Combustion Drive
Overview
The Combustion Drive is the most basic propulsion technology. It powers the Small Cargo, Large Cargo, Recycler, Espionage Probe, and Light Fighter. Every level increases speed by 10% over base speed.
Base Stats
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Base cost | 400 Metal · 0 Crystal · 600 Deuterium |
| Cost factor | 2× per level |
| Prerequisites | Research Lab level 1 · Energy Technology level 1 |
Cost Table
| Level | Metal | Deuterium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 400 | 600 |
| 2 | 800 | 1,200 |
| 6 | 12,800 | 19,200 |
| 10 | 204,800 | 307,200 |
Speed Formula
where is Combustion Drive level.
Speed for Small Cargo (base 5,000)
| Level | Speed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5,500 |
| 2 | 6,000 |
| 6 | 8,000 (switches to Large Cargo behavior) |
| 10 | 10,000 |
Drive Upgrades
Some ships upgrade their drive type at a certain tech level. The Small Cargo switches to Impulse Drive at Impulse Drive 5, gaining a significant speed jump.
Ships Using Combustion Drive
| Ship | Base Speed | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Small Cargo | 5,000 | Combustion 2 |
| Large Cargo | 7,500 | Combustion 6 |
| Light Fighter | 12,500 | Combustion 1 |
| Recycler | 2,000 | Combustion 6 |
| Espionage Probe | 100,000,000 | Combustion 3 |
Tips
Level 6 ASAP
Combustion Drive 6 unlocks both Large Cargo and Recycler — essential early tools.
Speed Matters for Farming
Higher speed means shorter flight times, more raids per hour. Combustion Drive is a cheap investment that pays off in farm efficiency.
See Also
Impulse Drive · Hyperspace Drive · Small Cargo · Large Cargo · Light Fighter
Updated 16 May 2026