Research

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Research is the primary method through which players can enhance and expand the abilities of their colony. Certain buildings and gear require research in order to be built.

Mechanics

A research bench is required to conduct research, with some projects requiring more advanced research stations. Research is presented as a tech tree, with later projects placed further right. Most research projects require a prerequisite. Some research projects introduced in the Royalty DLC, and Biotech DLC require additional unlocking using items such as techprints and mechanoid chips respectively, and only then would research be allowed.

Once a project is selected, a researcher will work at the bench to generate research points. Research Speed is primarily determined by the Intellectual skill. Only one research project can be studied at a time. However, you can freely switch between research projects, and all research progress is retained. Multiple researchers will all contribute towards the same project, with no penalties. In addition, multiple benches can be used simultaneously, again, without penalty.

Your faction's tech level determines research point costs, and therefore time spent researching. New Arrivals start at an Industrial level, and have normal costs for all research. New Tribes start at a Neolithic tech level, so certain research costs are increased:

• Researching Medieval-level tech, like Long Swords, takes 1.5x the research points for tribes to complete.
• Researching Industrial-level tech or higher takes 2x the research for tribes. Note that the majority of research topics are industrial or higher.

Both New Arrivals and New Tribes start with certain projects already researched. Specific scenarios can add, but not remove, pre-researched topics.

Mods can add their own research projects; they can be manually placed, or automatically placed if not specified. Projects will be moved apart if they overlap. They can also add separate research tabs, independent of the main tree.

Research speed

The number of research points gained is based on the researcher's research speed factor, which is largely based on their intellectual skill. The number of research points gained per tick is calculated with the following equation:

0.00825 × Pawn Research Speed × Building Research Speed Factor × Difficulty Factor

Where:

• 0.00825 points/tick is the base research factor.^[Note]
• Pawn Research Speed is the research speed stat from the researcher. This depends on other factors, like health capacities and global work speed.
• Building Research Speed Factor is the multiplier from the research station. This depends on other factors, like whether the building is outdoors, the temperature, the cleanliness of the room, and if any facilities are connected. The following are the base factors:
  • Simple research bench: ×0.75
  • Hi-tech research bench: ×1.00
  • Hi-tech research bench with Multi-analyzer: ×1.10
• Difficulty Factor is the multiplier from the chosen difficulty settings. The factors for the default difficulties are:
  • Peaceful and Community Builder (Easy) - x1.2
  • Adventure Story (Normal) and Strive to Survive (Rough) - x1
  • Blood and Dust (Hard) - x0.95
  • Losing is Fun (Extreme) - x0.9

Research Speed Per Level		Points Per 2,500 ticks (1 in-game hour) Per Difficulty
Skill	Research Speed	Peaceful/Easy (x1.2)	Medium/Rough (x1)	Hard (x0.95)	Extreme (x0.9)
0	8%	1.98	1.65	1.568	1.485
1	19.5%	4.826	4.022	3.821	3.62
2	31%	7.673	6.394	6.074	5.754
3	42.5%	10.519	8.766	8.327	7.889
4	54%	13.365	11.138	10.581	10.024
5	65.5%	16.211	13.509	12.834	12.158
6	77%	19.058	15.881	15.087	14.293
7	88.5%	21.904	18.253	17.34	16.428
8	100%	24.75	20.625	19.594	18.563
9	111.5%	27.596	22.997	21.847	20.697
10	123%	30.443	25.369	24.1	22.832
11	134.5%	33.289	27.741	26.354	24.967
12	146%	36.135	30.113	28.607	27.101
13	157.5%	38.981	32.484	30.86	29.236
14	169%	41.828	34.856	33.113	31.371
15	180.5%	44.674	37.228	35.367	33.505
16	192%	47.52	39.6	37.62	35.64
17	203.5%	50.366	41.972	39.873	37.775
18	215%	53.213	44.344	42.127	39.909
19	226.5%	56.059	46.716	44.38	42.044
20	238%	58.905	49.088	46.633	44.179

Research Projects

Neolithic Research Projects

Research projects of the neolithic tech level. Both tribes and colonies research these at the same rate.

