The Quantum Catapult stands as one of Stellaris’ most cost-effective Megastructures, offering players an opportunity to explore, colonize, or invade distant star systems within the game.
Stellaris’ Overlord DLC brought forth the Quantum Catapult, a groundbreaking Megastructure that enables players to overcome any obstacle, expanding their empire and exploring new systems unhindered. Despite being one of the most affordable Megastructures, players still need a well-developed empire to unlock this technology.
To construct a Quantum Catapult in Stellaris, players must first research the Mega-Engineering tech, a prerequisite that demands prior completion of Zero Point Power, Battleships, and Citadels research. Both Mega-Engineering and Quantum Catapults are rare technologies, often appearing with low probability in Stellaris’ semi-random tech tree, unless players possess ruined Megastructures or a substantial number of Citadels within their territory.
Once the technology is unlocked, players can deploy a Construction Ship to establish a Quantum Catapult Site in any System containing a pulsar or neutron star. This endeavor requires 5,000 Alloys and 300 Influence, with subsequent upgrades through four stages, each costing 10,000 Alloys. As the Quantum Catapult advances through stages, it becomes more accurate and efficient, enabling fleets to traverse vast distances across the galaxy at an accelerated pace.
Alternatively, players who have chosen the Slingshot to the Stars Stellaris Origin will start the game with a ruined Quantum Catapult in a nearby System, which they can repair without requiring the Mega-Engineering tech. This approach provides an early-game advantage, allowing players to extend their empire’s reach significantly without waiting for Mega-Engineering research.
Once constructed, the Quantum Catapult offers players the ability to launch fleets or ships to remote star systems, bypassing the conventional Hyperlane network. To initiate this process, players can select a fleet within the same System as the Quantum Catapult and click on the new button located in the fleet UI, adjacent to the Jump icon.
However, it’s essential to note that the accuracy of Quantum Catapult launches diminishes with distance. Fleets may end up in neighboring Systems or even those several jumps away from the intended target. The potential spread of a Quantum Catapult launch is indicated by the circular reticle when choosing the target system.
Upon selecting the target system, the Quantum Catapult undergoes a brief wind-up period before launching the fleet. The wind-up duration increases with the level of the Quantum Catapult, and the fleet takes additional time to reach its destination. Upon arrival, the fleet gains a significant +33% fire-rate bonus for 4 months, making the Quantum Catapult a valuable tool for launching surprise attacks on enemy home worlds.