Placing all modules in a straight line from the Core.
Always build in concentric rings, prioritizing the central 4 slots for your most powerful or most-used modules.
The station has 36 slots arranged in 3 rings (Inner, Middle, Outer). The Inner ring (4 slots) provides the strongest effects and shortest cooldowns. The Outer ring (20 slots) provides weaker effects but allows for high-volume utility modules.
If you don't have the Frontiers or Orbit DLC, your grid is smaller. Here is the proven vanilla champion layout:
The 10-Module Powerhouse:
[2x2 Crew] - [1x1 Connector] - [2x2 Credits]
| | |
[2x2 Logistics] - [CORE] - [2x2 Energy Relay]
| | |
[2x2 Scanner] - [1x1 Data Relay] - [2x2 Research]
Result: Every 2x2 touches either the Core or the Data Relay. The single connectors are acceptable because they unlock two extra 2x2 slots.
| Module Type | Qty | Purpose | |-------------|-----|---------| | Global Population | 6 | +6% inhabitants per sector (total +30%+) | | Worker Efficiency | 6 | -10% workforce needed per module (stackable) | | Global Output | 4 | +8% production per sector | | Maintenance Reduction | 2 | -15% energy/credits cost | | Corridor (Straight/L-Shaped) | 3-4 | Strategic connections |
No single perfect layout exists because your goal (population, energy, or tech) changes the module mix. But the “MCC Cluster” design — modules packed tightly around 2–3 Control Centers on a straight spine — is the best efficiency strategy for any goal in Anno 2205.
Pro tip: Once you have orbital upgrades, demolish everything and rebuild with only Advanced MCCs and High-speed Corridors for maximum late-game output per module.
The "best" layout for your orbital station depends on which global bonuses you want to maximize, but most expert players recommend an 4/3/3/1/1 configuration to hit the maximum 1,200 expertise points. Core Layout Principles
To reach 100% efficiency (100 expertise per workshop), you must balance heat, distance, and module connectivity. Steam Community The "Rule of 6":
Support modules have a maximum effective range of 6 steps. Every step away from a workshop reduces both the module's effect and the heat it adds by 2°C. Heat Management: Keep workshops in the optimal 20–39°C range . If it's too hot, move modules further away or add a module. If it's too cold, place modules closer. Straight Paths:
Modules must have a straight, unobstructed connection to the workshop to provide support. Recommended Meta Layout (4/3/3/1/1)
This layout is favored for maximizing high-tier resource production and profit. 4 Electronics Cleanrooms: Focus on these to unlock free Intelliwear , which is a significant money-maker and high-tier demand. 3 Agriculture Chambers:
Provides a 20% production bonus, saving massive space in temperate zones. 3 Biotech Complexes: Essential for production, which replaces complex coastal resource chains. 1 Energy & 1 Heavy Industry: Primarily for the baseline 10% global production bonuses. Strategic Tips for Success Skip Logistics Initially:
You can reach 960 expertise without importing any goods. Use that early expertise to unlock the Nexus techs
that reduce production costs or replace complex items like Neuro Implants with Android-based production. Module Limit: You are limited to 12 workshops
total. To unlock later tiers, you may need to build and then destroy specific modules to meet progression quests. Astronaut Sourcing:
Remember you need all three regions to fully staff the station: Biologists (Temperate), Physicists (Arctic), and
In the early game, your goal is to unlock new modules by increasing your station's population (Up to 10,000). The best layout is purely functional:
Layout:
Why this works: Early on, you are bottlenecked by construction time and power. Logistics modules reduce the time to build new modules, accelerating your growth. Solar panels are the most space-efficient power source for the station itself. Habitation modules unlock the next population tier (5k, then 10k) faster.
Avoid: Cargo or combat modules. You don’t have the fleet or the need yet.