Fighters: Fighters are cheap ships which in great masses can soak up huge amounts of damage that would kill capital ships, which makes them valuable in saving money. Having more fighters then your opponent is nothing less then imperative due to later outlined combat strategy. Fighters use laser tech, and it is recommended you have no less then 22 levels of this tech for effectiveness. The added 20% firepower over an opponent with 18 laser tech is astounding.

Bombers: Bombers are twice as expensive as fighters yet do not return double the fighter stats. Armor is not increased. Bombers are useful in some amount (1,000 per fleet is recommended) due to their ability to assist against Cruisers masses, which are extraordinarily powerful in combat. They are not worth large swarms, however. 20 Missile tech is advised.

Corvette: Corvettes are nothing tough meat shield with sufficient attack (8.4 at laser 22) to assist in attack enemy destroyers, and if they are idiotic enough, frigates. They also assist in absorbing larger blows,

Heavy Bombers: Heavy Bombers are critical pulverizers of the middle tier (Cruisers, Heavy Cruisers) and at least 700 is recommended. They are ineffective against battleships (at 14 plasma, vs 14 shielding, 128 Heavy Bombers will kill 1 Battleship and do .02 damage to another) and are effective against low shield Cruisers-HC.

Ion Bombers: Don't make these, unless you're retarded.

Destroyers: Destroyers are a plasma ship that are tough piercers into HC and Cruisers. Being quite cost effective (Plasma 18 recommended), they form a valuable punch into an opponent's upper-middle tier. The Upper Middle Tier is the section of a fleet which wins a battle, and destroyers can turn the tide.

Frigates: If you are retarded, make your fleet nothing but Frigates and Ion Bombers.

Ion Frigates: See above.

Cruisers: One word for this; lots. Cruisers will devestate an opponents Heavy Cruisers with ease as well as forming meat while destroying BBs. A decent fleet should have no less then 1200 cruisers in it. Cruisers, at Plasma 18, pierce half an HC's attack. Two cruisers can kill an HC for 400 credits while an HC costs 500. Cost effectiveness at its finest.

Heavy Cruisers: Heavy Cruisers are the ships that win battles. Being able to smash in battleships without a problem as well as being able to mow down Bombers and other low tier ships, they are the decisive element in a battle. Paired with large cruiser masses and fighter swarms, the battle is certainly yours. 800 are recommended. HC are extremely vulnerable to Heavy Bombers, so it is recommended in steps below to eradicate those.

Battleships: Battleships are a highly overrated ship good for little other then punching destroyers and lower and pummeling Dreadnoughts and above. About 100 or so is recommended in a fleet to assist in hitting bigger ships. 150 if there are many enemy dreads.

Dreadnoughts: DNs are a tough ship that will hit anything below Cruisers hard. good against weak composition fleets.

Titans: Titans are superb against the entire middle tier and below, yet BSs and DNs will utterly destroy them. Two or three max is fine.