AI Guide

PLEASE NOTE: This page is under construction as more info is being documented, and the wording revised.

This wiki page includes:

• What is AI? – A definition of what AI is on Horizon's end.
• AI Hunting for New Players – This section serves as a guide to AI hunting, providing tips and strategies for dealing with AI effectively.
• AI Breakdown – How AI works in the game.
• AI Factions – Explains factions and their ships.
• World Event Index – A complete, indexed table of all world events.
• AI Ships Index – A digitized index of all AI ships currently on the server.

What is AI?

AI is AI Ships that spawn around the map. These ships are either civilian or militaristic the militaristic variants are hostile. Howewer, ai will not shoot you unless you get close. AI can be identified by the contact's bar.

AI Hunting for New Players

For this stage, this guide assumes you already have basic starship knowledge. If you don’t yet have a ship suitable for AI hunting, this guide recommends purchasing a Vulture, from an NPC Ship Dealer to begin. Once you have your ship and officially start AI hunting, you must first locate and destroy AI starships. All AI kills provide both XP and credits, making AI encounters a core source of progression and income. AI ships can spawn naturally in space when a player remains in an area for a prolonged period, so you don’t always need a world event to find them.

AI can be located in two main ways:

AI World Events

Use:

/listships ai

/encounterstatus

This command shows active or upcoming AI world events. These events spawn periodically across different systems and often contain groups of AI ships depending on the event tier.

Natural AI Spawning

Use:

/listships ai

AI ships can also spawn naturally in space when a player remains in an area for a prolonged period of time while piloting a ship.

This means:

• AI encounters are not always event-based
• Simply staying in space can eventually trigger AI presence
• Higher activity areas tend to produce more frequent encounters

AI Kill Streak / Heat Multiplier System

Horizon’s End includes a kill streak-based modifier system that rewards continuous AI combat.

• Destroying AI ships builds a kill streak multiplier
• Higher streaks increase:
  • Credits earned
  • XP gained
  • Reward scaling from AI encounters

Streak Behavior

• The streak increases with each confirmed AI kill
• Higher streak values result in greater reward multipliers
• Streak benefits apply primarily during sustained combat sessions

Persistence Rules

• In Creative Mode, streak decay is paused
• Streak persistence may last until the server reset cycle (approx. 5 PM EST)

Gameplay Impact

• Sustained AI hunting can significantly increase earnings over time
• Higher streaks effectively function as a reward scaling system for active PvE combat

AI Breakdown

AI Spawns

• AI spawn in all space systems - Asteri, Regulus, Ilios, Sirius, Horizon, Trench, AU-0821
  • In the human populated systems being Asteri, Regulus, Ilios and Sirius, only specific AI factions can spawn
    • Horizon Transit ships (minhauls, sparrows, wayfinders, etc.)
    • Mining guild ships (Beaver, Badger which is the largest that can spawn, Type-V11, etc.)
    • Privateers (rare chance for resolutes, usual chance for daggers, bulwarks, pioneers, contractors etc.)
    • Pirates (Bloodstars, vendettas, wasps, etc.)
    • Tsaii (Only from bait ships - horizon transit, specifically the 3 explorer ships, as seen in /listships the ship piloted by a pirate colored pilot, or on the dynmap seeing a horizon transit bait ship with a pirate name)
    • Largest ships to spawn can be a tsaii bait trap reaver - 6.5k size frigate, or a privateer resolute ~8.1k destroyer
  • In the Horizon, Trench and AU-0821 systems, 3 extra factions can start naturally spawning, and in those systems all AI factions can spawn
    • Plant aliens (these are marked with a green unknown signal tag.)
    • Bread aliens (Chifanren)
    • Tsaii (spawns without bait ships, sometimes with a reaver as the capital)

