The six-tab research tree: nodes, costs, times, the queue and how it works in PvP.
The research tree gives your ship permanent bonuses and is never reset. There are five paths: Weapons, Defense, Engineering, Logistics, Economy; the sixth tab, Professions, is a skill tree (below). Pick a node with the Research button in the Menu (K). Research runs in the background on server time, so it keeps going while you are not in the game. There is no level requirement.
Cost and time
Level L of a node in layer r (the column in the tree: Base 1, Paths 2, Mastery 3) costs 6·r·L Data Cores, 150,000·r·L Credits and takes 2·r·L hours. Deep nodes (at the end of a path, unlimited): level n costs 30·1.06^(n−1) Data Cores and 5,000,000·1.12^(n−1) Credits, and each takes 8 hours.
Node
Data Cores
Credits
Time
Layer 1 · level 1
6
150,000
120 min
Layer 1 · level 5
30
750,000
600 min
Layer 1 · level 10
60
1,500,000
1200 min
Layer 2 · level 1
12
300,000
240 min
Layer 2 · level 5
60
1,500,000
1200 min
Layer 3 · level 1
18
450,000
360 min
Layer 3 · level 5
90
2,250,000
1800 min
Deep · level 1
30
5,000,000
480 min
Deep · level 20
91
43,063,808
480 min
Rules
Skill tree: each path is a tree. To start a node, the nodes in the "Requires first" column of the table must have reached that level (the lines joining the nodes in the menu). A locked node tells you why. Once a node's first level is open, the following levels are always open. A Deep node opens when every node of its path is at max level.
Research queue: you can line up to 50 researches behind the running one; the next starts as soon as the running one finishes. The cost is paid when you queue a node, and you get all of it back if you remove it from the queue.
Speed up: you can finish the running research with Silicite: 20 Silicite for every hour left (at least 10); Vessarion Plus members pay 25% less.
Cancel: if you cancel the running research you get the full cost back.
In PvP: combat nodes are halved, Deep nodes have no effect against pilots; economy and logistics nodes count in full.
Paths and nodes
Weapons
Node
Layer
Requires first
Max level
Per level
In PvP
Laser Focus
1
—
10
Laser damage +1%
full
Rocket Warhead
1
—
10
Rocket damage +1%
full
Ammo Efficiency
2
Laser Focus 5
10
Ammo use −1%
full
Antimatter Efficiency
3
Ammo Efficiency 3 · Rocket Warhead 2
5
Antimatter use −3%
full
Deep Weapons
Deep
all nodes of the path at max level
unlimited
All damage +0.25% (against Exiles only)
no effect
Defense
Node
Layer
Requires first
Max level
Per level
In PvP
Armor Plating
1
—
10
Armor +1%
full
Shield Weave
1
—
10
Shield +1%
full
Shield Regeneration
2
Shield Weave 5
5
Out-of-combat shield regeneration +4%
full
Damping
3
Shield Regeneration 3 · Armor Plating 2
5
Damage taken −1%
full
Deep Defense
Deep
all nodes of the path at max level
unlimited
Armor and shield +0.25% (against Exiles only)
no effect
Engineering
Node
Layer
Requires first
Max level
Per level
In PvP
Generator Tuning
1
—
10
Generator effect +1%
full
Skill Rhythm
2
Generator Tuning 5
5
Skill cooldown −2%
full
Skill Duration
3
Skill Rhythm 5
5
Skill duration +2%
full
Deep Engineering
Deep
all nodes of the path at max level
unlimited
Generator effect +0.25% (against Exiles only)
no effect
Logistics
Node
Layer
Requires first
Max level
Per level
In PvP
Hold
1
—
10
Cargo +3%
full
Repair Contract
1
—
5
Repair cost −5%
full
Thrust
2
Hold 5
5
Speed +1%
full
Field Repair
3
Hold 5 · Repair Contract 5
5
Out-of-combat armor repair +10%
full
Deep Logistics
Deep
all nodes of the path at max level
unlimited
Cargo +1%
no effect
Economy
Node
Layer
Requires first
Max level
Per level
In PvP
Credit Share
1
—
10
NPC, crate and PvP Credits +2%
full
Experience
1
—
10
NPC, crate and PvP XP +2%
full
Shard Scent
2
Credit Share 5
5
Crate reward +3%
full
Scrap Eye
3
Shard Scent 3 · Experience 2
5
Silicite drops +4%
full
Deep Economy
Deep
all nodes of the path at max level
unlimited
Credits +0.5%
no effect
Professions: Weapon Mastery
The Research → Professions tab holds two skill trees (switch with the buttons at the top): the nodes are joined by lines, and to unlock a node you must have researched the ones before it. Weapon Mastery only affects production (dismantling LT-3, crafting LT-4, recipe discounts); it gives no combat power. Cost and time are paid the same way as for other research (Data Cores, Credits, the queue).
