Not counting space battles, it is about six minutes. Both sides will have a timer on their screen showing how long it will be before construction is complete. The Rebels will be alerted of your new construction as it is being built. Then, build a research lab and a level 5 space station with all the upgrades. To get the Death Star, put a hero that gives you space discounts on the planet you wish to build it on. If you keep Bopa Fett at the planet you are invading, he will assist you in space and land battles. If the do, you will not know what ships they have just how many and how many different types of ship. Just move the pointer over the ship(s) surrounding the planet and the droid above your mini map will show what and how many ships are in their fleet, unless they have Luke Skywalker.

Not only can he kill enemy heroes, but he will also reveal the space craft orbiting the planet.

Send Bopa Fett to the planet you are planning to invade first and alone. Just destroy some ships for about twenty seconds and they will jump to hyperspace even if their space station is not destroyed and they have a larger force, they will flee. Most of the time their 'massive fleet' is mostly made of transports. In space when the Rebels attack you and it looks like they have a large force against you and it appears hopeless, do not auto-resolve and do not give up. The Rebels tend to jump to hyperspace if there are transports in the battle. They will know at all times whether your planet is guarded or not and strike the moment you leave a planet venerable to attack on land or in space. The Rebels can see every move you make, and can also with a small force, slip past any blockade you may have set up. Never leave a planet unguarded in space or on land. However, build these last as the bigger your base is, the more turbolaser towers you get. If you can, also build a shield generator and/or turbolaser towers. Try to keep every planet in your control well defended on space and land with at least one Victory Class Star Destroyer and a level 2 or 3 space station in space.

Star wars empire at war pc