How skills work#
Every skill trains by doing it. There is nothing to buy and nothing to schedule: XP lands the moment you act, whether you are online for ten minutes or ten hours. Every pilot earns XP at the same rates.
- Each skill levels from 1 to 99. Every level gives a small, permanent bonus to that activity, such as more mining yield, more turret damage or a lower market tax.
- Levels unlock things. Ores, refining recipes, blueprint tiers, modules, hulls, colony buildings and sites each need a level in their skill. The Skills window shows the next unlock for every skill.
- Perks add named bonuses along each ladder, with a capstone near the top.
- Synergies switch on when you train two related skills together.
- Honors at level 99 put your mastery on your hull for every pilot to see, and XP past 99 counts toward mastery levels up to 120.
Open the Skills window with K (or from a station's services). It lists every skill by group with its level and progress, and each skill's page shows its bonus, how to train it, its full unlock ladder and its synergies. A toast tells you whenever a level-up unlocks something.
Levels and the XP curve#
Skills share one curve: each level needs about 10% more XP than the last. Early levels come fast, and the last few take as long as everything before them: level 92 is roughly the halfway point to 99.
| Level | Total XP | Share of level 99 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 83 | 0.00064% |
| 5 | 388 | 0.003% |
| 10 | 1,154 | 0.0089% |
| 20 | 4,470 | 0.034% |
| 25 | 7,842 | 0.06% |
| 30 | 13,363 | 0.1% |
| 40 | 37,224 | 0.29% |
| 50 | 101,333 | 0.78% |
| 60 | 273,742 | 2.1% |
| 70 | 737,627 | 5.7% |
| 75 | 1,210,421 | 9.3% |
| 80 | 1,986,068 | 15.2% |
| 85 | 3,258,594 | 25% |
| 90 | 5,346,332 | 41% |
| 92 | 6,517,253 | 50% |
| 95 | 8,771,558 | 67.3% |
| 99 | 13,034,431 | 100% |
From the game's own data
XP keeps counting after 99. Each further step on the same curve is a mastery level, up to 120. Mastery levels don't add bonuses; they show on your skill, count on the Mastery ranking and earn the top honors.
| Mastery level | Total XP | Times the XP of level 99 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 14,391,160 | 1.1× |
| 105 | 23,611,006 | 1.8× |
| 110 | 38,737,661 | 3× |
| 115 | 63,555,443 | 4.9× |
| 120 | 104,273,167 | 8× |
From the game's own data
Every skill#
The Skills window sorts skills into three groups: Combat, Industry and Social. Here is each one, how it trains and the bonus each level gives.
| Skill | Group | How it trains | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piloting | Combat | Fly under your own power (outside warp) and take part in kills. Maneuvering hard in combat trains it fastest. | +0.2% speed & agility per level |
| Racing | Combat | Flying a circuit of checkpoint rings against the clock and the grid at a Racing Port. The grid always fills: other pilots when they are there, hired hands when they are not. Trained by finishing races, and by winning them. | +4% lap pace and +15% podium odds across the ladder (racing only) · Rookie circuits from the first race, Circuit at 10, the Championship at 25 |
| Hunting | Combat | Take a task from a Bounty Master at a Bounty Office (garrisons and pirate bases) and destroy the Crown ships it names. Every kill on task trains it (more for bigger hulls), and a finished task pays a bonus and Bounty Points. | Bounty Office pay rate ×1 to ×4.65 with level (×4.3 from 70) · Crown hulls from Cutthroats at 1 to Dreadlords at 85, world bosses at 95 (hunting only) |
| Gunnery | Combat | Land hits with lasers and mass drivers, on pirates or other pilots (other pilots train it only up to a cap). | +0.3% turret & gun damage per level |
| Missiles | Combat | Land missile, rocket and torpedo hits on a locked target, or shoot incoming missiles down with picket darts. | +0.3% missile damage per level |
| Defense | Combat | Survive damage dealt by other ships. Tanking pirates with a regenerator running is the classic way. | +0.3% shield/armor/hull per level |
| Engineering | Combat | Run barrier regenerators, nanite arrays, jammers and remote repairers when they actually repair or act. | +0.3% battery capacity & charge rate per level |
| Navigation | Combat | Warp between celestials and jump through gates. | +0.5% warp speed per level |
| Mining | Industry | Cut asteroid ore with mining lasers. Rarer ores pay more XP per load; Mine automatically keeps you cutting. | +0.5% mining yield per level |
| Harvesting | Industry | Land on a world and run the onboard collector on its surface resources. | +0.5% harvest yield per level |
| Refining | Industry | Refine ore into materials at a station refinery (Industry › Refine). | +0.3% refining yield per level |
| Industry | Industry | Start manufacturing jobs from blueprints. Longer jobs train more. | -0.3% manufacturing time per level |
| Salvaging | Industry | Run a Scrap Reclaimer on wrecks until it recovers salvage. | +0.5% salvage chance per level |
| Trading | Social | Buy and sell on the player market (a steady trader trains it; order spam doesn't). | -0.01% broker fee and -0.02% sales tax per level |
| Exploration | Social | Scan systems with a Deep Scanner, land on worlds and spaceports, and crack derelict caches. | +0.5% scan strength per level |
| Leadership | Social | Broadcast doctrine arrays that reach clanmates, and fight world bosses alongside others. | +0.1% fleet bonuses per level |
| Colonization | Industry | Found and build up planetary colonies and collect their taxes. | +1 colony per 25 levels · −0.4% build time & −0.2% upkeep per level |
From the game's own data
Trading's exact fee and tax cuts, level by level, are in Trading: fees and taxes.
Vanguard skills#
Vanguard skills are members' content for holders of the Vanguard Charter. They add activities, never power: their bonuses work only inside their own activity, and they count toward no total level, pilot level, Overall ranking or achievement. Each has its own hiscore board, marked Vanguard. If your Charter lapses you keep every point of XP.
| Skill | Group | How it trains | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flotilla | Social | Trained by the ore your contracted flotilla delivers, also while you're offline (Vanguard Charter). | More and bigger crews with level · +0.25% crew yield & −0.3% wages per level (flotillas only) |
| Reclamation | Industry | Send contracted salvage tugs on Deep Drift expeditions; every expedition hour trains it (Vanguard Charter). | More tugs with level · +0.3% haul & −0.2% expedition fees per level (expeditions only) |
| Xenobiology | Industry | Plant and harvest alien crops in station Greenhouse Bays (Vanguard Charter). | More plots with level · +0.3% crop yield & −0.5% blight per level (greenhouses only) |
| Extracting | Industry | Survey moons with Seismic Beacons, build drill rigs on their deposits and land beside them to collect: every unit collected, every survey and every rig built trains it (Vanguard Charter). | More rigs, deeper deposits and heavier rigs with level · +0.3% rig output per level (rigs only) |
| Cartography | Social | File charts of stars, worlds, belts and signals with the faction survey offices (Vanguard Charter). | Harder targets with level · +0.4% survey fees per level (charting only) |
| Captaincy | Combat | Command Retainer wings while you're online: every hour they're out, and the damage they deal to pirates and Crown forces (Vanguard Charter). | More ships, wings and heavier hulls with level · up to 50 ships in 10 wings at 99 (Retainers only) |
From the game's own data
More on each activity: flotillas and Retainers, Greenhouse Bays, moon rigs, Cartography and the Vanguard Charter.
Perks#
Perks are the named rungs on a skill's ladder: 145 in all. Each one is small (a few percent, an extra slot, a few seconds) and each does something real in play. They switch on by themselves when you reach the level, and they stack with the skill's per-level bonus.
