propulsion Tech Comparison
Hyperspace Drive vs Ion Thrusters
Comparing the Hyperspace Drive (Tier 2) and Ion Thrusters (Tier 2), both propulsion technologies in Starforge MMO. Use this to decide which to queue first when your research lab can only run one project at a time.
Research Comparison
| Attribute | Hyperspace Drive | Ion Thrusters |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T2 | T2 |
| Research time | 12 | 7▼ |
| metal cost | 15,000 | 10,000▼ |
| crystal cost | 8,000 | 5,000▼ |
| gas cost | 3,000 | 2,000▼ |
| Effect | unlocks hyperspace: true | +25% -fuel consumption |
▼ marks the lower resource / time cost. Cheaper isn't always better — weigh it against the effect each tech unlocks.
Hyperspace Drive
Unlocks hyperspace jumps — skip adjacent sectors.
Unlocks buildings: hyperspace gate
Requires: propulsion 1
Ion Thrusters
High-efficiency ion drives reduce fuel consumption by 25% on all fleet movements.
Requires: propulsion 1
Which Should You Research First?
Both sit at the same tier. The Ion Thrusters is the cheaper project, so it's the safer early pick if your economy is tight; otherwise prioritise whichever effect supports your current strategy.