Nova: Space Armada Strategy Guide: Boost Power Fast & Get the Most from Every Dollar!

Nova Space Armada

Introduction to Nova: Space Armada

Nova: Space Armada (also known as Nova: Iron Galaxy in some regions) is a sci-fi strategy game where you command a space station, build and customize fleets, engage in PVE and PVP battles, and conquer the galaxy. As a new player, your goal is to rapidly grow your power (measured by development points, fleet strength, and station level) while efficiently managing resources and any real-money spending. This guide focuses on high-impact investments—in-game resources, time, and dollars—to maximize power growth without wasteful spending. Prioritize sustainable progress as a free-to-play (F2P) player, with tips for low-spend or pay-to-progress (P2P) approaches.

Early Game Priorities (Levels 1-10)

Start by completing the tutorial and story quests to hit commander level 10 and upgrade your space station to level 10. This removes building level restrictions and unlocks core features like talents and additional fleets.

• Quests and Missions: Focus on story quests for quick XP and resources. Do daily and weekly missions (under your avatar) for rewards—aim for 30 scavenger kills daily to stack items early. Weekly missions have reward tiers at 250, 500, and 1,100 points.

• Daily Activities: Participate in Space Mobilization (daily objectives vary by day, e.g., Orders on Mon/Fri). Save resources like Black Market Tokens for event-aligned days (e.g., pulls on Saturdays for bonus rewards). Complete Faction Quests (System > More > Faction) to raise reputation and access shops with discounts.

• Exploration: Unlock Deep Space at level 10 for PVE farming (use Quick Complete for efficiency). At level 13, start Planetary Exploration on the Galaxy Map—send your best fleet for high rewards like components and buffs.

• Investment Tip: Spend time on these free dailies first; they yield alloys, crystals, RC (resource credits), and GEC (premium currency) without cost. Avoid rushing upgrades until you have a surplus—early mistakes waste resources.

This phase builds a foundation: Aim for 1-2 hours daily to hit level 10 in a few days, boosting power by unlocking fleets and research.

Resource Management

Resources are your core “investments”—farm them efficiently to avoid bottlenecks.

• Key Resources: Alloys and crystals (for buildings/research), RC (for shops and events), GEC (premium, for Black Market pulls), and components/hulls (for ships).

• Acquisition Strategies:

  • Farm from missions, scavenger kills, wreckages, and plundering (low-risk on NPCs).

  • Daily gifts in Pack Store (e.g., Nova Plus rewards, Admiral packs).

  • Deep Space and Planetary Exploration for tokens and upgrades.

  • Increase RC income as F2P by up to 82% via optimized Orders, Faction Missions, and Stealth Scavengers (focus talents on RC boosts).

• Efficiency Tip: Save GEC for smart Black Market pulls—avoid basic nameplates at 300 GEC; buy discounted ones in the Fraction Exchange Shop (Cruiser for 105 GEC, Destroyer for 54 GEC). Use boosts (e.g., research speed) only during events for extra rewards.

Prioritize RC and GEC early, as they gate high-power items like elite components.

Your station is the hub for power growth—invest resources here for exponential returns.

Building and Upgrading Your Station

• Upgrade Order: Start with Space Station, Factory (for components), Research Lab (unlock fleets/tech), Defense Terminal, Radar Station, Ship Center, Ore Storage, and Smelter. Max all buildings to your commander level.

• Research Priorities: In the Research Lab, focus on Mechanical Engineering System first (saves resources on upgrades). Unlock Second/Third Fleets early. Upgrade techs evenly, prioritizing short-timer ones for quick points. Use “Persistent Scholars” and “Quantum Computer” for faster/cheaper research.

• Talents (Unlock at Level 10): Reset freely early on. For normal/F2P players: 32231 12232 (emphasize resource generation like Subspace Speed for faster farming). For P2P/whales: (2 or 3)2231 12222 (boost Order capacity/RC for combat focus).

• Investment Tip: Use free Research Speed Increases (25% buffs) from events. Avoid over-investing in low-level buildings—focus on fleet-enabling ones to hit power spikes faster.

These upgrades directly boost development points; aim to max them per level for leaderboard climbs.

Fleets are your power core

Fleet Building and Optimization

Fleets are your power core—invest in balanced, synergistic builds to punch above your weight.

• Admiral Selection: Start with Elena (great for farming NPCs with 15% shield penetration). Level admirals to 15 for formation bonuses. Choose high-Leadership admirals to command more ships.