Piloting: 5 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Boost Recovery I | The boost reserve refills 10% faster. |
| 60 | Burst Strafe | +10% lateral and vertical thrust: sharper sidesteps and dodges. |
| 70 | Boost Recovery II | The boost reserve refills another 10% faster. |
| 80 | Extended Burn | +10% boost reserve: burns last longer. |
| 90 | Ace Reflexes | +3% pitch, yaw and roll rates. |
From the game's own data
Racing: 12 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Green Flag | Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). The rookie circuits are open from your first race. |
| 10 | Circuit License | Circuit courses open (Stormglass Run, Crown Gauntlet, Deep Sprint). Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 18 | Late Apex | Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 25 | Champion's Entry | The Exodus Championship opens. Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 33 | Late Braking | Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 42 | Slipstream Lines | Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 51 | Seamless Shifts | Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 60 | Podium Eye | Podium prize rolls 3% more often (racing only). |
| 68 | Pit Craft | Podium prize rolls 3% more often (racing only). |
| 76 | Track Memory | Lap pace 0.5% better (racing only). |
| 85 | Photo Finish | Podium prize rolls 3% more often (racing only). |
| 94 | Grand Prix Master | Podium prize rolls 6% more often (racing only). |
From the game's own data
Hunting: 12 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Quick Quarry I | Quarry packs arrive 8% sooner after the last one falls (bounty tasks only). |
| 25 | Bounty Ledger I | +5% Bounty Points for every task (bounty tasks only). |
| 30 | Blacklist I | One more slot on your block list (bounty tasks only). |
| 42 | Quick Quarry II | Quarry packs arrive another 8% sooner (bounty tasks only). |
| 47 | Trophy Sense I | Rare hunting finds turn up 10% more often (bounty tasks only). |
| 55 | Bounty Ledger II | Another +5% Bounty Points for every task (bounty tasks only). |
| 62 | Blacklist II | Another slot on your block list (bounty tasks only). |
| 70 | Quick Quarry III | Quarry packs arrive another 8% sooner (bounty tasks only). |
| 77 | Trophy Sense II | Rare hunting finds turn up another 10% more often (bounty tasks only). |
| 85 | Bounty Ledger III | Another +10% Bounty Points for every task (bounty tasks only). |
| 90 | Blacklist III | Another slot on your block list (bounty tasks only). |
| 95 | Apex Hunter | One on-task kill in ten counts twice toward your task (bounty tasks only). |
From the game's own data
Gunnery: 4 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Draw Discipline | Energy weapons draw 8% less battery charge per shot. |
| 65 | Steady Tracking I | +5% turret tracking. |
| 75 | Ammunition Economy | Ammunition guns keep the round on 15% of shots. |
| 85 | Steady Tracking II | Another +5% turret tracking. |
From the game's own data
Missiles: 15 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Rocket Drills | Rocket pods reload 8% faster. |
| 30 | Hardened Casings I | Point defense, flak and picket darts are 8% less likely to stop your missiles. |
| 40 | Torpedo Rigging | Torpedo warheads deal 5% more damage. |
| 45 | Picket Drill | Your picket darts are 5% likelier to kill the missile they reach. |
| 50 | Launcher Drills I | Launchers reload 5% faster. |
| 55 | Ion Seekers | Disruptor warheads and ion-tipped missiles drain 10% more battery. |
| 60 | Long Burn | Cruise missiles fly 10% farther. |
| 65 | Guidance Tuning | Missiles fly 10% faster. |
| 70 | Hardened Casings II | Point defense, flak and picket darts are another 8% less likely to stop your missiles. |
| 75 | Munitions Economy | 15% of launches don't use up a missile. |
| 80 | Launcher Drills II | Launchers reload another 5% faster. |
| 85 | Dense Payload | Cluster missiles burst into 25% more bomblets (the same total yield): harder to stop. |
| 90 | Precision Warheads | Warheads bloom 10% tighter: more damage to small, quick targets. |
| 92 | Torpedo Ace | Torpedo warheads deal another 5% more damage. |
| 95 | Salvo Master | +3% damage with every launcher. |
From the game's own data
Defense: 5 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Shield Recovery I | Shields regenerate 5% faster. |
| 70 | Braced Hull Frames | +5% hull points. |
| 75 | Shield Recovery II | Shields regenerate another 5% faster. |
| 80 | Dry-Dock Contracts | Station repairs cost 20% less. |
| 90 | Bulwark | +3% shield, armor and hull. |
From the game's own data
Engineering: 5 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Efficient Cycling I | Cycled modules and overdrive thrusters use 5% less battery charge. |
| 45 | Repair Efficiency I | Shield boosters and armor repairers restore 5% more. |
| 70 | Efficient Cycling II | Cycled modules and overdrive thrusters use another 5% less battery charge. |
| 80 | Repair Efficiency II | Shield boosters and armor repairers restore another 5% more. |
| 90 | Charge Mastery | +5% battery charge rate. |
From the game's own data
Navigation: 10 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Quick Align I | Line up for warp 4% faster. |
| 20 | Warp Tuning I | +4% warp speed. |
| 30 | Gate Discipline I | Your post-jump grace period holds 2 s longer. |
| 40 | Quick Align II | Line up for warp another 4% faster. |
| 45 | Deep Space Navigation | In frontier regions your post-jump grace holds 4 s longer, and Ancient Gate Ruins echo 25% more lane lore. |
| 50 | Precision Drop-out | Warps to asteroid belts and scanned sites drop out at half the usual distance. |
| 60 | Warp Tuning II | Another +4% warp speed. |
| 70 | Quick Align III | Line up for warp another 4% faster. |
| 80 | Gate Discipline II | Your post-jump grace period holds another 2 s longer. |
| 90 | Star Navigator | Another +7% warp speed and 3% quicker align. |
From the game's own data
Mining: 5 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Efficient Cutting I | Mining lasers use 10% less battery charge. |
| 65 | Seam Reading | +4% yield on Voidstone, Xetite and Novacite. |
| 70 | Efficient Cutting II | Mining lasers use another 10% less battery charge. |
| 80 | Deep Cuts | +3% mining yield. |
| 99 | Ore Sense | One laser cycle in ten strikes a rich vein and cuts double. |
From the game's own data
Harvesting: 7 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Collector Tuning I | Collector cycles run 4% faster. |
| 35 | Deep Sampling | One cycle in twelve also brings up a batch of another resource the world holds. |
| 50 | Collector Tuning II | Collector cycles run another 4% faster. |
| 60 | Rich Pockets I | 5% of collector cycles bring up a double haul. |
| 70 | Frontier Harvesting | +10% harvest yield on worlds in Contested and Lawless space. |
| 80 | Collector Tuning III | Collector cycles run another 4% faster. |
| 90 | Master Collector | Another 5% of collector cycles bring up a double haul. |
From the game's own data
Refining: 5 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Careful Refining I | +1% refining yield. |
| 52 | Careful Refining II | Another +1% refining yield. |
| 70 | Careful Refining III | Another +1% refining yield. |
| 80 | Careful Refining IV | Another +1% refining yield. |
| 90 | Flawless Refining | Your refining yield reaches 100%: nothing is lost. |
From the game's own data
Industry: 2 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Batch Production | Jobs of 10 or more runs finish 10% sooner. |
| 90 | Master Shipwright | One more manufacturing slot, and batch jobs finish another 5% sooner. |
From the game's own data
Salvaging: 6 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Steady Grapple | +5% salvage chance. |
| 40 | Component Recovery | Salvage brings up components 10% more often. |