You can craft LT-4, RK-4, KJ-4, HJ-4 and KG-4 from Beam Cores and Ring Essence
24 Data Cores · 480 min
Workshop
Dismantling
1
You can craft LT-3, RK-3, KJ-3, HJ-3 and KG-3
18 Data Cores · 360 min
Ammo Master
Dismantling
3
Ring Dust, Alloy and Coil in ammo packs −10% → Ring Dust, Alloy and Coil in ammo packs −20% → Ring Dust, Alloy and Coil in ammo packs −30%
36 Data Cores · 720 min
Module Master
Workshop
3
Weapon Alloy / Current Essence input of LT-3, RK-3, KJ-3, HJ-3 and KG-3 −8% → Weapon Alloy / Current Essence input of LT-3, RK-3, KJ-3, HJ-3 and KG-3 −16% → Weapon Alloy / Current Essence input of LT-3, RK-3, KJ-3, HJ-3 and KG-3 −24%
72 Data Cores · 1440 min
Chip Crafting
Workshop
1
You can craft all four chips
24 Data Cores · 480 min
Ring Essence Saving
Cheap Dismantling 1
5
When Ring Essence is spent: 4% chance that all of it is refunded → When Ring Essence is spent: 8% chance that all of it is refunded → When Ring Essence is spent: 12% chance that all of it is refunded → When Ring Essence is spent: 16% chance that all of it is refunded → When Ring Essence is spent: 20% chance that all of it is refunded
Ring Essence for LT-4, RK-4 and Tier 4 generators −10% → Ring Essence for LT-4, RK-4 and Tier 4 generators −20% → Ring Essence for LT-4, RK-4 and Tier 4 generators −30%
36 Data Cores · 720 min
Mass Production
LT-4 Crafting
1
5+ LT-4 or RK-4 in one go: 1 Ring Essence less for each (10 → 9)
18 Data Cores · 360 min
Ring Essence Master
Ring Essence Saving 5 · Cheap Dismantling 3
5
When a Protection Seal is used: 3% chance that it is not used up → When a Protection Seal is used: 6% chance that it is not used up → When a Protection Seal is used: 9% chance that it is not used up → When a Protection Seal is used: 12% chance that it is not used up → When a Protection Seal is used: 15% chance that it is not used up
180 Data Cores · 3600 min
Core Saving
Crafting Credits 3 · Material Master 3
1
5% chance that no Beam Core is spent on each tier-4 module crafted (LT-4, RK-4, KJ-4, HJ-4, KG-4)
36 Data Cores · 720 min
Professions: Refinery Mastery
Tier 1 boosts are open to everyone. To load and use Tier 2 (+15%) and Tier 3 (+30%) boosts, the matching node in this tree must be researched: Weapon Boost II / III for Laser and Rocket, Defense Boost II / III for Shield and Speed. The Refinery window shows a locked tier with the name of its node. Refining is always allowed: you can make Tier 3 material and sell it on the Market. Fuel Efficiency, Refining Fee and Boost Master only save you resources; the tree gives no combat power by itself.
Node
Requires first
Max level
What it does
Total cost
Boost Lore
—
1
Opens the Tier 2 and Tier 3 boost researches
12 Data Cores · 240 min
Weapon Boost II
Boost Lore
1
You can use the Tier 2 boost (Alloy, +15%) on Laser and Rocket
18 Data Cores · 360 min
Fuel Efficiency
Boost Lore
3
Boost fuel burns 5% less → Boost fuel burns 10% less → Boost fuel burns 15% less
36 Data Cores · 720 min
Defense Boost II
Boost Lore
1
You can use the Tier 2 boost (Coil, +15%) on Shield and Speed