Faction Comparison
Ancient Builders vs Solar Empire
Comparing the Ancient Builders and Solar Empire factions in Starforge MMO. Your faction choice sets your starting bonuses, playstyle and long-term strengths — pick the one that matches how you want to build your empire.
At a Glance
| Attribute | Ancient Builders | Solar Empire |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | — | Intermediate |
| Faction bonuses | 0 | 3 |
| Faction penalties | 0 | 2 |
| Unique ship classes | 3 | 3 |
| Start Metal | — | 900 |
| Start Crystal | — | 1,000 |
| Start Gas | — | 700 |
| Start Antimatter | — | 0 |
| Start Dark Matter | — | 0 |
| Start Bio Material | — | 0 |
★ marks the higher starting stockpile. More starting resources speed the opening, but bonuses and playstyle matter more over a full game.
Ancient Builders
Playstyle
npc
Solar Empire
Intermediate
Launch with 20 % bonus energy weapon damage from the first minute, plus accelerated shield regeneration — high firepower offset by expensive fuel costs. Rewarding for players comfortable with resource management.
Playstyle
Energy and firepower — highest damage output per tonnage, excellent shield regeneration, but expensive to build and fuel-hungry.
Bonuses
- +20% Weapon Damage
- +15% Shield Regen Rate
- +20% Power Output
Penalties
- +20% Fuel Consumption
- +10% Build Cost
Which Faction Should You Pick?
If you are newer to Starforge MMO, Solar Empire is the gentler start — its intermediate difficulty and forgiving bonuses smooth the early game. Veterans chasing a sharper edge may prefer the harder faction's specialised strengths shown above.