In this secton you'll find a description of the technologies you have to research to obtain new vessels during the game. A brief description of weapon types is also provided.

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-- WEAPON TYPES --
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+ Mass Drivers:
Projectile weapons. The weapon itself is small, so you'll find at least one small-calibre gun on every Fighter. Bigger ships will have mass-drivers in their secondary turrets. In Cataclysm, projectile weapons are useful against fast strike crafts, as they travel at a higher velocity and do moderate damage to thin armor. They have short to medium range values. Later in the game Mass Drivers will be upgraded to Energy Cannons, a more powerful version of these guns.

+ Energy Beams:
Capital Ships only. The most common energy beam is the ion beam, mounted on a number of ships. Only Super-Capital Ships carry them in turrets, as an ion cannon is usually big as a whole Frigate. Medium to long range weapons with high damage values, mainly useful against Capital Ships, though a turret-mounted cannon can deal with Strike Crafts and reduce them in scraps within seconds.

+ Missiles:
Missiles are the only weapon limited by ammunition supplies, but bigger ships can build them automatically, so just make an intelligent use of them. They were first developed to provide anti-Fighter capabilities to Capital Ships, but then engineers began to develop smaller missiles to provide a more powerful punch to Corvettes and Fighters. Though their damage value is lower than the Beam's one, they are fired in groups and have a longer range.

+ Fields:
some ships come equipped with a field generator capable of deflecting enemy weapons or generating gravity wheels to stop enemy's Strike Crafts. Those shields are useful to protect valuable ships (Carriers, Cruisers, MotherShips...) or to trap enemy vessels. The third type of field is the Stealth, capable of masking crafts to enemy eyes and standard sensors. Only advanced sensor suites will detect Stealth (or cloaked) units.

+ Plasma Bombs:
large plasma spheres that do a lot of damage; they are a bit slow, however, and the only crafts carrying them are the Beast/Taiidan Attack Bomber and the Taiidan Assault Frigate. Very effective against large ships and, if they hit, against fighters.

+ Infection Beam:
Only available to the Beast. Its Super-Capital Ships, as well as the Beast MotherShip, use it. This beam infects enemy vessels and make them fight for the Beast. Work only on Strike Crafts and Frigates, so use the biggest ships you have to deal with the listed enemies. Note that the Beam lasts for nearly 10 seconds and can infect every Strike Craft or Frigate which is hit during this time span.

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-- SOMTAAW TECHNOLOGIES --
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FIGHTER DRIVE
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: none
Lead to: Advanced Fighter Drive, Linking Technology
Needed for: Acolytes, Mimics
Notes: you need it for producing fighters. You have to research for it in multiplayer and in the campaign mode you begin with this ability.

ADVANCED FIGHTER DRIVE
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: Fighter Drive
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Seekers, Acolytes and Mimics)
Notes: this will make your fighters (but not ACVs or MCVs) move faster.

LINKING TECHNOLOGY
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: Fighter Drive
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: ACVs and MCVs (upgrade for Acolytes and Mimics)
Notes: will allow to produce Composite Vehicles from the hangar bay or by linking two Acolytes/Mimics

FRIGATE DRIVE
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: Advanced Frigate Drive
Needed for: Dervish, Hive
Notes: needed for all Frigates

ADVANCED FRIGATE DRIVE
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: Frigate Drive
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Dervish, Hive)
Notes: like the Advanced Fighter Drive, this will make your Frigates moving faster

DESTROYER DRIVE
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: Advanced Destroyer Drive
Needed for: Shaman, Deacon
Notes: needed for Carriers and Destroyers

ADVANCED DESTROYER DRIVE
Research in: Hangar Module
Pre-requisites: Destroyer Drive
Lead to: nothing (upgrade for Shaman, Deacon)
Needed for: Archangel
Notes: needed for the almighty Archangel and like the other Advanced Drives will make your Ships move faster.

ARMOR LEVEL 2
Research in: Armor Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: Armor Level 3
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for all ships)
Notes: will make ships stronger

ARMOR LEVEL 3
Research in: Armor Module
Pre-requisites: Armor Level 2
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Hive)
Notes: will make ships stronger

FORCE FIELD LEVEL 1
Research in: Armor Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: Force Field Level 2
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Sentinels)
Notes: will block incoming projectiles

FORCE FIELD LEVEL 2
Research in: Armor Module
Pre-requisites: Force Field Level 1
Lead to: Force Field Level 3
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Sentinels)
Notes: will block incoming projectiles and missiles

FORCE FIELD LEVEL 3
Research in: Armor Module
Pre-requisites: Force Field Level 2
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Sentinels)
Notes: will block incoming projectiles, missiles and energy beams.

HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTOR
Research in: Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: Mimics, MCVs
Notes: will allow you to build and mask Mimics.

SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Research in: Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing
Notes: will allow to produce more ships (each Kuun-Lan module will provide 10 SUs, while Carrier's 12.)

AFTERBURNER
Research in: Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: Minions
Notes: needed for Minions and their ramming attacks.

REPAIR SYSTEMS
Research in: Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Workers and Chieftains)
Notes: this will allow to use Workers as a mobile repair base.

