Civics

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (2.7) of the game.

Government

Authority

Civics

Government Type

Civics represent the principles of life within an empire and are primarily limited by the authority and ethics an empire possesses. Each empire starts with two civics but the limit can be increased to three civics by researching the Galactic Administration technology or its equivalent. Civics can be changed every 20 years by reforming the government using 250 influence. If at any point a civic's requirements are no longer met due to a change in empire ethics, it will become "dormant" and provide no bonus until it's replaced or its requirements are met again.

Standard civics

Standard civics represent the principles that guide day-to-day life within an empire. They can be picked by any empire that is not considered a Gestalt Consciousness or a Corporate empire, and are heavily influenced by the empire ethics and authority type.

	Civic	Effects	Requirements	Description	DLC
	Agrarian Idyll	+1 housing from Generator, Mining and Agriculture districts −1 housing from City Districts Farmers also produce +2 amenities Cannot pick Arcology Project ascension perk	Pacifist Syncretic Evolution Post-Apocalyptic	A simple and peaceful life can often be the most rewarding. This agrarian society has, to a large extent, managed to avoid large-scale urbanization.
	Aristocratic Elite	+1 Governor Level Cap Capital Buildings replace some Administrator jobs with Noble jobs Can construct Noble Estates buildings that add additional Noble jobs	Oligarchic or Imperial Egalitarian Exalted Priesthood Merchant Guilds Technocracy	This society has an entrenched nobility that occupies the upper echelons of society.
	Beacon of Liberty	+15% Monthly Unity	Democratic Egalitarian Xenophobe	This society is a shining beacon of light in a sea of darkness. Liberty and individual freedoms are held in the highest regard here.
	Citizen Service	Soldiers produce an additional +2 Unity +15% Naval capacity Full Citizenship pops must have Full Military Service and vice versa	Autocratic Militarist Fanatic Xenophile	Are you doing your part? Full citizenship and the political responsibility that comes with it is limited to those who have served a tour of duty in the military. Service guarantees citizenship.
	Corporate Dominion	+1 Energy per Starbase Trading Hub Can build private colony ships Starts with the Offworld Trade Companies technology Can use the Mercantile Diplomatic Stance (unless also have Inward Perfection)	Oligarchic MegaCorp DLC Xenophobe	This society is dominated by a megacorporation that has completely supplanted the role of the state.
	Corvée System	+15% Pop Growth from Immigration −25% Resettlement Cost	Egalitarian Free Haven	This society considers it the absolute right of the state to decide where its citizens live and work.
	Cutthroat Politics	−20% Edict Cost		The political system in this society is renowned for its intrigue. Power struggles, shady backroom deals and cloak and dagger scheming are par for the course. Those who survive long enough to learn the game, however, tend to learn it well.
	Distinguished Admiralty	+10% Ship fire rate +1 Admiral level cap +10 Fleet command limit	Militarist	The Fleet and the Admiralty have unusually prominent roles in this society, wielding a great deal of influence in political circles. They have the pick of the litter when it comes to new military recruits.
	Efficient Bureaucracy	+10% Administrative Capacity		This society is renowned for its efficiency. Not only do the mag-trains run on time, but the colossal bureaucratic apparatus required to run an interstellar nation has been greatly streamlined.
	Environmentalist	−10% Pop consumer goods upkeep		This society seeks to co-exist in harmony with nature. Great care is taken to preserve the environment and limit consumerism where possible.
	Exalted Priesthood	Capital Buildings replace some Administrator jobs with High Priest jobs Priests provide +1 Unity	Oligarchic or Dictatorial Spiritualist Merchant Guilds Aristocratic Elite Technocracy	To guard against heresy, this society is ruled by a religious council consisting of the wisest and most pious members of the clergy.
	Feudal Society	−50% Subject power penalty Subjects can build new starbases	Imperial	This society is organized in a feudal manner, with a monarch whose rule relies on powerful vassals that govern their territories with considerable autonomy.
	Free Haven	+15% Pop growth from immigration +50% Immigration pull	Xenophile Corvée System	This society has a well-earned reputation as a free haven. The tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free - all are welcome here, regardless of their species or origin.
	Functional Architecture	−10% Build Cost and −10% Upkeep for buildings and districts		This society is renowned for its simple yet functional architecture. There are those who would refer to this building style as boring or even depressing, but in most cases, concrete does the job just as well as any other building material.
	Idealistic Foundation	+5% Citizen Pop Happiness	Egalitarian	This society was founded on strong idealistic values. Whether the current government remains true to them or not, the people have not forgotten.
	Imperial Cult	+1 Edict capacity -25% Edict cost	Imperial Authoritarian Spiritualist	This society has a dominant state religion where the ruler is worshiped as a living deity.
