On this page
In Xterium, bonuses come from everywhere: research, the arsenal, anomalies, senators, skills, your alliance faction, VIP status, and boosters. It’s important to understand how they interact with each other—because some simply add up, while others multiply on top of them and yield much greater results. Let’s break it down using the game’s code.
Where do these numbers come from? The rules for combining bonuses and the formulas are taken directly from the game's code (the multiplier system and loot calculation). Explanations are provided in simple terms.
Bonuses of the same type are added together
Bonuses from different sources that apply to the same thing (for example, “resource gathering”) are simply added together. If a research project grants a +30% bonus to gathering, and a senator grants an additional +10%, you’ll have a total of +40%. Bonuses from VIP, boosters, alliance skills, factions, and events are also added together—all into a single “pool” for that type of bonus.
"General" bonuses — are added on top
In addition to the usual bonuses, there are “general” bonuses (for example, a general bonus to the extraction of all resources from the alliance). These do not function as a component of the total but as a separate multiplier applied to the entire sum. The extraction formula in the code is structured as follows:
yield = base × (1 + sum of regular bonuses) × (1 + total bonus)
In other words, the two multipliers work together. That’s why the overall bonus is more valuable than it seems: it multiplies everything you’ve already accumulated.
Example
Let's say you have the following for metal mining:
- standard bonuses (research + senator) = +40% → first set ×1.4;
- Total bonus (alliance skill) = +20% → second set of parentheses × 1.2.
Result: 1.4 × 1.2 = ×1.68, which is a 68% increase in output—more than the simple sum of 40% + 20% = 60%. The extra 8% came from the multiplication.
Anomalies and Arsenal—separate layers
- Planetary anomalies are added to the first bracket (along with the usual bonuses)—that is, they are added to the other bonuses of the same type.
- Arsenal upgrades are treated as a separate layer and are applied to combat and speed on top of regular bonuses. The upgrades themselves can be enhanced (their “power” increases based on the corresponding bonus).
Where this is particularly important
This “sum × common factor” principle applies not only to mining, but also to energy and other systems. Therefore:
- Collect bonuses of the same type from all sources—they add up as they should.
- Take advantage of "general" alliance bonuses—they multiply your entire stack, rather than simply adding to it.
- Don't ignore small percentages—when you have a large stack, they add up to a significant gain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bonuses at Xterium added together or multiplied? Bonuses of the same type from different sources are added together. “General” bonuses (such as the general alliance mining bonus) are multiplied by a separate multiplier on top of that total.
Why are alliance bonuses so valuable? Many of them are “general” — they multiply your entire accumulated bonus stack rather than simply being added to it. With a large stack, this yields more than a standard bonus of the same value.
How do arsenal upgrades work? They are applied as a separate layer on top of the standard bonuses (for combat and speed). Their effect can also be enhanced with a special upgrade power bonus.