| 60 | Precision Salvage | Quantum processors turn up half again as often. |
| 70 | Relic Salvage | Heavy and capital wrecks sometimes hold an Exodus Fleet Databank (3%). |
| 80 | Twin Recovery | 15% of salvage recoveries bring up twice the scrap. |
| 90 | Master Reclaimer | Another +5% salvage chance, and twin recoveries on 25% of hauls. |
From the game's own data
Trading: 17 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Dockside Gossip | See market prices 1 jump out. |
| 10 | Order Book I | +2 market order slots. |
| 20 | Price Network I | See market prices 2 jumps out. |
| 25 | Contract Broker I | +1 open contract. |
| 30 | Order Book II | +2 market order slots. |
| 35 | Price Network II | See market prices 3 jumps out. |
| 45 | Price Network III | See market prices 4 jumps out. |
| 50 | Contract Relations | Contract listing fees are 25% lower. |
| 55 | Price Network IV | See market prices 5 jumps out. |
| 60 | Order Book III | +3 market order slots. |
| 65 | Regional Desk I | See market prices 6 jumps out. |
| 70 | Contract Broker II | +2 open contracts. |
| 75 | Regional Desk II | See market prices 7 jumps out. |
| 80 | Order Book IV | +3 market order slots. |
| 85 | Regional Desk III | See market prices 8 jumps out. |
| 90 | Tycoon | Sales tax a further 0.25 points lower. |
| 95 | Trade Horizon | See market prices 10 jumps out. |
From the game's own data
Exploration: 4 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Seal Cracking I | +5% Seal Breaker success on derelict caches. |
| 70 | Seal Cracking II | Another +5% Seal Breaker success. |
| 80 | Strongbox Appraisal | A cracked cache has a 10% chance to hold an extra Exodus Fleet Databank. |
| 90 | Pathfinder's Eye | Another +5% Seal Breaker success and +10% extra databank chance. |
From the game's own data
Leadership: 6 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Doctrine Reach I | Doctrine broadcasts reach 10% further. |
| 20 | Sustained Doctrine I | Doctrine effects last 10% longer. |
| 30 | Doctrine Reach II | Doctrine broadcasts reach another 10% further. |
| 50 | Sustained Doctrine II | Doctrine effects last another 10% longer. |
| 70 | Doctrine Efficiency | Doctrine arrays use 25% less battery charge. |
| 90 | Grand Commander | Doctrine broadcasts are 5% stronger. |
From the game's own data
Colonization: 1 perk
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Master Planner | Colony construction finishes 10% sooner. |
From the game's own data
Flotilla (Vanguard): 3 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Steady Crews | Cutter crews work 3% faster (flotillas only). |
| 35 | Tight Formation | Escorts fight 10% harder for their flotilla (flotillas only). |
| 95 | Flotilla Master | Crew wages 10% lower (flotillas only). |
From the game's own data
Reclamation (Vanguard): 2 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Reinforced Tugs | Expedition hazards 15% less likely (expeditions only). |
| 90 | Driftwarden's Fleet | A fifth salvage tug. |
From the game's own data
Extracting (Vanguard): 9 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Steady Bits I | Your rigs bring up 3% more (rigs only). |
| 22 | Seismic Reading | Seismic Beacons map deposits 20% farther out. |
| 33 | Fuel Discipline I | Rigs burn 10% fewer Fusion Cartridges (rigs only). |
| 45 | Deep Hoppers | Rig hoppers hold 25% more before they stop (rigs only). |
| 52 | Tamper Lock | Siphons take a quarter less from your rigs. |
| 62 | Steady Bits II | Your rigs bring up another 3% more (rigs only). |
| 74 | Fuel Discipline II | Rigs burn another 10% fewer Fusion Cartridges (rigs only). |
| 82 | Prospector's Eye | One Seismic Beacon maps every deposit on the moon. |
| 90 | Master Driller | One more rig, and your rigs bring up another 4% more (rigs only). |
From the game's own data
Cartography (Vanguard): 3 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Frontier Surveying | Charts of gate ruins, ion storm fronts and megastructures take 15% less time (charting only). |
| 70 | Swift Survey | Charts take 10% less time (charting only). |
| 90 | Master Surveyor | Charts take another 10% less time (charting only). |
From the game's own data
Captaincy (Vanguard): 7 perks
| Level | Perk | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Seasoned Crews | Wings muster with 10 more morale (Retainers only). |
| 25 | Quartermaster | Retainer deposits 10% lower (Retainers only). |
| 35 | Close Order | Retainers take 5% less damage (Retainers only). |
| 50 | Paymaster | Hazard pay costs 25% less (Retainers only). |
| 65 | Prize Agent | Your prize share can reach 20% more per hour (Retainers only). |
| 80 | Veteran Crews | Retainers deal 5% more damage (Retainers only). |
| 95 | Iron Discipline | Wings on hazard pay never break, whatever their morale (Retainers only). |
From the game's own data
Xenobiology has no named perks: its ladder is made of the unlocks listed below.
Capstones and honors#
The top of each ladder carries its biggest rewards: a capstone perk near the top, and at level 99 a set of hull markings that every pilot in space can see.
| Skill | Top perk | Level 99 insignia | Level 99 title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piloting | Ace Reflexes (90): +3% pitch, yaw and roll rates. | Winged Chevron | Ace Pilot |
| Racing | Grand Prix Master (94): Podium prize rolls 6% more often (racing only). | Checkered Roundel | Grand Prix Champion |
| Hunting | Apex Hunter (95): One on-task kill in ten counts twice toward your task (bounty tasks only). | Marked Reticle | Master of the Hunt |
| Gunnery | Steady Tracking II (85): Another +5% turret tracking. | Gunsight | Gunmaster |
| Missiles | Salvo Master (95): +3% damage with every launcher. | Comet Lance | Warhead Savant |
| Defense | Bulwark (90): +3% shield, armor and hull. | Bulwark Arcs | Ironside |
| Engineering | Charge Mastery (90): +5% battery charge rate. | Reactor Cog | Chief Engineer |
| Navigation | Star Navigator (90): Another +7% warp speed and 3% quicker align. | Compass Star | Star Navigator |
| Mining | Ore Sense (99): One laser cycle in ten strikes a rich vein and cuts double. | Pick and Ore | Master Miner |
| Harvesting | Master Collector (90): Another 5% of collector cycles bring up a double haul. | Sheaf | Master Harvester |
| Refining | Flawless Refining (90): Your refining yield reaches 100%: nothing is lost. | Crucible | Alchemist |
| Industry | Master Shipwright (90): One more manufacturing slot, and batch jobs finish another 5% sooner. | Anvil | Shipwright |
| Salvaging | Master Reclaimer (90): Another +5% salvage chance, and twin recoveries on 25% of hauls. | Grapple | Scrap Baron |
| Trading | Trade Horizon (95): See market prices 10 jumps out. | Balance | Tycoon |
| Exploration | Pathfinder's Eye (90): Another +5% Seal Breaker success and +10% extra databank chance. | Ringed World | Pathfinder |
| Leadership | Grand Commander (90): Doctrine broadcasts are 5% stronger. | Command Star | Grand Commander |
| Colonization | Master Planner (90): Colony construction finishes 10% sooner. | Dome and Pennon | Worldshaper |
From the game's own data
- Mastery Insignia
- Each core skill at 99 paints its insignia on both flanks of your hull, with a rack of Service Ribbons: one ribbon for every 99.
- Flown Colors
- Choose one of your 99s to fly as your colors: its insignia leads the flank panel, an Honor Stripe in its color runs along the hull, a Holo-pennant streams from the mast and your strobes take its tint.
- Ace Contrail
- Piloting 99 makes your ion trail burn in your Winged Chevron colors.
- Transcendent Star
- A skill at mastery level 120 adds a gold star to its ribbon and a gilt rim to its insignia, and earns the Transcendent title.
- Paragon
- Level 99 in every core skill: gilt filigree, a gilded drive plume and ion trail, a constellation of light orbiting your hull and a golden arrival flourish, plus the Paragon title.
