Traditions

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.5) of the game.

Society Management

Traditions

Ascension perks

The Shroud

Traditions tab

Traditions represent the socio-cultural evolution of an empire as it expands and develops and consist of abilities, edicts, or bonuses unlocked with the  unity resource. Traditions are a key mechanic for tailoring the playstyle of an empire by allowing the player to reinforce the empire's strengths or lessen its weaknesses. Completing a tradition tree unlocks a slot for an  ascension perk, which provides even further enhancements.

Tradition cost

The cost of unlocking a tradition depends on how many traditions the empire has already unlocked, as well as the  empire size cost. The tradition cost formula is the following:

$${\text{tradition cost}}=\left[300+\left(8\cdot {\text{num traditions}}\right)^{1.8}\right]\cdot \left[1+({\text{empire size}}-100)\cdot {\text{0.002}}\cdot \left(1-{\text{empire size effect}}\right)\right]\cdot {\text{tech/tradition cost}}$$

"Tech/tradition cost" refers to the game setting. "Empire size effect" is a modifier to the effect of empire size on its associated penalties, including tradition cost; it is affected by certain authorities. The adoption and finisher effects both count as traditions in their own right, so starting a group counts as one tradition, and unlocking the last tradition in a group counts as two.

Several of these parameters are controlled by defines.

Tradition trees

Traditions are grouped into tradition trees with 5 traditions each, as well as a bonus for adopting the tradition tree and one for finishing it. Each empire can select up to 7 tradition trees.

Discovery

The Discovery tradition tree focuses on exploration and research and is available to all empires.

+20% Anomaly research speed Unlocks the Map The Stars edict
To Boldly Go / Exploration Drones / Sensing Tendrils	Science Division / Research Path Optimization / Mindlink
+35% Survey speed +50% Science Ship disengage chance	+1 Research alternatives +2 Scientist level cap
Databank Uplinks	Polytechnic Education / Iterative AI / Hyperadaptive Evolution
+20% Research Station output  +20% Research from Starbase buildings Unlocks the Research Subsidies edict	+25% Leader experience gain  +1 Leader level cap
	Faith in Science / Uplink Latency Reduction / Synaptic Broadcast
	−20% Researcher upkeep
+10% Research speed Can create Research Cooperative federations if  Federations is enabled Scholarium tier 3:  +1000 Research points in Research Caches

Domination

The Domination tradition tree focuses on better managing planets and is available to all empires.

−33% Clear blocker cost  Void Dwellers: −20% Habitat upkeep instead
Colonial Viceroys / Autonomous AI / Meeting of the Minds	Imperious Architecture / Modular Depots / Synaptic Extensions	Public Trust Officers / / Judgment Corps / Deviancy Protocols / Divergence Suppression
+2 Governor level cap  +0.5 Monthly Influence	:  +1 Housing from upgraded capital buildings :  +1 Housing from all housing buildings  Hive Mind:  +2 Housing from Synaptic Nodes  Machine Intelligence:  −25% Empire Size from districts	:  +1 Unity per Enforcer : Unlocks the Enhanced Surveillance edict  Gestalt Consciousness:  −10 Deviancy on all colonies
Privy Council / Multithreaded Core Functions / Synaptic Network		Workplace Motivators / Drone Network
+2 Ruler level cap +50 Edict fund		: +5% Worker and Slave output : Unlocks the Extended Shifts edict  Gestalt Consciousness: +5% Menial Drone output  Gestalt Consciousness: Unlocks the Drone Overdrive edict
−10% Empire Size from Pops Can create Hegemony federations if  Federations is enabled

Expansion

The Expansion tradition tree focuses on the expansion of territory and colonies and is available to all empires.

+25% Colony development speed
Reach for the Stars / Signal Relay Stations / Amoebic Synapses		Colonization Fever / Automated Colonization Units / One Mind
−10% Starbase Influence cost		+1 Extra pops when establishing colony
Courier Network / Extensible Software / Limited Autonomy	Galactic Ambition / Cogs in the Machine / Blot out the Stars	A New Life / Hotjoin Protocols / Spawning Frenzy
−25% Empire Size from Systems and Colonies	−20% Starbase upkeep	+10% Pop growth speed  Machine Intelligence:  +10% Pop assembly speed instead
+1 Max districts for all non-artificial planets  Void Dwellers: −20% Habitat Build Cost instead

Prosperity

The Prosperity tradition tree focuses on various empire-wide bonuses and is available to all empires.

