Xcraft: Beginner's Guide — How to Start and Develop Fast
Xcraft is a classic browser-based space strategy game in the spirit of OGame, played across three dimensions: space, planetary surfaces and dungeons. Players pick one of three races — Terran, Xerj or Toss — and develop colonies, mine resources, research technologies and fight other players for galactic supremacy. The project has been running since 2006 and still receives updates. This guide takes a newcomer from registration to their first colony ship in a single evening and lays the foundation for fast, donation-free growth.
Registration and race choice
After signing up, activate your account via e-mail or SMS — key features are locked otherwise. Then complete the starting briefing: it teaches basic actions and grants starter resources and accelerators. Do not spend the starting hydarian crystals — you will need them for the colony ship and officers.
- Terran — a balanced, universal race. The best pick for a first run: straightforward economy, fast fighters and stealth ships for raiding.
- Xerj — a race of biological units. Strong in the late game but requires understanding infection and incubator mechanics.
- Toss — a high-tech race with powerful ships and shields. Expensive units, steep learning curve.
For a fast start, choose Terran: the guide below is tuned for it, though the general principles apply to all races.
First hour: starter construction
Follow the mission chain — it pays out resources and teaches the interface. The order of actions:
- Build a Solar Power Plant and speed it up with starter accelerators.
- Build a Metal Mine and a Mineral Mine, and accelerate those too.
- Build a Robot Factory, then a Shipyard. Warning: right after the Shipyard is built, 1 Scavenger and 1 Upyachka will attack you — build a Missile Launcher in the Defense menu in advance.
- For repelling the attack you receive 5 Fighters and 2 Stealths — the core of your first combat fleet.
- Build a Research Lab, upgrade the Shipyard to level 2 and research Espionage, Energy Technology and Rocket Engine to level 1.
- Build an Espionage Probe and complete the scanning mission on the planet marked by the green arrow in the galaxy view.
The mission chain pays roughly 10,000 of each resource plus your first ships. Beyond that point the quests become less useful — you need to set your own priorities.
Main goal of the first evening: the colony ship
The key beginner mistake is heavily overbuilding mines on the starter planet. Xcraft economy is built on raiding and colonies, not passive income. Your goal is Colonization Technology and the first colony ship.
| Requirement | Level |
|---|---|
| Shield Technology | 4 |
| Armor Technology | 5 |
| Impulse Engine | 3 |
| Colonization Technology | 2 |
| Shipyard | 4 |
| Research Lab | 4 |
Priority order: first the lab to level 4, then Computer Technology to level 3 (three fleet slots instead of one — three simultaneous attacks), then the Shipyard to level 4. At a relaxed pace the colony ship is ready in 5–6 hours without donations.
Economy: where resources come from
- Raiding inactive players (ishes) — the main source of resources. Scan nearby systems with probes, look for planets inactive for 7+ days with stockpiled resources. Attack with a fast fleet: fighters and stealths arrive quickly and return before the owner comes back.
- Colonies — a second and third planet increase income and target coverage. Do not settle in one system: spread colonies across sectors so more targets sit within flight range.
- Pirate OPS — bots carrying resources. For farming pirates below 100,000 points, use units with the Assault ability and ships that are effective against defense.
- Debris — after battles, debris fields remain in the system. Send a Recycler, but remember: a single fleet slot is too valuable early on to waste on a small pickup.
- Mines — raise them to level 10–12 on each colony, but do not chase records. Passive income is a cushion, not an engine.
Combat fleet: what a newcomer should build
| Unit | Role | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Fighter | Fast raiding | Cheap, fast, the backbone of early attacks |
| Stealth | Anti-defense strike | Invisible to radars, good against missile launchers |
| Corsair | Interception | Effective against enemy fighters |
| Destroyer | Heavy strike | Built later, for attacks on developed players |
| Espionage Probe | Recon | Build in batches of 10–20 |
The speed rule: for fights at coordinates, use your fastest units so the enemy cannot move their fleet to a hideout in time. For assaulting undefended planets, heavy ships work. You will not catch living enemies with slow flagships — they will flee ten times before you arrive.
Defense and hideout
Defense in Xcraft regenerates after battles with a 70% chance (for Terran), so investing in it is more efficient than leaving a fleet parked on the planet. An optimal starter defense:
- Missile Launcher — 20–30
- Light Laser — 10–15
- Heavy Laser — 5–10
- Shield Dome as soon as possible
Always keep your fleet with resources in flight (hideout) while offline: send it to a distant coordinate with a return timer matching your absence. The attacker sees an empty planet, and the fleet comes back unharmed.
Alliance and diplomacy
Once you have a colony ship, start looking for an alliance. A strong alliance provides:
- Protection from strong aggressors — attacking you becomes unprofitable
- Information about targets and enemy activity
- Resource help and advice from experienced players
- Participation in alliance wars and events
Relocate to your alliance's territory: moving the capital is possible, and new colonies can be placed near allies.
Tips
- Do not spend starting hydarian crystals on speeding up mines — save them for the colony ship or an officer.
- Always scan a target before attacking: the spy report shows defense and fleet; avoid targets with active defense.
- Keep your fleet moving when not in the game — a hideout saves you from being wiped.
- Build probes in batches: a single probe dies to the slightest defense, five to ten almost always get through.
- Do not fill every building slot on a planet — leave room for future structures and storage.
Frequently asked questions
Which race should a beginner pick? Terran — the simplest and most universal, with cheap and fast units and a clear economy. Xerj and Toss require experience.
What if I get attacked? Check the battle report: if losses are small, rebuild defense; if large, move the fleet to a hideout and save up for a counterattack with allies.
How do I get a colony ship quickly? Follow the chain: lab 4, shields 4, armor 5, impulse engine 3, colonization tech 2, shipyard 4. With active play — 5–6 hours.
Where do I get resources without donating? Raiding inactive players, pirate OPS, debris after battles, and passive income from colonies.
Should I upgrade mines? Up to level 10–12 on each planet — yes; beyond that, investing in fleet and colonies is more profitable.
How do I defend against a strong player? Join an alliance, keep the fleet in a hideout, and build defense — it regenerates after battles.
Last updated: October 3, 2026.