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon	Unlocks
Psychoid brewing	Prepare psychoid leaves into a mildly euphoria-inducing and addictive tea at the campfire or cooking stove.	500	500	500	None	Simple	Psychite tea
Tree sowing	Sow the local biome's natural trees in your fields.	1000	1000	1000	None	Simple	Bonsai pot
Beer brewing	Allows you to build a brewery and fermenting vats to transform hops into tasty, tasty beer.	400	400	400	None	Simple	Brewery Fermenting barrel
Passive cooler	Make passive coolers, to cool indoor spaces without using electricity.	400	400	400	None	Simple	Passive cooler
Cocoa	Sow cocoa trees to create your own delicious chocolate. Eating chocolate fulfills the need for recreation, and it's valuable on the market too.	1000	1000	1000	Tree sowing	Simple	Cocoa tree
Devilstrand	Plant devilstrand, a slow-growing mushroom that yields an exceptionally tough, tear resistant plant fiber.	800	800	800	None	Simple	Devilstrand
Pemmican	Make pemmican, a preserved mixture of meat and plant matter that doesn't go bad for a long time. Great for traveling.	500	500	500	None	Simple	Pemmican
Recurve bow	Build the recurve bow, an effective and inexpensive ranged weapon.	400	400	400	None	Simple	Recurve bow

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Medieval Research Projects

Research projects of the Medieval tech level. Tribes require 1.5x as much research time to research these. Colonies require only the base cost.

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon	Unlocks
Complex clothing	Tailor complicated garments like pants, dusters, and cowboy hats.	600	600	900	None	Simple	Bowler hat Button-down shirt Cowboy hat Duster Electric tailor bench Hand tailor bench Jacket Pants Parka T-shirt Tuque Lab coat  Face mask  Heavy bandolier  Kid pants  Kid parka  Kid romper  Kid shirt  Sash  Flophat  Shadecone  Tailcap
Complex furniture	Build complex furniture like beds, end tables, dining chairs, armchairs, dressers, tool cabinets, billiard tables[sic], and poker tables, vents, sarcophagi, and more.	300	300	450	None	Simple	Armchair Bed Billiards table Bookcase Chess table Couch Dining chair Double bed Dresser End table Large stele Ornate door Poker table Royal bed Sarcophagus Shelf Small bookcase Small shelf Tool cabinet Vent Baby decoration  Blackboard  School desk  Toy box  Darklight brazier  Slab bed  Slab double bed  Brazier  Drape  Grand meditation throne  Meditation throne
Carpet making	Weave beautiful carpets from cloth.	800	800	1200	None	Simple	Carpet Hex carpet  Mindbend carpet  Morbid carpet  Fine carpet
Smithing	Build smithies for crafting metal weapons and tools. Allows you to craft simple weapons like knives, gladii, and maces. Work metal into clean, beautiful floor tiles.	700	700	1050	None	Simple	Breach axe Electric smithy Fueled smithy Gladius Gold tile Ikwa Knife Mace Pila Silver tile Simple helmet Steel tile Kid helmet  Axe
Stonecutting	Cut rock chunks into stone blocks for use in construction. Build beautiful stone tile floors or ugly concrete walkways.	300	300	450	None	Simple	Concrete Paved tile Stone tile Stonecutter's table Morbid slab (broad)  Morbid slab (medium)  Morbid stone tile  Spikecore stone tile  Totemic stone tile  Fine stone tile
Long blades	Craft longswords and spears.	400	400	600	Smithing	Simple	Longsword Spear Warhammer
Plate armor	Smith suits of plate armor from metal or wood. This heavy armor noticeably slows movement, but protects very effectively.	600	600	900	Smithing Complex clothing	Simple	Plate armor
Greatbow	Craft greatbows for killing enemies at great range.	600	600	900	Recurve bow	Simple	Greatbow
Noble apparel	Tailor noble-specific apparel like formal shirts and royal robes.	400	400	600	Complex clothing	Simple	Beret  Corset  Formal shirt  Formal vest  Ladies hat  Top hat
Royal apparel	Tailor royal apparel of the highest tier, like royal robes and crowns.	400	400	600	Noble apparel Smithing	Simple	Coronet  Crown  Prestige robe
Harp	Craft the harp, a simple stationary musical instrument popular among nobility in some cultures.	500	500	750	Complex furniture	Simple	Harp
Harpsichord	Craft the Harpsichord, a complex stationary musical instrument.	500	500	750	Harp Smithing	Simple	Harpsichord

