CIFI: Mod Branch: Shards and Mining

• Ahead of the Curve (node): one free level of Ahead of the Curve at your next reset. About 1e80 MP at the snapshot.
• Enhanced Shard Mining Equipment MK1 to MK4: +5%, +20%, +50%, +100% shards. Big levels, steady value.
• Phase Completion Efficiency modules: each takes 1 tick off one operation phase. There are six phases. Buying them speeds every operation.
• Cell Efficiency and Shard Efficiency Operation modules: more Cells or shards per completed operation.
• Shard Mining Headquarters: x5 Cells per level.
• Robotic Miner nodes: the price jumped from about 1 quintillion to 23 quintillion a level on one account with no visible shard income gain. That account used a rule of buying a level only when it cost 1/100th or less of its MP (UNSURE). This is one account's rule, not an established optimum.
• Mutual Mining Agreements: huge numbers, far off.
• Rule of Hard Work (Ultima mod): raises the shard milestone level cap. Very far off.
• Phase One to Three modules showed as cheap early buys.

A public search of r/CIFI posts and public wikis on November 6, 2026 did not find a checked optimal Robotic Miner buying ratio. This is not proof no better rule exists.

UNSURE community alternative: comments in a March 4, 2026 r/CIFI thread say these levels are not worth prioritizing and describe them as an MP dumping upgrade that gives small shard amounts late. A November 22, 2023 comment says to spend extra MP on them after other upgrades, and not to make them a priority. These comments do not establish an optimal spending fraction or validate the account's 1/100 rule. The reviewed Shard Mining wiki page gives general background, not a Robotic Miner buying ratio. No current installation was checked, and Discord itself was not read.

Evidence and version limits: CIFI: What Is Not Verified Yet.