+20% Mining Station output
Administrative Operations / Superconductive Power Transmission / Chitinous Architecture		Standard Construction Templates / Prefabricated Buildings
−10% Building and district upkeep		−10% Building and district build cost  +25% Planetary build speed
The Pursuit of Profit / Creative Collectives / Peak Performance / Neural Signal Boosters	Interstellar Franchising / Efficiency Algorithms / Efficiency Instincts	Public Works Division / Modular Superstructures / Optimized Nexus / Extended Hives
+5% Specialist and Complex Drone output	+1 Clerk per City District or Habitat Trade District  +3 Clerk per Residential Arcology or City Segment  Gestalt Consciousness: +5% Monthly Energy Credits instead	+1 Housing per City/Hive/Nexus District  +3 Housing per Residential Arcology  +5 Housing per City/Hive/Nexus Segment  Void Dwellers:  +1 Building slot for Orbital Habitats instead
+5% Resources from Jobs  +5 Stability on all colonies

Supremacy

The Supremacy tradition tree focuses on fleets and armies and is available to all empires.

+20 Naval Capacity  +20% Army Damage
Master Shipwrights / Modular Hull Templates / Organic Architecture	Fleet Logistics Corps / Automated Underway Replenishment / Nutrient Arks	Overwhelming Force
−10% Ship Build Cost  +25% Ship build speed	−10% Ship upkeep  +20% Naval Capacity	+10% Ship Fire Rate +20% Orbital Bombardment Damage
War Games / Combat Variable Mitigation / Three-Dimensional Awareness		The Great Game / Diplomatic Target Prioritization / Hunter's Eye
+20 Fleet command limit +2 Admiral level cap		+20% Damage against Starbases
Unlocks War Doctrine policies Unlocks the Supremacist diplomatic stance

Diplomacy

The Diplomacy tradition tree focuses on improving the benefits an empire can gain through diplomacy and is not available to empires with the  Inward Perfection or  Devouring Swarm civics.

−50% Diplomatic Influence Cost Unlocks the Diplomatic Grants edict
The Federation	Diplomatic Networking / Diplomatic Networking
Can create Federations  +1 Available envoys	+3 Unity per Embassy
Entente Coordination	Direct Diplomacy	Eminent Diplomats / Improved Envoy Drones
+100% Federation Naval Capacity Contribution	+50 Trust cap  +33% Trust growth	+5 Diplomatic Acceptance 1% Monthly chance to gain a Favor per Improve Relations action
+10% Diplomatic weight  +1 Available envoys

Adaptability

The Adaptability tradition tree focuses on using planets more efficiently and is not available to  Machine Intelligence empires.

−10% Pop housing usage
Dietary Enrichment / Enhanced Recycling	Environmental Diversification
+10% Monthly food  Lithoid: 15% Refund per demolished building instead	+10% Habitability
Survival of the Fittest	Adaptive Ecology	Appropriation
−25% Orbital bombardment damage +25% Defense Army Damage	+1 Building slot for all planets	−33% Resettlement cost
Unlocks Planetary Prospecting Decision  Void Dwellers: Unlocks Orbital Surveying Decision instead

Harmony

The Harmony tradition tree focuses on better managing the empire and is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires.

−10% Pop Food Upkeep −10% Pop Minerals Upkeep
Mind and Body / Unity of Self	Kinship / Kinship	The Greater Good
+20 Years Leader Lifespan  +1 Leader level cap  Necrophage:  +5-100 Unity per converted pop instead	−75% Pop Demotion Time  Shared Burdens: −20% Leader upkeep instead	+25% Governing Ethics attraction
Harmonious Directives		Utopian Dream
+50 Edict fund		+5 Stability on all colonies
−10% Empire Size from Pops

Mercantile

The Mercantile tradition tree focuses on trade and is not available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires.

+5 Trade protection +1 Collection range
Trickle Up Economics	Adaptive Economic Policies / Federal Trade Fleets
+1 Trade Value per Clerk	Unlocks the Consumer Benefits trade policy if not in a  Trade League federation Unlocks the Marketplace of Ideas trade policy if not in a  Trade League federation +50% Federation Naval Capacity Contribution while in a  Trade League federation
Commercial Enterprise	Marketplace of Better Ideas	Insider Trading
+1 Merchant for Commercial Zones or Commerce Megaplexes  +1 Merchant per Commercial Segment and Trade District	+10% Trade Value	−10% Market Fee
+10% Trade Value Can create Trade League federations if  Federations is enabled

Synchronicity

The Synchronicity tradition tree focuses on better managing the empire and is only available to  Gestalt Consciousness empires.

