> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://asteroid-shiba.gitbook.io/asteroid-shiba-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://asteroid-shiba.gitbook.io/asteroid-shiba-docs/how-it-works.md).
# How it works in 60 seconds
You don't need to read a manual to start. Here's the whole game in five steps.
### 1. You get signals
Every player gets **5 signals per day**, free. A signal is one attempt to scan the field and find an asteroid. No passes, no tiers — everyone hunts on equal footing.
### 2. You scan
Spend a signal and your Shiba scans the void. Most scans come back empty — space is mostly empty rock. But some light up.
### 3. You discover
When a scan hits, an asteroid is revealed with its **rarity**: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, or the ultra-rare Genesis. You get an instant reward the moment you find it.
### 4. It joins your portfolio
Every valuable asteroid you find **stays with you** and keeps generating rewards, day after day, until the season ends. The longer you play, the bigger your mining fleet — and the more it earns while you sleep.
### 5. You grow
Two ways to get stronger:
* **Scanner** — improves your *chances* of finding rarer asteroids.
* **Research** — increases how much a specific asteroid earns you.
And your **referral network** boosts your find-chance on top of that.
***
That's it. Send a signal, hunt, discover, collect, grow. Everything else in this guide is just detail on those five steps.
**Next:** [Claim your Shiba →](/asteroid-shiba-docs/getting-started/claim.md)
---
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