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Industrial Research Projects

Research projects of the Industrial tech level. Tribes require 2x as much research time to research these. Colonies require only the base cost.

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon	Unlocks
Drug production	Build a drug lab for basic drug synthesis. Further research is required to make specific drugs.	500	500	1000	None	Simple	Drug lab
Psychite refining	Refine psychoid leaves into flake and yayo, different forms of the euphoric drug psychite.	400	400	800	Drug production	Simple	Flake Yayo
Wake-up production	Synthesize wake-up, a work performance-enhancing drug which replaces the need for sleep.	600	600	1200	Drug production	Simple	Wake-up
Go-juice production	Produce go-juice, a synthetic combat-performance-enhancing drug which improves shooting, melee, and movement ability, and dulls pain.	1000	1000	2000	Drug production	Simple	Go-juice
Penoxycyline production	Produce Penoxycyline a disease prevention drug which blocks plague, malaria, and more before they start.	500	500	1000	Drug production	Simple	Penoxycyline
Electricity	Harness the power of electricity for a hundred different tasks.	1600	1600	3200	None	Simple	Chemfuel powered generator Electric crematorium Electric smelter Electric smithy Electric stove Electric tailor bench Heater Hidden conduit Power conduit Power switch Standing lamp Sun lamp Wall lamp Waterproof conduit Wind turbine Wood-fired generator Pollution pump  Lightball  Loudspeaker  Ship landing beacon
Battery	Build batteries for storing electricity.	400	400	800	Electricity	Simple	Battery
Biofuel refining	Build Biofuel refineries to make chemfuel from biological matter like wood or foodstuffs.	700	700	1400	Electricity	Simple	Biofuel refinery
Watermill generator	Build watermill generators on rivers to generate a steady supply of power.	700	700	1400	Electricity	Simple	Watermill generator
Nutrient paste	Build nutrient paste dispensers which efficiently produce edible meals from raw nutritive feedstocks, while requiring no labor at all.	400	400	800	Electricity	Simple	Hopper Nutrient paste dispenser
Solar panel	Build solar panels for electrical generation.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple	Solar generator
Air conditioning	Build coolers to make people comfortable in hot weather or to construct freezers for storing perishable goods.	500	500	1000	Electricity	Simple	Cooler
Autodoor	Build autodoors which automatically open when someone approaches without slowing anyone down.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple	Autodoor
Hydroponics	Build hydroponics basins to rapidly grow crops indoors regardless of the terrain or weather outside.	700	700	1400	Electricity	Simple	Hydroponics basin
Tube television	Produce tube televisions for recreational watching.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity Complex furniture	Simple	Tube television
Packaged survival meal	Produce packaged survival meals, which never go bad. Great for traveling.	500	500	1000	Nutrient paste	Simple	Packaged survival meal
Firefoam	Construct firefoam poppers, automatic fire-safety devices which spread fire-retardant foam in response to encroaching flames.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple	Firefoam pop pack Firefoam popper Firefoam shell
IEDs	Build improvised traps from any kind of mortar shell.	500	500	1000	Electricity	Simple
Geothermal power	Build geothermal power plants on top of steam geysers, for uninterrupted power.	3200	3200	6400	Electricity	Simple	Geothermal generator
Sterile materials	Construct sterile tiles to make cleanrooms for safer and more effective medical treatment, research, and cooking.	600	600	1200	Electricity	Simple	Sterile tile
Advanced lights	Build powerful outdoors lights. Additionally, customize the color of electric lights and reduce their power consumption by half. This does not affect sun lamps.	300	300	600	Electricity	Simple	Flood light
Machining	Build machining tables to craft guns, grenades, flak armor, and to shred dead mechanoids for resources.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity Smithing	Simple	Frag grenades Machining table Molotov cocktails Gas mask
Smokepop packs	Build smokepop packs which allow the wearer to deploy a defensive smokescreen.	300	300	600	Machining Complex clothing	Simple	Smokepop pack
Prosthetics	Build inexpensive prosthetic body parts to replace lost limbs. Requires a skilled doctor to attach.	600	600	1200	Machining	Simple	Cochlear implant Prosthetic arm Prosthetic heart Prosthetic leg
Gunsmithing	Craft simple manually operated guns like revolvers, pump shotguns, bolt-action rifles, and incendiary launchers.	500	500	1000	Machining	Simple	Bolt-action rifle Incendiary launcher Pump shotgun Revolver Smoke launcher
Flak armor	Craft clothing with metal armor sewn in to resist bullets and explosions. This weighty armor slows movement slightly.	1200	1200	2400	Machining Plate armor	Simple	Flak helmet Flak jacket Flak pants Flak vest
