Mechanics page
NationCraft Online tech tree
Research is the strategic timing layer that turns a broad nation plan into a sequence. The important question is not only what a node unlocks, but which era gate, war option, or economy edge it moves forward for you.
Settlement era
foundations
Foundational Administration
Prereqs: none | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Army Base, Commercial Hub, Farm, Ground Attack, Mine, Oil Well, Power Plant
T01
Basic Infrastructure
Prereqs: none | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Farm T1, Mine T1, Oil Well T1
T02
Basic Industry
Prereqs: T01 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Power Plant T1
T03
Basic Commerce
Prereqs: T01 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Civil Administration T1, Commercial Hub T1
T04
Basic Military Organization
Prereqs: T01 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Air Attack, Army Base T1, Ground Attack, Naval Attack
T05
Basic Airframes
Prereqs: T02 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Air Attack, Airbase T1
T06
Coastal Patrol
Prereqs: T02 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Naval Attack, Naval Defense Coastal T1, Naval Yard T1
T07
Basic Fortification
Prereqs: T01 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Fortifications Grid T1
T08
Recon Doctrine
Prereqs: T04 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Special Forces Attack, Special Forces Command T1
T09
Civil Engineering I
Prereqs: T01 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Fortifications Grid T2, University Complex T1
T10
Market Foundations
Prereqs: T03 | Min research ticks: 30
Unlocks: Logistics Hub T1
State era
air_doctrine
Air Doctrine
Prereqs: logistics_statecraft | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Air Attack, Airbase
logistics_statecraft
Logistics Statecraft
Prereqs: foundations | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Refinery, Refinery T1, Steel Mill, Steel Mill T1
T11
Industrialization I
Prereqs: T02, T09 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Farm T2, Mine T2, Oil Well T2, Power Plant T2, Refinery T2, Steel Mill T2
T12
Aviation Doctrine I
Prereqs: T05 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Air Attack, Airbase T2
T13
Naval Doctrine I
Prereqs: T06 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Naval Attack, Naval Defense Coastal T2, Naval Yard T2
T14
Armor & Mechanization I
Prereqs: T04, T11 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Army Base T2
T15
Counterintelligence I
Prereqs: T08, T10 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Special Forces Attack, Special Forces Command T2
T16
Missile Engineering I
Prereqs: T11 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Missile Attack, Missile Command T1
T17
Air Defense I
Prereqs: T09, T12 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Air Defense Network T1
T18
Logistics & Supply I
Prereqs: T10, T11 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Logistics Hub T2
T19
Research Methods I
Prereqs: T09, T10 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: University Complex T2, Uranium Facility T1
T20
Trade Law I
Prereqs: T03, T10 | Min research ticks: 84
Unlocks: Civil Administration T2, Commercial Hub T2, Financial Center T1
Nation era
combined_arms
Combined Arms Integration
Prereqs: air_doctrine, naval_projection | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Electronics Plant, Electronics Plant T1, Electronics Plant T2, Electronics Plant T3, Fortifications Grid, Munitions Factory, Munitions Factory T1, Munitions Factory T2, Munitions Factory T3, University Complex
market_automation
Market Automation
Prereqs: combined_arms | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Market Fee Reduction I
naval_projection
Naval Projection
Prereqs: logistics_statecraft | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Naval Attack, Naval Yard
special_operations
Special Operations
Prereqs: air_doctrine, naval_projection | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Special Forces Attack
T21
Industrialization II
Prereqs: T11 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Farm T3, Mine T3, Oil Well T3, Power Plant T3, Refinery T3, Steel Mill T3, Uranium Facility T2
T22
Aviation Doctrine II
Prereqs: T12 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Air Attack, Air Defense Network T2, Airbase T3
T23
Naval Doctrine II
Prereqs: T13 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Naval Attack, Naval Yard T3
T24
Armor & Mechanization II
Prereqs: T14 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Army Base T3
T25
Special Operations II
Prereqs: T15 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Special Forces Attack, Special Forces Command T3
T26
Nuclear Physics
Prereqs: T19, T21 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Uranium Facility T3
T27
Delivery Systems I
Prereqs: T16 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Missile Attack, Missile Command T2, Nuke Attack
T28
Civil Defense I
Prereqs: T21 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Civil Defense Shelters T1
T29
Economic Policy I
Prereqs: T20 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: Commercial Hub T3, Financial Center T2
T30
Strategic Intelligence I
Prereqs: T15, T19 | Min research ticks: 168
Unlocks: University Complex T3
Power era
atomic_theory
Atomic Theory
Prereqs: combined_arms, special_operations | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Missile Attack, Missile Command
nuclear_command
Nuclear Command
Prereqs: atomic_theory | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Civil Defense Shelters, Nuke Attack
T31
Civil Engineering II
Prereqs: T09, T21 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Civil Administration T3
T32
Strategic Construction
Prereqs: T31 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: none
T33
Integrated Defense Systems
Prereqs: T17, T23 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Fortifications Grid T3, Naval Defense Coastal T3
T34
Advanced Missile Defense
Prereqs: T33 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Air Defense Network T3
T35
Carrier Doctrine
Prereqs: T23 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: none
T36
Precision Strike Systems
Prereqs: T27 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Missile Attack, Missile Command T3
T37
Special Operations III
Prereqs: T25 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: none
T38
Nuclear Safety Protocols
Prereqs: T26 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Civil Defense Shelters T2, Nuke Attack
T39
Market Deepening II
Prereqs: T29 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: none
T40
War Economy I
Prereqs: T18, T21 | Min research ticks: 252
Unlocks: Logistics Hub T3
Legacy era
systems_mastery
Systems Mastery
Prereqs: market_automation, nuclear_command | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: Market Fee Reduction II
T41
Legacy Infrastructure
Prereqs: T31 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T42
Legacy Industry
Prereqs: T40 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T43
Legacy Commerce
Prereqs: T39 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: Financial Center T3
T44
Legacy Defense
Prereqs: T34 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T45
Strategic Arms Limitation
Prereqs: T38 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T46
Cyber Defense
Prereqs: T37 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T47
Naval Supremacy
Prereqs: T35 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T48
Air Supremacy
Prereqs: T22, T34 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T49
Ground Supremacy
Prereqs: T24 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: none
T50
National Resilience
Prereqs: T38, T41, T44 | Min research ticks: 420
Unlocks: Civil Defense Shelters T3