AI Tiers

• Tier 1 - Lobotomy/Newbie level [Tier name: EASY]
  • AI is purposefully stupid, they use I believe a 5th /dc slot for movement and almost dont aim, they fire their guns very infrequently and are bad at combat in general, perfect as an introduction to PvE combat for any new player
  • Their identifier in the contacts bar is 1 emoji
• Tier 2 - Mediocre [Tier name: NORMAL]
  • AI moves at the 9th /dc slot from here, they aim directly at their target with no leading (no movement prediction), they fire their guns frequently and are a strong step up from tier 1 AI, but with some distance keeping you can evade most fire from them
  • Their identifier in the contacts bar is 2 emojis
• Tier 3 - Adept [Tier name: HARD]
  • These AI are relatively skilled, they lead their targets now, fire guns frequently and have a new mechanic that the tier 1 and tier 2 AI don't have - Fleeing. They are a threat in numbers and require mediocre skill from a player pilot to be evasive and keep a proper distance from the AI for the evasion to be useful
  • Fleeing - Once the AI's shields are either close to being cracked or the AI is already taking hull damage, around that time the tier 3 AI enters a fleeing mode - it tries to move up to 500 blocks away from the player and stay there until its shields are fully regenerated to full health.
  • Their identifier in the contacts bar is 1 unique emoji, the unique emojis are:
    • for horizon transit
    • for mining guild
    • for pirates
    • for privateers
    • for tsaii
    • for Chifanren (bread aliens)
    • for Watchers (plant aliens)
    • for certain halloween AI and for the two pumpkin halloween AI

• Tier 4 - Expert [Tier name: BRUTAL]
  • These AI are skilled and should not be underestimated, they are the strongest fair-fighting AI tier and they also have the fleeing mode which activates earlier, often before they start taking hull damage.
  • At this tier, these AI have about a 30-40% chance to target your lowest shield instead of targeting your general center of mass on the ship which makes them already more deadly than they are.
  • Their identifier in the contacts bar is 2 unique emojis
• Tier 5 - Aimbot [Tier name: INSANE]
  • These AI are tier 4's with cheat codes - they have a 1.1x (aka 110%) /directcontrol speed buff, and can use 60% powermodes which is functionally impossible for a player to use. AI at this tier usually enter fleeing mode a bit before their shields get low and oftentimes they escape with no hull damage to them to regenerate.
  • At this tier the AI targets your shield with the lowest health with around a 90-100% chance for shooting at it, which essentially forces you to angle your shields on larger ship classes. Evasion is nearly impossible as their shots lead is extremely precise, and only the most skilled players can consistently evade the AI's fire as all AI are artificially set to have a low reaction time to allow players to be able to beat them
  • Their identifier in the contacts bar is only 1 rare emoji, the rare emojis are:
    • horizon transit
    • mining guild
    • for pirates
    • for privateers
    • for tsaii
    • for Chifanren
    • for Watchers
    • rare emoji used for the Halloween AI, unknown on tier 5 ai for event ai.

AI Backup

Some larger AI ships can spawn reinforcement fleets when engaged. This system primarily applies to high-tier or capital-class vessels.

• Larger ships may spawn immediate escort AI upon engagement.
• Those escorts can themselves generate additional reinforcements.
• This can create a multi-layer escalation chain depending on the encounter.

For example:

• The Angle-class ship can spawn a Resolute-class vessel as backup.
• The Resolute may then deploy an additional squadron of smaller Privateer ships.

In some cases, reinforcement chains can stack further, resulting in:

• AI ships that spawn AI ships, which themselves spawn additional support units.

AI Bait Mechanic

The Wayfinder has two variants:

• Civilian Wayfinder (passive transport ship)
• Bait Variant (hostile ambush trigger)

The bait variant appears identical to the civilian version but is designed to initiate an ambush encounter.

Behavior

• Visually functions as a normal civilian Wayfinder
• When approached or engaged, it triggers a pirate reinforcement call
• Spawns a squadron of Pirate AI ships shortly after activation
• The initial Wayfinder itself may remain non-aggressive or act as a lure

Mechanics

• This is a hidden encounter trigger system, not a standard hostile spawn
• Reinforcements spawn after player proximity or engagement conditions are met
• Designed to punish players who assume all civilian ships are safe

AI Factions

Privateers

A fleet of armed military patrol ships these aligned ships patrol Horizon's End.

