Leader

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This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

Employed leaders

A leader is a named character that leads a significant part of the Empire, as Governor, Scientist, Admiral or General. The ruler is a specific subtype of Leader and in many cases elected from the existing leaders.

The name of a leader can be changed at any time by clicking on it.

Gaining and losing leaders

All values in this section can be modified by leader traits, edicts, technology, policies, traditions, civics, and ruler traits.

Leaders other than Rulers may be dismissed at any time. Dismissal is irreversible.

Leader pool

While some events and diplomatic options may give leaders, the most common way to get leaders is to recruit them from the leader pool. There is one pool for each type of leader, other than Rulers who cannot be recruited directly. Each leader pool will contain 3 leaders, or 4 if the empire has the  Delegated Functions civic. If a leader is recruited another one will be added to the pool.

A leader can be recruited from the pool for a cost of 50  unity + 50  unity for every leader beyond the initial five (the leader, one governor and three scientists), modified by the following:

Source	Cost
Eager leader trait	−50%
Newboot leader trait	−50%
Selected Lineages Leader Enhancement policy	+50%
Capacity Boosters Leader Enhancement policy	+100%

Leaders in the pool are replaced every year. Alternatively it is possible, but potentially expensive, to "re-roll" leaders in the pool by recruiting and immediately dismissing them to generate a replacement.

Once recruited, leaders can be freely assigned to different posts (for example, moving a governor from one planet to another sector), be left without an assignment, or be dismissed.

Each Leader save for the Ruler has a monthly upkeep of 2  unity, halved with either the  Eager or Newboot leader trait.

Lifespan

Each leader has an age in years and has a base guaranteed  lifespan of 80 years, which can be improved by certain species traits, leader traits, and technologies.

After passing their guaranteed lifespan, leaders have a chance of dying every month. The probability is 0.2% per year that has passed since their guaranteed lifespan. After 20 years past their guaranteed lifespan this increases to 2% per month. The mean lifespan with no modifiers is 88 years, 6 months.

Hovering over a leader's age will show the leader's guaranteed lifespan and current chance to die each month. Rulers of Gestalt empires are immortal.

The following modifiers affect Leader Lifespan:

Source	Leader lifespan	Requirements	DLC
Mechanical	Immortal
Machine	Immortal	Machine Intelligence
Chosen One	Immortal	Shroud vision outcome
Namarian	Immortal
Venerable	+80
Necrophage	+80	Necrophage origin
Lithoid	+50
Robust	+50	Evolutionary Mastery ascension perk  Genetic Resequencing technology
Cybernetic	+40	The Flesh is Weak ascension perk
		Driven Assimilator civic
Irradiated	+30	Pre-sapient species
Capacity Boosters Policy	+20	Capacity Boosters technology Egalitarian
Covenant: Composer of Strands	+20	Shroud vision outcome
Enduring	+20
Javorian Pox Sample	+20	Irassian Concordat precursor event chain
Mind and Body	+20	Harmony tradition
Cloned Organs	+20	Synchronicity tradition  Machine Intelligence  Necrophage origin
Ageless	+15	Science Nexus Fountain of Youth event chain special project  Gestalt Consciousness  Mechanical main species
Inoculated Population	+10	Request from the Ancient Caretakers fallen empire
Limited Regeneration	+10	Orbital Speed Demon anomaly event
Selected Lineages policy	+10	Selected Lineages technology  Fanatic Egalitarian
Survivor	+10	Post-Apocalyptic origin
Vitality Boosters technology	+10
Cell Revitalization technology	+5 per level
Fleeting	−10	Lithoid
	−25	Lithoid
Substance Abuser	−20
Maimed	−40	Archaeology Site bad outcome
Clone Soldier	−40

Initial age

The initial age of a new leader can vary. The  Lithoid initial age overrides all others.