Mortars	Build mortars which can lob mortar shells long distances - even over walls.	2000	2000	4000	Gunsmithing	Simple	High-explosive shell Incendiary shell Mortar Smoke shell
Blowback operation	Craft low-power blowback-operated guns like autopistols and machine pistols.	500	500	1000	Gunsmithing	Simple	Autopistol Machine pistol
Gas operation	Craft high-power guns like chain shotguns, LMGs, and heavy SMGs.	1000	1000	2000	Blowback operation	Simple	Chain shotgun Heavy SMG LMG
Gun turrets	Produce simple automated gun turrets.	500	500	1000	Blowback operation	Simple	Mini-turret
Foam turret	Produce a turret which can be activated to spray fire-extinguishing foam.	800	800	1600	Gun turrets Firefoam	Simple	Foam turret
Microelectronics	Work with complex microelectronics. This unlocks the Hi-tech research bench and comms console.	3000	3000	6000	Electricity	Simple	Comms console EMP grenades EMP launcher EMP shell Hi-tech research bench Orbital trade beacon Autobong  Sleep accelerator
Flatscreen television	Produce high-resolution flatscreen televisions for greater enjoyment.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Tube television	Hi-tech	Flatscreen television
Moisture pump	Construct moisture pumps, which very slowly normalize the moisture in the ground around them. They can turn wet ground dry and convert soft sand into normal sand.	1200	1200	2400	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech	Moisture pump
Hospital bed	Construct hospital beds which improve medical outcomes.	1200	1200	2400	Microelectronics Sterile materials Complex furniture	Hi-tech	Hospital bed
Deep drilling	Build deep drills for extracting resources from deep underground. You'll need a ground-penetrating scanner to find the resources.	4000	4000	8000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Deep drill
Ground-penetrating scanner	Build ground-penetrating scanners that can detect drillable resources deep under the surface. Requires an advanced component to construct.	1000	1000	2000	Deep drilling	Hi-tech	Ground-penetrating scanner
Transport pod	Construct launchable transport pods that you can use to send people and supplies long distances across the planet's surface. Can be used for raiding, traveling, sending gifts, and more.	1000	1000	2000	Microelectronics Biofuel refining Machining	Hi-tech	Pod launcher Transport pod
Medicine production	Produce standard industrial-tech medicine by combining herbal medicine, neutroamine, and cloth.	1500	1500	3000	Drug production Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Medicine
Long-range mineral scanner	Construct long-range mineral scanners your researchers can use to detect precious minerals across the planet. Can be turned to find a specific mineral. Requires advanced components to construct.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech	Long-range mineral scanner
Shields	Build wearable shield gear. Shields use momentum-repulsion technology to prevent projectiles from traversing the field boundary.	1000	1000	2000	Microelectronics Complex clothing	Hi-tech	Shield belt Low-shield pack
Precision rifling	Craft precisely-machined guns like assault rifles and sniper rifles.	1400	1400	2800	Microelectronics Gas operation	Hi-tech	Assault rifle Sniper rifle
Autocannon turret	Produce the heavy, long-ranged autocannon turret.	1600	1600	3200	Microelectronics Gun turrets Gas operation	Hi-tech	Autocannon turret
Multibarrel weapons	Assemble miniguns.	2600	2600	5200	Microelectronics Gas operation	Hi-tech	Minigun
Multi-analyzer	Build multi-analyzers which increase research speed, and allow higher level research projects.	4000	4000	8000	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech	Multi-analyzer
Vitals monitor	Builds vitals monitors which improve medical outcomes when placed next to hospital beds.	2500	2500	5000	Multi-analyzer Hospital bed	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Vitals monitor
Fabrication	Build fabrication benches, capable of high-tech projects ranging from component assembly to power armor construction.	4000	4000	8000	Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Fabrication bench
Advanced fabrication	Fabricate advanced components from standard components and other materials.	4000	4000	8000	Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Advanced component
Uranium slug turret	Produce the armor-penetrating uranium slug turret. It fires uranium slugs which tear though plasteel like paper, but it's less effective at close range.	3000	3000	6000	Multi-analyzer Autocannon turret Precision rifling	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Uranium slug turret
Rocketswarm launcher	Produce rocketswarm launchers, single-burst turrets which can devastate a wide area at a key moment in battle.	3000	3000	6000	Multi-analyzer Autocannon turret	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Rocketswarm launcher
Piano	Craft the piano, an advanced stationary musical instrument.	2000	2000	4000	Harpsichord	Simple	Piano
