Introduction

Exploration is a crucial part of Distant Worlds 2, as it allows you to survey planets, discover resources, and expand your empire’s economy. This guide explains how exploration ships work, how survey modules function, and the importance of resource discovery for long-term success.

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Types of Resources

There are three main resource categories in Distant Worlds 2:

1. Fuel Resources – Used to power ships and stations.
2. Construction Resources – Essential for building ships, bases, and colonies.
3. Luxury Resources – Improve colony happiness and economy, but require advanced technology to find.

Planets are randomly generated, with each resource having a different abundance level and discovery level. The higher the abundance percentage, the faster mining operations will extract that resource.

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How Exploration & Surveys Work

Discovery Levels & Surveying

Each planet has a discovery level for its resources. To fully uncover all possible resources, your exploration ships must increase the exploration level of the planet.

• Higher discovery levels require better sensors and survey modules.
• If a resource’s discovery level is below your survey module’s limit, it is immediately visible.
• If not, you’ll see “Unknown Resource” and must improve exploration further.

Survey Modules & Resource Scanners

• Survey Modules: Actively increase exploration levels to uncover hidden resources.
• Resource Scanners: Speed up surveys but cannot discover resources alone—they must be paired with a survey module.

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Ship Surveying Process (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. Selecting an Exploration Ship

• Make sure your exploration ship has a survey module installed.
• You can also add a resource scanner for faster results.

2. Initiating a Survey

• Manually select a ship, right-click a planet, and choose “Survey”.
• The ship will begin scanning in survey cycles.
• Each cycle takes time (based on tech level).

3. Understanding Exploration Levels

• If an exploration level is below a resource’s discovery level, the resource remains hidden.
• Multiple exploration ships can speed up the process.

4. Reaching Maximum Exploration Level

• Survey modules have a maximum survey level (e.g., 25, 40, 100).
• If a resource’s discovery level is higher than your max survey level, you need better tech to find it.

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Advanced Surveying & Upgrading Technology

To find all possible resources, you need to research higher-level survey modules:

1. Basic Exploration → Initial scanning capability.
2. Planetary Exploration → Improved scanning speed.
3. Advanced Survey Modules → Higher survey levels & faster scanning.

Higher-tech surveys:
✅ Discover more resources (especially luxury resources).
✅ Speed up planetary surveys.
✅ Unlock rare resources for trade & economy.

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Tips for Efficient Exploration

✅ Automate Exploration Ships – Set them to “Auto-Explore” to survey planets passively.
✅ Use Multiple Ships – Assigning multiple explorers to one planet speeds up discovery.
✅ Prioritize Survey Tech – Luxury resources require high-level survey tech to be found.
✅ Upgrade Early – Avoid late-game shortages by researching advanced sensors early.
✅ Monitor Unknown Items – If a planet says “Unknown Resources Present”, you need better scanners.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Skipping Advanced Survey Tech – Without it, you’ll miss out on key resources like luxury goods.
🚫 Using Only Resource Scanners – They speed up surveys but cannot uncover new resources alone.
🚫 Not Expanding Survey Fleet – One or two explorers aren’t enough for large empires.
🚫 Neglecting Fuel Resources – Without fuel sources, your fleets will struggle to travel effectively.

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Final Thoughts

Efficient exploration and surveying are key to a thriving empire in Distant Worlds 2. Prioritize survey module upgrades, use multiple exploration ships, and ensure you’re uncovering high-value resources to fuel your economy and expansion.

🚀 Happy exploring, and may your empire thrive among the stars! 🌌