Condition	Age	Effective lifespan	DLC
Default	28-50	30-52 (41)
Imperial Heir	18-26	54-62 (58)
Robotic species	2-10	Immortal
Hive-Minded species	10-20	60-70 (65)
Lithoid species	50-80	50-80 (65)
Clone Soldier species	5-20	20-35 (27.5)
Clone Soldier Ascendant species	5-20	60-75 (67.5)

Death by accident

While  Mechanical and  Machine leaders are immortal, they can still die by accident, regardless of their age. Every 10 years, there is the following chance of a leader suffering a fatal accident:

• 88%: nothing happens
• 2%: Survey Ship scientist dies
• 2%: Engineering Research Leader dies
• 2%: Society Research Leader dies
• 2%: Physics Research Leader dies
• 2%: Admiral commanding a fleet dies
• 2%: Governor governing a sector dies

Note that this is rolled per empire, not per leader. For a role with exactly one leader, this represents a mean active lifespan of 500 years. An exploit to negate the chance for accidental death entirely exists: remove each leader before the decade begins then returning the leaders after a month passes.

 Machine Intelligence empires can adopt the Self-Preservation Protocols Tradition to reduce the weight of accidents by half, reducing the chance for an accident to occur for each role to 1.06% (6.38% total), for a mean active lifespan of 940 years.

Skill level

The skill level of a leader determines their basic bonuses, which depend on leader type (ruler, governor, etc.). By default, skill ranges from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5. The skill cap can be increased to a max level of 10 through certain traditions, traits, civics, and the leader enhancement policy.

A leader's skill increases after accumulating a certain number of experience points, shown in the table below. Upon gaining a level, a leader's experience total resets to 0 and they have a chance to gain a leader trait. A leader who has previously gained a trait from leveling cannot get another trait from leveling. Leaders who already have three or more traits cannot gain a leader trait.

Level	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X
XP	200	475	825	1250	1750	2325	2975	3700	4500
Total XP	200	675	1500	2750	4500	6825	9800	13500	18000
Trait gain chance (admirals and scientists)	10%	14.3%	21.7%	35.7%
Trait gain chance (generals, governors, and rulers)	20%	27.3%	38.5%	55.6%

Leader experience gain

The following modifiers affect the speed at which a leader gains experience:

Source	Experience	Notes
Transcendent Learning ascension perk	+50%
Adaptable trait	+25%
Flexible Programming trait	+25%
Quick Learners trait	+25%
Learning Algorithms trait	+25%	Mechanical with  Synthetic Personality Matrix, or  Machine
Education Campaign edict	+25%	Requires  Planetary Unification
Learning Campaign edict	+25%	Requires  Planetary Unification
Machine Learning Campaign edict	+25%	Requires  Planetary Unification
Neural Tissue Engineering technology	+25%	Marvels of Medicine event outcome
Polytechnic Education tradition	+25%
Skill Development agenda	+25%
Dragonbane general trait	+25%	Generals
Eye For Talent ruler trait	+20%	Requires  Galactic Administration
Pooled Knowledge civic	+10%
Factory Overclocking civic	+10%
Ruthless Competition civic	+10%
Management Insights Peaceful Applications modifier	+10%	Requires  Arcane Deciphering
Pheromone Enhancement Peaceful Applications modifier	+10%	Requires  Arcane Deciphering
Algorithm Refinement Peaceful Applications modifier	+10%	Requires  Arcane Deciphering
Conservative trait	−25%
Repurposed Hardware trait	−25%	Mechanical with  Synthetic Personality Matrix, or  Machine
Slow Learners trait	−25%
Stubborn trait	−25%
Rigid Programming trait	−25%

Leader level cap

The following modifiers can raise the leader level cap, up to a maximum of ten:

Source	Cap	Notes
Capacity Boosters Policy	+2
Philosopher King civic	+2	Ruler
Enhanced Memory species trait	+2	Requires  Synthetic Personality Matrix
Science Division tradition	+2	Scientists
Colonial Viceroys tradition	+2	Governor
Grand Council tradition	+2	Ruler
War Games tradition	+2	Admirals
Talented species trait	+1
Erudite species trait	+1
Aristocratic Elite civic	+1	Governors
Distinguished Admiralty civic	+1	Admirals
Meritocracy civic	+1
Ruthless Competition civic	+1
Pooled Knowledge civic	+1
Factory Overclocking civic	+1
Polytechnic Education tradition	+1
Mind and Body tradition	+1
Transcendent Learning ascension perk	+2
Selected Lineages Policy	+1
Eye For Talent ruler trait	+1	Requires  Galactic Administration
Dragonbane general trait	+1	Generals
The Collective Self technology	+1	Gestalt Consciousness
Embodied Dynamism technology	+1	Gestalt Consciousness
Neural Tissue Engineering technology	+1	Marvels of Medicine event outcome
Martial Alliance level 3 members perk	+1	Admirals
Percussive Maintainer	−1	Ruined Station Archaeology Site outcome
Arrested Development	−2

Leader classes

Leaders are divided into 5 classes that determine their possible assignments, bonuses, experience sources, and available traits.

Class	Bonus per level	Experience gain	Assignment	Notes
Ruler	+5 Edict Fund	5 per month if ruler 1 per month if heir	Empire	Rulers are elected from leaders based on an empire's Government type, unless using the  Imperial authority or the  Gestalt Consciousness ethic An empire's first ruler's name and appearance can be customized at empire creation but its traits are randomized Leaders that become rulers receive a new set of ruler traits Rulers that return to their pre-ruler class return to their previous traits and can be reassigned Rulers can be assassinated by the Contingency during the Crisis When an empire's first ruler steps down it becomes a governor
Governor	+2% Resources from Jobs −2% Empire Sprawl from Pops −3 Crime	5 per month when governing	Sectors	Governors can be killed by the Gangsters Assassinate Governor crime event if a planet in their sector has the  Mob Rule planet modifier
Scientist	+2% Research Speed +10% Survey Speed +1 Archaeology skill +2% Research Assist Output	3.5 per month when leading research 0.1 per day when assisting research 10 per celestial object surveyed 50 per researched anomaly 100 per completed special project 75 per archaeology site chapter	Research departments Science ships	Research Speed in a department is reduced by −25% if no scientist is assigned to it Science ships require a scientist to perform any action except exploring wormholes Scientists can gain new traits from certain anomalies and special projects Certain anomalies and special projects award large amounts of additional experience when completed  Anomaly Research Speed is determined by comparing a scientist's skill level to the level of the anomaly Scientists have a small chance to be killed by random  Archaeology Site events
Admiral	+3% Fire Rate	0.05 per day when suppressing piracy 5 per space battle +0.5 per destroyed ship on either side +0.25 per disengaged ship on either side	Military fleets	New admirals can be created by the Promising Officer event after winning space battles Admirals can gain new traits from leader events based on what the fleet they're assigned to is doing Admirals have a 10% chance to die when their ship is destroyed
General	+5% Army Damage	100 per ground battle +0.25 per destroyed army on either side	Planets Transport fleets	Generals have a 5% chance to die each time they lose an army

Leader traits

Non-ruler leaders are generated with one pre-existing positive trait suitable for their class. Rulers get two.

Every time a leader gains a level, they have a chance to receive an additional trait, unless they:

• Already have 3 traits.
• Have already gained a trait via level-up.

Some traits are only available when recruiting a leader from the leader pool and can't be gained from level-up, and vice versa.

Immortal leaders that aren't members of a  Gestalt Consciousness empire can gain traits with no effect beyond modifying their lifespan, effectively wasting their level-up trait slot with no benefit or penalty. This is most likely to occur with  Mechanical or Namarian leaders.