Jump packs	Build jump packs to perform aerial assaults during combat	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Machining	Hi-tech 1x Jump packs Techprint	Jump pack  Locust armor
Gunlink	Build wearable gunlinks to enhance your soldiers' shooting accuracy.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication	Hi-tech	Gunlink
Biosculpting	Construct Biosculpter pods which can perform various biological alterations to colonists. These are especially important to believers in transhumanism.	1500	1500	3000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Biosculpter pod
Bioregeneration	Unlock the biosculpter pod's bioregeneration cycle. This cycle heals old scars, regenerates small lost body parts like fingers and toes, and cures many of the physical maladies that come with old age.	4000	4000	8000	Multi-analyzer Biosculpting	Hi-tech
Neural supercharger	Construct Neural supercharger devices. Neural superchargers improve consciousness and learning rate, but they also increase hunger and the effect must be refreshed daily. Transhumanists often hold neural supercharging as an important practice.	1500	1500	3000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Neural supercharger
Toxifier generator	Create toxifier generators which generate electricity, but also spread pollution around themselves.	500	500	1000	Electricity	Simple	Toxifier generator
Xenogenetics	Create xenogerms which can be implanted in a person to genetically modify them. Extract genepacks from living people using a gene extractor so you can reimplant their genes into someone else.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity	Simple	Gene assembler  Gene bank  Gene extractor  Xenogerm
Gene processor	Build gene processors, which allow a gene assembler to create xenogerms of higher genetic complexity.	1500	1500	3000	Xenogenetics Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Gene processor
Archogenetics	Allows a gene assembler to use archite capsules to create seemingly-impossible genes. Archite genes and archite capsules can be obtained from traders.	2500	2500	5000	Fabrication Gene Processor	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Deathrest	Those with the deathrest gene must periodically undergo a special deathrest coma that lasts several days. This research project allows you to construct buildings which accelerate the deathrest coma and confer specific bonuses on the deathrester. Over time, you can build a grand deathrest temple.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity	Simple	Deathrest accelerator  Deathrest casket  Glucosoid pump  Hemogen amplifier  Hemopump  Psychofluid pump
Fertility procedures	Perform the surgeries necessary to create a test tube embryo from a fertile man and woman, then implant the embryo in a surrogate mother or growth vat. Also, perform sterilization surgeries on men and women.	1000	1000	2000	Electricity	Simple
Tox gas	Produce weapons that utilize caustic tox gas.	600	600	1200	Machining	Simple	Tox grenades  Tox pack  Tox shell  Toxbomb launcher
Basic mechtech	The technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control basic-tier mechanoids.	200	200	400	Electricity	Simple (Mechanitor)	Agrihand  Airwire headset  Band node  Basic subcore  Cleansweeper  Constructoid  Control pack  Lifter  Mech gestator  Mech recharger  Militor  Subcore encoder
Standard mechtech	The technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control standard-tier mechanoids. You can get signal chips by using a mechanitor to summon a diabolus threat.	1000	1000	2000	Basic mechtech	Simple (Mechanitor) 1x Signal chip	Pikeman Scyther Array headset  Bandwidth pack  Control sublink (standard)  Large mech gestator  Large mech recharger  Mech gestation processor  Mechband antenna  Mechcommander helmet  Scorcher  Subcore softscanner  Tunneler
High mechtech	The technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control high-tier mechanoids. You can get powerfocus chips by using a mechanitor to summon a war queen threat.	3000	3000	6000	Standard mechtech Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Powerfocus chip	Centipede burner Centipede gunner Lancer Control sublink (high)  Diabolus  Fabricor  Integrator headset  Mech booster  Mechband dish  Paramedic  Remote repairer  Remote shielder  Subcore ripscanner
Wastepack atomizer	Build wastepack atomizers which can safely dispose of toxic wastepacks by decomposing them at the molecular level.	8000	8000	16000	Advanced fabrication	Simple 1x Nano structuring chip	Wastepack atomizer
Security door	Build a heavily reinforced door. It is slow to open and requires power, but is very strong. It's a good choice if you want to keep something dangerous out - or in.	700	700	1400	Autodoor	Simple	Security door
Turret pack	Build a wearable pack that allows a user to deploy a battery-powered turret.	1400	1400	2800	Gun turrets Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Turret pack