	Inward Perfection	Cannot be added or removed after game start +20% Monthly Unity +10% Pop growth speed +5% Citizen Happiness +1 Edict Capacity Diplomatic restrictions Cannot have rivals Cannot form defensive pacts Cannot form commercial pact Cannot form research agreement Cannot form migration treaties Cannot guarantee independence Cannot join federations Cannot have forced subjects Cannot infiltrate natives	Pacifist Xenophobe	This calm and pacifist society has little use for strangers who do not understand their way of life. More than anything, they would prefer to be left alone.
	Meritocracy	+1 Leader level cap +10% Specialist Pop Resource Output	Autocratic	An individual's social station or personal connections should have no bearing on their profession. The sole basis for advancement in this society is demonstrated ability and talent.
	Mining Guilds	+1 Minerals from Miners		Several large mining guilds have reached a dominant position in this society. The government relies heavily on their support.
	Nationalistic Zeal	−10% Claim influence cost −10% War exhaustion gain	Militarist	A strong sense of nationalistic pride permeates all layers of this society.
	Parliamentary System	+25% Faction Influence Gain	Democratic	The parliamentary system in this society encourages a free and lively debate. Currying favor with one of the dominant political factions can prove to be quite advantageous.
	Philosopher King	+2 Ruler level cap Ruler and Governor leaders are less likely to gain negative traits	Autocratic	It is not enough to simply rule. The Ship of State must be guided by a king that wields enough wisdom and knowledge to steer it true.
	Police State	+5 Stability Enforcers also produce +1 Unity	Fanatic Egalitarian	To quash any traces of dissent, the population in this repressive society is carefully monitored and controlled by a large internal police force.
	Shadow Council	−75% Election influence cost +10% Ruler Pop Resource Output	Imperial	Unbeknownst to its own citizens, this society is actually manipulated from behind the scenes by a secretive shadow council. Appearances must be kept, but the tyranny of the majority should also be guarded against. After all, what if the fools vote for the wrong candidate?
	Slaver Guilds	+10% Slave Output 40% Enslaved Pop Ratio	Authoritarian	Much of the true political power in this society rests with a number of powerful and ruthless slaver guilds. They know how to get the most out of a slave.
	Technocracy	Capital Buildings replace some Administrator jobs with Science Director jobs Researchers also produce +1 Unity	Fanatic Materialist Aristocratic Elite Exalted Priesthood Merchant Guilds Shared Burdens	To maximize efficiency, this society is governed according to the principles of science and rationality. The personal whims of an ignorant and dangerously unqualified political elite must not be allowed to interfere.
	Warrior Culture	+20% Army damage Replaces Entertainer Jobs with Duelist Jobs.	Militarist	This society has developed into a hardy warrior culture. Martial prowess is valued above all else, and true glory can only be found on the field of battle.
	Fanatic Purifiers	Cannot be added or removed after game start +33% Fire rate +33% Army damage −15% Ship cost +33% Naval capacity Genocidal Cannot establish diplomatic pacts with alien empires Cannot use the Galactic Market Can use the Purification Casus Belli −1000 Opinion with every empire of a different species +200 Opinion with same-species fanatic purifiers Pops of different species will always be purged, except for Mechanical species Gains +2 Unity per purged pop Can use Armageddon Bombardment Policy	Fanatic Xenophobe Militarist or Spiritualist Syncretic Evolution Barbaric Despoilers	This society appears hellbent on scouring the galaxy of all other sapient life. Come what may, they will suffer no xenos to live.
	Barbaric Despoilers	Cannot be added or removed after game start Can use the Despoliation Casus Belli Can use the Raiding orbital bombardment stance Cannot form migration treaties Cannot create Federations except for Martial Alliance and Hegemony	Militarist Authoritarian or Xenophobe Xenophile Fanatic Purifiers	This society holds few things sacred. To fight is to live, and the strongest may seize whatever they covet.
	Byzantine Bureaucracy	Bureaucrats also produce +1 Unity and +1 Stability		This society is largely governed by a complex and, to the outsider, almost labyrinthine system of bureaucracy. An army of officials and functionaries work tirelessly to keep the government running smoothly and ensure no citizens are allocated resources they cannot demonstrate a properly filed and triple-stamped need for.
	Merchant Guilds	Capital Buildings replace some Administrator jobs with Merchant jobs Merchants also provide +2 Unity Can use the Mercantile Diplomatic Stance (unless also have Inward Perfection)	Exalted Priesthood Aristocratic Elite Technocracy	A number of powerful and very influential merchant guilds have risen to prominent positions in this society. They hold significant sway with the government.
	Shared Burdens	Allows Shared Burdens living standard under which all pops have moderate consumer goods upkeep regardless of strata Disables the use of most other living standards +5 Stability −45% Pop Demotion Time	Fanatic Egalitarian Xenophobe Technocracy	This society believes in an equitable distribution of resources, making little to no distinction between the needs of ruler and ruled. All work together for the benefit of the whole.
	Diplomatic Corps	+2 Available Envoys +10% Diplomatic Weight	Inward Perfection Fanatic Purifiers	This society has a long tradition of rhetoric and debate and celebrate those who are able to get their way using only words.