Common ships:

• Dagger (Starfighter)
• Bulwark (Corvette)
• Pioneer (Speeder)
• Contractor (Gunship)
• Resolute (Destroyer)

Behavior:

• Patrols Systems

Minning Guild

Industrial mining fleets operating in wild space or asteroid-heavy sectors. Common ships:

• Type-V11 (Starfighter)
• Beaver (Transport)
• Badger (Corvette)
• Ostrich (Light Freighter) (PLEASE NOTE: Ostriches' are increidbly dangerous to new players)
• Mining drones and escorts

Behavior:

• Flies around randomly as a natural spawn.

Rewards:

• The Angle tends to drop rewards for the one who kills it.

Horizon Transit Convoy

Civilian transport fleets traveling between systems. Common ships:

• Minhaul
• Sparrow
• Wayfinder (NOTE: these are immobile ships, but they can also be bait ships for pirate convoys)
• Explorer variants

Behavior:

• Usually passive
• Certain Wayfinder variants may secretly be Pirate bait ships

Important:

Some Horizon Transit ships are disguised Tsaii ambush vessels. These can be identified by:

• Pirate pilot names in

Possible escalation:

• Tsaii ambush fleets
• Reaver-class frigates (~6.5k mass)

Pirates

Hostile raiding fleets that attack nearby ships on sight. Common ships:

• Bloodstar (Gunship)
• Vendetta (Corvette)
• Wasp (Starfighter)
• Other fast attack craft

Behavior:

• Extremely aggressive

Danger:

Pirate fleets are among the most common combat-focused world events and can overwhelm inexperienced pilots quickly.

Rewards:

Unknown Signal (Green Aliens)

Also known as Watchers or plant aliens.

Marked by:

• Green Unknown Signal contact markers

Behavior:

• More common in Horizon, Trench, and AU-0821

Common traits:

• Organic-looking ships
• Unusual weapon effects
• Higher-tier AI can be extremely evasive

Ships:

• Verdolith (Frigate)
• Teralith (Frigate)
• Aerbolith (Destroyer)

Rewards:

• Superconductor

Unknown Signal (Yellow Aliens)

Believed to be the 吃饭人( Nicknamed the "Bread Aliens", but offically known as the Chifanren).

Behavior:

• Often appear in deep-space systems
• Can travel in organized fleets

Common traits:

• Yellow signal marker
• Unique ship designs
• Aggressive response to nearby players

Ships:

• Other Ships (Names need to still be added)
• Fashigun (Destroyer)

Abyssals (Event)

The Abyssals are a highly dangerous AI Faction that use weapons that no other ship use.

It is important to note that these ships do NOT spawn at all, and only spawned during a halloween event

Ships:

Dredge

Charm

Graft

Emperor

High Priestess

World Event Index

AI World Events are scheduled encounters that spawn groups of AI ships at specific locations. Use /encounterstatus to view active events and /listships ai to track active AI vessels.

Event Name	Type	Difficulty	Locations	Faction	Risk Level	Image	Description
System Defense Forces Small Patrol	Patrol	Universal	Core Systems	System Defense Forces	Low	SD_SmallPatrol.png	Routine patrols securing core systems against minor threats.
System Defense Forces Medium Patrol	Patrol	Universal	Core Systems	System Defense Forces	Low	SD_MediumPatrol.png	Larger patrols in core systems, prepared to respond to moderate threats.
Horizon Transit Lines	Locai	Tiered	All Systems	System Defense Forces	None	HorizonTransit.png	Security and monitoring of inter-system transit routes for player safety.
Privateer Inspection	Locai	Tiered	Core Systems	Privateers	Medium	Privateer_Inspection.png	Privateers being inspected by authorities; potential for combat if rules are broken.
Privateer BootCamp	Locai	Tiered	Core Systems	Privateers	Medium	Privateer_BootCamp.png	Training exercises for privateer recruits; may involve simulated combat.
Pirate Disturbance	Locai	Tiered	Core Systems	Pirates	Medium	Pirate_Disturbance.png	Local pirate activity threatening trade or patrols; dangerous for new players.
Increased Pirate Activity	Locai	Tiered	Core Systems	Pirates	Medium	Pirate_Increase.png	Spike in pirate raids and attacks in the core systems; advanced threat.
Mining Guild Barge Convoy	Patrol	Universal	Horizon, AU, Trench	Mining Guild	High	MiningGuild.png	Guild ships conducting routine patrols around mining operations.
Tsaii Warband	Locai	Tiered	Horizon, AU, Trench	Tsaii	High	Tsaii_Warband.png	Raiding Tsaii forces appear in frontier zones; moderately challenging.
Privateer Naval Drills	Locai	Tiered	Horizon, AU, Trench	Privateers	High	Privateer_NavalDrills.png	Privateer naval exercises in frontier systems; may engage nearby ships.
Unknown Signal (Yellow Aliens)	Locai	Tiered	Horizon, AU, Trench	吃饭人	High	Signal_YellowAliens.png	Mysterious yellow alien signal detected; exploratory or hostile encounters possible.
Unknown Signal (Green Aliens)	Locai	Tiered	Horizon, AU, Trench	Watchers	High	Signal_GreenAliens.png	Mysterious green alien signal detected; exploratory or hostile encounters possible.

