Vanguard
A massive, fragile colony ship. The Vanguard exists to do exactly one thing: plant your flag on a star you don't yet own.
| Offense | 0 |
|---|---|
| Defense | 1 |
| Palladium cost | 55,000 |
| Iridium cost | 55,000 |
| Build time | 60m |
| Upkeep / day | 500 credits |
| Speed | 16.9 ly/hr |
| Cargo hold | 0 |
| Shipyard level required | 12 |
What it does
A Vanguard is the only ship that can capture a star. It does this by decreasing a systems loyalty or hostility, when they drop below zero the system is yours.
Why it matters
Building outward is the only way to grow an empire wide instead of tall. Every new star runs its own economy, its own structure queue, and contributes to your empire score.
Requirements
A Vanguard needs your Shipyard at level 12 AND your Command Center at level 15 before it can be built.
Strategy
Vanguards are expensive enough that losing one hurts. One rule of thumb:
Never send a lone Vanguard at a defended star. Without combat escort, your vanguard arrives, gets caught and dies. Bring marauders or sentinels sized to survive the defender's fleet.
Sending more than one Vanguard in the same arrival doesn't help. Only one ever rolls, and if the escort wipes they all die together.
Vanguards are slow and their upkeep is steep. Don't park a stockpile waiting for an opportunity, but build them shortly before you intend to send them.
