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.
Star Trek Online features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earth Spacedock | Levels 1 to 65, used throughout | Ship requisitions, the exchange, Duty Officer assignments and tailor access | Engineering captain |
| 2 | Deep Space Nine | Mid game through level 65 | Gamma Task Force reputation projects, Dominion story episodes and Alpha Quadrant travel | Engineering captain |
| 3 | Qo'noS First City | Levels 1 to 65 for Klingon aligned captains | Klingon ship requisitions, faction episodes and honour based story arcs | Tactical captain |
| 4 | New Romulus Command | Levels 30 to 65 | Romulan reputation gear, Republic episodes and allied faction choice content | Tactical captain |
| 5 | Deep Space Encounters | Scales with level, best value at 65 | Marks for reputation, dilithium and a repeatable source of endgame currency | Tactical captain |
Earth Spacedock: Starting Area
The Federation social hub and the place most new captains do their first vendor, requisition and Duty Officer business. Ship requisition, the exchange and mission contacts all sit here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Levels 1 to 65, used throughout |
| Key Rewards | Ship requisitions, the exchange, Duty Officer assignments and tailor access |
| Recommended Build | Engineering captain |
| Key Equipment | Disruptor cannons |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Split space and ground combat. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Deep Space Nine.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Deep Space Nine: Early Game
The Gamma Quadrant staging hub and the front door for the Dominion storyline. The Jem'Hadar Vanguard start puts you here early.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game through level 65 |
| Key Rewards | Gamma Task Force reputation projects, Dominion story episodes and Alpha Quadrant travel |
| Recommended Build | Engineering captain |
| Key Equipment | Disruptor cannons |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Bridge Officer seating and ship builds. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Disruptor cannons if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Qo'noS First City.
Qo'noS First City: Mid Game
The Klingon Defense Force capital and hub. Klingon captains handle requisition and mission contacts here rather than at Earth Spacedock.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Levels 1 to 65 for Klingon aligned captains |
| Key Rewards | Klingon ship requisitions, faction episodes and honour based story arcs |
| Recommended Build | Tactical captain |
| Key Equipment | Disruptor cannons |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Phaser beam arrays becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Reputation projects across six tiers for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
New Romulus Command: Late Game
The Romulan Republic base built out during the Legacy of Romulus era. It anchors the Romulan reputation and the Republic's own storyline.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Levels 30 to 65 |
| Key Rewards | Romulan reputation gear, Republic episodes and allied faction choice content |
| Recommended Build | Tactical captain |
| Key Equipment | Phaser beam arrays |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Phaser beam arrays should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Gear upgrades to Mark XV and Epic mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Deep Space Encounters.
Deep Space Encounters: Endgame
The roaming procedural mission system across the Alpha, Beta and Delta Quadrants, overhauled in the Undiscovered expansion on 7 July 2026. Enter one from the sector map and fight whatever is there.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Scales with level, best value at 65 |
| Key Rewards | Marks for reputation, dilithium and a repeatable source of endgame currency |
| Recommended Build | Tactical captain |
| Key Equipment | Phaser beam arrays |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Jem'Hadar Vanguard captain for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Earth Spacedock → Deep Space Nine → Qo'noS First City → New Romulus Command → Deep Space Encounters. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two 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 Crafting Guide
- Star Trek Online Classes & Characters
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