- Luminary
- Mastery level 120 in every core skill adds a second, platinum ring of stars, and the Luminary title.
You choose which elements to show, and can hide any of them. How much of other pilots' honors you see is a graphics setting.
Vanguard skill capstones#
Vanguard skills have capstone perks that work inside their own activity, but no insignia, titles or achievements: honors belong to the core skills every pilot can train.
- Flotilla: Flotilla Master at 95. Crew wages 10% lower (flotillas only).
- Reclamation: Driftwarden's Fleet at 90. A fifth salvage tug.
- Extracting: Master Driller at 90. One more rig, and your rigs bring up another 4% more (rigs only).
- Cartography: Master Surveyor at 90. Charts take another 10% less time (charting only).
- Captaincy: Iron Discipline at 95. Wings on hazard pay never break, whatever their morale (Retainers only).
Synergies#
A synergy is a small named bonus that switches on when you have trained both of two related skills: the miner who refines, the gunner who manages the battery. Each has four tiers, active while both skills are at or above 20, 40, 60 or 90. The lower of the two skills decides the tier.
| Synergy | Skills | Effect at the top tier | Both at 20 | Both at 40 | Both at 60 | Both at 90 | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assayer's Eye | Mining + Refining | +2% refining yield (still at most 100%) | 0.5% | 1% | 1.5% | 2% | Refinery |
| Clean Feedstock | Refining + Industry | Manufacturing jobs finish 4% sooner | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Manufacturing |
| Scrap to Spec | Salvaging + Industry | +4% chance that a salvage also brings up components | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Salvaging in space |
| Ruin Reader | Exploration + Salvaging | +4% Seal Breaker success on sealed derelict caches | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Wreck fields in space |
| Ordnance Workshop | Missiles + Industry | Missile, launcher and munition jobs finish 5% sooner, and each run of ammunition has a 5% chance of a bonus batch | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% | Manufacturing |
| Maker's Market | Trading + Industry | Sales tax 0.2 points lower | 0.05 points | 0.1 points | 0.15 points | 0.2 points | Market |
| Slipstream School | Racing + Piloting | +2% lap pace (racing only) | 0.5% | 1% | 1.5% | 2% | Racing Ports |
| Pit Craft | Racing + Engineering | +4% podium prize rolls (racing only) | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Racing Ports |
| Bloodhound | Hunting + Exploration | Rare hunting finds turn up 5% more often (bounty tasks only) | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% | Bounty tasks |
| Marked Prey | Hunting + Gunnery | +5% Bounty Points for every task (bounty tasks only) | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% | Bounty Offices |
| Homestead Stores | Harvesting + Colonization | Your colonies' farms grow 5% more food | 1% | 2% | 3.5% | 5% | Colonies |
| Civic Command | Leadership + Colonization | Colony upkeep 4% lower | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Colonies |
| Wayfinder's Stride | Exploration + Navigation | +4% warp speed | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | In space |
| Clean Lines | Navigation + Piloting | Line up for warp 4% faster | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | In space |
| Flight Computer | Missiles + Piloting | Missiles fly 5% faster | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% | In space |
| Magazine Engineering | Missiles + Engineering | Launchers reload 4% faster | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | In space |
| Fire Control Lore | Missiles + Gunnery | Point defense is 5% less likely to stop your missiles | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% | In space |
| Cool Barrels | Gunnery + Engineering | Energy weapons draw 4% less battery charge per shot | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | In space |
| Layered Grid | Defense + Engineering | Shields regenerate 4% faster | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | In space |
From the game's own data
| Synergy | Skills | Effect at the top tier | Both at 20 | Both at 40 | Both at 60 | Both at 90 | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convoy Command | Leadership + Flotilla | Flotilla escorts fight 5% harder | 2% | 3% | 4% | 5% | Flotillas (Vanguard) |
| Wreck Sense | Salvaging + Reclamation | Salvage tugs haul 4% more from each expedition | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Deep Drift expeditions (Vanguard) |
| Green Thumb | Harvesting + Xenobiology | Crops you plant grow 4% faster | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Greenhouse Bays (Vanguard) |
| Rallying Banner | Leadership + Captaincy | Retainers deal 4% more damage | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Retainers (Vanguard) |
| Wingmate's Eye | Piloting + Captaincy | Retainers take 4% less damage | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Retainers (Vanguard) |
| Field Notes | Exploration + Cartography | Charts take 5% less time | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% | Charting (Vanguard) |
| Core Sampling | Mining + Extracting | Your drill rigs bring up 4% more | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | Drill rigs on moons (Vanguard) |
From the game's own data
Unlocks by skill#
Here is everything each skill opens up besides its perks: ores and resources, refining recipes, blueprint tiers, modules and named gear, hulls, sites, colony buildings, crews and the level 99 honors. Requirements also show in item tooltips and in the market, as Requires Mining 30 and so on.
Piloting: 22 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Hull | Furrow | also needs Harvesting 10 |
| 5 | Hull | Gleaner | also needs Salvaging 10 |
| 5 | Hull | Palisade | also needs Gunnery 8 |
| 10 | Hull | Dartwing | |
| 10 | Hull | Nightjar | also needs Missiles 20 |
| 15 | Hull | Tradewind | also needs Trading 30, Navigation 20 |
| 20 | Hull | Quiver | also needs Missiles 30 |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Piloting gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 25 | Hull | Bulwark | also needs Gunnery 30 |
| 35 | Hull | Carrion | also needs Gunnery 35 |
| 35 | Module | Overdrive Thruster | |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Piloting gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Piloting gear | Named legendary modules |
| 70 | Named gear | Exotic Piloting gear | Named legendary modules |
| 95 | Hull | Asterion | also needs Leadership 95, Gunnery 95, Defense 90 |
| 95 | Hull | Borealis | also needs Leadership 99, Engineering 90, Defense 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Nacre | also needs Leadership 90, Engineering 95, Defense 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Ophion | also needs Gunnery 99, Defense 95, Engineering 90 |
| 99 | Honors | Ace Contrail | Your ion trail burns in your Winged Chevron colors (shown with the Honor Stripe) |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Ace Pilot title | The Winged Chevron on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
| 99 | Hull | Meridian | also needs Engineering 99, Leadership 95, Defense 95 |
| 99 | Hull | Tellurion | also needs Leadership 99, Gunnery 95, Defense 99, Engineering 95 |
From the game's own data
Racing: 2 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Hull | Fairwind | |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Grand Prix Champion title | The Checkered Roundel on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Hunting: 27 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bounty work | Crown Cutthroats tasks | |
| 5 | Bounty work | Crown Raiders tasks | |
| 10 | Bounty work | Hunter's Recall | 150 Bounty Points at a Bounty Office |
| 10 | Named gear | Rare Hunting gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 15 | Bounty work | Crown Shades tasks | |