• Ship Assembly Steps:

  1. Acquire hulls (from missions, Black Market).

  2. Construct components in factories (unlock more as you level; build constantly, even extras).

  3. Assemble: Use unused hulls + components. Edit freely to swap setups.

• Early Ships to Build:

  1. Frigates: Byagoona FF (tank, front row), Ctogga FF (laser DPS, back row), Puck FF (accuracy boost, day 2 login).

  2. Destroyers: Dogoda DD (damage reduction, front), Chthoninans DD (tank/DPS), Argo DD (F2P-friendly DPS), Pyxis DD (versatile tank).

  3. Balance: Mix offense (Cruisers/Battleships), defense (Frigates), and utility.

• Components and Upgrades:

  1. Prioritize r65 blue equipment (upgrade to lv20 with Fluid Layers). Use r80 purple as placeholders, then destroy for materials.

  2. Weapons: Kinetic for accuracy ships (e.g., Puck), missiles for bonus ships (e.g., Posvist CL), lasers for general DPS (e.g., Argo). Focus on beam damage early.

  3. Armor: Shields for most; accuracy units on DPS ships. Best engine available; reactors if energy-short.

  4. Rarities: Farm/construct rare+ (epic/legendary for endgame). Upgrade only high-rarity; destroy low ones for mats.

• Optimization Tips:

  1. Group by ship type (e.g., 3 DDs for 78% damage buffs from synergies like Kthaw’keth Cruiser).

  2. Group by damage type (e.g., laser fleet with Argo/Yz + Undead-Zeus flagship).

  3. Equip best weapons on DPS ships, not tanks. Use standard gear for secondary fleets; pool resources into main fleet.

• Investment Tip: Farm components via events/exploration (free). Spend GEC on Black Market for limited ships (e.g., Yz/Athena over basic Undead-Zeus). Avoid upgrading uncommon components—save materials for legendaries.

A well-optimized fleet can beat stronger opponents with half health; focus here for 50%+ power gains.

Join an active alliance immediately after tutorial for massive power boosts.

Alliances and Social Features

• Benefits: Access Alliance Missions (daily/weekly for credits), Member Quests (up to 5 players for better rewards), and shared Warfare Boxes from purchases.

• Investment Tip: Spend Alliance Credits in the shop on upgrades. Contribute to quests for free resources—low time investment, high return.

Alliances multiply your progress; pick one with daily activity.

In-Game Investments for Max Power

• GEC Spending: Black Market pulls during events; Fraction Shop discounts. Avoid full-price basics.

• RC Focus: Upgrade to boost via talents/Orders. Spend on CosmoTycoon/Republic shops for weapons like “xxx Array” (23k RC, whale-friendly).

• Time Investments: Dailies, explorations, and events yield 80% of power growth as F2P.

• F2P Max: Optimize for 82% RC income via stealth farming and talent trees.

Starter packs offer the best dollar-to-power ratio

Real Money Spending: Maximizing Dollars Spent

The game is F2P-viable but P2P accelerates growth. Focus on value packs for 5-10x returns in power per dollar.

• Best Starter Investments:

  • Starter/Bonus Packs ($4.99-$9.99): Great entry value with GEC, resources, and hulls/components. Buy early for instant fleet boosts.

  • Iron Pass/Monthly Subscriptions: If available (e.g., Nova Plus), these provide daily rewards like GEC and speed-ups—best for sustained growth ($5-10/month).

• Higher-Value Packs:

  • Limited Packs ($5.99-$79.99): Include SCC (premium currency) that benefits your alliance with boxes. Prioritize ones with components/admiral upgrades for power spikes.

  • SCC Packs: Buy in tiers (e.g., second tier 4,000 GEC, third 999 SCC). Gift to allies for reciprocal bonuses.

• Whale Strategy: Focus on fleet-boosting packs (e.g., for Order capacity). Avoid over-spending on cosmetics—aim for $20-50 initially for 200% power jump.

• Efficiency Tip: Only buy during events for bonuses. Starter packs offer the best dollar-to-power ratio; avoid random bundles unless they include rare hulls.

As a new player, $10-20 can double your early power; beyond that, diminishing returns unless whaling.

Advanced Tips

• Always group buffs (ship type/damage type) for meta fleets.

• Save for events like Navigator/Matrix for GEC efficiency.

• Attack NPCs multiple times daily for XP; use repairs wisely.

• Experiment with formations—test in PVE before PVP.

Follow this guide to reach mid-game (level 20+) in 1-2 weeks with optimized power. Adapt based on your playstyle, and check in-game updates for meta shifts. Good luck conquering the galaxy!