The number of system tiles depends on player count: 3-player games deal 6 blue and 2 red tiles to each player, 4-player games deal 5 blue and 3 red tiles, 5-player games deal 4 blue and 2 red tiles, and 6-player games deal 3 blue and 2 red tiles to each player.

Each player takes 1 home system tile, 17 control tokens, 16 command tokens, 1 faction promissory note, 2 faction technology cards, and faction-specific tokens (only Naalu Collective, Nekro Virus, and Ghosts of Creuss have these).

If a card ability contradicts the Rules Reference, the card takes precedence. However, if both the card and the rules can be followed at the same time, they should be. Any ability that uses the word 'cannot' is absolute and cannot be overridden.

The galaxy consists of the Mecatol Rex system tile placed in the center, with three rings around it. Each player's home system is placed in a set position in the third ring based on their position around the game area.

Each player chooses a color and takes 59 plastic units, 1 command sheet, 25 technology cards, and 4 promissory notes. They then combine their color-specific and faction technology/promissory cards into separate decks.

During the action phase, players take turns resolving abilities in initiative order, beginning with the active player. This process continues until each player has resolved all abilities they wish to resolve during that timing window.

Each player takes the planet cards that correspond to the planets in their home system and places them faceup in their play area during setup.

System tiles are separated into two piles by the color on their backs: blue-backed system tiles and red-backed system tiles. Green-backed tiles are home systems and are not included in these piles. Each pile is shuffled facedown before dealing.

The Living Rules Reference document is the definitive source for all rules. If information in the Rules Reference contradicts the Learn to Play booklet, the Rules Reference takes precedence.

After each player gathers their chosen faction's components and places them in their play area, all unused faction components are returned to the game box.