrorZenith ParalyzerZenith PolarizerZenith ReprocessorZenith Siege EngineZenith Viral Shredder
Starships

Built at
Starship
Constructor

AI-Neinzul HybridAvengerBeachheadBeam StarshipBomber StarshipCloaker StarshipCarrierCore StarshipDecloakerFlagshipHunter/KillerLeech StarshipMobile BuilderMothershipNeinzul Enclave StarshipNeinzul Preservation WardenNeinzul Roaming EnclavePlasma Siege StarshipRaid StarshipRiot Control StarshipScout StarshipSpire CorvetteSpire StarshipTransport ShipWarbird StarshipZenith Starship
Turrets Basic TurretCounter Dark Matter TurretCounter Missile TurretCounter Sniper TurretFlak TurretGravitational TurretHeavy Beam TurretLaser TurretLightning TurretMLRS TurretMissile TurretSniper TurretSpider TurretTachyon Beam Emitter (Stealth)Tractor Beam Turret

Drone unlocks with turret research as of 5.039: Neinzul Laser DroneNeinzul Missile DroneNeinzul MLRS DroneNeinzul Needler Drone

Guardians Artillery GuardianCarrier GuardianEMP GuardianFlak GuardianGravity GuardianHeavy Beam GuardianLaser GuardianLightning GuardianRaider GuardianSelf-Destruction GuardianSniper GuardianSpecial Forces Rally GuardianSpider GuardianSpire Implosion GuardianStarship Disassembler GuardianTachyon GuardianTractor GuardianVampire GuardianWarp Gate GuardianZombie Guardian
Guard Posts Arachnid Guard PostBooster Guard PostCloaker Guard PostCommand Station Shield Guard PostCore (type) Guard PostCounterattack Guard PostCross Planet Attack Guard PostElectric Guard PostGrav ReactorHeavy Beam Guard PostLaser Guard PostLeech Guard PostMissile Guard PostMissile Guard Post(Core)MLRS Guard PostNeedler Guard PostNeinzul Melee Guard PostNeinzul Spawner Guard PostPassive Guard PostRaid Engine Guard PostSentinel Guard PostShort Range Guard PostSpecial Forces Guard PostSpire Shield Sphere Guard PostSpire Shield Sphere Guard Post(core)TeuthidaWormhole Guard PostWrath Lance Guard PostZenith Bombard Guard PostZenith Fortress Guard Post
Military Structures Advanced Warp SensorAlarm PostAttritionerBarracksBlack Hole MachineCo-ProcessorCore Shield GeneratorCounter-SpyDark Spire Vengeance GeneratorData CenterDrone SpawnerDyson AntagonizerDyson ConverterForce FieldFortressGravity DrillHybrid SpawnInter-Planetary Munitions BoosterIon CannonMine(Area)(EMP)Mini-FortressMobile Repair StationModular FortressModular Fortress Command StationNeinzul Bomber ClusterNeinzul ClusterNeinzul Modular FortressNeinzul NestNeinzul Privacy ClusterNeinzul Rocketry Corps SiloNeinzul Viral ClusterOrbital Mass DriverPlanetary Armor BoosterPlanetary Armor InhibitorPlanetary CloakRadar JammerRaid EngineRally PostSpecial Forces Alarm PostSpire Modular FortressSuperFortressSuperTerminalTroop AcceleratorWarhead InterceptorWarp GateZenith Modular FortressZenith ReserveZenith Spacetime Manipulator

AI Eyes: Ion EyeNuclear EyeParasite EyePlasma Eye (Core)Raid Eye (Core)Sentry Eye (Core)Threatening Eye (Core)Translocating Eye (Core)