A leader can gain a trait that's the opposite of one they already have as long as its absence isn't listed as a requirement - a Scientist with a Sapient AI Assistant can also gain a Custom AI Assistant, for example. Since leaders can't start with negative traits and can only gain one trait from level-up, you'll usually only see this happen for opposite traits where both are beneficial.

Governors are significantly more likely to gain a negative trait from level-up since almost half their possible positive traits (5/12) are only available at recruitment.

Class	Trait	Effect	R	L	Requirements	Opposites	Description
Generic Leader traits
Any	Adaptable	+25% Leader experience gain			Gestalt Consciousness	Stubborn	This leader is quick to adapt new methods and ideas if they prove superior.
	Flexible Programming				Gestalt Consciousness	Rigid Programming	This leader has unusually flexible programming, and is capable of quickly adapting new methods and procedures if they prove superior.
Any	Eager	−50% Leader cost −50% Leader upkeep			Gestalt Consciousness		This leader is particularly eager for an assignment.
	Newboot				Gestalt Consciousness		This leader was only recently upgraded to a sufficiently autonomous state to allow for command positions.
Any	Resilient	+25 Leader lifespan			Gestalt Consciousness	Substance Abuser	This leader is resilient and in excellent physical condition, dramatically increasing life expectancy.
Any	Arrested Development	−2 Leader Level Cap			One Mind  Philosopher King if Ruler or Governor		The personal development and skills of this leader seem to have plateaued at their present level.
Any	Stubborn	−25% Leader experience gain			Gestalt Consciousness  Philosopher King if Ruler or Governor	Adaptable	This leader is stubborn and slow to accept new methods and ideas, even if they have proven superior.
	Rigid Programming				Machine Intelligence	Flexible Programming	This leader has particularly rigid programming that only rarely permits behavioral modifications, even when such changes would improve efficiency.
Any	Substance Abuser	−20 Leader lifespan			Gestalt Consciousness Philosopher King if Ruler or Governor	Resilient	This leader has fallen to substance abuse to cope with the stress, which has had a detrimental effect on physical health.
Ruler traits
	Architectural Sense	−10% Building cost −10% District cost +10% Planet building speed					This leader is an architect at heart, investing in more efficient construction practices.
	Champion of the People	+5% Happiness					This leader seems really to be concerned about the welfare of his people.
	Charismatic	−10% Edict cost +20% Edict Duration					This leader is exceptionally charismatic, enforcing their will with ease.
	Deep Connections	+1 Monthly Influence			Planetary Unification technology		This leader is firmly entrenched in the labyrinthine web that makes up the political machine.
	Expansionist	−15% Outpost Build cost −15% Starbase Influence cost					This leader aims to expand their borders, reducing the Outpost build cost and Colony Influence cost.
	Explorer	−25% Science Ship Build cost +33% Anomaly Research Speed					This leader is known for their insatiable curiosity, valuing space exploration above all else.
	Eye for Talent	+1 Leader Skill Levels +20% Leader experience gain			Galactic Administration technology Much more likely than other traits during level-up		This leader is considered to be unusually perceptive, spotting talent where others see only eccentricity or incompetence.
	Fertility Preacher	+10% Food from Jobs +5% Pop Growth Speed			Lithoid		This leader feels strongly about securing and protecting agrarian food sources.
	Fleet Organizer	+15% Naval Capacity			Doctrine: Reactive Formations technology	Nervous	This leader is an expert at organization possessing the necessary micromanagement skills to command very large starship formations.
	Fortifier	−10% Starbase Upgrade cost −33% Defense Platform Build cost			Deep Space Outposts technology		This ruler understands the value in using military station to secure territory.
	From the Ranks	+20% Army morale +33% Army experience gain			Centralized Command technology		This leader rose through the ranks of military command.
