Primordial Tap: Upgrade and Genetic Memory List
All 54 evolution upgrades and 13 permanent prestige upgrades, with costs and caps.
Upgrades are your only source of growth in Primordial Tap. Evolving to a new stage does not raise your income by itself. It unlocks the next set of upgrades, and those are what let you reach the next, roughly nine times larger, energy target. This page lists every upgrade by era. Below them are the Genetic Memory upgrades that survive Extinction.
How upgrade costs and milestones work
- Each purchase costs 15% more than the last. The price is the base cost × 1.15owned. Ten copies of Primordial Spark cost 2.0K energy in total, against 100 for the first one.
- Owning enough copies multiplies the whole upgrade. At 10 owned (×2), 25 owned (×3), 50 owned (×5) and 100 owned (×10), every copy you own produces that much more. The multipliers replace each other rather than stacking.
- The caps decide which milestones you can reach. Upgrades stop at 30 or 50 levels, so the 50-owned ×5 milestone is the best you can get, and upgrades capped at 30 top out at the ×3 milestone. The 100-owned tier is never reachable.
- Milestone purchases are the best buys in the game. Primordial Spark at 24 owned produces 48 per second (24 × 1 × 2). The 25th copy lifts that to 75 (25 × 1 × 3), 56% more for one purchase. When an upgrade is close to 25 or 50 owned, finishing it usually beats starting a newer one.
Primordial Era
| Upgrade | Stage | Type | Base cost | Output each | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primordial Spark The first flicker of life energy in the cosmic soup. | Primordial Ooze | Passive | 100 | 1 | 50 |
| Cytoplasm The primordial gel that cradles all cellular components. | Primordial Ooze | Passive | 400 | 3 | 50 |
| Amino Acids The building blocks of proteins. Life's alphabet. | Primordial Ooze | Tap | 1.0K | 4 | 30 |
| Single-Celled Organism The humble ancestor of all life. Slowly harvests energy from the ooze. | Protocell | Passive | 1.0K | 8 | 50 |
| Lipid Membrane A protective barrier. The first boundary of self. | Protocell | Passive | 3.0K | 24 | 50 |
| Flagellum A whip-like tail that propels through the primordial soup. | Protocell | Tap | 8.0K | 32 | 30 |
| RNA Strand Primitive genetic material. The first code of life. | Prokaryote | Passive | 16.0K | 64 | 50 |
| Vesicle Simple transport bubbles. Molecular delivery service. | Prokaryote | Passive | 48.0K | 192 | 50 |
| Binary Fission The art of splitting. One becomes two becomes many. | Prokaryote | Tap | 128.0K | 256 | 30 |
Cellular Era
| Upgrade | Stage | Type | Base cost | Output each | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNA Mutation The sacred double helix twists and changes, granting power. | Eukaryote | Passive | 128.0K | 512 | 50 |
| Mitochondria The legendary powerhouse of the cell. | Eukaryote | Passive | 384.0K | 1.5K | 50 |
| Nucleus The sacred vault containing the blueprint of existence. | Eukaryote | Tap | 1.0M | 2.0K | 30 |
| Cell Membrane A sophisticated barrier. The gatekeeper of life itself. | Colonial Organism | Passive | 1.0M | 4.1K | 50 |
| Ribosome Microscopic protein factories that never rest. | Colonial Organism | Passive | 3.1M | 12.3K | 50 |
| Cytoskeleton Internal scaffolding. Structure meets flexibility. | Colonial Organism | Tap | 8.2M | 16.4K | 30 |
| Chloroplast Ancient light-catchers harnessing the power of stars. | Pre-Emergence | Passive | 8.2M | 32.8K | 50 |
| Endoplasmic Reticulum The cellular highway where molecules travel. | Pre-Emergence | Passive | 24.6M | 98.3K | 50 |
| Golgi Apparatus The molecular post office. Packages and ships proteins. | Pre-Emergence | Tap | 65.5M | 131.1K | 30 |
