colonization Tech Comparison
Population Cloning Vats vs Megacity Planning
Comparing the Population Cloning Vats (Tier 2) and Megacity Planning (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 | Population Cloning Vats | Megacity Planning |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T2 | T3 |
| Research time | 14▼ | 25 |
| metal cost | 20,000▼ | 50,000 |
| crystal cost | 10,000▼ | 25,000 |
| Effect | +20% population growth | +40% max planet population |
▼ marks the lower resource / time cost. Cheaper isn't always better — weigh it against the effect each tech unlocks.
Population Cloning Vats
Accelerate population growth rate by 20% on all colonies.
Unlocks buildings: cloning vat
Requires: colonization 1
Megacity Planning
Arcology design and urban stacking increases maximum planetary population capacity by 40%.
Unlocks buildings: arcology district
Requires: colonization 7
Which Should You Research First?
The Population Cloning Vats is the lower-tier prerequisite step and typically comes first in the colonization branch, opening the path toward Megacity Planning.