Resources

Four resources drive your empire. Every planet produces them continuously, collects them in its warehouses and uses them for construction, research and ships. On top of that there is energy, which is not stored but keeps your mines running (Energy).

The four resources

• Pig iron is mined by the Pig iron mine. It is a building material for many buildings and the raw material for Metal.
• Metal is produced by the Blast furnace from Pig iron. It uses up more Pig iron than it delivers Metal – so your Pig iron mine has to grow along with it. Metal is the most important material for ships, research and almost every building.
• Kryptonite from the Kryptonite mine is extremely hard and needed almost everywhere, especially for research, ships and defense.
• Spice from the Spice mine is the most valuable resource: fuel for every fleet, an ingredient for strong units and the fuel of the Thermosolar plant. The colder a planet, the more Spice the Spice mine produces.

How to keep production high

Every mine needs energy. If there is not enough, all mines on the planet reduce their output evenly. Without any mines, each planet only delivers a small base amount of Pig iron and Kryptonite – far from enough for a growing empire.

Under Economy you can see each planet's production per hour and set every mine and power plant anywhere between 0 and 100 %. Mining technology increases your mine output by 2 % per level. More bonuses come from building upgrades, your specialization, the Synth network and multiple productions.

With the Merchant you exchange one resource for another. Many experienced players get their Metal this way instead of spending building fields and energy on a Blast furnace. Trading with other players at the official rate is allowed, but sending resources without anything in return is restricted (see FAQ).

Pig ironBasic resource from the Pig iron mine. Refined into metal in the Blast furnace and needed for many buildings.

MetalMade from pig iron in the Blast furnace. The most important material for ships, research and almost every building.

KryptoniteA tough resource from the Kryptonite mine. Essential for research, ships and defense.

SpiceThe most valuable resource, from the Spice mine. Fuel for your fleet and an ingredient of strong units.

EnergyNot stored but produced continuously. Without enough energy, all mines slow down their output.