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Spacer Research Projects

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon	Unlocks
Cryptosleep casket	Construct cryptosleep caskets, which can put living beings in a state of indefinite suspended animation.	2000	2000	4000	Multi-analyzer	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Cryptosleep casket
Recon armor	Craft recon armor, a light powered armor suit used by scout troops who need protection on the move. Note that these also require advanced components.	6000	6000	12000	Fabrication Complex clothing	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Recon armor Recon helmet Locust armor  Prestige recon armor  Prestige recon helmet
Marine armor	Build marine armor. A general-use powered armor suit used by high-tech shock troops. Note that these also require advanced components.	6000	6000	12000	Recon armor Complex clothing	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Marine armor Marine helmet Grenadier armor  Prestige marine armor  Prestige marine helmet
Pulse charged munitions	Build weapons which fire pulse-charged munitions for extra damage. Note that these also require advanced components.	3000	3000	6000	Fabrication Precision rifling	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Charge lance Charge rifle
Bionic replacements	Build high-tech bionic body parts to replace lost limbs and eyes. Requires a skilled doctor to attach.	2000	2000	4000?	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Bionic arm Bionic ear Bionic eye Bionic heart Bionic jaw Bionic leg Bionic spine Bionic stomach Bionic tongue
Starflight basics	Construct the structural and supportive elements of a starship. This is the first step in building a ship to leave this star system.	4000	4000	8000	Advanced fabrication	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Ship structural beam
Starflight sensors	Construct long-range sensors for a starship. These sensors are essential for navigation, communication, and threat avoidance.	4000	4000	8000	Starflight basics Long-range mineral scanner	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Sensor cluster
Vacuum cryptosleep casket	Construct hardened ship cryptosleep caskets tough enough to be exposed to vacuum, for transporting people on the years-long journey between the stars.	2800	2800	5600	Starflight basics Cryptosleep casket	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Ship cryptosleep casket
Starship reactor	Build a long-duration nuclear reactor to power a starship. Note that reactors have a long startup process that will attract raiders.	6000	6000	12000	Starflight basics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Ship reactor
Johnson-Tanaka drive	Construct a Johnson-Tanaka drive for a ship. The JT drive can push you to other stars by leveraging quantum scale effects to beam momentum to distant stars. Of course, as with all starships, it still takes many years to get anywhere.	6000	6000	12000	Starflight basics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)
Machine persuasion	Build a reward-signal system to persuade an existing AI persona into serving as a ship's machine captain. Since people sleep during interstellar travel, a persona core is necessary to handle the complex decisions of a years-long starflight.	3000	3000	6000	Starflight basics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer)	Ship computer core
Cataphract armor	Craft cataphract armor, heavy powered armor that slows the user but which can absorb extreme punishment. Note that these also require advanced components.	6000	6000	12000	Marine armor	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 2x Cataphract Armor Techprint	Cataphract armor  Cataphract helmet  Phoenix armor  Prestige cataphract armor  Prestige cataphract helmet
