colonization Tech Comparison
Terraforming II vs Orbital Habitats
Comparing the Terraforming II (Tier 2) and Orbital Habitats (Tier 3), both colonization 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 | Terraforming II | Orbital Habitats |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T2 | T3 |
| Research time | 18▼ | 28 |
| metal cost | 25,000▼ | 60,000 |
| crystal cost | 12,000▼ | 30,000 |
| Effect | +2 colonize tier; +100% building slots | enables orbital colony: true |
▼ marks the lower resource / time cost. Cheaper isn't always better — weigh it against the effect each tech unlocks.
Terraforming II
Extreme-condition planets become colonizable. +1 building slot per planet.
Requires: colonization 1
Orbital Habitats
Build space stations as habitable colonies independent of planetary surfaces.
Unlocks buildings: orbital habitat
Requires: colonization 2
Which Should You Research First?
The Terraforming II is the lower-tier prerequisite step and typically comes first in the colonization branch, opening the path toward Orbital Habitats.