Anomaly

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (2.5) of the game.

Exploration

FTL

Anomaly

Precursors and Archaeology

Unique systems

An anomaly is represented by survey readings that deviate from what is normal. When a science ship surveys a celestial body it may identify an anomaly that needs further investigation. Anomalies have their own tab in the Situation Log.

When the investigation of an anomaly is complete, an event will pop up that can give various bonuses, such as research points, resources on a planet, or even a special project which requires further research investment to unlock benefits. Certain Ethics occasionally have additional options.

Each surveyed celestial body has a 5% chance of spawning an anomaly, which is increased by 0.5% for every surveyed planet with no anomaly before being reset. The Meticulous trait also increases the chance of finding anomalies by 10%.

Level[edit]

To investigate an anomaly, a science ship with a scientist on board must be present at the celestial body where the anomaly is located. Investigating them takes time, which is determined by the level of the scientist minus the difficulty level of the anomaly. As such, anomalies of higher levels are often best left off until a skilled scientist can study them faster.

Level difference	Investigation days
+9 (Inconsequential)	20
+8 (Inconsequential)	24
+7 (Trivial)	30
+6 (Trivial)	35
+5 (Very Easy)	45
+4 (Very Easy)	55
+3 (Easy)	65
+2 (Easy)	80
+1 (Routine)	100
0 (Routine)	120

Level difference	Investigation days
-1 (Routine)	180
-2 (Challenging)	300
-3 (Challenging)	540
-4 (Hard)	720
-5 (Hard)	1080
-6 (Very Hard)	1440
-7 (Very Hard)	2160
-8 (Hellish)	2880
-9 (Hellish)	5760

Anomaly List[edit]

Each Anomaly can only be found x times where x is the number of possible outcomes. Once a certain outcome of an anomaly has occurred, the same outcome cannot happen if the anomaly is discovered again.

Anomaly	Level	Outcomes	Celestial body
Abandoned Station	3	1	Asteroid
Alien Machine	3	1	Asteroid
An Asteroid, Carved	3	1	Asteroid
Asteroid Collision	1	1	Asteroid
Asteroid Waves	1	4	Asteroid
Astonishing Asteroids	6	1	Asteroid
Covered in Debris	3	1	Asteroid
Crashed Ship	3	2	Asteroid
Dimensional Disturbance	6	2	Asteroid
Docking Hatch	3	2	Asteroid
Dustbowl	1	3	Asteroid
Energy Emissions	1	2	Asteroid
Mind the Minerals	2	1	Asteroid
Mineral Cluster	3	4	Asteroid
Mystical	7	1	Asteroid
Odd Readings	6	2	Asteroid
Orbital Speed Demon	4	1	Asteroid
Radiating Asteroid	7	1	Asteroid
Spacecraft Remains	4	1	Asteroid
Unknown Insides	3	1	Asteroid
Unknown Origin	1	2	Asteroid
Icy Plains	4	1	Arctic
Arid and Abandoned	6	1	Arid
Arid Wastes	3	1	Arid
Looking Down	6	2	Barren
On the Barren Plains	5	1	Barren
Winking	5	1	Barren
Continental Findings	1	3	Continental
Buried in the Sand	4	2	Desert
Desolate Sands	1	1	Desert
Dunes	3	3	Desert
Aerostat Structures	1	2	Gas Giant
Atmospheric Object	4	2	Gas Giant
Atmospheric Storms	1	1	Gas Giant
Cargo Pod	1	1	Gas Giant
Clouds Dance	1	1	Gas Giant
Gas Giant Ship	5	1	Gas Giant
Gas Giant Signal	5	1	Gas Giant
Ice Ice Giant	6	1	Gas Giant
Promising Moon	1	1	Gas Giant
Space Debris	1	1	Gas Giant
Terminal Orbit	5	1	Gas Giant