| 20 | Bounty work | Bounty Master Odo Varga | Tier 2 tasks · pilot level 15 |
| 20 | Bounty work | Crown Reavers tasks | |
| 20 | Bounty work | Long Contracts | 100 Bounty Points at a Bounty Office |
| 30 | Bounty work | Licensed Hunter's rate | Bounty Office head prices and contract purses ×1.1 |
| 35 | Bounty work | Crown Butchers tasks | |
| 40 | Bounty work | Bounty Master Hesper Kade | Tier 3 tasks · pilot level 30 |
| 45 | Bounty work | Crown Menders tasks | |
| 50 | Bounty work | Frontier Crown raiders tasks | Frontier regions, Lawless space |
| 50 | Bounty work | Seasoned Hunter's rate | Bounty Office head prices and contract purses ×1.2 |
| 55 | Bounty work | Crown Ravagers tasks | |
| 60 | Bounty work | Bounty Master Sorrel Dask | Tier 4 tasks · pilot level 45 |
| 65 | Bounty work | Crown Warlords tasks | |
| 70 | Bounty work | Crown commanders tasks | with Elite Contracts from the Bounty Office |
| 70 | Bounty work | Elite Contracts | 250 Bounty Points at a Bounty Office |
| 70 | Bounty work | Master Hunter's rate | Bounty Office head prices and contract purses ×4.3 |
| 80 | Bounty work | Bounty Master Corvane Ash | Tier 5 tasks · pilot level 60 |
| 85 | Bounty work | Crown Dreadlords tasks | |
| 85 | Bounty work | Crownbane rate | Bounty Office head prices and contract purses ×4.4 |
| 95 | Bounty work | Apex Hunter's rate | Bounty Office head prices and contract purses ×4.65 |
| 95 | Bounty work | Crownbreaker Contracts | 400 Bounty Points at a Bounty Office |
| 95 | Bounty work | World bosses tasks | with Crownbreaker Contracts from the Bounty Office |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Master of the Hunt title | The Marked Reticle on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Gunnery: 38 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Module | Rail Repeater S | |
| 8 | Hull | Palisade | also needs Piloting 5 |
| 10 | Module | Arc Projector S | |
| 10 | Module | Ion Disruptor S | also needs Engineering 15 |
| 12 | Module | Helion Beam S | |
| 15 | Hull | Halberd | |
| 20 | Module | Coilgun S | |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Gunnery gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 25 | Module | Flak Battery | |
| 25 | Module | Mass Driver M | |
| 25 | Module | Pulse Emitter M | |
| 30 | Module | Arc Projector M | |
| 30 | Hull | Bulwark | also needs Piloting 25 |
| 30 | Module | Ion Disruptor M | also needs Engineering 35 |
| 30 | Module | Rail Repeater M | |
| 35 | Hull | Carrion | also needs Piloting 35 |
| 35 | Module | Helion Beam M | |
| 40 | Module | Coilgun M | |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Gunnery gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Hull | Herald | also needs Leadership 40 |
| 40 | Module | Plasma Lance M | |
| 50 | Hull | Ironclad | also needs Defense 40 |
| 55 | Module | Flak Bastion | |
| 55 | Module | Mass Driver L | |
| 55 | Module | Pulse Emitter L | |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Gunnery gear | Named legendary modules |
| 65 | Module | Helion Beam L | |
| 70 | Module | Coilgun L | |
| 70 | Hull | Monolith | also needs Defense 60 |
| 70 | Module | Plasma Lance L | |
| 80 | Hull | Colossus | also needs Leadership 80 |
| 85 | Hull | Hegemon | also needs Leadership 90, Defense 85 |
| 90 | Module | Spinal Lance | |
| 95 | Hull | Asterion | also needs Piloting 95, Leadership 95, Defense 90 |
| 95 | Hull | Tellurion | also needs Piloting 99, Leadership 99, Defense 99, Engineering 95 |
| 95 | Module | Tidal Shear Array | also needs Engineering 90 |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Gunmaster title | The Gunsight on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
| 99 | Hull | Ophion | also needs Piloting 95, Defense 95, Engineering 90 |
From the game's own data
Missiles: 46 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Module | Hail Rocket Pod S | |
| 10 | Module | Swarm Pod S | |
| 15 | Blueprints | Seeker Guidance Array | Manufacture: Seeker Guidance Array |
| 15 | Module | Seeker Guidance Array | |
| 20 | Hull | Nightjar | also needs Piloting 10 |
| 20 | Module | Picket Dart Rack S | |
| 20 | Blueprints | Picket Darts, Thermal Missiles and 9 more | Manufacture: Picket Darts, Thermal Missiles, Penetrator Missiles, Precision Missiles, High-Velocity Missiles and 6 more |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Missiles gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 20 | Module | Warhead Primer Rig | |
| 25 | Module | Missile Launcher M | |
| 25 | Blueprints | Missile Launcher M, Disruptor Warheads and 1 more | Manufacture: Missile Launcher M, Disruptor Warheads, Dominion-Issue Missile Launcher M |
| 25 | Module | Quench Disruptor Launcher S | also needs Engineering 15 |
| 30 | Module | Hail Rocket Pod M | |
| 30 | Blueprints | Hail Rocket Pod M and Magazine Autoloader | Manufacture: Hail Rocket Pod M, Magazine Autoloader |
| 30 | Module | Magazine Autoloader | |
| 30 | Hull | Quiver | also needs Piloting 20 |
| 30 | Module | Torpedo Rack S | |
| 35 | Module | Swarm Pod M | |
| 35 | Blueprints | Swarm Pod M and Terminal Guidance Computer | Manufacture: Swarm Pod M, Terminal Guidance Computer |
| 35 | Module | Terminal Guidance Computer | |
| 40 | Module | Breaker Torpedo Bay L | |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Missiles gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Module | Ghost Echo Emitter | also needs Engineering 20 |
| 40 | Blueprints | Torpedoes, Tandem-Charge Torpedoes and 3 more | Manufacture: Torpedoes, Tandem-Charge Torpedoes, Plasma-Core Torpedoes, Breaker Torpedo Bay L, Ghost Echo Emitter |
| 45 | Module | Picket Dart Battery M | |
| 45 | Module | Seeker Launcher M | |
| 45 | Module | Torpedo Tube M | |
| 45 | Blueprints | Torpedo Tube M, Seeker Launcher M and 1 more | Manufacture: Torpedo Tube M, Seeker Launcher M, Picket Dart Battery M |
| 50 | Blueprints | Quench Disruptor Launcher M | Manufacture: Quench Disruptor Launcher M |
| 50 | Module | Quench Disruptor Launcher M | also needs Engineering 30 |
| 55 | Module | Siege Launcher L | |
| 55 | Blueprints | Siege Launcher L and Dominion-Issue Siege Launcher L | Manufacture: Siege Launcher L, Dominion-Issue Siege Launcher L |
| 60 | Blueprints | Cruise Missiles, Terminal-Guided Cruise Missiles and 2 more | Manufacture: Cruise Missiles, Terminal-Guided Cruise Missiles, Sprint Cruise Missiles, Farreach Cruise Launcher L |
| 60 | Module | Farreach Cruise Launcher L | |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Missiles gear | Named legendary modules |
| 70 | Module | Bloomburst Cluster Launcher M | |
| 70 | Module | Seeker Launcher L | |
| 70 | Blueprints | Seeker Launcher L, Cluster Missiles and 1 more | Manufacture: Seeker Launcher L, Cluster Missiles, Bloomburst Cluster Launcher M |
| 80 | Blueprints | Bloomburst Cluster Launcher L | Manufacture: Bloomburst Cluster Launcher L |
| 80 | Module | Bloomburst Cluster Launcher L | |
| 80 | Named gear | Exotic Missiles gear | Named legendary modules |
| 85 | Blueprints | Keelbreaker Torpedo Silo XL | Manufacture: Keelbreaker Torpedo Silo XL |
| 85 | Module | Keelbreaker Torpedo Silo XL | |
| 90 | Blueprints | Farreach Cruise Silo XL | Manufacture: Farreach Cruise Silo XL |
| 90 | Module | Farreach Cruise Silo XL | |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Warhead Savant title | The Comet Lance on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Defense: 26 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Module | Kiln Ceramic Ablator | |
| 10 | Hull | Suture | also needs Engineering 25 |
| 15 | Module | Barrier Wellspring | |
| 15 | Module | Blastbreak Weave | |
| 15 | Module | Heatsink Weave | |
| 15 | Module | Impact Weave | |
| 20 | Module | Nanite Surge Array | also needs Engineering 30 |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Defense gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 20 | Module | Thornback Ram Plating | |
| 30 | Module | Heavy Ablative Plating | |
| 30 | Module | Heavy Barrier Amplifier | |
