1. The Big Picture: Three Phases
Starminer's progression is driven by automation scaling. You start as a lone miner with a laser and a dream, and end as the CEO of an interstellar mining corporation with automated drill fleets, hauler networks, and defense flotillas.
| Phase | Hours | Main Goal | Key Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏕️ Phase 1 | 0-5 | Learn to mine manually & pay first debt installment | Basic Refinery, first hauler |
| 🏭 Phase 2 | 5-20 | Build automated income via Drill Nodes | Drill Nodes, multiple ships, Link Gates |
| 🏰 Phase 3 | 20-50+ | Scale to multi-system mining empire | Capital ships, full defense network, trade dominance |
2. Phase 1: Survival & First Income (0-5 Hours)
Step 1.1 — Learn the Controls (First 30 Minutes)
Start in Campaign Mode. Complete the tutorial missions — they teach basic flight, mining, and selling. Don't skip them. The tutorials also give you free starter modules worth ~5,000 credits.
Step 1.2 — Manual Mining Loop (Hours 1-3)
- Fly to the nearest asteroid belt (marked on your HUD after tutorial)
- Press V to scan for ore deposits
- Mine Iron and Silicon first — they're common but needed for everything
- Fill your cargo hold → fly to Reclamation 9 station → sell
- Repeat until you have ~15,000 credits
💡 Phase 1 Priority Order
1. Pay minimum debt installment (3,000 credits) → 2. Buy Basic Refinery module → 3. Upgrade mining laser to Mk II → 4. Build a second small mining ship → 5. Start saving for Drill Node research.
Step 1.3 — First Refinery (Hour 3-4)
Buy a Basic Refinery and attach it to your station or a dedicated refinery ship. Now instead of selling raw ore for 1×, you sell refined metals for 3-5×. Your income per mining run triples immediately.
Step 1.4 — Second Ship (Hour 4-5)
Build a second mining ship (or buy a cheap pre-built). Having two ships mining simultaneously doubles your income. Assign the second ship to follow you and mine the same asteroid — two lasers clear a deposit twice as fast.
End of Phase 1 checklist: 2 ships, Basic Refinery, 20,000+ credits saved, Drill Node research started.
3. Phase 2: Scaling Up (5-20 Hours)
Step 2.1 — Unlock Drill Nodes (Top Priority)
Spend your first 1,500 RP on Drill Node technology. This is the single most important research in the game — it unlocks passive ore income. Build 2-3 Drill Nodes and deploy them on scanned deposits in different asteroid belts.
Step 2.2 — First Hauler Ship
Design a dedicated hauler: large cargo hold, minimal weapons (just PD turret), decent engines. Set its route: Drill Node location → Your Refinery. A single hauler servicing 3 Drill Nodes can generate 5,000+ credits per hour autonomously.
Step 2.3 — Research Priority in Phase 2
- Drill Node Efficiency (faster extraction) — 1,000 RP
- Hauler Automation AI (smarter routing) — 1,500 RP
- Refinery Mk II (more output per ore) — 2,000 RP
- Plasma Cannon Mk I (basic defense) — Default
- Point-Defense Turret (anti-drone) — 1,200 RP
- Link Gates (inter-belt logistics) — 4,000 RP
Step 2.4 — Station Expansion
Expand your main station with: dedicated refinery wing, cargo storage depot, basic defense turrets (2 minimum), and a repair bay. A station that can process, store, and defend itself is the foundation of Phase 3.
Step 2.5 — First Combat Ship
By hour 10-15, alien activity increases. Build your first dedicated combat ship — not a miner with a gun, but a purpose-built fighter. See Combat Ship Blueprints for proven designs.
End of Phase 2 checklist: 4-6 Drill Nodes, 2 haulers, 3+ mining ships, Basic Refinery Mk II, Link Gates unlocked, 1 combat ship, station with turrets, 100,000+ credits.
4. Phase 3: Automation Empire (20-50+ Hours)
Step 3.1 — Multi-System Expansion
With Link Gates operational, expand to a second star system. Each new system gives access to rarer ores and fresh asteroid belts. Deploy 8-12 Drill Nodes across 2-3 systems, connected by Link Gates to a central refinery hub.
Step 3.2 — Fleet Specialization
By now you should have: 4-6 mining ships (dedicated miners), 3-4 haulers (dedicated transport), 2-3 combat ships (patrol and defense), 1 capital ship (mobile command center, optional but powerful). Each ship should be specialized — multi-role ships are Phase 1 thinking.
Step 3.3 — Defense Network
Place turret platforms around your main station and high-value mining sites. A single Frigate raid can destroy hours of infrastructure if undefended. See Base Defense Guide.
Step 3.4 — End-Game Goals
- Max out tech tree: All Mk III modules unlocked
- Capital ship fleet: 2+ capital-class vessels
- Full trade dominance: Control the refined metals market at Reclamation 9
- Carrier hunting: Take down an alien Carrier (hardest combat challenge)
- Survival mode mastery: Once you've conquered normal, Survival mode awaits
5. Progression Checklist by Milestone
| Milestone | ~Hours | Credits Needed | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| First mining run sold | 0.5 | 0 | Complete tutorial |
| Debt first installment paid | 2 | 3,000 | Manual mining |
| Basic Refinery built | 3 | 5,000 | Reclamation 9 access |
| Second ship operational | 5 | 12,000 | Shipyard access, 12k credits |
| First Drill Node deployed | 8 | 8,000 | Drill Node research (1,500 RP) |
| Hauler route established | 10 | 15,000 | Hauler AI research |
| Link Gates operational | 18 | 40,000 | Link Gate research (4,000 RP) |
| Second system colonized | 25 | 120,000 | Link Gates, combat fleet |
| Debt fully paid off | 30 | 250,000 | Automated income stream |
| Capital ship built | 40 | 500,000+ | Full tech tree, shipyard Mk III |
6. Common Progression Traps to Avoid
❌ Trap #1: Building Too Big Too Early
A massive ship with 20 modules sounds great until you realize it costs 50,000 credits, takes 15 minutes to turn, and generates enough heat to attract a Frigate. Start small, scale gradually.
❌ Trap #2: Skipping Drill Nodes
Some players keep manually mining for 20+ hours because "it works." Drill Nodes pay for themselves in under 2 hours of passive operation. The sooner you deploy them, the sooner you scale.
⚠️ Trap #3: Ignoring Defense Until It's Too Late
Alien threat scales with your total heat output. If you expand mining operations without building defenses, you WILL get raided. Rule of thumb: 1 turret platform per 3 Drill Nodes.
⚠️ Trap #4: Researching Randomly
Don't spread RP across five different tech paths. Focus on one chain at a time. Drill Nodes → Hauler AI → Refinery → Weapons → Link Gates. Stay focused.
Ready to build? Check Ship Building Guide · Drill Node Automation · Money Making Guide