Aquatic Era
| Upgrade | Stage | Type | Base cost | Output each | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gills Delicate feathered structures extract life from water. | Aquatic Pioneer | Passive | 65.5M | 262.1K | 50 |
| Lateral Line Sense the vibrations of the deep. Nothing escapes your notice. | Aquatic Pioneer | Tap | 524.3M | 1.0M | 30 |
| Swim Bladder Buoyancy control. Float effortlessly through the depths. | Aquatic Pioneer | Passive | 196.6M | 786.4K | 50 |
| Bioluminescence A cold light blooms from within. The abyss glows. | Amphibian Ancestor | Passive | 524.3M | 2.1M | 50 |
| Electroreception Sense electrical fields. Feel the heartbeat of prey. | Amphibian Ancestor | Tap | 4.2B | 8.4M | 30 |
| Streamlined Body Hydrodynamic perfection. Speed through water like lightning. | Amphibian Ancestor | Passive | 1.6B | 6.3M | 50 |
Terrestrial Era
| Upgrade | Stage | Type | Base cost | Output each | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lungs Breath of the new world. Air itself becomes sustenance. | Terrestrial Explorer | Passive | 4.2B | 16.8M | 50 |
| Limbs Four pillars of freedom. The land is yours to traverse. | Terrestrial Explorer | Tap | 33.6B | 67.1M | 30 |
| Endoskeleton Internal bone structure. Strength without weight. | Terrestrial Explorer | Passive | 12.6B | 50.3M | 50 |
| Dermal Armor Scales harden into plates. Protection against a harsh world. | Apex Lifeform | Passive | 33.6B | 134.2M | 50 |
| Temperature Regulation Warm blood flows. Master of any climate. | Apex Lifeform | Passive | 100.7B | 402.7M | 50 |
| Complex Brain Advanced cognition. Thought transcends instinct. | Apex Lifeform | Tap | 268.4B | 536.9M | 30 |
Cognitive Era
| Upgrade | Stage | Type | Base cost | Output each | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack Instinct The wisdom of the group exceeds any individual. | Pack Hunter | Passive | 268.4B | 1.1B | 50 |
| Social Memory Generations of knowledge passed through behavior. | Pack Hunter | Passive | 805.3B | 3.2B | 50 |
| Territorial Claim Boundaries define home. Defense shapes strength. | Pack Hunter | Tap | 2.1T | 4.3B | 30 |
| Dexterous Hands Precision grip enables creation beyond instinct. | Clever Primate | Passive | 2.1T | 8.6B | 50 |
| Problem Solving Abstract thought bridges obstacle and solution. | Clever Primate | Passive | 6.4T | 25.8B | 50 |
| Curiosity The spark that ignites discovery. | Clever Primate | Tap | 17.2T | 34.4B | 30 |
| Fire Mastery Taming the wild flame. Light against darkness. | Tool-Maker | Passive | 17.2T | 68.7B | 50 |
| Language Symbols carry meaning across time and space. | Tool-Maker | Passive | 51.5T | 206.2B | 50 |
| Craftsmanship Raw material transformed by skilled intent. | Tool-Maker | Tap | 137.4T | 274.9B | 30 |
Civilization Era
| Upgrade | Stage | Type | Base cost | Output each | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture Seeds of permanence. Nature bends to cultivation. | Agrarian | Passive | 137.4T | 549.8B | 50 |
| Domestication Companions and livestock. Bonds that reshape worlds. | Agrarian | Passive | 412.3T | 1.6T | 50 |
| Architecture Monuments that outlast memory. | Agrarian | Tap | 1.1Q | 2.2T | 30 |
| Steam Power Harnessing the force of boiling water. Machines come alive. | Industrial Revolution | Passive | 1.1Q | 4.4T | 50 |
| Factories Mass production transforms society. Abundance for all. | Industrial Revolution | Passive | 3.3Q | 13.2T | 50 |
| Electricity Lightning tamed. The world illuminates. | Industrial Revolution | Tap | 8.8Q | 17.6T | 30 |