Anomaly	Level	Outcomes	Celestial body
Cold Hard Potential	3	4	Frozen
Cold Wastes	2	2	Frozen
Ice Lit	3	1	Frozen
Something Smells	2	1	Frozen
Minesweeper	2	1	Gaia
Paradise Anticipated	3	1	Gaia
Heated Rhythm	2	1	Molten
Drops in the Ocean	3	1	Ocean
Kaleidoscopic	2	1	Ocean
The Winter of the Fallen	3	1	Tomb
Impossible Organism	6	1	Toxic
Pigment Poison	7	1	Toxic
Poison-coated	2	1	Toxic
Signs of Former Habitation	1	2	Toxic
Toxic Construction	8	1	Toxic
Toxicity	3	1	Toxic
Among the Vines and Trees	3	1	Tropical
Scurrying	4	1	Tropical
Tropical Oddities	3	1	Tropical
Wooden Hegemony	3	1	Tropical
Possible Inhabitants	3	1	Any Dry Planet
Spotty Greenery	4	2	Any Wet Planet
Monoliths	3	1	Any Habitable Planet
Steamrolled	1	1	Any Habitable Planet
What Hums in the Night	5	2	Any Habitable Planet
Ancient Shipyard	4	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Asteroid in Orbit	1	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Atmospheric Anomaly	3	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Doppler Effect	3	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Life Signs	2	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Massive Impact	2	2	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Projecting	3	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Signs of Battle	4	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Solar Sailer	2	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Space Station	1	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Strange Mountain Formation	3	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Surface Beacon	1	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Surface Writing	2	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Unidentified Object	2	1	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Unusual Energy Readings	2	4	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Weak Signal	2	2	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Playful Ruins	3	1	Any Planet
Improbable Orbit	5	1	Any Star
Rainbow in the Dark	5	2	Black Hole

The following Anomalies require the Distant Stars DLC and have only one possible outcome.

Anomaly	Level	Celestial body
Alien Machine	3	Asteroid
Armed Vessel	3	Asteroid
Secret Heart	5	Asteroid
Unscannable Object	1	Asteroid
Waterless Canyons	1	Barren
Gray Goo	4	Frozen
Inconsistent Readings	1	Frozen
Metallic Crystal Formations	2	Frozen
Alien Activity	3	Gaia
Familiar Compounds	2	Gas Giant
Movement in the Clouds	2	Gas Giant
Solid Core	3	Gas Giant
Volcanic Vents	1	Molten
Deep Tunnels	1	Ocean
Impenetrable Clouds	1	Toxic
Mysterious Construct	5	Toxic
Fleet Signatures	4	Black Hole
Heavy Pulse	2	Class F Star
42 Years and 3 Days	3	Any Habitable Planet
Abandoned Settlements	4	Any Habitable Planet
Alien Life	3	Any Habitable Planet
Attractive Magnetism	1	Any Habitable Planet
Bizarre Blanket	1	Any Habitable Planet
Corrupt Survey Data	4	Any Habitable Planet
Isolated Ruin	2	Any Habitable Planet
Megaflora	1	Any Habitable Planet
Resonant Crystals	1	Any Habitable Planet
Overgrown Ruins	6	Any Habitable Planet
Peculiar Patterns	3	Any Habitable Planet
Deep Caverns	7	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Webwork	2	Any Uninhabitable Planet
Silent Behemoth	2	Any Uninhabitable Moon
Unusual Moon	3	Any Uninhabitable Moon
Encrypted Transmission	2	Any Planet
Supply Ship Wreckage	2	Any Planet
Interference	1	Any Star
Irregular Energy Emissions	4	Any Star

Repeatable anomalies[edit]

There are two types of repeatable anomalies. The first is the Ancient Signs of Life anomaly, which can only be found on Barren worlds and will add the Terraforming Candidate planet modifier once investigated.

The second are anomalies with the name randomized based on the planet class which will reveal a pre-sapient species on the planet once investigated. Such an anomaly can be triggered once for each planet class, including Gaia and Tomb worlds. Genocidal empires cannot discover these anomalies.

Pioneer 11[edit]

If the Sol system is present in the galaxy a random Asteroid might reveal a level 3 Debris Field Anomaly. Investigating it will discover the Pioneer 11 probe. If the empire is human it will gain 40-100 Influence. If the empire is alien on the other hand it will bring the following options:

Decipher the data disk and gain 120-250 Engineering Research while the science ship leader gains 200 Experience. The location of the Sol system is added to the situation log. Entering the system will grant 80-175 Influence.
Sell the data disk and gain 120-250 Engineering Research.
Use the data disk as furniture and gain 40-100 Influence if Xenophobe or Fanatic Xenophobe.

Media coverage[edit]

A number of anomaly events can be solved in ways that will impact an empire's media views on the empire if not Gestalt Consciousness. Such outcomes bring a Happiness modifier for 10 years.