A planet and its moon share system coordinates but serve very different roles. A planet is the base for economy, research and account development. A moon is a strategic object: it unlocks the Sensor Phalanx and Jump Gate, while its limited field count forces more selective construction.
Which buildings are planet-only?
Only planets can build Metal and Crystal Mines, Deuterium Synthesizer, Solar and Fusion Plants, University, Nanite Factory, Research Lab, Terraformer, Bank, Capitol, Market and Academy. Core production and most research infrastructure therefore remain planet-based.
Which buildings are moon-only?
A moon has three key special buildings: the Lunar Base, Sensor Phalanx and Jump Gate. The Lunar Base adds 5 fields per level, the Phalanx scans supported fleet movements and the Jump Gate transfers fleets between moons after its cooldown.
What can be built on both?
Robotics Factory, Shipyard, Metal/Crystal/Deuterium Storage, Alliance Depot and Missile Silo are allowed on both planets and moons. Individual buildings can still have additional technology requirements.
Where do moon fields come from?
A new moon starts with one field per 500 km of diameter, with a minimum of 4 fields. Further expansion requires Lunar Base levels. Planets instead receive position-based random fields and can expand through Terraformer and the Terraforming Resort.
FAQ — planet vs moon
Can a moon run a normal mining economy?
No. Mines and the main production buildings are planet-only.
Why is a moon important for fleets?
Mainly because of Phalanx and Jump Gate mechanics and because it provides a separate strategic location for fleet infrastructure.
Practical development difference
A planet is the economic base: it can host mines, power plants, Laboratory, Nanite Factory, Terraformer, Bank, Capitol, Market and Academy. A moon starts with fields equal to floor(diameter / 500), with a minimum of 4, so its space is far more valuable. Moon Base increases the limit by five fields per level. In return, a moon provides unique strategic tools—Sensor Phalanx and Jump Gate—so it is normally developed for fleet operations and observation rather than standard resource production.
Related FAQ: How is a moon created? · How does the Sensor Phalanx work? · How does the Jump Gate work?
How should the values in this FAQ be read?
The formulas and limits above describe the current Inter-War logic in the audited code. Some values are configurable per universe, so an administrator can change a multiplier without changing the underlying mechanic. If the live game panel shows a different configurable value, treat the active universe value as authoritative.
What should be checked in practice?
Before making a decision, check current building and research levels, active bonuses, universe parameters and validation messages. Inter-War often combines several layers: the base formula, server speed, Resorts, Officers, Avatar bonuses, Premium and temporary events. The server always performs the final calculation.