Star Trek Online launched on 2 February 2010 and has been free to play since 2011, which means the game a new captain meets in 2026 is sixteen years of accumulated systems rather than the one Cryptic shipped. The level cap has sat at 65 since the Victory is Life expansion, there are over 160 story episodes, and the newest expansion, Undiscovered, arrived on PC on 7 July 2026 and on consoles on 29 July. Almost every mission alternates between starship combat in space and a ground away team, so a build that only works in one half will stall.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Earth Spacedock
Key resources: Ship requisitions, the exchange, Duty Officer assignments and tailor access Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Disruptor cannons upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Deep Space Nine
Key resources: Gamma Task Force reputation projects, Dominion story episodes and Alpha Quadrant travel Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Disruptor cannons upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Qo'noS First City
Key resources: Klingon ship requisitions, faction episodes and honour based story arcs Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Disruptor cannons upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
New Romulus Command
Key resources: Romulan reputation gear, Republic episodes and allied faction choice content Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Phaser beam arrays max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Deep Space Encounters
Key resources: Marks for reputation, dilithium and a repeatable source of endgame currency Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Phaser beam arrays max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Earth Spacedock to Deep Space Nine)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Disruptor cannons once accessible
Mid Game (Qo'noS First City)
- Push Disruptor cannons to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Phaser beam arrays
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (New Romulus Command to Deep Space Encounters)
- Max out Phaser beam arrays. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Qo'noS First City farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Pick one energy type and run every weapon on the ship in it. Tactical consoles boost a single energy type, so a phaser and disruptor mix means half your consoles are dead weight regardless of the numbers on the items.
- Farm Qo'noS First City during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Star Trek Online Guides
- Star Trek Online Star Trek Online Overview
- Star Trek Online Best Builds
- Star Trek Online Tier List
- Star Trek Online Walkthrough
- Star Trek Online Beginner's Guide
- Star Trek Online Tips & Tricks
- Star Trek Online Weapons Guide
- Star Trek Online Combat Guide
- Star Trek Online Boss Guide
- Star Trek Online Maps & Locations
- Star Trek Online Classes & Characters
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- The Elder Scrolls Online Crafting Guide: mmo game with similar mechanics