	Frontier Spirit	−35% Colony Ship Build cost +25% Colony Development Speed			New Worlds Protocol technology		This leader is eager to reign over distant stars.
	Home in the Sky	−20% Starbase Module Build cost −10% Starbase Upgrade cost					This leader reaches for the stars.
	Industrialist	+10% Empire Mineral Production					This leader has a firm grip on the means of production.
	Investor	+10% Trade Value					This leader is a shrewd economist, capable of maximizing financial potential.
	Logistic Understanding	−5% Ship Upkeep −10% Army upkeep			Doctrine: Fleet Support technology		This leader is well aware of the importance of properly-structured supply chains.
	Military Pioneer	−10% Ship Upgrade cost −10% Shipyard Build cost			Doctrine: Refit Standards technology		This leader is enthusiastic about advancements in military technology and ship construction.
	Recruiter	+50% Army Build Speed −20% Army cost			Centralized Command technology		This leader is particularly charismatic, and fresh recruits are practically lining up to serve their nation.
	Reformer	+10% Monthly Unity					This leader is a reformer, dedicated towards building the society of tomorrow.
	Space Miner	+10% Mining Station Output −25% Mining Station Build cost					This leader recognizes just how vital the exploitation of offworld resources is for a star nation.
	Warlike	+5% Ship weapons damage +10% Army damage					This leader does not shy away from conflict reducing the Cede Planet and Cede Frontier Outpost War Demand costs.
	World Shaper	+25% Terraforming Speed −15% Clear blocker cost			Terrestrial Sculpting technology		This leader seeks to remake worlds in their image.
	Corvette Focus	−20% Corvette Build cost			Destroyers technology  Destroyer Focus  Cruiser Focus  Battleship Focus	Destroyer Focus  Cruiser Focus  Battleship Focus	This leader is intent on promoting the construction of Corvettes.
	Destroyer Focus	−20% Destroyer Build cost			Destroyers technology  Corvette Focus  Cruiser Focus  Battleship Focus	Corvette Focus  Cruiser Focus  Battleship Focus	This leader is intent on promoting the construction of Destroyers.
	Cruiser Focus	−20% Cruiser Build cost			Cruisers technology  Corvette Focus  Destroyer Focus  Battleship Focus	Corvette Focus  Destroyer Focus  Battleship Focus	This leader is intent on promoting the construction of Cruisers.
	Battleship Focus	−20% Battleship Build cost			Battleships technology  Corvette Focus  Destroyer Focus  Cruiser Focus	Corvette Focus  Destroyer Focus  Cruiser Focus	This leader is intent on promoting the construction of Battleships.
	Hive Mind	Immortal			Hive Mind		This leader is the immortal nexus of the vast cognitive apparatus that constitutes a Hive Mind.
	Machine Intelligence	Immortal			Machine Intelligence		This leader is the core intelligence that oversees and directs all actions in a Machine Empire.
Governor traits
	Agrarian Upbringing	+10% Food from Jobs			Machine Intelligence  Lithoid		This leader was raised around hydroponic farms, and has several ideas on how agrarian yields may be improved.
	Architectural Interest	−10% Building cost −10% District cost +10% Planet Build Speed					This leader is an architect at heart, investing in more efficient construction practices.
	Army Veteran	+20% Army Build Speed −20% Army cost +20% Defense Army damage			Centralized Command technology  Machine Intelligence	Retired Fleet Officer	This leader is a veteran of the armed forces, with intimate experience of its structural inefficiencies.
	Warbot Tinkerer				Centralized Command technology  Machine Intelligence	Ai-Aided Design	This leader has an unusual interest in warbot design, and is constantly improving and tinkering with our existing models.
	Unifier	+10% Unity from Administrators			Gestalt Consciousness		This leader is peculiarly good at making sure everyone around are on the same page.
	Mindfulness				Hive Mind		This drone entity has the ability to improve synaptic connections in its vicinity.
	Amplifier				Machine Intelligence		This unit has the ability to boost unifying data flows in its vicinity.
	Environmental Engineer	−25% Clear blocker cost +25% Clear blocker speed			Machine Intelligence		This leader has a background in landscaping, eventually turning their attention towards larger projects.
