AI Cores

AI Cores are craftable intelligence modules with randomized stats. Install them on ships and drones for permanent combat, mining, and navigation bonuses. Each core is unique.

How It Works

Manufacture AI Cores at the Assembly Plant. Each core rolls randomized stats across 6 attributes.

Install a core on any ship or drone. T0 and T1 cores fit on squadron drones (Recon, Sentinel, etc.). T2 and T3 are for named ships only.

Permanent — once installed, the core cannot be removed. Destroying the core is the only way to free the slot.

Tradeable — uninstalled cores can be sold on the marketplace.

Wreckage — when a ship is destroyed, there is a very small chance (1-8%) the AI Core survives as salvage.

Attributes (0-100)

Mining Affinity
Increases mining yield when the unit is gathering resources.
Combat Affinity
Boosts ATK, DEF, and HP of the ship or drone in combat.
Navigation Affinity
Improves fleet march speed.
Exploration Affinity
Enhances portal mission rewards and scan quality.
Efficiency
Reduces resource consumption and production time.
Adaptability
Improves performance in unfavorable conditions.

Tiers

TierStat RangeBudgetFits DronesCostCert Required
T0 - Basic Logic Core
Simple programmatic AI. Does exactly what you tell it. No independent decision-making.
1-1530Yes200 Steel, 100 Energy, 10 AstromiteNone (Assembly Plant only)
T1 - Adaptive AI Core
Machine learning core that adapts to situations. Limited independent judgment.
10-4090Yes800 Steel, 500 Energy, 100 Astromite, 20 R.AstromiteAdaptive AI Systems
T2 - Tactical AI Core
Advanced tactical processor. Capable of independent battlefield decisions.
25-65200No3K Steel, 2K Energy, 500 Astromite, 100 R.Astromite, 20 R.QuantariteTactical AI Systems
T3 - Strategic AI Core
Near-sentient strategic intelligence. Capable of long-term planning and creative problem solving.
50-100400No10K Steel, 8K Energy, 2K Astromite, 500 R.Astromite, 100 R.QuantariteStrategic AI Systems

Rarity

Common
70%
+0 stats
Specialized
20%
+10 stats
Advanced
8%
+25 stats
Emergent
2%
+40 stats + unique trait

Research doctrine empires get 2x Emergent chance and +10 to their highest attribute.

Emergent Traits

Emergent rarity cores receive one random trait from this pool:

Swarm Intelligence
+15% ATK when 3+ drones in fleet
Ore Whisperer
+25% mining yield
Ghost Protocol
+40% scout evasion
Berserker Logic
+30% ATK, -15% DEF
Fortress Mind
+30% DEF, +20% HP
Quantum Navigator
+25% march speed
Salvage Instinct
+20% loot from PvE
Adaptive Camouflage
Cannot be targeted first in combat
Neural Link
+10% to all stats
Overclock
+20% all combat stats, 5% chance to take 10% HP damage per round

AI Systems Certification Tree

Basic AI Programming - Unlocks T0 cores. +2% stat bonus/level.
Adaptive AI Systems - Unlocks T1 cores. Requires Basic AI 3.
Tactical AI Systems - Unlocks T2 cores. Requires Adaptive AI 3.
Strategic AI Systems - Unlocks T3 cores. Requires Tactical AI 3.
Emergent AI Theory - +10% emergent chance/level. Requires Strategic AI 2.