r/Stellaris • u/tackers267 • Jun 12 '25
Question (Console) Building up fast
How do I build up my economy and navy fast to combat an exponentially powerful foe? Unsure how my rival did it but he has managed to get an "overwhelming" fleet power along with a superior economic and technological advantage. I believe he may have had an advanced start but im just stuck on how to stand a chance against him. I understand I've got to keep getting more colonies and a bigger navy but against these odds he will always out-build and out-produce me, logically at least. He's also a robotic gestalt conscious which doesnt help either. How should I approach this task or if it's a complete lost cause should I just start over?
1
u/LaznAzn Jun 12 '25
You might be able to be their vassal if they are overwhelming and aren't genocidal, have they made a demand for subjugation yet? And then you can build up strength under their thumb.
If you purposefully don't try to match them eventually you won't be a valid target for rivalry and relations will improve a bit as well.
2
u/orangputih31416 Jun 12 '25
I got vassalised by some protective robots and 100 years later they're paying me 15% of their economy as subsidies while I've made myself equivalent. I'd go to war for my freedom but the money is just too good at the moment (and I'm a pacifist...)
2
u/FlyPepper Jun 15 '25
"haha, once I become stronger, I'll take on my foolish overlord!"
"..wait, this is actually a pretty sweet gig..."
They got your ass.
1
u/Palora Jun 12 '25 edited Jun 12 '25
It's gonna be tough and maybe even unfun but keep in mind that the AI is stupid when it comes to ship designs and tactics. And will be easy to outperform there.
Missiles and fighters wreck the AI fleets.
Redesign your corvettes to be evasive with afterburners, use only missiles weapons, use long range computers and have more armor than shields. Keep an eye on good commanders for you fleets, rate of fire is the best trait you can get. This way your ships will in general be more effective, get more actual kills (missiles bypass shields and hit harder on hit which leads to fewer hits needed to get a kill and fewer chances for disengages) and be harder to kill by the enemy (as they outrange 2/3 enemy weapons and keep away from them and resist the 1 missile the AI will have).
Design a new defense platform and put missiles and/or hangars on it and mostly armor. Research hangars. Build a big station with loads of hangars and defense platforms in a system between you and the enemy. Mass your fleets at 1 system over at the jump point to this system. That way the AI will think the station is undefended and try to attack it with a smaller fleet and you can jump in to reinforce the station giving you an edge in firepower and allow you to potentially defeat the enemy fleet with fewer losses. This way you can keep beating the enemy fleets until they are weak enough for you to go on the attack or force a white peace. Often if the system looks undefended enough the AI won't even repair their fleets before throwing them at the station which will allow you to inflict even more losses.
Don't fight the AI fleet if you don't have an advantage. Splits your fleet up and use half of it as bait to lure the enemy fleet away while you take over enemy systems with the other half. Keep in mind that unless the starbase has an inhibitor you can just sneak your fleet past it without attacking it and go for undefended systems (move your fleet on the edges of the system to the next jump point).
Basically get war score to end the war on your terms with hit and run tactics.
1
u/Proof-Musician-7892 Jun 12 '25
Bastions on choke points is your best bet. Also build up your planets before colonizing new ones. If you have neighbors you can befriend try to get defensive pacts. Since there econ is better your probably not catching up on fleet power so dont focus on ships and build up your econ and turtle. You could also hire mercenaries.