Category planning map
| Category | Typical planning signal | Useful caution |
|---|---|---|
| Worker | Industrial and civilian logistics | Common-looking containers can still have broad pools |
| Science | Labs and technical locations | Science overlap does not imply a guaranteed rare component |
| Military | Military-capable sites | Higher threat can outweigh a small probability gain |
| Medical | Laboratory and civilian medical contexts | Verify renamed items after patches |
| Security | Security-capable civilian, military, or orbital sites | Container context still matters |
| Management | Civilian and space-station administration | Broad locations require a more selective route |
OFFICIAL GAMEPLAYApply categories to a real search
- 01
Identify every reported category
Do not choose only the category that sounds most intuitive; multi-category items create more valid routes.
- 02
Intersect with station pools
Use the station guide to list environments carrying at least one category, then rank multi-overlap options.
- 03
Price the contract risk
A theoretically better pool is not better if the faction, mission, or travel cost makes extraction unlikely.
- 04
Record the result
Track successful and unsuccessful searches with version and container context.
Avoid the guaranteed-drop mistake
Category compatibility answers whether a location is a sensible place to investigate. It does not state the number of rolls, the weight of each item, or whether mission generation overrides a general pool.
The best use is comparative: choose between two available contracts, decide which container types deserve limited inventory time, and stop repeating routes with no category connection. After an update, treat the current client as the authority and the community map as a hypothesis to retest.
A good correction includes patch, station type, faction, mission, floor, container, exact spelling, and whether mods were active. That detail separates a changed rule from a rare roll.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does a matching category guarantee the item?
No. It establishes a plausible pool relationship, not a guaranteed roll.
Should I always choose the station with most overlap?
No. Mission danger, travel cost, faction pressure, extraction condition, and your current equipment can outweigh the theoretical search advantage.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
Community-researched item-category and location-type relationships used as a routing lead, not a guaranteed drop table.
02 · WikiQuasimorph WikiIndependent reference used to cross-check terminology and identify details that should be verified in the current client.