Recycler Upgrades
Recycler Upgrades are an Intelligence focus research that unlocks Reaper-class salvage ships without changing Recycler construction cost, improves Recycler and Reaper speed, and caps automatic Reaper combat harvesting.
Effects
Level 1 unlocks the Reaper in the shipyard. Once unlocked, new salvage construction uses Reapers instead of Recyclers.
Each level adds flat Reaper combat stats, Recycler speed, Reaper speed, and automatic combat harvest capacity:
| Bonus | Per Level |
|---|---|
| Base Shield Strength | +25 |
| Base Attack Power | +50 |
| Recycler base speed | +100 before drive bonuses |
| Reaper speed | +10% |
| Surviving Reaper automatic combat harvest | Up to 2% of fresh debris |
The Reaper stat bonuses increase base values before normal combat research bonuses are applied. The Recycler speed bonus is added to Recycler base speed before Combustion, Impulse, Hyperspace, Advanced Hyperdrive, or other speed bonuses are calculated. The Reaper speed bonus stacks with normal drive research and Reaper-specific Advanced Hyperdrive bonuses.
Automatic combat harvesting requires Recycler Upgrades. If you own Reapers but have Recycler Upgrades level 0, Reapers do not automatically collect combat debris.
Cost
Recycler Upgrades use the same research cost curve as Fusion:
| Resource | Level 1 Amount |
|---|---|
| Metal | 2,000 |
| Crystal | 1,000 |
| Deuterium | 1,000 |
Cost factor: 2x per level.
Requirements
| Requirement | Level |
|---|---|
| Research Lab | 4 |
What Does Not Change
- Recycler construction cost
- Reaper construction cost
- Reaper cargo capacity from Recycler Upgrades
- Existing Recycler fleets