OGame Spaceship Construction

Spaceships in OGame — Overview

Spaceship construction is the heart of OGame. All ships are built in the Shipyard and require resources as well as certain research as prerequisites. The more advanced a ship, the higher the construction costs and research requirements — but also the more powerful its effect in combat or in the economic system.

OGame is a browser game that has been playable directly in the browser since 2002 without download or installation. The ship variety is one of its greatest strengths: with 17 different ship types, OGame offers a suitable playing style for both aggressive fleeters as well as resource-focused miners and explorers.

Ships can be built on any planet that has a Shipyard. The construction time depends on the Shipyard level, the Nanite Factory (if present) and the Officer Engineer. With a high Shipyard and Nanite Factory, even large fleets can be built in a short time.

Combat Ships — Backbone of the fleet

Civilian Ships — Economy and logistics

Which ships to build when?

Early phase (Days 1–14)

In the initial phase, resources are scarce. Priority is given to Small Cargoes (for fleetsave and resource transport) and Espionage Probes (cheap, indispensable). Light Fighters as first combat ships enable initial attacks on weak or inactive players. A Colony Ship is important as soon as the Astrophysics research allows for a second colony.

Mid-game (Weeks 3–8)

With growing production, Cruisers and first Battleships can be built. Recyclers become indispensable for harvesting debris fields after battles. The Reaper is a sensible addition for fleeters, as it automatically collects debris. For expedition players, the Pathfinder is now the most important investment.

Endgame

In the endgame, Battleships, Destroyers and — for the strongest players — the Death Star dominate. The Death Star requires Graviton research (300,000 energy required), but it's the only ship that can destroy moons. Bombers are indispensable for planets with strong defences, as they have rapidfire against all defence installations.

Shipyard and construction speed

The construction time of a ship depends directly on the Shipyard level. Each level of the Shipyard reduces the construction time of all ships and defence installations. In addition, the Nanite Factory significantly reduces construction time again — at high levels, ships can be built in minutes instead of hours.

The Officer Engineer reduces the construction costs of ships and defence installations by 10%. For large fleet construction programmes, this advantage can save significant amounts of resources. Engineers are unlocked with Dark Matter or can be found through expeditions.

Rapidfire — the hidden mechanic

Rapidfire is one of the most important but least explained mechanics in OGame. Certain ships have the ability to fire multiple times per combat round against a specific enemy type. A Cruiser fires an average of 6 times on a Light Fighter per round — making it the perfect counter. Those who know rapidfire relationships can set up fleets specifically against the opponent's weak points.

Frequently asked questions

Which ships are there in OGame?

OGame offers 10 combat ships (from Light Fighter to Death Star) and 7 civilian ships (Transport, Colony, Recycler, Probes, Satellites, Crawler). Each has specific strengths, weaknesses and rapidfire relationships.

What do I need to build ships?

A Shipyard on the planet, the necessary resources and the prerequisite research (e.g. Impulse Drive for Large Cargo, Hyperspace Drive for Battleship).

Which ship should I build first?

Small Cargoes for fleetsave and logistics, Espionage Probes for reconnaissance and Light Fighters as first combat ships. Recyclers as soon as you engage in first battles.