SALVAGING ABILITY
Research in: Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: Crystal Harvesting Capability
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Workers)
Notes: essentially will allow you to use Workers as HW's Salvage Corvettes.

MICRO-SHIP CONSTRUCTION
Research in: Advanced Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: Repair Bots, Phased Telemetry, Advanced Sensors, Infection Vaccine (multiplayer only)
Needed for: Sentinel, Leech
Notes: needed for the two Pods and all other advanced technologies

REPAIR BOTS
Research in: Advanced Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: Micro-Ship Construction
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for all Capital Ships)
Notes: auto-repair capabilities for Capital Ships.

PHASED TELEMETRY
Research in: Advanced Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: Micro-Ship Construction
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: Leech
Notes: allows you to build Leech Pods

ADVANCED SENSORS
Research in: Advanced Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: Micro-Ship Construction
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Seekers, Sentinels)
Notes: makes certain ships' sensor arrays' range longer

INFECTION VACCINE
Research in: Advanced Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: Micro-Ship Construction
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Minions, Workers)
Notes: will allow you to reconvert infected ships. Available in multiplayer only.

CRYSTAL HARVESTING CAPABILITY
Research in: Advanced Engineering Module
Pre-requisites: Salvaging Ability
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Chieftains, Shamans and Explorers)
Notes: will make you very rich

ADVANCED ION CANNON
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: Dervish
Notes: needed for Dervishes.

MISSILE TECH
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: Acolytes (upgrade), Deacon, ArchAngel
Notes: needed for the most powerful ships in the game

SIEGE CANNON
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Explorers)
Notes: give'em hell, boys

ENERGY CANNON
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for all projectile weapons)
Notes: will make projectile weapons more powerful

EMP WEAPON
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for ACVs)
Notes: special action ability for ACVs; this will temporarily disrupt enemy vessels' drives.

QUANTUM EXPLOSIVE CHARGE
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Mimics and MCVs)
Notes: banzaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

REPULSOR WEAPON
Research in: Weapon Module
Pre-requisites: nothing
Lead to: nothing
Needed for: nothing (upgrade for Archangels)
Notes: repulsor weapon for ArchAngel

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-- BEAST TECHNOLOGIES --
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Unlike the Somtaaw, the Beast has to capture and absorbs upgraded enemy ships and then upgrade its ships. I'm going to list Beast vessels and the technology needed for them and the way to get them.

GENETICAL ENGINEERING MODULE
Support Systems
Infection Beam (upgrade)
Crystal Harvesting Capabibility (upgrade/capture)

SEEKER (captured)
Advanced Sensors (upgrade)
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

ACOLYTE (captured)
Fighter Engine
Linking Technology (upgrade/capture)
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

INTERCEPTOR
Fighter Engine
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

STEALTH FIGHTER
Fighter Engine
Cloaking Ability
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

ATTACK BOMBER
Fighter Engine
Plasma Bombs
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

ACV (captured)
Fighter Engine
Linking Technology (upgrade/capture)
EMP Weapon (upgrade/capture)
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

MULTI-GUN CORVETTE
Fighter Drive
Fast Moving Turrets
Advanced Fighter Engine (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

HEAVY CORVETTE
Fighter Drive
Heavy Corvette Upgrade
Advanced Fightert Engine (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2 (upgrade/capture)

MULTI-BEAM FRIGATE (captured)
Frigate Drive
Advanced Ion Cannon
Advanced Frigate Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

HIVE FRIGATE (captured)
Frigate Drive
Micro-Ship Construction (captured)
Advanced Frigate Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

ION ARRAY FRIGATE
Frigate Drive
Advanced Ion Cannon
Cloaking Ability (upgrade)
Advanced Frigate Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

DEFENSE FIELD FRIGATE
Frigate Drive
Defense Field
Advanced Frigate Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

HEAVY CRUISER
Destroyer Drive
Heavy Guns
Advanced Ion Cannon
Advanced Destroyer drive (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Infection Beam (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

CARRIER
Destroyer Drive
Crystal Harvesting Capability (upgrade/capture)
Advanced Destroyer Drive (upgrade/capture)
Energy Cannon (upgrade/capture)
Infection Beam (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

RAMMING FRIGATE (captured)
Repair Bots (upgrade/capture)
Afterburner (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

WORKER
Repair Systems (upgrade/capture)
Salvaging Ability (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

PROCESSOR (captured)
Crystal Harvesting Capability (upgrade/capture)
Repair Systems (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

SENTINEL (captured)
Micro Ship Construction (captured)
Force Field Level 1 (upgrade/capture)
Force Field Level 2 (upgrade/capture)
Force Field Level 3 (upgrade/capture)
Advanced Sensors (upgrade)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

COMMAND SHIP
Infection Beam (upgrade)
Crystal Harvesting Capability (upgrade/capture)
Support Systems (upgrade)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

CRUISE MISSILE
Fighter Drive
Missile Tech
Bio-Warhead
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Infection Beam (upgrade)
Armor Level 3 (upgrade/capture)

MISSILE CORVETTE
Fighter Drive
Missile Tech
Advanced Fighter Drive (upgrade/capture)
Armor Level 2