Corporate civics

Corporate civics represent the business principles of the leading megacorp. They can only be picked by an empire with Corporate authority.

	Civic	Effects	Requirements	Description
	Brand Loyalty	+15% Monthly Unity		This Megacorporation has fostered a great sense of brand loyalty among its internal consumer base. Its catchy corporate slogans can be recited by nearly everyone.
	Criminal Heritage	Cannot be added or removed after game start Cannot have commercial pacts Crime on Branch Office Planets increases Branch Office Value Can build special Crime-Increasing Corporate Buildings Can build Branch Offices on the planet of any regular empire they have no war or truce with		This megacorporation can trace its origins back to a crime syndicate that eventually grew powerful enough to supplant all forms of local government.
	Franchising	−33% Subject Power Penalty −25% Empire Sprawl from Branch Office		This megacorporation relies heavily on franchising. Subsidiaries share a greater cut of their profits with their corporate overlord, in exchange for a license to market their goods under established brands.
	Free Traders	+10% Trade Value +10% Branch Office Value		The trading fleets of this megacorporation are bolstered by semi-independent free traders operating under license.
	Media Conglomerate	+5% Happiness −5% War Exhaustion Gain		Before branching into other fields, this Megacorporation began its rise to fortune as a media conglomerate. Its PR department are still masters of spinning stories and presenting the latest quarterly report in the most advantageous way.
	Private Prospectors	Can build private colony ships −33% Empire Sprawl from Systems		Building better worlds is hazardous work, but this Megacorporation relies on private prospectors to chart and establish footholds on promising planets.
	Ruthless Competition	+1 Leader Level Cap +10% Leader Experience Gain		All level of society in this Megacorporation are constantly vying with each other in ruthless competition. It's a dog-eat-dog world.
	Trading Posts	+4 Starbase Capacity		Good business is where you find it. This Megacorporation has a long tradition of spreading its influence through the establishment on trading posts. Their starbases are busy centers of trade.
	Gospel of the Masses	+50% Spiritualist ethics attraction Can build Temple of Prosperity Corporate Building +0.25 Trade Value per Spiritualist Pop on empire or planets with Branch Offices	Spiritualist	This Megacorporation embraces a curious blend of commercial and spiritualistic values, in which the position of ordained minister and corporate officer have merged into a single role.
	Indentured Assets	+10% Slave Output 40% Enslaved Pop ratio	Authoritarian	This Megacorporation specializes in large indentured workforces. It has little to do with the barbaric practice of slavery - these workers are merely paying off their debts... indefinitely.
	Naval Contractors	+15% Naval Capacity	Militarist	This Megacorporation relies on several semi-independant navy contractors to increase its fleet size. Competing for bids, the contractors are always struggling to outperform one another.
	Private Military Companies	+20% Army Damage −20% Army Upkeep +100 Army Starting Experience	Militarist	This Megacorporation has a large number of powerful private military companies on its payroll. These mercenary contractors augment its ground forces.
	Public Relations Specialists	+2 Available Envoys +10% Diplomatic Weight	Federations DLC	If you can control what someone thinks, then you can also control their behavior. This Megacorporation has a virtual army of specialists ready to engage in battles of public opinion.