Brain wiring	Craft brain implants that induce or prevent blunt sensations like joy or pain.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Prosthetics	Hi-tech 1x Brain Wiring Techprint	Joywire Painstopper Mindscrew
Specialized limbs	Craft specialized bionic limbs built for specific purposes - both combat and labor.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Prosthetics	Hi-tech 1x Specialized Limbs Techprint	Power claw Drill arm  Field hand
Compact weaponry	Craft compact, concealable bionic weapons which can be embedded in various body parts.	2000	2000	4000	Microelectronics Prosthetics	Hi-tech 1x Compact Weaponry Techprint	Elbow blade  Hand talon  Knee spike
Poison synthesis	Craft bionics that synthesize venom from internal chemical reactors for use in toxifying attacks.	2000	2000	4000	Compact weaponry	Hi-tech 1x Poison Synthesis Techprint	Venom fangs  Venom talon
Toxin filtration	Craft and install bionic organs that can filter out toxins from the environment and from enemy attacks.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Simple	Detoxifier kidney  Detoxifier lung
Growth vats	Construct growth vats which can gestate an embryo or accelerate a child's growth.	500	500	1000	Microelectronics	Hi-tech	Growth vat

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Ultra Research Projects

Name	Description	Base cost	Industrial start cost	Tribal start cost	Required Research	Required Research Bench & Addon	Unlocks
Artificial metabolism	Craft bionics that process food more safely or efficiently than a biological stomach.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Artificial Metabolism Techprint	Nuclear stomach  Reprocessor stomach  Sterilizing stomach
Neural computation	Craft brain implants that assist thought and learning by use of a direct, shallow brain-computer interface.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Neural Computation Techprint	Learning assistant  Neurocalculator
Skin hardening	Craft bionic implants which induce the toughening of natural skin, producing an armor-like effect.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Skin Hardening Techprint	Armorskin gland  Stoneskin gland  Toughskin gland
Healing factors	Craft bionics that enhance natural healing processes.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Healing Factors [[Techprint]	Coagulator  Healing enhancer
Flesh shaping	Craft bionics which induce the reshaping of natural flesh, usually for the purposes of aesthetic enhancement or personal pleasure.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Flesh Shaping Techprint	Aesthetic nose  Aesthetic shaper  Love enhancer
Molecular analysis	Craft bionics with molecular analyzers for assisting the immune system or analyzing food.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Molecular Analysis Techprint	Gastro-analyzer  Immunoenhancer
Circadian influence	Craft brain implants that chemically manipulate the circadian rhythm, reducing or altering the need to sleep.	2000	2000	4000	Fabrication Prosthetics	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Circadian Influence Techprint	Circadian assistant  Circadian half-cycler
Ultra mechtech	The advanced technology needed for your mechanitor to create and control ultra-tier mechanoids, including large mechs and ultra-tier mechanitor gear. You can get nano structuring chips by using a mechanitor to summon an apocriton threat.	5000	5000	10000	High mechtech Fabrication	Hi-tech (Multi-analyzer) 1x Nano structuring chip	Centipede blaster Centurion  Legionary  Mechlord helmet  Mechlord suit  Repair probe  Tesseron  War queen  War urchin

