Metal
Metal is the most abundant and widely used resource in the universe. It forms the backbone of all construction.
Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Source | Metal Mine |
| Storage | Metal Storage |
| Color | Gray |
| Abundance | High |
Production
Metal is produced by the Metal Mine. Production increases with mine level.
Base Production
Even without mines, planets have minimal base production:
- Base: 300 metal per hour (at universe speed 1x, before position bonus)
Mine Production Formula
Production = 200 * Level * 1.1^Level * Temperature Modifier * Position Bonus * Universe Speed * Production Factor
Production Factor drops when your energy is negative.
See Metal Mine for detailed production tables and modifiers.
Energy Consumption
Metal Mines consume energy to operate:
Energy = 10 * Level * 1.1^Level
| Level | Energy Required |
|---|---|
| 5 | 81 |
| 10 | 259 |
| 15 | 670 |
| 20 | 1,577 |
Uses
Metal is required for virtually everything:
Buildings
- All buildings require metal
- Often 50-70% of total cost is metal
Ships
- Hull construction
- Basic components
- Highest material by volume
Defense
- Structural framework
- Mounting hardware
- Ammunition
Research
- Some technologies require metal
- Generally less than crystal/deuterium
Planet Position Bonus
Planet position applies a multiplier after temperature. See Metal Mine for the exact position bonuses.
Strategy
Early Game
- Prioritize Metal Mine levels
- Metal is your primary bottleneck
- Always keep upgrading
Mid Game
- Balance with crystal production
- Consider planet positions for specialization
- Upgrade storage before hitting caps
Late Game
- Metal becomes less of a bottleneck
- Focus on crystal and deuterium ratios
- Use cargo ships to redistribute