Moon in Xterium — creation, buildings, Phalanx, Teleport, destruction

Key facts in 30 seconds

• Two creation methods: post-battle via debris (max 20%) OR via Dark Matter (100% guaranteed)

• Moon has NO resource production — only Moon Base, Phalanx, Teleport

• Phalanx range = Level² − 1 systems (from 1 to 63 at level 8)

• Teleport blocks Phalanx for 10 minutes after use

• Death Star Destroy mission can destroy a moon (with its buildings and parked fleet)

Two ways to create a moon

Method 1 — Debris chance (natural)

When a large battle creates a debris field on your planet — there\'s a chance that the debris mass forms a moon.

MoonChance = min(20%, DebrisTotal / ChanceScaler)

Where:

• DebrisTotal — total Metal + Crystal in the debris field
• ChanceScaler — server-configured (universe-specific)
• Maximum 20% regardless of debris size

Key rules:

• Chance is rolled once per battle that creates debris
• A moon is only created if none already exists at that coordinate
• Diameter depends on debris amount → larger debris → larger moon → more base fields
• Diameter affects Death Star Destroy mission success chance

Method 2 — Dark Matter (guaranteed)

You can create a moon on ANY planet using Dark Matter — 100% guaranteed, no debris needed. The only method that works on planets without a debris field.

From task 1001 (ACHIEV.php): «The second way of creating the moon is more powerful, since it does not require debris from the planet and the chance of creation is 100%. However, you will have to use the Dark Matter.»

Moon buildings

Rule: Moon Base always first — each level gives +3 fields. Moon Base itself does NOT occupy a field.

Fields = BaseFields + (MoonBaseLevel × 3)

Phalanx Sensor — top intelligence tool

Phalanx is the premier offensive intelligence tool. Shows fleet movements at other planets without notifying the target.

How it works:

1. Need a moon with Phalanx Sensor built
2. Select target coordinate in range
3. Scan costs Dark Matter (constant per scan, server-configured)
4. Phalanx reveals all fleets arriving/departing at target, including exact return time

Range by level

Range = (Level == 1) ? 1 : Level² − 1   (в системах)

What Phalanx reveals

• Exact fleet composition arriving/departing
• Exact return time of enemy fleets → enables timing attacks to land precisely when defender is fleet-empty
• Sees war-ally fleets (reads DIPLO table)

Phalanx blocking

Phalanx cannot be used if:

• Your moon recently used Teleport (10-min lockout, time_teleport + 600 in ShowSensorPage.php)
• Target out of range
• Insufficient Dark Matter

Teleport — instant relocation

Allows instant fleet transfer between two moons. Requirements:

• Minimum 2 moons in the empire
• Teleport built on both moons
• No active fleet blocks

After use — 10-min Phalanx lockout on this moon. Higher Teleport levels reduce recharge time.

Fastest way to get the FIRST moon?

Method 1: stage a big battle on your own planet (ally «attacks» with a small fleet, you defend with a large one), roll the debris chance. Method 2: buy Dark Matter and create one guaranteed (if budget allows). Method 1 max chance per battle is 20% — need repetition.

Can I build mines on the moon?

No — moons have NO resource production. Only Moon Base, Phalanx Sensor, Teleport (and Sensor Module for alliance wars). Moon = infrastructure, not economy.

Phalanx — how many systems can it see?

Formula: Range = Level² − 1 (level 1 = 1 system minimum). Level 5 → 24 systems. Level 8 → 63 systems. See the table above.

What if I want Teleport but only have one moon?

Don't build it — Teleport is USELESS until you have ≥2 moons. Get a second moon first, then build Teleport on both.

Can I destroy an enemy moon?

Yes — via a Death Star sent on Destroy mission (Mission 9). But: (1) chance depends on moon diameter, (2) parallel chance that your Death Star is also destroyed. High risk/reward.

Does a moon inherit the parent planet temperature?

The exact relationship is not specified in the wiki source. Moon base fields depend on moon diameter (set by debris size at creation), not parent temperature. If you find a source about temperature inheritance, we'll add it.

For min-maxers

Exact source files from wiki/10b_Moon_System.md. Player TL;DR: «moon = infrastructure (Phalanx + Teleport), not economy».

Engine sources:

• includes/classes/class.GalaxyRows.php — moon display on galaxy map, destruyed_m flag
• includes/pages/game/class.ShowSensorPage.php — Phalanx scan, time_teleport + 600 > TIMESTAMP block
• includes/classes/class.MessageFunctions.php — moon.des case for destruction notifications
• language/en/ACHIEV.php tasks 1001-1006 — descriptions of creation/Moon Base/Phalanx/Teleport
• includes/vars/pricelist.php — building IDs 41 (Moon Base), 42 (Phalanx), 43 (Teleport)

Death Star Destroy Mission

Death Star sent on Destroy mission (Mission 9) can attempt to destroy a moon:

1. Death Star arrives at target moon
2. Destruction chance based on moon diameter factor (getDiametrFactorMoon)
3. Parallel counter-chance that the Death Star itself is destroyed in the attempt
4. Anomaly field on moon + research bonuses modify chances
5. On success the moon is flagged destruyed, enters destruction timer

After destruction: ghost-image of the moon in galaxy view, all buildings and parked fleets are lost, events logged and messages dispatched.

Quick citation reference

Source: wiki/10b_Moon_System.md + class.GalaxyRows.php, class.ShowSensorPage.php, pricelist.php (41/42/43). Formula: MoonChance = min(20%, DebrisTotal / ChanceScaler), capped at 20% regardless of ChanceScaler. Methods: debris (max 20%) or Dark Matter (100% guaranteed). Moon buildings: 3 types — Moon Base (41), Phalanx Sensor (42), Teleport (43). NO mines. Phalanx range: Level² − 1 systems, up to 63 at level 8. Teleport→Phalanx lockout: 10 minutes. Destruction: possible via Death Star Destroy mission (Mission 9). Last verified: 2026-05-22 (wiki/10b_Moon_System.md).

What to read next

• Debris fields in Xterium — exact mechanics, formulas, collection tactics
• Xterium combat formula — damage, shields, hull, OPBE
• Raid tactics in Xterium — espionage, targets, debris collection
• Planet temperature in Xterium — deuterium and satellite formulas