^A Tribal starts begin with this research unlocked

^B The Classic Start begin with this research unlocked

^C This research requirement is not displayed in the branching tree diagram, and is only visible in the project description.

Analysis

This is a rough suggestion of what technologies to research. Variations exist, and research order can change depending on current map and biome, colonist skill, personal playstyle/goals, and difficulty.

The key criterion is what is most likely to affect your survivability right now. For example, for a New Tribe ice sheet colony, that may be getting Complex clothing for parkas to let you function outside for extended periods.

Generally however, the primary risk is from combat, either directly or the downward spirals that can result of the damage to colonists and infrastructure that results. This makes rushing Flak armor and Gas operation a solid option as not only will they give you equipment that can carry you into the end game, the prerequisite researches also unlock options while you're building towards for that end-game load out. The most obvious examples are the early guns which can stand in for the later ones that you might eventually standarize on, however the other options are also very useful - Smithing unlocks maces for good early melee, Machining gives you frag grenades to dominate melee threats etc.

Once survivability is reached, projects can be selected by preference or prioritized based on what allows for fastest progression.

This may look something like this:

1. One of:
   • Batteries and solar generators
   • Watermill generators
   • Geothermal generator
2. Microelectronics
3. Multi-analyzer
4. Fabrication

Notes:

¹ You'll want some better source of power. Solar generators are easy to use, and with batteries, are a consistent source of power. Watermill generators can only be used if a river (not ocean) is nearby. Water is more reliable than solar, for less research than batteries + solar.

In theory, geothermal generators provide much more power than either option, but its 3200 research cost makes it more difficult for newer players. Rushing to geothermal is still possible, especially if you rely on wind turbines or wood-fired generators initially.

² Microelectronics gives access to hi-tech research bench, which makes research 33% faster. It also gives access to the comms console, an easy source for tradable items, and EMP grenades, which are very powerful against mechanoids.

³ A multi-analyzer boosts research by a further 10%, though you may not have the materials to create one. If you can't build a multi-analyzer or Fabrication's fabrication bench yet, then you'll gain the opportunity to chase some other tribal/industrial research projects. The ultimate goal is to reach Fabrication as soon as possible, so you can make your own components.

Gallery

All research projects in the base game

Version history

• 0.3.410 - Stonecutter's table now requires research
• Beta 19/1.0 - Split "Hospital beds" into Sterile materials and Hospital beds research projects.
• 1.3.3101 - Bioregeneration research project added.
• 1.3.3200 - Brain wiring, compact weaponry, neural supercharge, biosculpting, specialized limbs, poison synthesis projects now require hi-tech research bench.
• 1.4.3523 - The Colored lights research reworked and renamed to Advanced lights.
• 1.4.3527 - Tox gas research prerequisite: Electricity -> Machining.
• 1.4.3555 - Improved formatting of the research project content source line in the research UI.
• 1.4.3580 - Fix: Incorrect dialog when completing research other than active project in some modded cases. Fix: Inspect pane displaying incorrect power consumption with research.