Explorer Barrage is a single-level Combat research in Star Trek Fleet Command that raises the base damage of all your explorers by 20%. It unlocks at Science Lab 42 and costs 1 Ion Particle plus 674.1M Dilithium, with 76.9 days of base research time. Ion Particles come from two missions, A Familiar Face and A Light in the Darkness, which each award one.
Explorer Barrage requirements and cost
| Research tree | Combat |
|---|---|
| Unlocks at | Science Lab 42 |
| Research required | None |
| Levels | 1 |
| Effect | +20% base damage for Explorers |
| Cost | 1 Ion Particle, 674.1M Dilithium |
| Base research time | 76.9 d |
The gate is the Science Lab, not the R&D Department, and there are no research prerequisites. The base time is before your research-speed bonuses.
What Explorer Barrage does
The 20% applies to your explorers’ base damage, so it counts against hostiles, armadas and other players alike. Class-wide damage in a single purchase is uncommon in the Combat tree, which usually splits its boosts by target type or ship grade.
How to get an Ion Particle
The Ion Particle is a rare resource consumed to complete special combat research. It is earned by completing two missions:
| Mission | Where | What you do | Warp to complete | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Familiar Face | Esto, Ami Bera, Vita Nova | Meet Ranelia and her informant, donate 1,000,000 Dilithium, investigate the Vulcan base and defeat the Vulcan guard (enemy strength about 1,950,820) | 80 | 1 Ion Particle, 110 4★ Uncommon Refined Crystal, 30 4★ Rare Refined Crystal |
| A Light in the Darkness | Maumo | Find the source of the Progenitor signal, defeat 15 hostiles of level 46 or higher and return the artifact to your station | 150 | 1 Ion Particle, 7,410,000 Dilithium, 11 8 Hour Speed Ups |
Each mission pays one Ion Particle, and each Barrage research consumes one. Choose which ship class gets its Barrage first before you spend them.
The three Barrage research
Explorer Barrage has two siblings in the Combat tree. All three cost the same and give the same 20%, but each is gated by a different building at level 42:
| Research | Effect | Unlocks at | Cost | Base time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Barrage | +20% base damage for Explorers | Science Lab 42 | 1 Ion Particle, 674.1M Dilithium | 76.9 d |
| Battleship Barrage | +20% base damage for Battleships | Foundry 42 | 1 Ion Particle, 674.1M Dilithium | 76.9 d |
| Interceptor Barrage | +20% base damage for Interceptors | Engine Technology Lab 42 | 1 Ion Particle, 674.1M Dilithium | 76.9 d |
Is Explorer Barrage worth it?
Yes if explorers do a real share of your fighting and your Science Lab has reached 42. If your main hitters are battleships or interceptors, spend the Ion Particle on that class’s Barrage first. Do not confuse it with Fragile Explorers, a ten-level Combat line at R&D 50 that raises your damage against hostile explorers rather than the damage your own explorers deal. The full branch is on the Combat Research guide.