AI Ship Index

Note: This is a Ship Index meant to document each AI Ship's capabilities, block count, threat level, faction, and ship class. This is intended to help document these ships digitally.

Ship	Image	Faction	Class	Block Count	Threat	Armament / Notes
Sparrow	(Insert Image)	Horizon Transit	Shuttle	~???	Low	Civilian transport ship
Minhaul	(Insert Image)	Horizon Transit	Freighter	501	None	Civilian cargo vessel
Wayfinder	(Insert Image)	Horizon Transit	Explorer	1509	Medium	Can appear as Tsaii bait ship NOTE: There is a pirate Bait version of this ship
Type I-41	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Shuttle	271	Very Low	2 laser cannons, 1 torpedo
Type V-11	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Shuttle	265	Very Low	Mining escort ship
Type A-21B	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Shuttle	625	Very Low	Mining laser, ore storage
Woodpecker	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Shuttle	267	Very Low	Recon vessel, torpedo armed
Beaver	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Transport	1985	Low	Calls Dagger escort
Badger	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Transport	3998	Low	Calls Bulwark escort
Ostrich	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Light Freighter	3964	High	Fast jumper, dangerous to new players
Grouper	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Medium Freighter	7996	Medium	Calls Bulwark reinforcement
Dunkleosteus	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Heavy Freighter	11991	High	Calls Bulwark + Contractor reinforcements
Angle	(Insert Image)	Mining Guild	Capital Mining Barge	19939	Extreme	Massive AU-only spawn, heavy escort fleet
Teneta	(Insert Image)	Privateers	Starfighter	444	Low	Light combat craft
Dagger	(Insert Image)	Privateers	Starfighter	475	Low	Standard combat fighter
Bulwark	(Insert Image)	Privateers	Corvette	4000	High	Defensive escort vessel
Pioneer	(Insert Image)	Privateers	Speeder	25	Low	Convoy support ship
Contractor	(Insert Image)	Privateers	Gunship	2000	Medium	Mid-tier support vessel
Resolute	(Insert Image)	Privateers	Destroyer	8264	Extreme	High-tier capital destroyer
Bloodstar	(Insert Image)	Pirates	Corvette	3987	Medium	Aggressive raider craft
Comorant	(Insert Image)	Pirates	Gunship	1059	Medium
Vendetta	(Insert Image)	Pirates	Gunship	1113	Medium	Standard pirate combat ship
Wasp	(Insert Image)	Pirates	Interceptor	249	Low	Fast attack craft
Scythe	(Insert Image)	Tsaii	Starfighter	374	Medium	Standard fighter
Swarmer	(Insert Image)	Tsaii	Light Fighter	174	Medium	Dangerous in swarms
Raider	(Insert Image)	Tsaii	Gunship	1695	Medium	Strong anti-player craft
Reaver	(Insert Image)	Tsaii	Frigate	6502	Extreme	Capital ambush ship
Verdolith	(Insert Image)	Watchers	Frigate	6505	High	Can duplicate spawn
Terralith	(Insert Image)	Watchers	Heavy Frigate	7999	Very High	High durability capital ship
Arborealith	(Insert Image)	Watchers	Destroyer	12000	Extreme	Capital ship killer
Mianbaozha	(Insert Image)	吃饭人	Starfighter	226	High	Extremely evasive
Loumai	(Insert Image)	吃饭人	Gunship	1753	High	Summons Mianbaozha
Mianbao	(Insert Image)	吃饭人	Corvette	4000	High	Strong mid-capital ship
Malingshu	(Insert Image)	吃饭人	Light Frigate	4895	Very High	Extremely durable
Fashigun	(Insert Image)	吃饭人	Destroyer	11994	Extreme	Strongest alien capital ship
Skuttle	(Insert Image)	Abyssals// Pumpkins	Starfighter	~???	Low
Dredge	(Insert Image)	Abyssals	gunship	2709	Extreme	The Dredge is a gunship sized ship armed with a capital beam, gaze weapons. Not much is known about this ship.
Charm	(Insert Image)	Abyssals	Destroyer	~???	Extreme	The Charm is a destroyer sized ship armed with Cthulu beams, Skull Throwers and gaze weapons. Summons Dredge as reinforcment
Graft	(Insert Image)	Abyssals	Destroyer	~???	Extreme	The Graft is a large, destroyer sized ship armed with cthulu beams, Skull throwers and gaze weapons. Summons Dredge as a reinforcment
Emperor	(Insert Image)	Abyssals	Cruiser	~???	Extreme	The Emperor is a large, Cruiser sized ship armed with a capital beam, cthulu beams and gaze weapons. Summons 2x Dread as reinforcment
High Priestess	(Insert Image)	Abyssals	Custom Ship	~???	Extreme	The High Priestess is a HUGE ship being larger then the battlecruiser, Armed with various gaze and cthulu beam weapons with its main weapon being the capital beam. Sumons 2x dread as reinforcment