	Bulldozer				Machine Intelligence		This leader has mastered the art of quickly and efficiently transforming alien terrain into a parking lot.
	Iron Fist	+10% Slave pop resource output			Allowed Slavery policy  Machine Intelligence		This leader is infamous for their ruthless pursuit of efficiency, and is capable of getting the most out of slave labor.
	Intellectual	+10% Research from Jobs			Machine Intelligence		This leader is naturally inclined towards the sciences, and seeks to foster a curiosity about the natural world in their subjects.
	Analytical				Machine Intelligence		This leader devotes an unusually large percentage of its processing power towards analyzing the natural sciences and promoting their study to others.
	Retired Fleet Officer	+20% Shipyard Build Speed −10% Shipyard Build cost			Interstellar Fleet Traditions technology  Machine Intelligence	Army Veteran	This leader is a former fleet officer, and is personally invested in promoting a strong inter-planetary presence.
	Ai-Aided Design				Interstellar Fleet Traditions technology  Machine Intelligence	Warbot Tinkerer	This leader constantly runs theoretical models on a secondary memory core for the purpose of improving starship construction efficiency.
	Righteous	−25 Crime			Gestalt Consciousness Corrupt	Corrupt	This leader is incorruptable and harbors strong convictions regarding what is right and wrong.
	Corrupt	+25 Crime			Gestalt Consciousness  Philosopher King Righteous	Righteous	This corrupt leader is willing to sell out anyone and anything if it increases their personal wealth.
Scientist traits
	Archaeologist	+25% Archaeology Excavation Speed (with Ancient Relics) +50% Precursor Anomaly Research Speed (without Ancient Relics)					This leader excels at the study of alien artifacts and structural remnants in the field.
	Carefree	+35% Anomaly Research Speed				Meticulous	This leader is perhaps less meticulous than others.
	Meticulous	+10% Anomaly Discovery Chance				Carefree	This leader is thorough in their examinations of unknown phenomena.
	Cataloguer	+25% Survey Speed			Machine Intelligence		This leader can conceive no greater calling that to catalog the entirety of the universe.
	Roamer				Machine Intelligence		This leader was born to roam the stars.
	Maniacal	+5% Research Speed Improved draw chance for dangerous technologies					This leader pursues their research with unusual fervor.
	Spark of Genius	+10% Research Speed Improved draw chance for rare technologies					This leader is prone to sudden bursts of inspiration.
	Custom AI Assistant	+5% Research Speed +10% Survey Speed +15% Anomaly Research Speed			Self-Evolving Logic technology  Gestalt Consciousness	Sapient AI Assistant	This leader has created a simple neural network to help with data processing tasks.
	Sapient AI Assistant	+10% Research Speed +20% Survey Speed +30% Anomaly Research Speed			Positronic AI technology Artificial Intelligence Policy is not Outlawed  Gestalt Consciousness	Custom AI Assistant	This leader has created a complex neural network capable of independent decision-making and even introspection.
	Expertise: Computing	+15% Research speed (Computing)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Computing.
	Expertise: Field Manipulation	+15% Research speed (Field Manipulation)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Field Manipulation.
	Expertise: Particles	+15% Research speed (Particles)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Particles.
	Expertise: Biology	+15% Research speed (Biology)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Biology.
	Expertise: Military Theory	+15% Research speed (Military Theory)				Other Expertise traits	A sound understanding in the craft of war gives this leader innovating insight into the process of military reform.
	Expertise: New Worlds	+15% Research speed (New Worlds)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert on settling on New Worlds.
	Expertise: Psionics	+15% Research speed (Psionics)			Psionic Theory technology  Gestalt Consciousness  Mechanical	Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Psionics.
	Expertise: Statecraft	+15% Research speed (Statecraft)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Statecraft.
