On this page
- The price increases exponentially with each level
- Factories speed up the construction of buildings
- The duration of research depends NOT on the laboratory, but on the state of science
- The shipyard is speeding up shipbuilding and defense efforts
- How to Apply This
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Read Next
Everyone knows that each subsequent level of a building is more expensive and takes longer to build than the previous one. But in Xterium, there are a couple of unexpected rules, especially when it comes to research times. Let’s break down exactly what gets more expensive and how to speed things up. The numbers are taken directly from the game’s code.
Where do these numbers come from? The rules for price increases and the time formulas are taken directly from the game engine. A step-by-step development plan can be found in the guide “How to Develop the Economy”].
The price increases exponentially with each level
The construction cost is multiplied by a constant factor for each level. Roughly speaking: price = base cost × level exponent. Different buildings have their own multipliers:
- Mines (metal/crystal/deuterium) — approximately ×1.23 per level (the rate of increase slows slightly at higher levels).
- Lab — about ×1.23 per level.
- Robot Factory — ×1.75 per level (the cost increases rapidly).
- Shipyard — ×2 per level (the biggest price hike).
Because of this, the higher levels of a single building become unmanageable, and it’s more advantageous to develop several buildings evenly rather than pushing one to the limit.
Factories speed up the construction of buildings
The building's construction time is set in the game and can be reduced by two factories:
- The Robot Factory — a key driver of construction acceleration.
- The Nanite Factory — a powerful additional speed boost (for the late game).
The higher the level of these factories, the faster buildings are constructed on the planet. That's why the robot factory is one of the first buildings worth investing in: it speeds up all construction.
The duration of research depends NOT on the laboratory, but on the state of science
This is the most unexpected rule, one that confuses new players (and sets Xterium apart from similar games).
In Xterium, research speed is not directly determined by the laboratory’s level, but rather by the accumulated “Science” resource**. The laboratory produces Science every hour** (just as a mine produces metal), and the more Science you have accumulated, the shorter the research time.
To put it simply: Science is the “fuel” for research. The more science you have in reserve, the faster research progresses.
What does this mean:
- Upgrading the lab is useful—it yields more Science per hour.
- But if Science accumulates slowly (due to a lack of labs or an energy shortage), research will move at a snail's pace, no matter how many lab levels there are.
- Energy is important here as well: an energy shortage also cuts into scientific output (see “Resource Extraction and Energy”).
The shipyard is speeding up shipbuilding and defense efforts
Ships and defenses are built at the shipyard; the higher its level (and that of its associated factories), the faster the fleet and turrets are built. Heavy ships take a very long time to build, so a high-level shipyard is critical in military universes.
How to Apply This
- Develop evenly. Because of the price multiplier, it’s not cost-effective to max out a single building.
- A robot factory—it's too early. It speeds up all construction and pays for itself over time.
- If you want faster research, focus on Science (upgrade your lab and keep your energy in the positive), not just your lab level.
- A shipyard is for war. Without a large shipyard, building a large fleet would take an agonizingly long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is each subsequent floor of a building more expensive? The construction cost is multiplied by a fixed factor for each level. For mines and laboratories, it’s about ×1.23 per level; for the robot factory, it’s ×1.75; and for the shipyard, it’s ×2—the biggest price increase.
What speeds up the construction of buildings? Two factories reduce construction time: the robot factory provides a basic construction speed boost, while the nanite factory offers a powerful additional speed boost for the late game.
What factors affect the speed of research? Research is accelerated not directly by the laboratory's level, but by the accumulated "Science" resource. The laboratory produces Science every hour, and the more Science you have in reserve, the faster research progresses.
Why do we need a high shipyard? Ships and defenses are built at the shipyard: the higher its level and that of its associated factories, the faster the fleet is built. Heavy ships take a very long time to build.
