Terraforming Mars Standard Projects: Costs & Rules Explained
Standard Projects let you take reliable actions without needing a matching project card. They are usually less efficient than strong cards, but they are always available.
Standard Project costs
| Project | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Sell Patents | — | Discard any number of cards for 1 M€ each |
| Power Plant | 11 M€ | Increase energy production 1 step |
| Asteroid | 14 M€ | Increase temperature 1 step |
| Aquifer | 18 M€ | Place 1 ocean tile |
| Greenery | 23 M€ | Place greenery and increase oxygen if possible |
| City | 25 M€ | Place a city and increase M€ production 1 step |
Sell Patents
Discard project cards from your hand and receive 1 M€ for each discarded card. This is a Standard Project action even though it does not have an M€ cost.
Power Plant
Pay 11 M€ to raise your energy production by 1.
Asteroid
Pay 14 M€ to increase the temperature one step. If temperature is already at maximum, you cannot raise it further.
Aquifer
Pay 18 M€ to place an ocean tile on an available ocean space. Resolve normal placement bonuses.
Greenery
Pay 23 M€ to place a greenery tile under the normal placement rules. Increase oxygen if it is not already maxed.
City
Pay 25 M€ to place a city under normal city-placement restrictions, then increase your M€ production by 1.
Related guides
Official source
Costs and effects checked September 2026.