Stellaris Matter Decompressor Guide

Vuk Radulovic
Matter Decompressor from Stellaris Game printscreen

A Matter Decompressor is a multi-stage Stellaris Megastructure, added in Megacorp DLC. This megastructure is built around a black hole and its sole purpose is to increase your mineral production by utilizing the energy from the black hole. Although in terms of the game effect it doesn’t sound like much, it’s a pretty sweet sci-fi element added to Stellaris. We will go through the technology needed for its building as well as the building phases – while trying to add some useful tips. 

The Technology Required For Stellaris Matter Decompressor

Ruined matter decompressor printscreen
Photo credits: Paradox Interactive, Stellaris

When it comes to tech requirements for building Stellaris Matter Decompressor, they are almost the same as the ones for Dyson Sphere and Ring World. You need to get Mega-Engineering first, then restore or build a megastructure (Gateways and Hyper Rellays don’t count, only multi-stage ones), and finally take Galactic Wonders Ascension Perk. After those 3 steps, you simply need to research Matter Decompressor tech and you will be able to build it. Although it does sound easy, it’s actually a bit trickier as the first step, Mega-Engineering tech, is a rare tier 5 tech. You will need to build Citadels and Starholds in order to increase your chances of rolling for this tech. 

The fact that the requirements for Matter Decompressor include a rare tier 5 tech, a restored or previously built megastructure, and an Ascension perk that you can only take as your third one, means that this is a late-game megastructure. You can go and try to rush it by taking, let’s say, Master Builders Perk, but in our experience, getting Mega-Engineering is the biggest issue here. You simply need time to acquire all that tech so the best thing to hope for is getting it somewhere in the late-mid game phase. 

Building a Matter Decompressor

Matter Decompressor built site game printscreen
Photo credits: Paradox Interactive, Stellaris

As you might assume, building a huge mining drill that can reverse the gravity field of the black hole and actually mine resources from it will be pricy. Note that the Matter Decompressor has to be built in a star system with no anomalies and with a black hole in it. You can only build one, but you can also get an additional one by restoring a ruined Matter Decompressor (if you have it in your empire). The total cost of a fully upgraded Stellaris Matter Decompressor stands at 22 500 Unity and 55 000 Alloys, making it one of the most expensive megastructures in the game. In order to fully build one, you need to go through 5 stages: 

  • Phase 1: Matter Decompressor Site (2500 Unity, 5000 Alloys); Effect: None
  • Phase 2: Matter Decompressor Anchor (5000 Unity, 12 500 Alloys); Effect: +500 Minerals
  • Phase 3: Matter Decompressor Lensing (5000 Unity, 12 500 Alloys); Effect: +1000 Minerals
  • Phase 4: Matter Decompressor Boring (5000 Unity, 12 500 Alloys); Effect: +1500 Minerals
  • Phase 5: Matter Decompressor Completed (5000 Unity, 12 500 Alloys); Effect: +2000 Minerals

If you are interested in the science behind the Stellaris Matter Decompressor, let’s just say that the descriptions are very vague. In phase one, the Anchor is built on the Event Horizon to secure a base by reversing the gravity of the black hole. The Lensing uses the redirected gravity force and focuses it on one spot. The bore of the drill is phase 3, and it somehow uses focused gravity to twist and penetrate into the event. Finally, in the fifth stage, various arrays of smelters and processors collect all that matter from the Event Horizon and separate the useful minerals for your empire. So yeah, that’s why the price is high. 

Is It Worth It? 

Matter Decompressor Stellaris
Photo credits: Paradox Interactive, Stellaris

The big question here is – is the Matter Decompressor worth investing all those Alloys and time? The answer is not simple as it really depends on the stage of your game. If you obtain one, your Mineral production will skyrocket, and you will be able to relocate some of your Miners to other jobs. But the problem is that this megastructure can sometimes become available only after you have already entered the late-game phase and you have a steady mineral production. In that case, opting for something more like Ecumenopolis is probably better as you need to ramp up your Alloy production for fleet build. Alternatively, you can also use Mining Habitats and/or Orbital Rings to increase your resource output. 

Another option is to rush the Matter Decompressor but you have to tread lightly here. If you simply take Perks and Edicts that improve your megastructure build speed, you will still need to pay a hefty price in Alloys in order to build it fast. Furthermore, if you do that and invest your alloys in the construction of the Matter Decompressor, the defensive and offensive capabilities of your empire will probably be affected. Try to balance it out and go for a quick build only if you are sure that you won’t be needing those Alloys anytime soon – the last thing you want to do is to encounter the enemy without any Alloys and a weak fleet. 

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