| Computers Silicon minds calculate at the speed of light. | Digital Age | Passive | 8.8Q | 35.2T | 50 |
| Internet A web connecting every mind. Knowledge without borders. | Digital Age | Passive | 26.4Q | 105.6T | 50 |
| Artificial Intelligence Minds of silicon awaken. Digital consciousness emerges. | Digital Age | Tap | 70.4Q | 140.7T | 30 |
| Rocket Propulsion Breaking free from gravity. The void awaits. | Spacefarer | Passive | 70.4Q | 281.5T | 50 |
| Space Colonies New homes among the stars. Humanity multiplies. | Spacefarer | Passive | 211.1Q | 844.4T | 50 |
| Warp Drive Space bends to will. The galaxy shrinks. | Spacefarer | Tap | 562.9Q | 1.1Q | 30 |
| Abstract Thought Mathematics, philosophy, art. Pure ideas take form. | Time-Traveler | Passive | 562.9Q | 2.3Q | 50 |
| Collective Knowledge Libraries of thought. Wisdom spanning millennia. | Time-Traveler | Passive | 1.7Qi | 6.8Q | 50 |
| Temporal Mastery The final frontier. Time itself bows before you. | Time-Traveler | Tap | 4.5Qi | 9.0Q | 30 |
Genetic Memory (permanent upgrades)
Triggering Extinction at the end of a run resets your stage and upgrades, and pays out Evolutionary Echoes. Echoes buy Genetic Memory upgrades, which persist through every later run. They are split into 4 tiers, and each tier unlocks once you have invested enough in the previous one.
Tier 1: Foundation
Core genetic improvements that form the basis of all future evolution. Unlocked by default.
| Upgrade | Effect | Levels | Echo cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primordial Essence | +8% passive income per level | 5 | 1 per level |
| Cellular Memory | +12% tap power per level | 5 | 1 per level |
| Metabolic Boost | +5% auto-tap power per level | 5 | 2 per level |
Tier 2: Adaptation
Advanced adaptations that speed up your evolutionary journey. Requires 5 Tier 1 levels.
| Upgrade | Effect | Levels | Echo cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated Growth | −3% upgrade costs per level | 3 | 3 per level |
| Temporal Instinct | Start each run with +0.5 auto-taps per second per level | 3 | 4 per level |
| Ancestral Memory | +3% income for every stage reached, per level | 3 | 4 per level |
| Neural Synchronization | Adrenaline combo decays 10% slower and peaks 20% higher per level | 5 | 6 per level |
Tier 3: Mastery
Master-level abilities that bend the rules of evolution itself. Requires 8 Tier 2 levels & 2 extinctions.
| Upgrade | Effect | Levels | Echo cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Resonance | +10% Echoes from each Extinction per level | 3 | 5 per level |
| Evolutionary Intuition | Removes one wrong answer from every trivia gate | 1 | 8 |
| Rapid Evolution | −2% stage thresholds per level | 3 | 6 per level |
Tier 4: Transcendence
Ultimate powers that transcend the boundaries of biological evolution. Requires 6 Tier 3 levels & 5 extinctions.
| Upgrade | Effect | Levels | Echo cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis Memory | Start later runs at a later stage with a starter kit of upgrades | 3 | 15 / 20 / 25 |
| Eternal Momentum | Keep 5% of your upgrades through Extinction per level | 5 | 12 per level |
| Cosmic Awareness | +50% to all multipliers | 1 | 20 |
Where to spend your first Echoes
Tier 1 is cheap and boosts the income sources you already use, so it pays back in the very next run. Primordial Essence suits idle play and Cellular Memory suits tapping. Spending five levels there also opens Tier 2, where Accelerated Growth makes every later upgrade cheaper. Save the expensive late tiers for when your runs are fast enough that a shortcut such as Genesis Memory saves real time.
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