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Requirements
To invade a planet, you must first research the Planetary Invasion technology; you can't invade without it. Next, you must have a troop transport with troops modules, allowing for the necessary movement of invasion forces. The game also prohibits you from invading a planet if any enemy ships remain in orbit, so make certain to clear out all enemies before attempting to launch your invasion.
Preparation
Three factors figure into a successful planetary invasion: Soldiering Ability, Tech Rating and Attack vs. Defense. Make certain your Soldiering Ability and Tech Rating rank higher than your intended target's ratings. Use your Attack vs. Defense rating to determine the effectiveness of your invasion forces. For instance, if you're invading with 1,000 troops and have an Attack rating of 10, it basically equates to attacking with 10,000 troops. Never launch an invasion unless you have the advantage in troops.
Traditional Warfare
A Traditional Warfare strategy works best when you have all three of the aforementioned factors of Soldiering Ability, Tech Rating and Attack vs. Defense in your favor. Traditional Warfare can overwhelm an outnumbered defense without causing extensive damage to the surrounding buildings or harming the overall Planet Quality rating, or PQ.
Mass Drivers
If you don't own the numbers advantage, you can still pull off a successful invasion with the assistance of certain advanced tactics. Employing the Mass Drivers strategy attaches drive-thrusters to large asteroids and rockets them into the targeted planet. This tactic can devastate the population and any resisting armies, but it also destroys buildings and lowers the PQ rating.
Tidal Disruptors
The Tidal Disruptors strategy of planetary invasion involves placing gravity-altering satellites around the targeted planet, causing monsoons, tidal waves and other catastrophic natural disasters. This strategy works best when you want to wipe out everything with no concern for salvaging any on the planet's infrastructure.
Information Warfare
If your targeted planet has a large population with obvious civil unrest, employing Information Warfare may tip things in your favor. This tactic sends communication vessels into the planet's orbit to inform inhabitants of the impending invasion and to promise them a better life under new rule. The propaganda may persuade many inhabitants to assist the invasion forces and pave the way for an easier victory.