Protection Zones

     The displayed data has been updated to V4.4     

Zone Classification

The protection zones in Hidden Empire primarily serve to group players who are able to attack each other. These groups are determined by the player's total points. The number of protection zones is limited, and once a certain point threshold is reached, the final zone is entered. Entering the last zone makes the game significantly more challenging, as players will encounter much more experienced and well-developed opponents. However, players will spend most of the round in the lower zones, and only long-term players can reach the final zone. Moreover, the zones are structured in such a way that the number and strength of potential opponents increases gradually with each zone. However, the zone structure may be adjusted between rounds by the support team to match the current game situation. This is necessary because many game changes affect points and growth rates, and the strength and distribution of the player base varies from round to round.

When do I move to the next protection zone?

The protection zones are defined by the following point thresholds:

   Protection Zone 0: 0 => 14,999 (Beginner Protection)  
   Protection Zone 1: 15,000 => 44,999  
   Protection Zone 2: 45,000 => 139,999  
   Protection Zone 3: 140,000 => 299,999  
   Protection Zone 4: 300,000 => 599,999  
   Protection Zone 5: 600,000 => 1,199,999  
   Protection Zone 6: 1,200,000 => 2,249,999  
   Protection Zone 7: 2,250,000 => 7,499,999  
   No Protection Zone: 7,500,000 and beyond  

Note:
From 7.5 million points onward, there is NO protection zone anymore! This means that all players above this point threshold can attack each other, regardless of the point difference! In-game, this is displayed as N/V. The zone is not shown in the ranking list.

Where can I view the weighted points?

The weighted points used for determining the protection zone can be viewed by left-clicking on the underlined word ‘Protection Zone’.

A popup will appear, showing the detailed protection zone information.



The last line, ‘Points until next protection zone’, is especially useful. It directly shows how many points are needed to reach the next zone.

Beginner Protection

The zones are often referred to by players as “noob protection zones,” which is not entirely correct. The protection zones are a core mechanic of the game, and only the endgame is played without them. Only the first zone includes true beginner protection, where attacking other players and NPCs is not possible. This zone is meant for getting familiar with the game. Additionally, players in beginner protection cannot join or create alliances and cannot participate in podracing.

War

In war, protection zones may be partially lifted (see current rules under War). This does NOT affect beginner protection.

Colonies

Only ONE colonization is allowed per protection zone! This means that your first colony can be built in Zone 1, and your fifth and final colony can only be established in Zone 5.

Additional Protection Features

In addition to protection zones, the game offers tribute payment and bash protection mechanics that limit attack options. When attacking a member of the same faction, the attacker loses loyalty, which may prevent them from buying/building certain ships.

NPCs

Non-player characters are also distributed across the protection zones and follow the same rules. However, NPCs can only be attacked and do not attack players themselves.