production Building Comparison
Metal Mine vs Shipyard
Comparing the Metal Mine and Shipyard, both production buildings in Starforge MMO. Base plots and energy upkeep are scarce, so use this to decide which structure earns its slot first.
Build & Output Comparison
| Attribute | Metal Mine | Shipyard |
|---|---|---|
| Max level | 20 | 15 |
| Base cost | 200 metal, 100 crystal | 1,000 metal, 500 crystal |
| Upkeep | 10 energy | 25 energy, 20 metal |
| metal production / level | +50★ | — |
| ship build speed / level | — | +0.05★ |
★ marks the higher per-level output. Compare against your base's current bottleneck before committing a plot.
Metal Mine
Extracts metal from planetary crust. Core income source.
Shipyard
Constructs and repairs ships. Higher level = faster construction.
Requires tech: shipbuilding 1
Requires building: metal mine
Which Should You Build First?
Both are production buildings, so the choice depends on your current bottleneck. Prioritise the structure whose highlighted per-level output addresses your scarcest resource, and weigh that against its energy upkeep — a high output that drains your power grid can stall the rest of your base.