| 30 | Hull | Lifeline | also needs Engineering 35 |
| 35 | Module | Tri-Phase Weave | also needs Engineering 20 |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Defense gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Hull | Ironclad | also needs Gunnery 50 |
| 45 | Module | Keepwall Slab Plating | |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Defense gear | Named legendary modules |
| 60 | Hull | Monolith | also needs Gunnery 70 |
| 85 | Hull | Hegemon | also needs Leadership 90, Gunnery 85 |
| 90 | Hull | Asterion | also needs Piloting 95, Leadership 95, Gunnery 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Borealis | also needs Piloting 95, Leadership 99, Engineering 90 |
| 95 | Hull | Meridian | also needs Piloting 99, Engineering 99, Leadership 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Nacre | also needs Piloting 95, Leadership 90, Engineering 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Ophion | also needs Piloting 95, Gunnery 99, Engineering 90 |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Ironside title | The Bulwark Arcs on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
| 99 | Hull | Tellurion | also needs Piloting 99, Leadership 99, Gunnery 95, Engineering 95 |
From the game's own data
Engineering: 28 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Module | Ion Disruptor S | also needs Gunnery 10 |
| 15 | Module | Quench Disruptor Launcher S | also needs Missiles 25 |
| 15 | Module | Signature Shroud | |
| 20 | Module | Fast-Charge Regulator | |
| 20 | Module | Ghost Echo Emitter | also needs Missiles 40 |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Engineering gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 20 | Module | Sensor Jammer | |
| 20 | Module | Tri-Phase Weave | also needs Defense 35 |
| 25 | Module | Barrier Projector M | |
| 25 | Module | Nanite Projector M | |
| 25 | Hull | Suture | also needs Defense 10 |
| 30 | Module | Flashcell Tile Armor | |
| 30 | Module | Heavy Barrier Regenerator | |
| 30 | Module | Nanite Surge Array | also needs Defense 20 |
| 30 | Module | Quench Disruptor Launcher M | also needs Missiles 50 |
| 35 | Module | Ion Disruptor M | also needs Gunnery 30 |
| 35 | Hull | Lifeline | also needs Defense 30 |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Engineering gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Module | Wideband Jammer | |
| 50 | Module | Prism Lattice Plating | |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Engineering gear | Named legendary modules |
| 90 | Hull | Borealis | also needs Piloting 95, Leadership 99, Defense 95 |
| 90 | Hull | Ophion | also needs Piloting 95, Gunnery 99, Defense 95 |
| 90 | Module | Tidal Shear Array | also needs Gunnery 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Nacre | also needs Piloting 95, Leadership 90, Defense 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Tellurion | also needs Piloting 99, Leadership 99, Gunnery 95, Defense 99 |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Chief Engineer title | The Reactor Cog on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
| 99 | Hull | Meridian | also needs Piloting 99, Leadership 95, Defense 95 |
From the game's own data
Navigation: 3 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Hull | Longsight | also needs Exploration 40 |
| 20 | Hull | Tradewind | also needs Trading 30, Piloting 15 |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Star Navigator title | The Compass Star on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Mining: 25 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assist | Auto-mining | Keeps cutting and moves to the next valid rock until the hold is full |
| 1 | Ore | Ferrosite | |
| 1 | Ore | Silvarite | |
| 5 | Hull | Delver | |
| 10 | Module | Tempered Mining Laser S | |
| 15 | Ore | Cobaltine | |
| 15 | Hull | Hewer | |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Mining gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 20 | Module | Vein Splitter S | |
| 30 | Module | Cryo-Tuned Laser S | |
| 30 | Ore | Glacite | |
| 30 | Hull | Quarrier | |
| 30 | Module | Seam Cutter M | |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Mining gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Ore | Pyrestone | |
| 50 | Ore | Aurelium | |
| 50 | Module | Auric-Tuned Laser S | |
| 55 | Module | Seam Bore M | |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Mining gear | Named legendary modules |
| 60 | Module | Void-Tuned Cutter M | |
| 60 | Ore | Voidstone | |
| 75 | Ore | Xetite | |
| 85 | Ore | Novacite | Rare motherlode clusters in Lawless belts |
| 90 | Assist | Automated mining runs | Docks when full, unloads to the hangar and returns to the belt (-25% yield, 3 h a day) |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Master Miner title | The Pick and Ore on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Harvesting: 8 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resource | Bio-Organics | |
| 1 | Resource | Heavy Water | |
| 10 | Hull | Furrow | also needs Piloting 5 |
| 10 | Resource | Rare Earths | |
| 10 | Module | Regolith Auger | |
| 25 | Resource | Magmatic Salts | |
| 40 | Module | Deep Auger Array | |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Master Harvester title | The Sheaf on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Refining: 18 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refining | Cobaltine into Cobaltium & Ferrium | |
| 1 | Refining | Ferrosite into Ferrium | |
| 1 | Refining | Grayfall Regolith into Ferrium & Siliqon | |
| 1 | Refining | Silvarite into Siliqon & Ferrium | |
| 5 | Refining | Glacite into Cryo Isotopes | |
| 5 | Refining | Ilmenite Sand into Ilmenar & Ferrium | |
| 10 | Refining | Cold-Trap Ice into Cryo Isotopes & Heavy Water | |
| 10 | Refining | Pyrestone into Pyronite | |
| 20 | Refining | Aurelium into Aurelite & Ferrium | |
| 20 | Refining | Helium-3 Fines into Helium-3 & Siliqon | |
| 30 | Refining | Rare-Earth Nodules into Rare Earths & Aurelite | |
| 30 | Refining | Voidstone into Void Matter & Cobaltium | |
| 40 | Refining | Impact Glass into Siliqon & Void Matter | |
| 45 | Refining | Xetite into Xetium & Void Matter | |
| 50 | Refining | Meteoric Iron-Nickel into Iridium & Cobaltium | |
| 60 | Refining | Core Song Crystal into Xetium & Iridium | |
| 60 | Refining | Novacite into Nova Lattice & Xetium | |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Alchemist title | The Crucible on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Industry: 26 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueprints | Components & ammunition | Hull Plating, Quantum Processor, Power Cell, Thruster Assembly, Shield Emitter and 30 more |
| 1 | Blueprints | Small modules | Pulse Emitter S, Mass Driver S, Missile Launcher S, Mining Laser S, Scrap Reclaimer and 53 more |
| 1 | Blueprints | Tier 1 hulls | Sparrow, Dartwing, Fairwind, Delver, Nightjar, Wayfarer |
| 1 | Blueprints | Tier 10 hulls | Tellurion |
| 5 | Blueprints | Tier 2 hulls | Palisade, Peregrine, Halberd, Hewer, Suture and 2 more |
| 10 | Blueprints | Advanced components | Warp Coil, Field Nanogel, Barrier Charge, Overcharge Coil, Thruster Stim and 12 more |
| 10 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 3 | One more job running at a time |
| 15 | Blueprints | Medium & advanced modules | Pulse Emitter M, Mass Driver M, Missile Launcher M, Seam Cutter M, Sensor Jammer and 40 more |
| 15 | Blueprints | Tier 3 hulls | Bulwark, Mule, Quarrier, Carrion, Lifeline and 2 more |
| 20 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 4 | One more job running at a time |
| 30 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 5 | One more job running at a time |
| 30 | Blueprints | Tier 4 hulls | Ironclad, Herald, Tradewind |
| 35 | Blueprints | Large modules | Pulse Emitter L, Mass Driver L, Siege Launcher L, Horizon Stabilizer, Helion Beam L and 9 more |
| 40 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 6 | One more job running at a time |