−10% Pop Upkeep
Self-Preservation Protocols / Cloned Organs / Unity of Mind	Synchronized Agents	Integrated Preservation / Instinctive Synchronization
Hive Mind: +20 Years Leader Lifespan  Necrophage Hive Mind:  +5-100 Unity per converted pop  Machine Intelligence: −50% Leader accident chance	−20% Leader upkeep	+30% Automatic resettlement chance  Hive Mind:  +2 Amenities from Synapse Drones  Machine Intelligence:  −2 Deviancy from Coordinators
Flexible Governing Algorithms / Flexible Thought Routines		Collective Reasoning
+50 Edict fund		+5 Stability on all colonies
−10% Empire Size from Pops  Machine Intelligence: Unlocks the Industrial Maintenance edict

Unyielding

The Unyielding tradition tree focuses on defense and is available to all empires.

+2 Starbase capacity  +50% Starbase upgrade speed
Resistance is Frugal / Resistance is Frugal / Resistance is Frugal	Defensive Zeal
+25% Defense Army Health  +0.5 Unity per Defense Army	+33% Starbase hull points +33% Starbase Damage  +33% Defense platform damage  +33% Defense platform hull points
Never Surrender / Never Surrender	Fortress Doctrine / Guardian Subroutines / Vigilant Thought Processes
−25% Orbital Bombardment Damage Received  −25% War exhaustion +25% Hostile claim influence cost	+2 Starbase capacity  −50% Starbase upgrade cost +4 Hostile Operation Difficulty for Sabotage Starbase
Bulwark of Harmony / Bulwark of Harmony / Bulwark of Harmony
+15% Ship Fire Rate within the empire's borders  33% Ship build speed while in a defensive war
+50% Defense platform cap −20% Starbase Upkeep Can create Martial Alliance federations if  Federations is enabled Bulwark tier 3: −0.5 Hostile Ship Daily Hull Regen in owned systems

Subterfuge

The Subterfuge tradition tree focuses on espionage and counterespionage and is available to all empires.

+1 Codebreaking
Information Security		Operational Security / Subterfuge Drones
+1 Encryption +5 Chance to Evade		+1 Codebreaking +2 Operation Skill  +10 Tracking
Non-Disclosure Agreement / Updated Security Algorithms / No Loose Ends	Double Agents		Shadow Recruits
+1 Hostile Operation Difficulty +20% Hostile Operation Infiltration Required	+10 Intel per failed Hostile Operation  +1 Available envoys +10 Maximum Infiltration Level		+50% Infiltration Speed
+50% Infiltration Level refund for successful Operations

Versatility

The Versatility tradition tree focuses on various empire-wide bonuses and is only available to  Machine Intelligence empires.

−10% Pop Assembly Cost
Universal Compatibility	Spatial Optimization
+50 Trust cap from Machine Intelligence empires  +1 Available envoys	−10% Pop housing usage
Adaptive Programming	Material Analysis	Operational Proxies
−10% Market Fee	−5% Job Upkeep	−33% Resettlement Cost
50% Refund per demolished building or district

Ascension perks

Finishing an entire tradition tree or acquiring the  Ascension Theory technology unlocks an ascension perk slot. Ascension perks can be viewed as defining characteristics that emerge as a product of the socio-cultural evolution represented by the traditions intertwining with the empire's identity (its Origin, Ethics, Civics, Government and Population). Ascension perks represent the empire's greater-scope ambition(s) and, in the case of the three ascension paths, its ultimate final fate.

Ascension perks often favor either a tall or wide gameplay, with some that allow access to gameplay mechanics not available through traditions alone. This includes the three ascension paths, the ability to build advanced deep-space megastructures, the ability to use terraforming to create special planets, and becoming a Galactic Nemesis. An empire can have up to 8 Ascension perks.

Due to the difficulty of unlocking an ascension perk slot, it is prudent to delay making a choice, especially if the desired perk cannot be selected because the required technologies have not been researched yet. In addition, once chosen, an ascension perk is permanent and cannot be changed.

Tier 0 ascension perks can be taken from the start. Tier 1 perks require 1 previous ascension perk to be taken, tier 2 perks require 2 previous ascension perks, and tier 3 perks require 3 previous ascension perks. The higher the AI weight, the more likely an AI empire will select enact that ascension perk.

