Tips & Strategy

Plan fuel, storage and return trips while you dig deeper.

Plan the return before descending

Movement costs fuel when you use the default function. Before drilling, count the floors back to the surface and leave room for that movement as well as any cards you want to keep during Upkeep. Surfacing can sell minerals, refill fuel, repair and buy cards, but only if Operations ends on the surface.

Match depth to storage

Your starting storage holds two minerals. A third mineral is no use until you sell, upgrade storage, or find a card that changes the limit. New corridor tiles can place several minerals on one floor, but you still spend a drill for each one you collect.

Improve a weak starting deck

Several starting cards have negative end-game values. Repair removes a card from your deck and can also remove a Damage card. Use the surface repair carefully: it costs 5 credits and is limited to once per Surfacing phase.

Read the market before selling

Market columns pay different amounts as they fill. When a column is full, overflow sales pay less, but the mineral still scores. Upgrading storage or using a drone sale can help you time a return to the surface.

Use the visible deck top

Your deck is face up in its stand, and you can always see the next card. Use that information when deciding whether to keep, play for fuel, or play for the card’s main effect.