Anomaly

Version

This article is considered accurate for the current version (2.3) of the game.

Exploration

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%.

LevelEdit

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 ListEdit

Each Anomaly except Ancient Signs of Life can only be found once.

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
Ancient Signs of Life	2	1	Barren
Looking Down"	6	2	Barren
On the Barren Plains	5	1	Barren
Winking	5	1	Barren
Continental Findings	1	3	Continental

Anomaly	Level	Outcomes	Celestial body
Buried in the Sand	4	2	Desert
Desolate Sands	1	1	Desert
Dunes	3	3	Desert
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
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
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

Anomaly	Level	Outcomes	Celestial body
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
Nuclear Wasteland	1	1	Earth

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

Anomaly	Level	Celestial body
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

Pioneer 11Edit

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.

PrecursorsEdit

First League anomaly

The Precursors are long dead galactic empires predating even the fallen empires and the curators. Their ruins are scattered across the galaxy for the player to find via anomalies. Precursor anomalies grant a special project which once investigated grants a moderate amounts of Engineering, Physics or Society research as well as a precursor artifact. 6 artifacts are required to reveal the location of a precursor's home system.

If every precursor anomaly has been investigated but no empire managed to collect 6 artifacts a random event can trigger every 20 years and add another precursor anomaly on one of the previously investigated planets. The time is lowered to 13.3 years for Gestalt Consciousness empires.

AI empires can also sell a discovered artifact to Player empires for 1000 Energy. If the Player empire has the Warrior Culture civic it can threaten the AI empire to surrender it for free, the success rate depending entirely on both empires' Relative Power. Empires that hold a Protective, Friendly or Loyal attitude will offer the artifact for free instead of asking for payment. Each AI Empire will only offer an artifact once.

The Ancient Relics DLC adds two more precursors that are discovered via Archaeology Sites instead of anomalies.

There have been 7 precursor civilizations:

Precursor civilization	Homeworld	Homeworld reward	Home system deposits	Secrets special project cost	Secrets special project rewards	DLC
Cybrex	Ruined Ring World	240-9999 Unity 350-2000 Engineering research 350-2000 Energy 10-30 Minor Artifacts Cybrex War Forge Relic Secrets of the Cybrex artifact action	None	12000 Engineering research	+10% Megastructure Build Speed	None
First League	Fen Habbanis III	240-9999 Unity 350-2000 Society research 150-300 Influence 10-30 Minor Artifacts Secrets of the First League artifact action	10 of all research resources 10 Minerals 10 Energy	6000 Engineering research	+15% Industry Research Speed +10% Planet Build Speed	None
Irassian Concordat	Irassia	240-9999 Unity 350-2000 Physics research 350-2000 Minerals 10-30 Minor Artifacts Javorian Pox Sample Relic Secrets of the Irassians artifact action	10 of all research resources 5 Alloys 5 Exotic Gases	3000 Society research	+20% Biology Research Speed +5% Pop Growth Speed	None
Vultaum Star Assembly	Vultaumar Prime	240-9999 Unity 250-1500 Engineering research 250-1500 Physics research 250-1500 Society research 10-30 Minor Artifacts Vultaum Reality Perforator Relic Secrets of the Vultaum artifact action	10 of all research resources 10 Energy 5 Alloys 5 Exotic Gases	3000 Physics research	+15% Computing Research Speed +10% Amenities	None
Yuht Empire	Yuthaan Majoris	240-9999 Unity 350-2000 Energy 350-2000 Minerals 10-30 Minor Artifacts Yuht Cryo Core Relic Secrets of the Yuht artifact action	10 of all research resources 10 Minerals 10 Energy 5 Alloys 5 Exotic Gases	3000 Society research	Initiate Yuht Cleansing Process Decision	None
Baol	Grunur	The Last Baol Relic Secrets of the Baol artifact action	None	3000 Society research	-15% Terraforming Cost
Zroni	Zron Prime	Psionic Archive Relic Secrets of the Zroni artifact action	5 Zro	6000 Society research	+10% Psionics Research Speed

Archaeological sitesEdit

Archaeological Sites are areas where remains on ancient civilizations have been preserved relatively intact. That can be discovered on survey, generated at game start or discovered a few years after a planet is colonized. A site can have 1-6 Chapters in addition to an introduction Chapter. Each Chapter has its own narrative and rewards and has to be unlocked before it becomes visible.