AI Rewards Index

AI Ship	Faction	Difficulty	Rewards	Description
Nimble	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	250c	Light exploration shuttle; fast but fragile.
Minhaul	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	250c + 314 XP	Small cargo vessel carrying valuable ores.
Striker	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	250c	Medium exploration shuttle allegedly armed with plasma cannons.
Wayfinder	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	400c	Medium exploration transport with weak defenses.
Amph	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	400c	Heavy exploration transport with moderate durability.
Exotran	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	550c	Sleek cargo freighter with decorative turrets.
Dessle	Horizon Transit	Very Easy	550c	Small ore freighter with little combat capability.
Iskat	Pirates	Easy	950c	Pirate fighter armed with lasers and torpedoes.
Voss	Pirates	Easy	950c	Rusty mining shuttle with a single laser cannon.
Hector	Pirates	Easy	950c	Old shuttle equipped with lasers and torpedoes.
Hiro	Pirates	Easy	950c	Modified fighter with dual torpedo launchers.
Wasp	Pirates	Easy	950c	Armed shuttle fitted with lasers and torpedoes.
Frenz	Pirates	Moderate	950c + 299 XP	Agile starfighter with lasers and torpedoes.
Tempest	Pirates	Moderate	950c	Strike fighter armed with dual plasma cannons.
Velasco	Pirates	Moderate	950c	Heavy assault fighter with triple plasma cannons.
Anaan	Pirates	Moderate	1,250c	Converted hauler functioning as a gunship.
Vendetta	Pirates	Hard	1,250c	Light gunship with pulse cannons and heavy laser.
Cormorant	Pirates	Moderate	1,250c	Assault gunship with plasma cannons and torpedoes.
Mantis	Pirates	Hard	1,250c	Heavy gunship armed with pulse cannons and heavy lasers.
Hernstein	Pirates	Moderate	1,250c + 1,556 XP	Medium assault gunship with pulse cannons.
Fyr	Pirates	Moderate	1,250c	Heavy assault gunship with plasma cannons and turrets.
Bloodstar	Pirates	Hard	2,650c	Heavy corvette equipped with tri-turrets.
Inflict	Privateers	Easy	950c	Standard privateer fighter with torpedoes.
Furious	Privateers	Moderate	950c	Tough fighter armed with plasma cannon.
Teneta	Privateers	Moderate	950c	Strike fighter with dual plasma cannons.
Patroller	Privateers	Hard	1,850c + 1,809 XP	Medium gunship with shields and pulse cannons.
Veteran	Privateers	Hard	1,850c	Anti-fighter gunship with heavy laser.
Protector	Privateers	Moderate	950c	Pseudo-gunship with dangerous plasma cannons.
Daybreak	Privateers	Hard	2,650c + 3,988 XP	Light corvette armed with heavy lasers.
Dagger	Privateers	Moderate	2,650c + 967 XP	Heavy fighter with plasma cannons and torpedoes.
Contractor	Privateers	Hard	3,750c	Heavy gunship armed with pulse cannons and lasers.
Bulwark	Privateers	Hard	5,750c + 4,785 XP	Heavy corvette with tri-turrets and shields.
