The Sensor Phalanx is a moon-based tool that lets you inspect fleet movements associated with a selected planet. It is especially useful for planning interceptions and precisely timed attacks.
What range does the Phalanx have?
Its range depends on building level and is calculated as level² − 1 systems in either direction from the moon’s system. Scans work within the same galaxy. Higher levels therefore let you observe progressively more distant systems.
How much does a scan cost?
The cost depends on the distance between the moon’s system and the target system: 5,000 deuterium per system of distance. Scanning the same system costs no deuterium. The result lists visible active missions connected with the selected planet.
Exact rules and formulas
A phalanx works from a moon and requires at least level 1. Range formula: level² − 1 systems, within the same galaxy only.
| Level | Range |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 15 |
| 5 | 24 |
| 6 | 35 |
| 10 | 99 |
Scan cost: |source system − target system| × 5,000 deuterium. Scanning the same system costs 0; 10 systems cost 50,000 deuterium and 24 systems cost 120,000.
Planet positions 1–15 can be scanned. Missions with a moon as an endpoint are hidden from the phalanx. Outbound missions can be visible when the scanned planet is either origin or target; returning/recalled missions are visible only from their origin planet.
Important: phalanx scans never cross galaxies, even if the numerical range would otherwise be enough.
How quickly does phalanx range grow?
Range grows quadratically, so every higher level adds more reach than the previous one. Going from level 2 to 3 increases range from 3 to 8 systems (+5), level 5 to 6 from 24 to 35 (+11), and level 9 to 10 from 80 to 99 (+19).
| Level | Range | Maximum observed band* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 system |
| 3 | 8 | 17 systems |
| 5 | 24 | 49 systems |
| 7 | 48 | 97 systems |
| 10 | 99 | 199 systems |
*When far enough from the 1/499 boundaries; real coverage is capped by system limits.
What exactly is visible?
The phalanx considers active missions connected to the scanned planet. An outbound flight may be visible when that planet is either the origin or the target. Returning or recalled fleets are visible on the origin side. Any mission whose origin or target is a moon is excluded from this scan.
Scan cost does not depend on phalanx level or the number of fleets found — only on system-number distance. A level-10 phalanx scanning 99 systems away pays 99 × 5,000 = 495,000 deuterium.
FAQ — Sensor Phalanx
Can I use a Phalanx from a planet?
No. You need a moon with an active Sensor Phalanx.
Does the Phalanx show flights involving moons?
Not all flights are visible; missions with a moon as an origin or destination are excluded from this scan.