Key structures provide the economic, military, storage, logistics, and defensive effects used by specialized bases. Source
Evidence status — confirmed: Unless noted otherwise, mechanics are verified against the installed patch 11.73 guide.
- Extractor / Synthesiser / Combinator / Solar Array: Vulkron, Aurelite, Deuterium, Astra production.
- Dyson Sphere: late-game Astra scaling.
- Light Shipyard:
+10%light/intelligence build and travel speed and+2%light stats per level. - Heavy Shipyard: same pattern for heavy/cargo/colonization hulls.
- Siege Foundry: same pattern for bomber/siege hulls; bombers at 5, siege at 15.
- Ion Shield: defense multiplier plus flat defense; current integrity scales only its contribution.
- Nano Storage: hides
min(80%, 4% × level)from hostile loot. - Drone Facility: reduces upkeep by the same curve.
- Orbital Exchange:
+1%launched cargo and+1%logistics shipment speed per level. - Flagship Research:
+15%research and+3%building speed per level.
Ion Shield strength varies dramatically:
| Culture | Per level | Level 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Astraean | +7.5% defense, +75 flat | 2.5× shield contribution, +1,500 flat |
| Varkon | +1%, +10 flat | 1.2×, +200 |
| Veil | +5%, +50 flat | 2.0×, +1,000 |
Strong empires assign roles:
- Economic engine: matching production, storage, low unnecessary garrison.
- Military forge: shipyards, Astra, Drone Facility, uninterrupted stock.
- Launch hub: shipyards, Orbital Exchange, speed/cargo effects.
- Fortress: Ion Shield, Nano Storage, stationed defenders, nearby response.
- Objective node: storage gates, Astra, shield, faction reinforcement.
- Research sanctuary: Flagship Research on a base unlikely to be erased.