Economic Structures Asteroid(Adamantite)(Ebonite)(Pysite)(Reptite)(Titanite)(Xampite)Advanced Research ShipAdvanced FactoryAdvanced Starship ConstructorCaptive Human SettlementCleanup DroneCommand StationColony ShipCore FabricatorCrystal HarvesterDistribution NodeEconomic Command StationEnergy CollectorEngineerExo-Galactic WormholeExperimental FabricatorFoldoutHarvester Exo-FieldHome Human SettlementHuman Cryogenic PodIntra-Galactic Warp GateKnowledge HackerMetal HarvesterLogistical Command StationMatter ConverterMercenary Space DockMilitary Command StationMissile SiloNeinzul Regeneration ChamberOrbital Command StationRebel ColonyRemainsRemains RebuilderScience LabShip-Design HackerSpire ArchiveSpire Civilian LeaderSpace DockStarship ConstructorTachyon DroneWarp Jammer Command StationWormholeZenith Power Generator
Fallen Spire Campaign Fallen Spire OverviewSurvey ShipSubspace ReceiverSpire FrigateSpire DestroyerSpire CruiserSpire BattleshipSpire DreadnoughtSpire Super DreadnoughtSpire ShardSpire Colony ShipSpire OutpostSpire City HubSpire Habitation CenterSpire Shard ReactorSpire ShipyardSpire Galactic CapitolExogalactic Transceiver
Ancient Shadows Ancient Shadows CampaignShadow Ships (Champion Ships) All Types: Human/Neinzul/Spire/Zenith and All Sizes: Frigate/Destroyer/Cruiser/Battleship
General NebulaeNebula: Epsilon Eridani Remnant FoundNebula: Shattered Pillar Zenith FoundNebula: Neinzul Mourner Wardens FoundNebula: Gray Spire Cluster FoundNebula: Shattered Pillar FoundNebula: Human Resistance FoundNebula: IMT Needs Help AgainNebula: Allies Under AttackNebula: The Battle Rages Nebula: Empty Nebula
ASFaction1ASFaction2ASFaction3
Spirecraft Spirecraft AttritionerSpirecraft Implosion ArtillerySpirecraft Ion BlasterSpirecraft JumpshipSpirecraft MartyrSpirecraft PenetratorSpirecraft RamSpirecraft ScoutSpirecraft Shield BearerSpirecraft Siege TowerSpire Mining ShipSpirecraft Mining Enclosure
Golems Armored GolemArtillery GolemBlack Widow GolemBotnet GolemCursed GolemDevourer GolemDyson SphereHive GolemMining GolemRegenerator GolemTrade Ship
Warheads Armored WarheadEMPLightning WarheadNuclear WarheadTachyon Warhead
AstroTrains Astrotrains OverviewAstrotrain Station
Train Types: AstrotrainArmor BoosterArmor InhibitorAttack BoosterCargoEMPForcefield JammerGravityGravity JammerNuclearParalyzingRadar JammerRegeneratorRepairShieldSpeed BoosterSupply InhibitorTachyonTachyon JammerTractorTractor JammerTurret




AI War Wiki Home - AI War Reference Section - AI War Strategies Section
Game Content AI War Base GameExpansion 1: The Zenith RemnantExpansion 2: Children of Neinzul
Expansion 3: Light of the SpireExpansion 4: Ancient ShadowsLatest patches post 6.0
Getting Started User Interface and ControlsNew Game (Multiplayer Lobby) OptionsSettings and ControlsTutorial WalkthroughGame Objectives (What do I do next?)How the AI Attacks You (AI Progress, Waves and Threat)I'm stuck! Help? (Player submitted questions)
Enemy AI Types and AI Plots AI Opponent Types: (Easier - Moderate - Harder - Technologist) ♦ AI Plots: (Core Shield Generators - Avenger - Hybrid Hives - Advanced Hybrids - Astro Trains - Beachheads)
Minor Factions Human Colony RebellionsHuman MaraudersHuman Resistance FightersBroken GolemsZenith DevourerZenith Dyson SphereZenith MinersZenith TradersNeinzul Preservation WardensNeinzul Roaming EnclavesNeinzul Rocketry CorpsFallen SpireSpire Civilian LeadersSpirecraft
Ships and Structures Fleet ShipsStarshipsSpirecraftTurretsGuardiansGuard PostsMilitary StructuresEconomic StructuresGolemsWarheadsAstroTrains
Combat Mechanics Ammunition TypesShip ImmunitiesShip AbilitiesHull TypesAttack MultipliersArmor (Overall Damage Calculations)Engines and Speed (including Tractor Beams and Gravity Effects)Force Field InteractionsCloaking and Tachyon Beams(Stealth)Capturing Ships and Structures (& Reclamation)
Economic Mechanics Crystal and Metal HarvestingEnergy GenerationScience and Knowledge and Hacking the AIBuild Time and Constructors (including Repair)
Miscellaneous Map seeds of interestGlossary


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