Arid - Planets of this class are desert like and can be found in any of a star's zones. They are typically 8 to 15 thousand kilometers in diameter. Their surfaces are usually hot. Their atmospheres contain heavy gases and metal vapors. It can be used for colonization. By many players considered to be good Research planet because of good fertility and enough metal to create acceptable Production.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 2, Crystals 0, Fertility 5, Area if Planet 95, area if Moon 83

Asteroid - Planetary bodies of this class can be found in any of a star's zones. They are usually found in orbit of larger planets or in asteroid belts. They are typically 100 to 1,000 kilometers in diameter, they have no atmospheres, and their surfaces are barren and cratered. Can be used as combined Production/Economic base as they usually have good source of metal and sometimes crystals. If you get one with fertility 5, it can get quite good base. They are good choice for base in long run if you are Upgraded player as then you can build advanced buildings over level 5 and you will need them. Asteroids are small and their space can be filled rather quickly so you need to terraform them fast. Their size is both good and bad. Good: Construction of a Biosphere Modification costs 50 %on Asteroids. Construction of a Planetary Shield or a Planetary Ring costs 25% on Asteroids because it is small. Bad: very little space and low fertility.

Base values: Metal 3, Gas 1, Crystals 2, Fertility 4, Area 65

Craters - They are typically 1,000 to 10,000 kilometers in diameter. They tend to have high surface temperatures due to the proximity to the star and lack of thick atmosphere. Their atmospheres are extremely tenuous with few chemically active gases. Their surface is covered with great number of impact craters.

Base values: Metal 3, Gas 1, Crystals 1, Fertility 4, Area if Planet 85, area if Moon 75

Crystalline - They are typically 10 to 15 thousand kilometers in diameter and have surfaces that are still crystallizing. Their atmospheres still contain some toxic gases. By many players considered as most desired planets in whole Astro Empires universe. Especially newbies like those planets. Why? Because of crystal resource which is 3 which is great economic boost as Crystal mines are cheap and give you +3 on economy for each level of mine. If you can acquire such planet it is great for planet dedicated for economy. But older more experienced players do not give so much attention to such planets any more. If they acquire on of those; great, if they don’t; who cares. The point is in production shortage. Crystalline planet has only metal of 2 so it could never reach production and construction level of Asteroid, Craters or Rocky planet. But someone would say: “Never mind that if I have such economy!” it is true but later on you need to build powerful defenses which tend to take a lot of time to be built unless you have extremely high production which is impossible to achieve unless you spend huge amount of credits for some buildings. It is your choice if you would colonize such planet or not (if you can find one).

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 1, Crystals 3, Fertility 4, Area if Planet 80, area if Moon 71

Earthly - More famous as Minshara class by Vulcan terminology. They are typically 10,000 to 15 thousand kilometers in diameter. They have atmospheres that contain oxygen and nitrogen. Life is almost always present often flourishing as extensive plants and animals. Indigenous sentient race can also be present, but that is irrelevant factor in Astro Empires terms. Goes into same category as Arid planets, good for Research planets because of good fertility and enough metal for support production, but not enough to be successful Production planet.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 2, Crystal 0, Fertility 6, Area if Planet 85, Area if Moon 75

Gaia - Extreme example of Earthly planets. They have atmospheres that contain high amounts of oxygen and nitrogen. Water and any form of biological life are typically abundant. Indigenous sentient race usually is not present, but that is irrelevant factor in Astro Empires terms. Everything is same as Earthly, good for Research and nothing else. Considered better than Earthly because it has more area, as abundant life make if more comfortable for residents.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 2, Crystal 0, Fertility 6, Area if Planet 90, Area if Moon 79

Glacial - They are typically 1,000 to 10,000 kilometers in diameter. Low solar radiation and minimal internal heat usually result in a frozen atmosphere and planet surface. Because of possibility of large oceans beneath the icy surface which can support life it has considerable fertility in same class as Arid. But low level of Metal makes it undesirable. Only positive thing is the size of surface. Because entire surface is equally frozen almost everything can be used for building and thus more area available.

Base values: Metal 1, Gas 2, Crystals 0, Fertility 5, Area if Planet 95, Area if Moon 83

Magma – They have a molten surface because they have been recently formed. The atmosphere contains many hydrogen compounds and reactive gases. Atmospheric conditions are often turbulent and saturated with poisonous chemicals and thermionic radiation. If you just see their name, you would think they are unusable. But they can be used in same manor as Arids for research. Sometimes are considered even better than Arid because of great Gas amount which can be used for CHEAP energy. It is evenly good if magma planet is near the star (1st ring) as it would have both Solar and Gas of 4 and both are cheap sources of energy or far away from star (4th or 5th ring) as it gets bonus +1 on Gas resource.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 4, Crystal 0, Fertility 5, Area if Planet 80, Area if Moon 71

Metallic - Planets of this class have a molten core and are in astronomical sense considered as young planets whose surface is reach in light metals. There is desirable amount of metal resources but unfortunately low in fertility. If nothing better is available can be used for production planet, but I can't recommend that.

Base values: Metal 3, Gas 2, Crystal 1, Fertility 4, Area if Planet 85, Area if Moon 75

Oceanic - They have atmospheres that contain oxygen and nitrogen. Water and life-forms are typically abundant. In astronomical sense planet is considered as Oceanic only if Water cover more then 97% of surface. Gaia and Earthly are better for research because of higher amount of metal.

Base values: Metal 1, Gas 2, Crystal 0, Fertility 6, Area if Planet 80, Area if Moon 71

Radioactive – They have high core temperatures causing them to radiate enough heat to keep water in a liquid state. Not very good planet for anything. Only advantage is lot of free area, but other planets are better.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 3, Crystal 0, Fertility 4, Area if Planet 90, Area if Moon 79

Rocky – They are adaptable for colonization through the use of pressure domes and other life support devices. They are typically 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers in diameter. They have thin atmospheres. Small amounts of water are present. With Asteroid best possible Production oriented planets. High amount of Metal and Fertility high enough make this planet very desirable. This type of planet is recommended by many experienced players, by some even considered best planet available. If the Production is developed high enough you will not need Crystal for economic boost, as every Production based building increase Economy.

Base values: Metal 3, Gas 2, Crystal 0, Fertility 5, Area if Planet 85, Area if Moon 75

Toxic - They have high surface temperatures due to the greenhouse effect caused by their dense atmospheres. The atmosphere contains many poisonous chemicals and reactive gases. Atmospheric conditions are often. The only water found is in vapor form. Easiest to understand this planet is to compare is to Venus, as Venus is typical Toxic planet. Although huge amount of Gas is present as cheap energy, this type of planet is not as good as Magma because of low Fertility. I would not recommend this planet for colonization.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 4, Crystal 0, Fertility 4, Area if Planet 90, Area if Moon 79

Tundra - They are typically 1,000 to 10,000 kilometers in diameter. Low solar radiation and minimal internal heat usually result in a frozen atmosphere, but with indigenous life present in a form of very resistant fungi. This planet is not recommendable as it has no real resources beside usable area and that is only because is frozen. Falls into same category as Toxic: unusable.

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 2, Crystal 0, Fertility 5, Area if Planet 95, Area if Moon 83

Volcanic - They have partially molten surfaces and atmospheres that contain many hydrogen compounds. Surface of the planet is still tectonically active thus creating lot of volcanoes and geysers, and filling atmosphere with many sorts of gases. Treat it the same as Magma

Base values: Metal 2, Gas 4, Crystal 0, Fertility 5, Area if Planet 80, Area if Moon 71