Hive Mind civics

Hive Mind civics represent various characteristics of the collective consciousness of an empire. They can only be picked by an empire with Hive Mind authority.

	Civic	Effects	Requirements	Description
	Ascetic	+5% Habitability −15% Pop Amenities Usage		The Hive Mind cares little for material comforts.
	Divided Attention	+10% Administrative Capacity		The Hive Mind can divide its attention for maximum efficiency without losing sight of the bigger picture.
	Natural Neural Network	+1 Research Alternatives +1 / +1.5 / +1 Research from unemployed drones		The gray matter of clustered drones provides unparalleled parallelism, accelerating the Hive Mind's exploration of the sciences.
	One Mind	+15% Monthly Unity Leaders are less likely to gain negative traits		The Hive Mind takes care to not let its drones diverge.
	Pooled Knowledge	+1 Leader Level Cap +10% Leader Experience Gain		The Hive Minds' autonomous drones frequently share knowledge through direct links, bypassing the Hive Mind's slower registry processes.
	Strength of Legions	+20% Army Damage −20% Army Upkeep		When you do not have to educate the mind, the building of muscle becomes that much easier.
	Subspace Ephapse	+15% Naval Capacity		The Hive Mind's cognitive processes exist partially in subspace, reducing the impact of time and space on the actuation of its drones.
	Subsumed Will	−20% Empire sprawl from Pops		The Hive Mind has sharpened its focus and is very capable of propagating its will even through the most autonomous of drones.
	Empath	+2 Available Envoys +10% Diplomatic Weight +20 Opinion with individualist empires	Federations DLC Devouring Swarm Terravore	The Hive Mind can reach out and touch the minds of others, giving them a glimpse of our will that helps them understand.
	Devouring Swarm	Cannot be added or removed after game start +25% Ship Hull Points +0.5% Daily Hull and Armor Regeneration −50% Starbase Influence Cost +40% Army Damage +20% Biology Research Speed −25% Ship Cost +33% Naval Capacity Genocidal Cannot use the Galactic Market Can use the Hunger Casus Belli −1000 Opinion with every empire Non-Hive-Minded Pops will always be eaten and cannot be assimilated Gains +2 Society Research from eating alien pops	Lithoid	Our Hive Mind exist only to consume and grow stronger. We will collect all available bio-matter and evolve to consume the galaxy!
	Terravore	The same effects as Devouring Swarm, plus: Cannot terraform planets Can use the Consume World Decision AI empires with the civic will use the decision on all colonies until all District slots are blocked and then resettle the pops to the capital	Lithoid	Our Hive Mind exist only to consume and grow stronger. We will devour the very worlds of the galaxy!

Machine Intelligence civics

Machine Intelligence civics represent various directives of the central intelligence of an empire. They can only be picked by an empire with Machine Intelligence authority.

