shipbuilding Tech Comparison
Carrier Operations vs Solar Dreadnought Command IV
Comparing the Carrier Operations (Tier 3) and Solar Dreadnought Command IV (Tier 4), both shipbuilding 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 | Carrier Operations | Solar Dreadnought Command IV |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T3 | T4 |
| Research time | 32 | 8▼ |
| metal cost | 85,000 | 12,000▼ |
| crystal cost | 42,000 | 7,200▼ |
| antimatter cost | 350 | 200▼ |
| Effect | enables carrier class: true; +2 carried squadron slots | unlock ship: solar-sovereign |
▼ marks the lower resource / time cost. Cheaper isn't always better — weigh it against the effect each tech unlocks.
Carrier Operations
Flight-deck engineering and launch-catapult systems unlock the Carrier hull class and its embarked strike wings.
Unlocks buildings: carrier flight deck
Unlocks ships: dawn carrier, phoenix carrier
Requires: shipbuilding 3, drone warfare 1
Solar Dreadnought Command IV
Unlocks construction of the solar-sovereign (dreadnought class).
Unlocks ships: solar sovereign
Which Should You Research First?
The Carrier Operations is the lower-tier prerequisite step and typically comes first in the shipbuilding branch, opening the path toward Solar Dreadnought Command IV.