Working station-category map
| Station type | Reported categories beyond Common | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial | Worker | Focused Worker-component searches |
| Lab | Science, Medical, Military | Technical, medical, and military component overlap |
| Mine | Miner | Miner-category searches with a narrower pool |
| Military | Security, Military | Cases and military-category equipment |
| Colony Farm | Worker, Military | Worker/military overlap |
| Civilian | Civilian, Worker, Management, Medical, Security | Broad searches where room context matters |
| Space Station | Civilian, Management, Security, Military | Administrative, security, and military overlap |
OFFICIAL GAMEPLAYRank two available contracts
- 01
Start from the target item
List its reported categories instead of choosing a location from memory.
- 02
Count meaningful overlaps
Compare each contract's station type with the target categories; multiple overlaps create a stronger lead.
- 03
Apply survival cost
Subtract travel, faction, mission length, threat, and extraction risk from the theoretical loot advantage.
- 04
Choose a stopping rule
If the target drops, protect it. If repeated comparable runs fail, record the evidence and test a second valid station type.
Why broad stations need more discipline
Civilian and orbital stations cover several categories, which makes them eligible for many targets but also less specific. Room purpose and container context become more important when the category mix is broad.
A narrow pool is not automatically a good run. The target may have a low weight, the mission may expose few relevant containers, or the cost of reaching extraction may exceed the component's value. Use the map to reject obviously unrelated routes first, then use campaign context to choose among valid ones.
When the official game updates loot or generation, old station advice can decay silently. Capture the version with every observation and never label a compatible location as guaranteed unless the live game explicitly does so.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which station type has Science items?
Labs are the clearest reported Science location, while compatible multi-category items may also connect to stations through their other categories.
Why are civilian stations listed for so many items?
Their reported category mix is broad. That increases eligibility but reduces specificity, so container and room context matter more.
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.