| 45 | Blueprints | Tier 5 hulls | Monolith |
| 50 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 7 | One more job running at a time |
| 55 | Blueprints | Tier 6 hulls | Colossus |
| 60 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 8 | One more job running at a time |
| 65 | Blueprints | Tier 7 hulls | Hegemon |
| 70 | Blueprints | Flagship weapons | Spinal Lance, Keelbreaker Torpedo Silo XL, Farreach Cruise Silo XL |
| 70 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 9 | One more job running at a time |
| 75 | Blueprints | Tier 8 hulls | Asterion, Nacre, Borealis, Ophion |
| 80 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 10 | One more job running at a time |
| 80 | Blueprints | Tier 9 hulls | Meridian |
| 90 | Allowance | Manufacturing slot 11 | One more job running at a time |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Shipwright title | The Anvil on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Salvaging: 8 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrecks | Light wrecks | skirmishers, outriders, strike craft |
| 10 | Hull | Gleaner | also needs Piloting 5 |
| 10 | Wrecks | Medium wrecks | gunships, couriers, dredges |
| 20 | Hull | Driftcomber | also needs Reclamation 10 |
| 25 | Module | Salvage Rig M | |
| 30 | Wrecks | Heavy wrecks | warships, haulers, heavy warships |
| 50 | Wrecks | Capital wrecks | ships of the line, tenders, flagships |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Scrap Baron title | The Grapple on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Trading: 7 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Hull | Peregrine | |
| 15 | Module | Bulk Hold Frame | |
| 15 | Hull | Mule | |
| 20 | Named gear | Rare Trading gear | Crown-Forged modules |
| 30 | Hull | Tradewind | also needs Navigation 20, Piloting 15 |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Trading gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Tycoon title | The Balance on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Exploration: 12 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sites | Hidden level 1 to 2 sites | Resolved by a Deep Scanner |
| 10 | Hull | Astrolabe | also needs Cartography 5 |
| 10 | Module | Seal Breaker | |
| 15 | Sites | Hidden level 3 sites | Resolved by a Deep Scanner |
| 20 | Hull | Wayfarer | |
| 25 | Module | Survey Array | |
| 30 | Sites | Hidden level 4 sites | Resolved by a Deep Scanner |
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Exploration gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Hull | Longsight | also needs Navigation 20 |
| 45 | Sites | Hidden level 5 sites | Resolved by a Deep Scanner |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Exploration gear | Named legendary modules |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Pathfinder title | The Ringed World on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Leadership: 11 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Named gear | Epic Leadership gear | Exodus-Pattern modules |
| 40 | Hull | Herald | also needs Gunnery 40 |
| 60 | Named gear | Legendary Leadership gear | Named legendary modules |
| 80 | Hull | Colossus | also needs Gunnery 80 |
| 90 | Hull | Hegemon | also needs Gunnery 85, Defense 85 |
| 90 | Hull | Nacre | also needs Piloting 95, Engineering 95, Defense 95 |
| 95 | Hull | Asterion | also needs Piloting 95, Gunnery 95, Defense 90 |
| 95 | Hull | Meridian | also needs Piloting 99, Engineering 99, Defense 95 |
| 99 | Hull | Borealis | also needs Piloting 95, Engineering 90, Defense 95 |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Grand Commander title | The Command Star on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
| 99 | Hull | Tellurion | also needs Piloting 99, Gunnery 95, Defense 99, Engineering 95 |
From the game's own data
Colonization: 24 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colony | Outpost colonies | |
| 5 | Colony | Medical Center | |
| 10 | Colony | Research Campus | |
| 12 | Colony | Settlement colonies | |
| 15 | Colony | Defense Grid | |
| 20 | Colony | Colony Spaceport | one per colony |
| 20 | Colony | Construction crew 3 | One more service or landmark under construction at a time |
| 25 | Colony | Atmosphere Processor | |
| 25 | Colony | Colony charter 2 | Found one more colony |
| 30 | Colony | Exodus Monument | one per colony |
| 30 | Colony | Township colonies | |
| 35 | Colony | Climate Regulator | |
| 40 | Colony | Construction crew 4 | One more service or landmark under construction at a time |
| 45 | Colony | Grand Biodome | one per colony |
| 50 | Colony | City colonies | |
| 50 | Colony | Colony charter 3 | Found one more colony |
| 60 | Colony | Beacon Tower | one per colony |
| 60 | Colony | Construction crew 5 | One more service or landmark under construction at a time |
| 70 | Colony | Metropolis colonies | |
| 75 | Colony | Colony charter 4 | Found one more colony |
| 80 | Colony | Construction crew 6 | One more service or landmark under construction at a time |
| 85 | Colony | Orbital Elevator | one per colony |
| 99 | Colony | Colony charter 5 | Found one more colony |
| 99 | Honors | Mastery Insignia and the Worldshaper title | The Dome and Pennon on your hull; fly its Honor Stripe and Holo-pennant as your colors |
From the game's own data
Flotilla (Vanguard): 12 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crew | Delver crew | |
| 15 | Crew | Mule haulers | |
| 20 | Crew | Cutter berth 2 | Contract one more ship of this role |
| 25 | Crew | Halberd escort | |
| 40 | Crew | Cutter berth 3 | Contract one more ship of this role |
| 45 | Crew | Quarrier crew | |
| 50 | Crew | Escort berth 2 | Contract one more ship of this role |
| 60 | Crew | Bulwark escort | |
| 65 | Crew | Cutter berth 4 | Contract one more ship of this role |
| 70 | Crew | Hauler berth 2 | Contract one more ship of this role |
| 80 | Crew | Escort berth 3 | Contract one more ship of this role |
| 90 | Crew | Cutter berth 5 | Contract one more ship of this role |
From the game's own data
Reclamation (Vanguard): 12 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sites | Ember Shallows | Deep Drift expeditions |
| 10 | Hull | Driftcomber | also needs Salvaging 20 |
| 10 | Sites | Lumen Shoals | Deep Drift expeditions · also needs Cartography 10 |
| 15 | Sites | Tinker's Drift | Deep Drift expeditions |
| 20 | Assist | Salvage tug 2 | One more expedition at a time |
| 30 | Sites | Breaker's Verge | Deep Drift expeditions · also needs Cartography 15 |
| 40 | Sites | Pulsar Wake | Deep Drift expeditions · also needs Cartography 30 |
| 45 | Assist | Salvage tug 3 | One more expedition at a time |
| 50 | Sites | Sunken Armada | Deep Drift expeditions · also needs Cartography 35 |
| 70 | Sites | Ark Graveyard | Deep Drift expeditions · also needs Cartography 55 |
| 75 | Assist | Salvage tug 4 | One more expedition at a time |
| 80 | Sites | Veiled Rearguard | Deep Drift expeditions · also needs Cartography 65 |
From the game's own data
Xenobiology (Vanguard): 38 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allowance | Lumen Moss | 1 h crop |
| 10 | Allowance | 3 plots in one Greenhouse Bay | |
| 10 | Allowance | Brinecap Kelp | 2 h crop |
| 10 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 6 | |
| 10 | Allowance | Hollow Gourd | 3 h crop · seasonal |
| 15 | Allowance | Greenhouse fitting: Tray racks | +1 plot in this bay |
| 15 | Allowance | Tidesilk Fern | 3 h crop |
| 20 | Allowance | Emberroot | 3 h crop |
| 20 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 7 | |
| 25 | Allowance | 4 plots in one Greenhouse Bay | |
| 28 | Allowance | Frostcap Shoots | 4 h crop |
| 30 | Allowance | Frost Lantern | 5 h crop · seasonal |
| 30 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 8 | |
| 35 | Allowance | Greenhouse fitting: Climate control | +1 plot in this bay and crops planted here blight 40% less often |
| 35 | Allowance | Mendleaf | 5 h crop |
