diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Traits/SupportPower.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Traits/SupportPower.cs
index 5521e345fe..d561851df5 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Traits/SupportPower.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Traits/SupportPower.cs
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Traits
 		public readonly string LongDesc = "";
 		[ActorReference]
 		public readonly string[] Prerequisites = { };
-		public readonly int TechLevel = -1;
 		public readonly bool GivenAuto = true;
 
 		public readonly string OrderName;
@@ -48,7 +47,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Traits
 
 		protected readonly Actor Self;
 		protected readonly Player Owner;
-
+		string[] effectivePrereq = {};
+		
 		bool notifiedCharging;
 		bool notifiedReady;
 
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Traits
 			Self = self;
 			Owner = self.Owner;
 
+			effectivePrereq = Info.Prerequisites
+				.Select(a => a.ToLowerInvariant()).ToArray();
+			
 			self.Trait<TechTreeCache>().Add( Info.OrderName, Info.Prerequisites.Select( a => a.ToLowerInvariant() ).ToList(), this );
 		}
 
@@ -66,13 +69,14 @@ namespace OpenRA.Traits
 		{
 			if (Info.OneShot && IsUsed)
 				return;
-
-			if (Info.GivenAuto)
-				IsAvailable = Info.TechLevel > -1 && hasPrerequisites;
 			
+			if (Info.GivenAuto)
+				IsAvailable = hasPrerequisites;
+							
 			if (IsAvailable && (!Info.RequiresPower || IsPowered()))
 			{
 				if (Game.LobbyInfo.GlobalSettings.AllowCheats && self.Trait<DeveloperMode>().FastCharge) RemainingTime = 0;
+
 				if (RemainingTime > 0) --RemainingTime;
 				if (!notifiedCharging)
 				{
@@ -93,15 +97,13 @@ namespace OpenRA.Traits
 
 		bool IsPowered()
 		{
-			var buildings = Rules.TechTree.GatherBuildings(Owner);
-			var effectivePrereq = Info.Prerequisites
-				.Select(a => a.ToLowerInvariant());
-
-			if (Info.Prerequisites.Count() == 0) 
+			if (effectivePrereq.Count() == 0) 
 				return Owner.PlayerActor.Trait<PlayerResources>().GetPowerState() == PowerState.Normal;
 			
-			return effectivePrereq.Any() && 
-				effectivePrereq.All(a => buildings[a].Any(b => !b.Trait<Building>().Disabled));
+			// Takes 0.3ms on pchote's machine -- calling it every tick for every active special power is retarded
+			var buildings = Rules.TechTree.GatherBuildings(Owner);
+			
+			return effectivePrereq.All(a => buildings[a].Any(b => !b.Trait<Building>().Disabled));
 		}
 
 		public void FinishActivate()
diff --git a/mods/cnc/rules/system.yaml b/mods/cnc/rules/system.yaml
index 1adbf437d1..a7ee4c4f20 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/rules/system.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/rules/system.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: Atom Bomb
 		LongDesc: Launches a nuclear missile at a target location.
 		Prerequisites: TMPL
-		TechLevel: 12
 		BeginChargeSound: 
 		EndChargeSound: nukavail.aud
 		SelectTargetSound: select1.aud
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: Ion Cannon
 		LongDesc: Discharges the orbital Ion Cannon at your target.
 		Prerequisites: EYE
-		TechLevel: 12
 		BeginChargeSound: ionchrg1.aud
 		EndChargeSound: ionredy1.aud
 		LaunchSound: ion1.aud
@@ -29,7 +27,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: Airstrike
 		LongDesc: Delivers a load of napalm on your target.
 		Prerequisites: hq
-		TechLevel: 8
 		EndChargeSound: airredy1.aud
 		SelectTargetSound: select1.aud
 		UnitType: a10
diff --git a/mods/ra/rules/system.yaml b/mods/ra/rules/system.yaml
index 751ca48bae..24c48323ab 100644
--- a/mods/ra/rules/system.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/rules/system.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: GPS Satellite
 		LongDesc: Reveals the entire map
 		Prerequisites: ATEK
-		TechLevel: 12
 		RevealDelay: 15
 		LaunchSound: satlnch1.aud
 	ChronoshiftPower:
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: Chronoshift
 		LongDesc: Temporarily teleports a vehicle across \nthe map.
 		Prerequisites: PDOX
-		TechLevel: 12
 		SelectTargetSound: slcttgt1.aud
 		BeginChargeSound: chrochr1.aud
 		EndChargeSound: chrordy1.aud
@@ -51,7 +49,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: Invulnerability
 		LongDesc: Makes a single unit invulnerable for a \nshort time.
 		Prerequisites: IRON
-		TechLevel: 12
 		Duration: .75
 	SpyPlanePower:
 		Image: smigicon
@@ -59,14 +56,12 @@ Player:
 		Description: Spy Plane
 		LongDesc: Reveals an area of the map.
 		Prerequisites: AFLD
-		TechLevel: 5
 	ParatroopersPower:
 		Image: pinficon
 		ChargeTime: 6
 		Description: Paratroopers
 		LongDesc: A Badger drops a squad of Riflemen \nanywhere on the map
 		Prerequisites: AFLD
-		TechLevel: 5
 		DropItems: E1,E1,E1,E3,E3
 		SelectTargetSound: slcttgt1.aud
 	NukePower:
@@ -75,7 +70,6 @@ Player:
 		Description: Atom Bomb
 		LongDesc: Launches a nuclear missile at a target location.
 		Prerequisites: MSLO
-		TechLevel: 12
 		BeginChargeSound: aprep1.aud
 		EndChargeSound: aready1.aud
 		SelectTargetSound: slcttgt1.aud
@@ -85,7 +79,6 @@ Player:
 		ChargeTime: 10
 		Description: Sonar Pulse (Single Use)
 		LongDesc: Reveals all submarines on the map for a \nshort time.
-		TechLevel: 5
 		GivenAuto: no
 		OneShot: yes
 	AirstrikePower:
@@ -93,7 +86,6 @@ Player:
 		ChargeTime: 5
 		Description: Parabombs (Single Use)
 		LongDesc: A Badger drops a load of parachuted bombs on your target.
-		TechLevel: 5
 		GivenAuto: no
 		OneShot: yes
 		UnitType: badr.bomber