Whatever you collect during a flight, you keep. The hangar in the main menu is where it turns into permanent progress.
Ions
Ions are the main currency. You collect them as crystals during a flight, earn them for every completed sector, and get more depending on difficulty (Cadet half, Veteran 1.6×, Legend 2.5×; mutators add a little extra). In the hangar they become permanent upgrades.
Unlocks
- Weapons — the Pulse Cannon is available from the start; the other five come through achievements and the hangar.
- Jumps and defenses — one option each is free, you unlock the other three.
- Ship hulls — Prism, Probe and Ram change your play style. Overview under Equipment.
- Difficulty levels — Veteran and Legend open up once you get far enough on the level below.
Element stones
Element stones are the rare currency. They only come from trials — special challenges within a flight, such as five guardians in one run or ten Orbit minutes without a hit. A trial grants two to five stones.
In the hangar you use them to strengthen one specific upgrade path: three ranks per path, costing 1, 2 and 3 stones. These upgrades can’t be chosen during a flight — they take effect as soon as you take the path. What each path gains is listed on the Weapons page; the trials are under Achievements & trials.