Research

Researches are like upgrade from other RTS games. They can provide statistical gains such as HP and DPS. They can unlock new units. They can unlock abilities on existing units.
 * Most units have at least four generic researches (HP1, HP2, DPS1 and DPS2).
 * Some having a fifth or even a sixth squad specific researches. Those units with more upgrades than the four generic researches are known as 'research dependent.'

Generic researches have a break even point
Researches have a Requisition, Power and Time cost. In dowpro, researches tend to take 30 seconds. For Eldar researches take 20 seconds.

'''HP and DPS researches pay off faster if you're more aggressive. '''If you're passive (or focused on vehicles or commanders), then you're potentially paying for something that does not return an immediate yield.

If you're not taking much return damage from enemy units then HP research is useless. This applies mainly to Eldar and possibly Tau who try to put themselves in situations where they receive little or no effective return damage.

Add Ons
Hero wargear - technically speaking - are not actually researches. Instead they are add-ons. The main difference being that if you lose the structure that has the add-on then you lose the add-on for newly built units. For Hero Wargear, this is the HQ. They tend to build in 10 seconds. In a sense, Primary Commanders are 'super research dependent' as they have 10 upgrades.

Generic HP Research
'''They goes by many names, such as Bionics. '''The amount of HP varies by race.

Key facts
Generally Specifically
 * HP research does not benefit mini-heroes, such as the Apothecary or Icon Bearer.
 * HP research does not benefit squad leaders, such as the the Sergeant or Aspiring Champion.
 * HP research does not benefit one or two more elite squads, such as Mega Armoured Nobz.
 * Chaos HP research does not benefit Possessed, Obliterators.
 * Eldar and Dark Eldar get +15% HP from the research, instead of +20%. This makes them more glass canon as the game progresses.
 * Eldar HP research does not benefit the Seer Council.
 * Ork and Sister are the only race to get HP bonus to their mini-heros (the Mad Dok and Missionary, respectively).
 * Ork HP research does not benefit Mega Armoured Nobz or Nobz
 * Tau is the only race to get HP bonus to their squad leaders.
 * Tau HP research does not benefit Crisis Suits or Broadsides, which are ostensibly infantry.
 * Necron HP research also increases DPS and morale, making it unique among the generic researches.
 * Necron HP research does not benefit Pariahs or Wraiths.
 * Sister HP research affects all Sister infantry, unlike all other races where it is excluded for one or two elite units.
 * Dark Eldar is the only race to have the generic HP researches from the Barracks.
 * Dark Eldar HP research does not benefit Warp Beasts.
 * Dark Eldar has no mini-hero.

Break even point
As the generic HP researches cost power, for non-power cost units the break even point is not so clear cut. For power costed units, it is far easier to see.

Research cost and benefit:
 * So for every 5 models, you're getting a 6th model worth of HP.
 * Bionics costs 120/80. Bionics II costs 150/100.

Model costs:
 * Grey knight costs 80/25. Squad size is 3/4, getting larger as you progress through the tiers.
 * Tacticals cost 55/0. Squad size is 4/6, getting larger as you progress through the tiers.
 * Terminator costs 85/30. Squad size is 3/5, getting larger as you progress through the tiers.

At a glance, Conclusion
 * Bionics does not pay off if you only have a Grey Knight squad.
 * Bionics pays off the req for tactical marines after 10+ marines (which is 2 squads). But it does not pay off for power, unless you're losing a lot of special weapon troopers (which is unrealistic for most games).
 * It takes a long time for Bionics to pay off for power, such as from a lot of reinforicing of Grey Knights, Terminators and Assault Terminators.
 * But requisition quickly pays off in a normal game. In a way you can think of HP research as using power to make requisition more efficient.
 * If you have not enough requisition but too much power, consider HP researches.

Generic DPS Research
This goes by many names, such as Target Finder. The amount of DPS gained varies by race and unit. Some races emphasise melee research and others ranged research.

Special weapons (such as Plasma guns) tend to reduced DPS increases from the generic DPS research.

The first generic DPS research gives less than the second