Economy Fundamentals
Learn the core economic concepts that drive BAR
Master these fundamentals and you'll understand why some players can build an unstoppable economic engine while others struggle with basic resource management.
The Three Pillars of BAR Economy
Everything in BAR revolves around these three core resources. Master them, and you master the game.
💰 Metal: The Foundation
Metal is the primary resource in BAR. Almost everything costs metal to build.
Metal Sources:
- Metal Extractors (Mexes): Built on metal spots. Your main source of metal income.
- T1 Mex: 1-3 M/s (varies by map and metal spot) [1]
- T2 Advanced Mex: ~4x T1 output (varies by map and spot) [1]
- Metal Makers (Energy Converters): Convert energy to metal when you have surplus energy.
- T1 Converter: -70 E/s → +1 M/s [8]
- T2 Converter: -600 E/s → +10.3 M/s [8]
- Reclaim: Salvage metal from wreckage and debris.
💡 Pro Tip: Metal spots have different yields based on the map and specific location! Higher yield spots (shown by darker colors) produce more metal per extractor. Values like 1-3 M/s for T1 mexes and ~4x that for T2 mexes vary significantly by map. Always prioritize securing high-yield metal spots first.
⚡ Energy: The Catalyst
Energy is required to operate most structures and build advanced technology.
Energy Sources:
- Wind Turbines: Output varies with wind speed (typically 5-25 E/s) [11]
- Solar Collectors:
- T1 Solar: +20 E/s, costs 0 energy to build [1]
- T2 Advanced Solar: +75 E/s, more efficient but costs energy to build [2]
- Fusion Reactors: High-output late-game energy source
- Armada Fusion: +1000 E/s [3]
- Cortex Fusion: +1100 E/s [3]
- Geothermal/Tidal: Map-specific renewable sources
⚠️ Energy Stalling: If your energy income drops to 0, your entire economy slows down. Metal extractors, construction, and unit movement all become sluggish. Always maintain energy surplus!
🔧 Build Power: The Accelerator
Build Power determines how fast you can construct buildings and units.
Build Power Sources:
- Constructor Units:
- T1 Constructors: Basic build power, mobile
- T2 Advanced Constructors: Much higher build power
- Factories: Can assist construction or build units
- Commander: High build power, especially early game
- Construction Turrets/Nano Towers: Stationary build power for key areas
🎯 Key Insight: More build power = faster construction = faster economic growth. Don't just focus on income; invest in the infrastructure to spend that income quickly!
🧠 Essential Economic Concepts
Resource Balance
Your goal is to maintain a slight surplus of both metal and energy while maximizing spending efficiency.
- Stockpiling is wasteful: Resources sitting in storage aren't helping you grow
- Stalling is deadly: Running out of resources cripples your entire economy
- Sweet spot: Small surplus that allows for rapid expansion
Economic Efficiency
Metal Efficiency
Focus on structures that give the most benefit per metal spent. T2 mexes are extremely metal-efficient upgrades.
Energy Efficiency
Choose energy sources based on wind conditions. High wind = turbines, low wind = solar collectors.
Tech Progression
BAR has two main tech levels:
- T1 (Tier 1): Basic, cheap, fast to build. Your foundation.
- T2 (Tier 2): Advanced, expensive, more powerful. Your late-game goal.
📈 Growth Pattern: Start with T1 basics → Secure metal spots → Build energy infrastructure → Upgrade to T2 → Scale massively
📋 Quick Reference
Metal Priority
- 1. Secure metal spots
- 2. Build T1 mexes
- 3. Upgrade to T2 mexes
- 4. Expand to more spots
Energy Priority
- 1. Check wind conditions
- 2. Build appropriate T1 energy
- 3. Add energy storage
- 4. Scale to T2 energy
Build Power Priority
- 1. Use commander efficiently
- 2. Build T1 constructors
- 3. Get T2 lab
- 4. Scale T2 constructors
🧠 Community Wisdom: The Fundamentals
Core Insight from Veterans:
"Economy wins games, not units. A player with double your income will overwhelm you even with inferior micro. Focus 70% of your attention on economic growth in the first 5 minutes."
⚖️ The Resource Balance Rule
Community consensus on resource ratios:
- Early Game (0-3 min): 1:3 Metal to Energy ratio minimum
- Mid Game (3-6 min): 1:2.5 ratio as efficiency improves
- Late Game (6+ min): 1:2 ratio with T2 infrastructure
- 💡 If you're energy-stalling, you can't use your metal income effectively
🎯 The "First 30 Seconds" Protocol
What pros do before anything else:
- 1. Scout wind speed (affects entire energy strategy)
- 2. Identify closest 3-4 metal spots (expansion priority)
- 3. Check team positions (coordinate eco vs front roles)
- 4. Plan constructor movement (efficient pathing saves 15-30 seconds)
- 💡 These 30 seconds of planning save 2-3 minutes of inefficiency
⚡ Energy Storage Timing
When the community builds energy storage:
- High Wind (15+): Storage immediately after 3rd turbine
- Medium Wind (8-14): Storage after 5th energy structure
- Low Wind (<8): Storage after 6-7 solars/geo
- Critical Rule: Always build storage before major energy expansion
- 💡 Storage prevents waste and enables burst construction
🔄 The "Idle Constructor" Sin
Community's biggest beginner mistake:
- Problem: Constructors sitting idle = wasted build power
- Solution: Queue up 3-4 projects minimum
- Pro Tip: Use area commands for mass mexing
- Advanced: Multiple constructor groups with different roles
- 💡 "If your constructors aren't building, you're falling behind"
❌ Community-Identified Beginner Traps
🚫 Over-Defending Early
Building turrets/defenses before solid eco
✅ Fix: Economy first, defend with mobile units
🚫 Single Constructor Syndrome
Using only commander for too long
✅ Fix: Build 2-3 T1 cons by minute 2
🚫 Energy Neglect
Focusing only on metal income
✅ Fix: 2.5-3x more energy than metal income
🚫 Random Expansion
Grabbing metal spots without plan
✅ Fix: Secure close spots first, expand systematically
🎯 Community Practice Challenges
📚 Beginner Milestones (Practice vs AI)
5-Minute Challenge:
- • Reach 15+ Metal/sec income
- • Build 3+ T1 constructors
- • Maintain 2.5:1 Energy:Metal ratio
- • Have energy storage built
10-Minute Challenge:
- • Reach 25+ Metal/sec income
- • Have T2 lab operational
- • Control 8+ metal spots
- • 1000+ energy storage capacity
Pro Tip: Record your games and review them. You'll be surprised how much time you waste on small inefficiencies.