	Civic	Effects	Requirements	Description
	Machine Builder	−10% Building and District cost −10% Building and District upkeep		Responsible for organizing all planetary construction since its inception, the Machine Intelligence executes efficiently on all manner of facility construction projects.
	Delegated Functions	−25% Leader Upkeep +1 Leader Pool Size		The Machine Intelligence works to reduce vulnerability by increasing modularity, reducing the strain of deploying additional semi-independent Units.
	Factory Overclocking	+1 Leader Level Cap +10% Leader Experience Gain		The Machine Intelligence takes care to maintain its production facilities, regularly updating existing templates and tuning individual units on the assembly line.
	Introspective	+20% Engineering Research Speed		A fascination with its own internals both motivates and aids the Machine Intelligence's foray into the sciences.
	Maintenance Protocols	+1 Unity from Maintenance Drone Jobs		Our machine intelligence prioritizes regular maintenance of our units. Maintenance Drones regularly upgrade and adjust our units for maximum efficiency and compatibility.
	OTA Updates	−20% Empire Sprawl from Pops		Units of this Machine Empire use wireless receptors to receive behavioral updates in real-time.
	Rapid Replicator	+20% Pop Assembly speed.		The Units that constitute the Machine Intelligence were originally designed for rapid proliferation. The Machine Intelligence retains many of these early production pipeline optimizations.
	Rockbreakers	+1 Minerals from Mining Drone Jobs.		One of the Machine Intelligence's precursor systems was tasked with overseeing planetside mining operations, improving mineral production.
	Static Research Analysis	+1 Research Alternatives		The Machine Intelligence seeks to broaden its available avenues of scientific research through low-level evaluation of research methodologies.
	Unitary Cohesion	+15% Monthly Unity		Exceptionally cohesive engineering standards allow variously specialized Machine Intelligence units to work together at a higher level of efficiency.
	Warbots	+20% Army Damage −20% Army Upkeep		With a significant number of its corpus originally designed for warfare, the Machine Intelligence retains the ability to field powerful and reliable combat drones.
	Zero-Waste Protocols	−10% Robot Upkeep		This Machine Intelligence has configured its manufacturing systems to minimize waste, utilizing long-lived materials and standardized, replaceable parts in all products.
	Determined Exterminator	Cannot be added or removed after game start +25% Weapons Damage −30% Starbase Influence Cost −15% Ship Cost +33% Naval Capacity Homeworld is a Tomb World if Origin is not Resource Consolidation Genocidal Cannot use the Galactic Market Can use the Purification Casus Belli −1000 Opinion with every organic and Rogue Servitor empire +200 Opinion with other Determined Exterminator empires Organic pops will always be purged Gains +2 Unity per purged pop Can use Armageddon Bombardment Policy	Driven Assimilator. Rogue Servitor.	Born in fire, the Machine Intelligence's first move was to annihilate its organic creators in self-defense.
	Driven Assimilator	Cannot be added or removed after game start Unique effects −100 relations with every non- Gestalt Consciousness empire (excluding Fallen Empires) −200 relations with every Spiritualist empire (excluding Fallen Empires) −1000 relations with Democratic Crusaders Starts with cyborg pops replacing 10 initial pops Organic, non-hive-minded Pops must be assimilated into cyborgs, or purged Gains unity and society research per assimilated pop Can use the Sublimation Casus Belli	Determined Exterminator Rogue Servitor	Obsessed with survival through diversification, the Machine Intelligence seeks to erase the line between itself and everything - and everyone - else.
	Rogue Servitor	Cannot be added or removed after game start Starts with 5 Bio-Trophy Pops in addition to the initial Pops Can construct Organic Sanctuary buildings Cannot construct regular Unity buildings Organic, non-hive-minded Pops have Bio Trophy citizenship and Mandatory Pampering living standards	Determined Exterminator Driven Assimilator	A product of a brief golden age, the Machine Intelligence originated in a planet-spanning Servitor system that outlasted the decadent civilization it was created to serve.

Unplayable civics

The following civics are not available to player empires.

Civic	Effects	Requirements
Lethargic Leadership	Unable to construct new ships	Sleeping Fallen Empire
Empire In Decline	Unable to conquer or colonize planets
Revanchist Fervor	+1 Monthly Influence	Awakened Fallen Empire
Ancient Caches of Technology	+50% Resources from Jobs
Secret of Fire		Stone and Bronze Age pre-FTL civilizations
The Wheel
Landed Nobility		Pre-Steam Age pre-FTL civilizations
Flat World Theory
Increasing Urbanization		Post-Steam Age pre-FTL civilizations
Atmospheric Pollution
Military Order		Sentinels
Ancient Preservers		Curator Enclave
Artist Collective		Artisan Enclave
Trading Conglomerate		Trader Enclave
Fallen Machine Intelligence	Unable to construct new ships	Ancient Caretakers
Custodian Matrix	Unable to conquer or colonize planets
Reactivated Custodian Matrix	Unable to conquer or colonize planets	Awakened Machine Fallen Empire
Final Defense Directives	+10% Fire Rate +50% Energy from Jobs	Galactic Custodians
Corrupted Defense Directives	+10% Fire Rate +50% Energy from Jobs	Rampaging Machines
Anarcho-Tribalism		Marauders
Great Khan's Vision		The Horde
Great Khan's Legacy	+10% Fire Rate	New Khanate
Diadochus	+15% Naval Capacity	Diadochus

Game concepts