	Ascension perk	Tier	Effects	Prerequisites	AI weight	DLC
	Consecrated Worlds	0	Consecrate World decision	Spiritualist	10
	Detox	0	Can terraform worlds with the Toxic Terraforming Candidate modifier	Climate Restoration technology	20
	Eternal Vigilance	0	+25% Starbase Hull Points +25% Starbase Damage  +25% Defense platform damage +5 Defense platform cap	Star Fortress technology	10 x1.5 if  Xenophobe x2 if  Inwards Perfection
	Executive Vigor	0	+100 Edict fund		30
	Galactic Wonders	0	Ring World research option if  Utopia is installed Dyson Sphere research option if  Utopia is installed Matter Decompressor research option if  MegaCorp is installed	Mega-Engineering technology Built or repaired a multi-stage megastructure	10 x2 if  Pacifist x3 if  Fanatic Pacifist
	Hydrocentric	0	−25% Ocean Terraforming Cost Can construct Ice Mining Station starbase buildings Can terraform worlds with the Frozen Terraforming Candidate modifier 50% increased effects of the Aquatic trait Unlocks the Deluge Machine colossus weapon	Aquatic main species trait  Ocean main species climate preference  Terrestrial Sculpting technology	40 x0.5 if not  Xenophobe or  Hive Mind x5 if  Ocean Paradise
	Imperial Prerogative	0	−50% Empire size from colonies	Corporate	10
	Interstellar Dominion	0	−20% Claim influence cost  −20% Starbase influence cost		10 x0 if  Pacifist,  Driven Assimilator, or  Genocidal x2 if  Xenophobe x3 if  Fanatic Xenophobe
	Mastery of Nature	0	−33% Clear Blocker cost Mastery of Nature decision		10 x0 if  Void Dwellers x0.5 if chose 1 ascension perk x0.1 if chose 2 ascension perks x2 if below 8 planets
	Lord of War	0	+1 Mercenary Enclave Capacity +25% Diplomatic Weight from Fleet Power −2.5 Months Dividend Wait Time if patron of a Mercenary Enclave		5 x2 if  Corporate x2 if  Militarist x3 if  Fanatic Militarist
	Nihilistic Acquisition	0	Unlocks the Raiding bombardment stance	Is one of:  Gestalt Consciousness  Authoritarian  Xenophobe  Barbaric Despoilers	10 x0 if  Inwards Perfection or  Genocidal
	One Vision	0	−10% Pop amenities usage  +10% Monthly unity  +50% Governing ethics attraction	Machine Intelligence	10 x2 if  Authoritarian x2 if  Spiritualist x3 if  Fanatic Authoritarian x3 if  Fanatic Spiritualist
	Shared Destiny	0	+2 Available envoys No Loyalty loss from multiple subjects	Inward Perfection  Genocidal	5 x0 if no  Vassal or below 3  Envoys
	Technological Ascendancy	0	+10% Research Speed +50% Rare technology chance		30 x2 if  Materialist x3 if  Fanatic Materialist
	Transcendent Learning	0	+2 Leader level cap  +50% Leader experience gain		10
	Universal Transactions	0	−15% Branch Office Cost  Commercial pacts are free	Corporate  Criminal Heritage	10
	Voidborn	0	+20% Habitat Habitability +2 Habitat Building Slots Can upgrade housing buildings on Habitats Can always research the next tier of Habitat technology	Orbital Habitats technology	10 x2 if  Pacifist x2 if at least 2  Habitat colonies x3 if  Fanatic Pacifist or  Void Dwellers
	Xeno-Compatibility	0	+33% Immigration pull  +20% Pop growth speed if world has at least 2 different species Hybrid Species	Xenophile Any biological alien pop living in empire  Gene Tailoring technology	10 x2 if  Xenophile x3 if  Fanatic Xenophile
	Engineered Evolution	1	+3 Genetic modification points Clone Vats building −25% Modify Species special project cost  Gene Seed Purification research option	Gene Tailoring technology  Latent Psionic main species  The Flesh is Weak  Machine Intelligence	15 x0 if below 6 worlds x3 if  Hive Mind
	Enigmatic Engineering	1	+2 Encryption Destroyed ships don't leave debris Enemy Steal Technology operations fail		2 x2 if  Materialist or  Xenophobe x10 if  Inwards Perfection
	Grasp the Void	1	+5 Starbase capacity +50% Chance to discover FTL technologies0  Hyperlane Breach Points  Hyperspace Slipstreams  Speculative Hyperlane Breaching  jump drive tech  Psi Jump Drives  Wormhole Stabilization  Gateway Activation  Gateway Construction  Hyper Relays  Quantum Catapult		3 x1.5 if  Xenophobe x2 if  Inwards Perfection
