Droneworks

Overview

Building companion drones at the Drone Bay of your home station (Vanguard Charter). Frames are built in real time, also while you're away. Supply them, calibrate them, link with them and fly one beside your ship as a companion. From Droneworks 10, a Refined or Elite drone carries Supplies and Drift Locators in its frame's utility pod. Trained by finished builds, build tiers, servicing and linking.

How to train

Build drones at your Drone Bay. First boots, build tiers, servicing and link milestones train it (Vanguard Charter).

Unlocks by level

1. 1Drone Bay Two assembly cradles, a Quadlet founder frame and three paintsQuadlet Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 0.6 m3 of supplies and locators
2. 5Calibration tunes Pulse a drone's tuner in rhythm for link points
3. 6Companion Fly a Refined or Elite drone beside you, and every pilot sees itSpotter role Quadlet: Your ship locks targets faster
4. 8Moss Paint colorStriped Paint pattern
5. 10Assayer role Treadmite: A little more ore and planetary goods from every cycle, with no extra XPTreadmite Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 1.0 m3 of supplies and locatorsUtility Pod A Refined or Elite companion of a carrying frame holds Supplies and Drift Locators in its utility pod; the volume depends on the frame
6. 12Cautious Behavior profileLow Drain I Drones lose charge 8% slower (Drone Bay only).
7. 15Assembly cradle 3 One more build in progress at a timeChevron Paint pattern
8. 20Decoy role Ringskim: Some missiles fired at you chase the decoy insteadDusk Paint colorField repair Your companions mend your armor slowly out of combat, drawing your batteryRingskim Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 0.6 m3 of supplies and locators
9. 24Nimble Behavior profile
10. 25Design lineage Two Elite drones of a frame pass a paint, a pattern and a lamp to a new buildGrid Paint pattern
11. 30Armature Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 3.0 m3 of supplies and locatorsAssembly cradle 4 One more build in progress at a timeClean Signal Calibration tunes give 10% more link (Drone Bay only).Collector role Armature: Collects loot you may take from nearby wrecks, farther and faster, even without a rig
12. 35Rack of 8 Keep more Elite drones on the Rack outside the assembly lineSaffron Paint color
13. 36Daring Behavior profile
14. 40Camo Paint patternPicket role Tetherorb: Shoots down missiles fired at you and fires at hostile strike craftTetherorb Founder frame and build kits. This frame has no utility pod
15. 45Low Drain II Drones lose charge another 8% slower (Drone Bay only).Master finish A linked, fully built drone shows a polished halo
16. 50Assembly cradle 5 One more build in progress at a timeAurora Paint patternHexpod Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 1.8 m3 of supplies and locatorsMender role Hexpod: Mends your armor during a fight, slowly
17. 55Rose Paint colorStarlit Gantry Bay theme
18. 60Companion slot 2 A second drone flies with you as a wing companion and does its frame's job at three quarters strength, without a podDeltakite Founder frame and build kits. This frame has no utility podMarker role Deltakite: Your weapons hit the hostile NPC you target a little harderSteady Trickle A depleted drone keeps being built at half speed instead of pausing (Drone Bay only).
19. 70Assembly cradle 6 One more build in progress at a timeShowy Behavior profile
20. 72Charger role Lightsail: Your battery recharges fasterLightsail Founder frame and build kits. This frame has no utility pod
21. 75Slate Paint colorWide Rack The Rack holds 2 more Elite drones (Drone Bay only).
22. 80Startup Chime Pack Cosmetic audio
23. 85Spindle Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 0.6 m3 of supplies and locatorsSurveyor role Spindle: Your enemy scans reach farther, see through a shroud and finish sooner
24. 90Assembly cradle 7 One more build in progress at a timeCompanion slot 3 A third drone flies with you as a wing companionMaster Engineer Lineage sources rest 10 days instead of 14 (Drone Bay only).
25. 99Aegis role Halcyon: Your shields recharge fasterHalcyon Founder frame and build kits. This frame's utility pod holds 2.4 m3 of supplies and locators