Before paying for research, distinguish three questions: which branch are you in, is the prerequisite complete, and can you afford the next purchase? A displayed effect also needs to match your actual goal.
Evidence read 7 October 2026 · Gameplay video published 1 October · Game build not shown
Read the requirement before the price
The tutorial calls Upgrades the research tree. The recorded menu separates Core and The Underground; do not assume a node on one branch satisfies a requirement on another.
Select the intended branch and node
Copy its exact name, current level and promised effect. Check that this is the node you mean to buy, rather than a nearby connected icon.
Read the prerequisite text
In the recorded Core panel, Strike II says Requires Strike I. A cash balance alone cannot satisfy that named dependency. Complete the actual prerequisite shown in your current interface.
Check the current next-level price
Once requirements are complete, compare the next displayed cost with your cash and protected reserve. Do not use a previously seen price as the cost of the entire branch.
Separate node health from cash income
This screen supplies a concrete decision: the recorded prerequisite is complete, and the next displayed step costs $44. It does not establish the total cost to finish Fracture I, the price on another account, or the time it takes to earn that cash.
A reduction in node health could change mining work, but −5% node health is not a verified +5% cash rate. A Strike tap-damage value also is not a miner income rate. If the purchase is meant to fund another cash goal, measure equal-duration ore-sale income before and after it.
Choose the right kind of decision
My goal is more cash
Record the current cost and comparable cash earnings. Compare the investment with saving using marginal payback and target arrival.
My goal is access
The developer says finishing the zone's research tree unlocks the next mining zone. Read the current unmet requirement and check the actual access result. Cash payback cannot price an unmeasured new-area benefit.
Your research note should answer these fields
| Field | What to record now |
|---|---|
| Branch / node | Exact selected branch and node name |
| State | Current level and displayed requirement |
| Purchase | Next displayed price, currency and remaining balance |
| Effect | Exact text: cash, health, tap damage or access |
| Verification | The changed stat, sale result or access condition after purchase |
Measure a research result → · Find the controls from the first loop →