| 40 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 9 | |
| 40 | Allowance | Salvemoss | 4 h crop · hybrid of Lumen Moss and Mendleaf |
| 45 | Allowance | 5 plots in one Greenhouse Bay | |
| 45 | Allowance | Starglass Lotus | 6 h crop |
| 50 | Allowance | Bloomtide Blossom | 8 h crop · seasonal |
| 50 | Allowance | Glasswing Orchid | 8 h crop |
| 50 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 10 | |
| 55 | Allowance | Greenhouse fitting: Full-spectrum lamps | Crops planted here grow 10% faster |
| 58 | Allowance | Aureate Coral | 9 h crop |
| 60 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 11 | |
| 65 | Allowance | 6 plots in one Greenhouse Bay | |
| 65 | Allowance | Duskbloom | 10 h crop · Lawless bays only |
| 70 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 12 | |
| 70 | Allowance | Pulsebloom | 10 h crop |
| 75 | Allowance | Emberglass Orchid | 9 h crop · hybrid of Emberroot and Glasswing Orchid |
| 75 | Allowance | Greenhouse fitting: Misting array | +1 plot in this bay and +5% yield (within the bay bonus cap) |
| 80 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 13 | |
| 80 | Allowance | Voidvine | 12 h crop |
| 85 | Allowance | 7 plots in one Greenhouse Bay | |
| 88 | Allowance | Novaheart Lily | 16 h crop |
| 90 | Allowance | Greenhouse plot 14 | |
| 92 | Allowance | Nightshade Crown | 14 h crop · hybrid of Voidvine and Duskbloom |
| 95 | Allowance | Crownroot Bonsai | 20 h crop |
From the game's own data
Extracting (Vanguard): 19 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allowance | Burrow Rig | Tier 1 drill rig: ×1 output, 10 h hopper |
| 1 | Sites | Grayfall Regolith deposits | Grayfall regolith field |
| 8 | Allowance | Rig slot 2 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 10 | Sites | Ilmenite Sand deposits | Ilmenite sand flat |
| 18 | Allowance | Rig slot 3 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 20 | Sites | Cold-Trap Ice deposits | Cold-trap ice |
| 28 | Allowance | Rig slot 4 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 30 | Allowance | Auger Rig | Tier 2 drill rig: ×1.25 output, 14 h hopper |
| 35 | Sites | Helium-3 Fines deposits | Helium-3 regolith · needs a tier 2 rig |
| 40 | Allowance | Rig slot 5 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 50 | Sites | Rare-Earth Nodules deposits | Rare-earth nodule bed · needs a tier 2 rig |
| 55 | Allowance | Rig slot 6 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 60 | Allowance | Core Bore | Tier 3 drill rig: ×1.45 output, 18 h hopper · drills deep seams |
| 65 | Sites | Impact Glass deposits | Impact glass strewnfield · needs a tier 3 rig · Contested and Lawless moons |
| 70 | Allowance | Rig slot 7 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 80 | Sites | Meteoric Iron-Nickel deposits | Meteoric iron seam · needs a tier 3 rig |
| 85 | Allowance | Rig slot 8 | One more drill rig at a time |
| 85 | Allowance | Tidal Rig | Tier 4 drill rig: ×1.65 output, 24 h hopper · drills deep seams |
| 92 | Sites | Core Song Crystal deposits | Core song vein · needs a tier 4 rig · Lawless moons |
From the game's own data
Cartography (Vanguard): 29 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sites | World and belt surveys | |
| 5 | Hull | Astrolabe | also needs Exploration 10 |
| 5 | Sites | Gate lane survey | |
| 10 | Sites | Nebula spectra survey | |
| 11 | Sites | Charting in Contested space | |
| 15 | Sites | Beacon log recovery | |
| 20 | Sites | Corona survey | |
| 20 | Sites | Gate ruin lane survey | |
| 25 | Sites | Deep Signal trace | Members-only site past a system's outermost world |
| 26 | Sites | Charting in Lawless space | |
| 30 | Sites | Signal survey | |
| 30 | Sites | Uncharted anomaly survey | |
| 35 | Sites | Ion storm front survey | |
| 40 | Sites | Pulsar timing survey | |
| 45 | Sites | Corona survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 45 | Sites | Gate ruin lane survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 45 | Sites | Ion storm front survey in Contested space | Pays 1.8× the Secure fee |
| 50 | Sites | Deep Signal trace in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 50 | Sites | Megastructure survey | |
| 50 | Sites | Pulsar timing survey in Contested space | Pays 1.8× the Secure fee |
| 55 | Sites | Magnetar field survey | |
| 55 | Sites | Signal survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 55 | Sites | Uncharted anomaly survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 60 | Sites | Ion storm front survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 60 | Sites | Megastructure survey in Contested space | Pays 1.8× the Secure fee |
| 65 | Sites | Magnetar field survey in Contested space | Pays 1.8× the Secure fee |
| 65 | Sites | Pulsar timing survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 75 | Sites | Megastructure survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
| 80 | Sites | Magnetar field survey in Lawless space | Pays 3× the Secure fee |
From the game's own data
Captaincy (Vanguard): 19 unlocks
| Level | Kind | Unlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crew | Dartwing retainers | 1 muster point a ship |
| 5 | Crew | Palisade retainers | 1 muster point a ship |
| 8 | Crew | Retainer wing 2 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 18 | Crew | Retainer wing 3 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 20 | Crew | Halberd retainers | 2 muster points a ship |
| 29 | Crew | Retainer wing 4 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 39 | Crew | Retainer wing 5 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 40 | Crew | Bulwark retainers | 4 muster points a ship |
| 49 | Crew | Retainer wing 6 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 50 | Crew | Carrion retainers | 4 muster points a ship |
| 60 | Crew | Retainer wing 7 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 70 | Crew | Ironclad retainers | 8 muster points a ship |
| 70 | Crew | Retainer wing 8 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 81 | Crew | Retainer wing 9 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 90 | Crew | Monolith retainers | 16 muster points a ship |
| 91 | Crew | Retainer wing 10 | Command one more wing of up to five ships |
| 93 | Crew | Monolith 2 | One more Monolith crew under contract |
| 96 | Crew | Monolith 3 | One more Monolith crew under contract |
| 99 | Crew | Monolith 4 | One more Monolith crew under contract |
From the game's own data
Pilot level and total level#
Your total level adds up your levels in the core skills (17 of them), from 17 to 1,683. Your pilot level, shown next to your name, turns that into a number from 1 to 99: it is your average core skill level. Vanguard skills count toward neither.
| Total level | Pilot level | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | |
| 100 | 6 | |
| 300 | 18 | Rising Star |
| 500 | 29 | |
| 800 | 47 | Veteran |
| 1,000 | 59 | |
| 1,200 | 71 | Living Legend |
| 1,500 | 88 | |
| 1,683 | 99 | Paragon |
From the game's own data
- Pilot level is what other pilots see first, and some content asks for it: senior Bounty Masters, for example, only deal with experienced pilots.
- Hull Bond premiums fall as your pilot level rises. See Ships: Hull Bonds.
- The overall ranking and every skill have their own top 100 on the public Leaderboards; the in-game Rankings show more boards, mastery included.
Skill Tomes#
A Skill Tome is a rare data crystal worth 5,000 XP in a core skill of your choice. Use it from your station hangar or docked cargo and pick the skill.
- They are very rare finds: world bosses, Strongholds, Rifts IV-V, Lawless elites.
- They are bound to the pilot who found them: never traded, listed or dropped. No store sells them.
- Vanguard skills train only from their own activity, so a tome can't be used on one.
- 5,000 XP is a big push at low levels and a nudge at high ones: use it early, or on a skill you find slow.
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