	Mind over Matter	1	Telepathy research option Psi Corps building Primary species gains the Latent Psionic trait New leaders have a 20% chance to get the Psychic trait Existing leaders can get the Psychic trait through events Increased Spiritualist ethics attraction	Psionic Theory technology  Engineered Evolution  The Flesh is Weak  Latent Psionic main species  Gestalt Consciousness	20 x0 if below 6 worlds x0.1 if not  Spiritualist x10 if  Become the Crisis
	The Flesh is Weak	1	−10% Robot upkeep  +10% Pop Assembly Speed Special Project to turn all pops into cyborgs0 All biological pops gain the Cybernetic trait All biological leaders gain the class appropriate Cyborg trait Assimilation Citizenship option Increased Materialist ethics attraction Enslaved robots will never rebel	Droids technology  Engineered Evolution  Latent Psionic main species  Gestalt Consciousness	20 x0 if below 6 worlds or  Necrophage x0.1 if not  Materialist
	World Shaper	1	−25% Terraforming cost  Gaia World terraforming option	Climate Restoration technology Is either:  Gestalt Consciousness  Rogue Servitor  Driven Assimilator	5 x0 if  Shattered Ring,  Void Dwellers or  Aquatic
	Arcology Project	2	Arcology Project decision	Anti-Gravity Engineering technology  Agrarian Idyll Is either:  Gestalt Consciousness  Rogue Servitor	10 x2 if  Pacifist x3 if  Fanatic Pacifist
	Become the Crisis	2	Unlocks Menace and the Crisis tab	Xenophile  Pacifist  Rogue Servitor Subject  Corporate or Galactic Sovereign Galactic Custodian	7.5 x0 if not  Militarist,  Xenophobe or  Gestalt Consciousness x2 if finished  Supremacy tradition tree x2 if controlling at least 20% of the galaxy x10 if  Genocidal
	Evolutionary Mastery	2	+3 Genetic modification points −25% Modify Species special project cost  Genetic Resequencing research option Can add or remove the Hive-Minded trait by assimilation	Engineered Evolution  Glandular Acclimation technology	100
	Galactic Force Projection	2	+20 Fleet Command Limit  +80 Naval Capacity		10 x1.5 if below 10 planets x1.5 if below 20 planets x2 if  Militarist x2 if  Become the Crisis x3 if  Fanatic Militarist
	Hive Worlds	2	Hive World terraforming option	Hive Mind  Climate Restoration technology Terravore	20
	Machine Worlds	2	Machine World terraforming option	Machine Intelligence  Climate Restoration technology	20 x0 if  Rogue Servitor
	Master Builders	2	+50% Megastructure build speed +1 Megastructure build capacity	Mega-Engineering Technology	10 x2 if  Pacifist x3 if  Fanatic Pacifist
	Synthetic Age	2	+2 Machine Modification Points −33% Modify Species special project cost	Machine Intelligence  Machine Template System technology	20
	Synthetic Evolution	2	+1 Robot Modification Points −50% Modify Species special project cost +10% Robot output Special Project to turn the empire synthetic0 A new robotic species will be created and can be named. All organic pops and leaders become that species All organic pops have their traits replaced with Mechanical Every organic army is turned into an Android Assault Army. Machine Intelligences regard you as a machine empire  −40 Opinion from  Spiritualist empires  −60 Opinion from  Fanatic Spiritualist empires  −20 Opinion from every empire that is not  Materialist,  Machine Intelligence, or Synthetic	The Flesh is Weak special project  Synthetic Personality Matrix technology  Synthetics technology  Gestalt Consciousness	100
	Transcendence	2	+2 Codebreaking +2 Encryption  +10 Base intel level Primary species gains the Psionic trait Assimilation Citizenship option All primary species leaders gain the Psychic trait Special Project to breach the Shroud	Latent Psionic main species  Gestalt Consciousness	100
	Colossus Project	3	Colossus ship type Colossus Project Special Project	Titans technology	10 x0 if crisis level 5 x0.1 if  Xenophile x0.25 if  Pacifist x2 if  Militarist x2 if  Xenophobe x2 if  Machine Intelligence x2 if  Become the Crisis x10 if  Fanatic Purifiers or  Determined Exterminator
	Defender of the Galaxy	3	+50% Damage to endgame crisis factions  +50% Damage to crisis empires  +20 Opinion from all empires		20 x0 if no crisis happened unless  Xenophile, Custodian or Galactic Emperor
	Galactic Contender	3	+20% Diplomatic weight  +33% Damage to Awakened Empires  +33% Damage to Fallen Empires  +33% Damage to The Gate-builders	Communications with a fallen or awakened empire	10 x0 if bordering an Awakened Empire x2 if an Awakened Empire exists

References

Game concepts