Faction Comparison
Ancient Builders vs Independent (Universal)
Comparing the Ancient Builders and Independent (Universal) 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 | Independent (Universal) |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Faction bonuses | 0 | 0 |
| Faction penalties | 0 | 0 |
| Unique ship classes | 3 | 0 |
| Start Metal | — | 1,000 |
| Start Crystal | — | 500 |
| Start Gas | — | 300 |
| 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
Independent (Universal)
Playstyle
Neutral baseline — no bonuses, no penalties. The starting point for new commanders before they pledge to a faction.
Which Faction Should You Pick?
Both factions sit at the same difficulty, so the choice comes down to playstyle: match each faction's bonuses, penalties and unique ship classes above to the empire you want to run.