Ashes of the Singularity II Tech Tree and Buildings
How research and buildings work in Ashes of the Singularity II: Quanta, the UEF research lines, production chains and the buildings worth building first.
Research in Ashes of the Singularity II is a Quanta economy with tier gates. You do not unlock units by building a single structure; you research a node, and that node unlocks a unit or a building. The system is simpler than a traditional tech tree, but it is easy to research the wrong thing and arrive at the mid-game with no army.
This guide covers the structure, the UEF research lines, the production chains and the buildings that matter most.
This guide reflects the November 10, 2026 launch build. Re-check key numbers after each patch.
How research works
- Research costs Quanta and time.
- Nodes are organized in tiers. Higher tiers require the lower tier to be researched first.
- You research one node at a time per research facility, so a second Research Lab doubles your research speed.
- Some nodes unlock units, others unlock buildings, others give stat bonuses.
The practical rule: research what you will build in the next five minutes, not what looks strongest at the end of the tree.
UEF research lines
UEF has three lines: Assault, Containment and Dominion. Each has four tiers.
Assault is the offensive line. Notable nodes:
- Titan Initiative (Tier 2) unlocks Titan M-7.
- Air Superiority Doctrine (Tier 3) unlocks Phoenix B-32.
- Godslayer Protocol (Tier 4) unlocks Godslayer.
Containment is the defensive and utility line. Notable nodes:
- Garrison Protocol (Tier 1).
- Forward Recon (Tier 2) unlocks Cavalier Team.
- Rapid Entrenchment (Tier 3).
- Project Goliath (Tier 4) unlocks Goliath.
Dominion is the economy and support line. Notable nodes:
- Neural Training (Tier 1).
- Overclocked Refinery (Tier 1).
- Parallel Construction (Tier 2).
- Research Networking (Tier 3).
The exact bonuses are shown in the in-game tooltip; the names above are the nodes confirmed from the launch build. Do not assume a node does what its name suggests without reading the tooltip.
PHC and Substrate research
PHC and Substrate use the same tier structure with faction-specific nodes. PHC research unlocks Champion, Hyperion and Sovereign, plus the Forge and Omega Arsenal units. Substrate research is organized into rings: ring 1 unlocks Clutch of Eggs and Capacitor, ring 3 unlocks Punisher, Overmind and Eye of Darkness.
The important difference is the gate. PHC needs the Forge and then the Omega Arsenal. Substrate needs the research ring before the Apex Replicator will produce its super units. If you are playing Substrate and wondering why Eye of Darkness is not available, check the ring, not the building.
Production chains
Each faction has a chain of production buildings:
| Faction | Basic | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEF | Barracks (300 Dur) | Motor Pool (500 Dur) | Armory (400 Dur + 400 Eler), Airfield (300 Dur + 500 Eler) |
| PHC | Factory | Armory | Forge, Sky Factory, Omega Arsenal |
| Substrate | Assembly | Advanced Assembly | Auxiliary Assembly, Aviary, Apex Replicator |
The pattern is the same for all three: a cheap basic building produces infantry and light vehicles, an advanced building produces the mid-game line, and an elite building produces the units that win the game. Do not skip the advanced step; the elite units are too expensive to be your first army.
Buildings worth building first
Extractors. The cheapest and most important building. Build them before anything else.
Supply Depot (100 Dur). Logistics headroom. If your army is capped, this is the fix.
Research Lab (100 Dur + 250 Eler). Research is a long-term investment, but it pays for itself by unlocking better units.
Refinery (150 Dur + 300 Eler). A multiplier on a region's output. Put it in the richest region you own.
Turrets. Vanguard Turret (275 Dur) and Flak Battery (200 Dur) are the basic defenses. They are supplements, not armies.
Command HQ upgrades. Fortified (500 Eler) and Strategic (1000 Eler) improve your headquarters. They are worth it when you are turtling, not when you are attacking.
Buildings to skip
Obliterator Cannon (1,250 Dur + 1,250 Eler). A Tier 4 defensive building with a huge cost. It is a win-more structure; if you can afford it, you are probably already ahead.
Extra production buildings before income. A second Forge with no Elerite income is a queue you cannot fill.
Static defense in every region. Turrets are for chokepoints and key buildings, not for every expansion.
A research plan that works
For a standard game:
- Tier 1 economy node.
- Tier 2 unit unlock that matches your build.
- Tier 2 economy or production node.
- Tier 3 unit unlock for the mid-game.
- Tier 4 only if the game goes long.
This keeps your research aligned with your army. A player who beelines Tier 4 and ignores Tier 1 will lose to a player with a full Tier 2 army and a better economy.
For the next step, read Ashes of the Singularity II Economy Guide→.
FAQ
How do I get more Quanta? Build research infrastructure and hold regions. Quanta is the research currency, so a second Research Lab is the direct fix.
What is the best first research? A Tier 1 economy node, then the Tier 2 unit unlock that matches your build.
Why can't I build a super unit? Check the building and the research tier. UEF needs Tier 4 and a Prototype Fabricator; PHC needs the Omega Arsenal; Substrate needs research ring 3 and the Apex Replicator.
Sources
Official source: GameWatcher buildings database ↗
Keep reading
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