Combat & Capture Manual

Combat systems

Pax Autocratica uses first-person combat alongside AI troops across infantry and mechanized battlefields. Elites, bosses and Sector Overlords deploy bullets, lasers, missiles, drones and artillery. Cores collected during an expedition modify weapons, create set combinations and strengthen allied troops.

Field priorities

1. Read projectile patterns before committing the squad to an exposed position.
2. Build around the weapon, ammunition and troops available in the current run.
3. Weaken valuable targets before attempting capture.
4. Review retreat and loss rules before taking a high-risk encounter.

14 August update: three Advanced Capture Round variants were added, and failed captures now grant the target a temporary anti-kill state.

Balance changes

Weapons and Cores change between patches. The 14 August update strengthened Vortex Shell and Thunderbolt Arrow, while earlier updates adjusted several weapons. Treat loadouts as patch-specific and recheck them after major balance updates.

Bring the battlefield home

Resources, recruits and captives connect every expedition to colony growth. Plan prison capacity before capture-heavy missions, replace squad losses quickly and turn expedition rewards into the next round of equipment and infrastructure.

Official Steam page · Official game site · Updated 18 August 2026.