PSA: Building power relays on conduits is still overrated.

This was covered a month ago, but people still seem to think that that building power relays on conduits is a good idea (in their defense, the game practically begs you to do it). It's not.

This was initially reported by u/bilfdoffle [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Xcom/comments/45x51g/psa_theres_a_bug_with_power_relay_upgrades_built/) with a post shortly after by u/himetic [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Xcom/comments/47675e/psa_shielded_power_coil_power_relays_lie_about/). In short, the in-game text is **incredibly misleading**. The in-game text and icons indicate that you get 7 extra power *per upgrade*, when in fact you only get 7 extra power on initial construction.

Why does this matter? Because any facility built on a conduit requires 0 power. So if a facility takes 7 or more power, it's just as good to build it there rather than a power relay. That means Psi Lab (10 power upgraded) or Shadow Chamber (9 power upgraded) are strictly better. Communications relays (7 power upgraded) are equivalent.

There are no concerns re: number of possible facilities to be built - you'll need 2 power relays for a full complement of buildings, and you can't possibly need 3. With just one non-conduit relay and with both Shadow&Psi on conduits - you have ~~29~~27 power (6 + 21), with your heavy lifters already covered. **edit:Note that the Avenger uses 6 but provides 12, so I've counted it as +6 available for facilities.** You can fit 2 fully upgraded Communication Relays (14), a GTS (3), AWC (3), and Proving Grounds (3) while still having ~~6~~4 extra power. That could be put toward some combination of a defense matrix (2/4), workshop (1/3), laboratory (3/6), or the GTS upgrade if you play with the leader mod. There are 2-3 empty spots in this layout, but it can absolutely be successful on Commander and below. You have to build another relay to fill all 12 positions.

Edit: Note, two non-conduit relays are enough to power any legal base build, even if you insist on conduit-ing dumb choices like GTS/AWC/PG. So don't delay building something, either, if you plan to do two power relays - it'll all work out in the end.

Edit2: As u/asdf11784 mentioned below (if I mistyped that, I blame you), there's also a considerable advantage in terms of timing to building a non-power facility on a conduit. This post focused on long-term base planning, but remember that zero power means you can build right now, before your second relay is finished (or before e.g. upgrading the first relay). This can have non-trivial consequences.

Edit3: Apparently I suck at math, see 29~=21+6.

**TL;DR:** Please stop building power relays on conduits. The only possible reason is if you've already built 3 of the following buildings: Psi Lab/Shadow Chamber/Communication Relay. In that case, go ahead and build the power relay on the conduit. Otherwise, you're as good or better to build one of those on it.