Chapters are unlocked via Excavation. As long as an Archaeological Site is within an empire's borders that empire can task a Science Ship to excavate the side. The duration of an Excavation is determined by the Archaeological Site's Difficulty rating and can be reduced by -25% if the Scientist on the Science Ship has the Archaeologist trait. As the Scientist goes through excavations, it will roll a dice and add modifiers to the result, with the following formula: Result = dice roll + archaeology skill + clues − difficulty. Additional events can also trigger at the end of each excavation.

Site	Chapter 1 rewards	Chapter 2 rewards	Chapter 3 rewards	Chapter 4 rewards	Chapter 5 rewards	Chapter 6 rewards	Requirements
Ancient Battle Site		Random Technology 300-1000 Research 5-10 Minor artifacts					Uninhabitable planet
Strange Asteroid		Random Technology 300-1000 Research 5-10 Minor artifacts					Asteroid
Moon Bump	1-5 Minor artifacts	120-350 research					Uninhabitable planet
Trench World	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Technology					Barren
Beautiful Bubble	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	150-500 Society research				Uninhabitable planet
Beneath the Waves	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random New Worlds Technology unlocked 150-500 Society research if all techs are researched				Ocean
Get to the Bottom	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random New Worlds Technology unlocked 150-500 Society research if all techs are researched				Ocean
City of Bones	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts	150-500 Society research Deploy Tissue Growth Stimulants decision Construct Explosive Fungiform Housing Units decision				Dry planet
Déjà Vu Dig	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Technology				Uninhabitable planet
Hole in the Ground	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Technology				Uninhabitable planet
Strange Flows	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Technology				Molten
Too Angled	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Technology				Uninhabitable planet
Dotted Archipelago	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Society Technology				Ocean
Get Inside	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Society Technology				Uninhabitable planet
Frozen Complex	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Plasma Accelerators technology 120-350 Society research if already researched				Frozen
Subterranean Hollows	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Hostile Environment Adaptation technology 500 Society if already researched				Habitable planet
Mutant Fossils	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts	Mutation Vats Planetary Feature				Tomb
Robot Debris	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	5-10 Minor artifacts 300-1000 Engineering research				Asteroid
Target from Orbit	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	150-500 research				Uninhabitable planet
Any Other Rock	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Permanent +5% Unity empire modifier			Molten
Anyone Home?	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	Random Society Technology			Uninhabitable planet
Asteroid Blast Door	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	50-100 Minor artifacts			Asteroid
Gas Giant Structure	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	6-10 Minor artifacts 4000 Energy			Gas Giant
The Echoes Inside	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	150-500 Society research			Barren
Fossilized Remains	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	10-30 Minor artifacts Blade of the Huntress Relic		Colony
Kleptomaniac Rats	6-10 Minor artifacts	6-10 Minor artifacts	6-10 Minor artifacts	6-10 Minor artifacts	10-30 Minor artifacts Shard Leviathan awakens		Relic
Whispers in the Stone	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	10-30 Minor artifacts 500 Rare Crystals		Colony Mining District
Ancient Tomb	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	10-30 Minor artifacts Head of Zarqlan Relic	Mid-Game Uninhabitable planet Fallen Empire exists
Crashed Starship	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	10-30 Minor artifacts	Uninhabitable planet
The Grand Herald	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts	1-5 Minor artifacts Titan (25-75% damaged)	Dry planet

Precursor sitesEdit

Precursor Archaeology Sites are visible only to the empire that starts the event chain and are used to advance the Baol and Zroni event chains.

Precursor	Site	Chapter 1 rewards	Chapter 2 rewards	Chapter 3 rewards	Chapter 4 rewards	Chapter 5 rewards
Baol	Grunur Ruins	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts The Barren site location
	The Barren	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts The Shattered site location
	The Shattered	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts	5 Minor artifacts The Silenced site location
	The Silenced	5 Minor artifacts	6-10 Minor artifacts Grunur system location
Zroni	Abandoned Colony Ruins	1-5 Minor artifacts		1-5 Minor artifacts 150-500 Society research Psionic Theory technology unlocked if not Gestalt Consciousness Zroni Minor Colony site location
	Zroni Minor Colony		1-5 Minor artifacts Zroni Major Colony site location
	Zroni Major Colony			6-10 Minor artifacts Zron system location
	Zron					10-30 Minor artifacts Psionic Archive relic

Excavation eventsEdit

If at the end of an Excavation phase the result is not high enough to grant a Clue or finish the Chapter then one of the following events may happen:

Science Ship Scientist dies, -2 Clues
Archaeology team members die, -1 Clues
A dangerous situation is avoided, +3 Clues
Choice to pay 100 Energy to get +3 Clues or do nothing and get -2 Clues

Media coverageEdit

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.