Resolute	Privateers	Hard	~20,000c + Unknown XP	Light destroyer equipped with phasers.
Type I-41	Mining Guild	Easy	650c	Old retired fighter with torpedoes.
Type V-11	Mining Guild	Easy	650c	Basic mining spacecraft with one laser cannon.
Type A-21B	Mining Guild	Easy	650c + 881 XP	Passenger shuttle converted into mining craft.
Woodpecker	Mining Guild	Easy	650c	Armored scout shuttle with torpedoes.
Beaver	Mining Guild	Moderate	1,850c + 2,121 XP	Mining transport with heavy lasers.
Badger	Mining Guild	Moderate	2,560c	Mining freighter armed with turrets and plasma cannons.
Ostrich	Mining Guild	Moderate	2,650c + 3,588 XP	Mining freighter with light turrets and plasma cannons.
Grouper	Mining Guild	Medium	Unknown	Armed medium freighter miner.
Dunkle	Mining Guild	Hard	Unknown	Heavy combat-capable freighter miner.
Angle	Mining Guild	Unkillable	~50,000c + Unknown XP	Massive convoy barge with heavy escort support.
Swarmer	Tsaii	Easy	1,550c	Agile Tsaii scout craft.
Scythe	Tsaii	Moderate	1,550c	Standard Tsaii fighter with plasma cannons.
Raider	Tsaii	Moderate	2,500c	Attack gunship with pulse cannons and lasers.
Reaver	Tsaii	Hard	6,500c	Attack frigate armed with phasers and heavy turrets.
Mianbaozha	Aliens	Medium	Unknown	Agile alien fighter difficult to target.
Loumai	Aliens	Hard	Unknown	Heavy gunship that summons reinforcements.
Mianbao	Aliens	Hard	9,000c + 5,383 XP	Fast alien corvette with tri-turrets.
Malingshu	Aliens	Very Hard	9,000c + 6,263 XP	Phaser frigate deadly at close range.
Verdolith	Aliens	Extremely Hard	9,000c	Attack frigate with heavy turrets and phasers.
Teralith	Aliens	Extremely Hard	18,000c + 9,052 XP	Heavy assault frigate with chetherite shield.
Arborealith	Aliens	Extremely Hard	18,000c + 12,270 HEXP	Heavy destroyer with gravity well systems.
Fashigun	Aliens	Extremely Hard	~20,000c + Unknown HEXP	Massive destroyer capable of summoning swarms.

Ship Tiers Index

Note: This is a Ship Index meant to document each AI Ship's Tier, Fire Rate, movement, shield targeting, and identification on the contact bar along with the emoji used by the AI.

Tier	Name	Movement	Aim Behavior	Fire Rate	Special Mechanics	Shield Targeting	Contacts Bar Identifier	Image
1	EASY	5th /dc slot	Poor, almost no aiming	Very infrequent	None	Center of mass	1 emoji	Marked by 1 Star
2	NORMAL	9th /dc slot	Direct aim, no leading	Frequent	None	Center of mass	2 emojis	Marked by 2 Stars
3	HARD	Medium	Leads target	Frequent	Fleeing when shields low	Center of mass	1 unique faction emoji
4	BRUTAL	Fast/Evasive	Leads target, stronger	Frequent	Early fleeing	30–40% lowest shield targeting	2 unique faction emojis	Identifiied by 2 Unique Emojis
5	INSANE	1.1× /dc slot	Extremely precise leading	Extremely high	Powermodes, early fleeing	90–100% lowest shield targeting	1 rare faction emoji