	Expertise: Industry	+15% Research speed (Industry)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Industry.
	Expertise: Materials	+15% Research speed (Materials)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Materials.
	Expertise: Propulsion	+15% Research speed (Propulsion)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Propulsion.
	Expertise: Voidcraft	+15% Research speed (Voidcraft)				Other Expertise traits	This leader is, following years of study, considered an expert within the field of Voidcraft.
	Paranoid	−5% Research Speed −10% Anomaly Research Speed			One Mind		This leader is unwilling to collaborate with others.
Admiral traits
	Aggressive	+5% Fire Rate +10% Sublight Speed			Can be gained from victories (0.6%)	Cautious	This leader is an aggressive admiral, always looking to pour as much fire on the enemy as possible within the least amount of time.
	Cautious	+20% Weapons Range			Can be gained from defeats (2.8%)	Aggressive	This leader is a cautious admiral, avoiding unnecessary risks and taking care to always maintain in which fleet units can mutually support each other against the enemy.
	Engineer	+0.5% Daily Hull Regeneration +0.5% Daily Armor Regeneration			Doctrine: Interstellar Warfare technology Can be gained from repairs (mean time to happen = 240 months)  Gestalt Consciousness		This leader is a natural engineer, having the knowledge and skills to organize and oversee starship repairs without the benefit of a spacedock.
	Fleet Logistician	−10% Ship Upkeep			Machine Intelligence Can be gained from leading a fleet		This leader has mastered the field of logistics, and knows how to manage supplies to keep upkeep costs down.
	Maintenance Loop				Machine Intelligence Can be gained from leading a fleet
	Gale Speed	+5% Evasion +20% Sublight Speed			Can be gained from victories (0.6%) Can be gained from defeats (2.8%)	Lethargic	This leader believes that speed and rapid maneuvers are the keys to success in any space engagement.
	Scout	+1 Sensor Range +2 Hyperlane Detection Range +10% Sublight Speed			Gravitic Sensors tech technology Can be gained from being a country's first ship to enter a system (4.8%)		This leader is an expert in reconnaissance, having the technical skill to always get the most out of long-range starship sensors.
	Trickster	−15% Emergency FTL Damage Risk +25% Combat Disengagement Chance			Can be gained from victories (0.6%)	Unyielding	This leader fights deviously, relying on misdirection and surprise to get the better of the enemy.
	Unyielding	+10% Ship Hull Points +5% Ship weapons damage −33% Combat Disengagement Chance			Can be gained from victories (0.6%) Can be gained from defeats (2.8%)	Nervous  Trickster	This leader refuses to even consider the possibility of retreat when battle has been joined, preferring instead to fight to the death if necessary.
	Lethargic	−5% Evasion −10% Sublight Speed			Can be gained from defeats (2.8%) Can be lost from victories (0.6%)  Hive Mind	Gale Speed	This leader is slow and indolent, performing duties with little energy or initiative.
	Nervous	−10% Fire Rate			Can be gained from defeats (2.8%) Can be lost from victories (0.6%)  Machine Intelligence  Fleet Organizer  Unyielding	Unyielding	This leader is nervous and apprehensive and can be easily overwhelmed in the minutia involved in handling large formations of starships.
	Unstable Code Base				Can be gained from defeats (2.8%) Can be lost from victories (0.6%)  Machine Intelligence  Fleet Organizer  Unyielding		This leader suffers from an unstable code base, resulting in jittery and sometimes illogical behavior.
General traits
	Army Logistician	−20% Army upkeep			Machine Intelligence		This leader can seemingly conjure up supplies from nowhere, decreasing the maintenance costs of ground forces.
	Parts Cannibalizer				Machine Intelligence		This leader is very adept at cannibalizing parts from fallen or malfunctioning warbots to keep others running longer
	Butcher	+10% Army damage +33% Army collateral damage			Restrained	Armchair Commander  Restrained	This leader is particularly skilled at inflicting casualties on the enemy, offering no quarter and expecting none in return.
	Restrained	+20% Army disengagement chance −33% Army collateral damage			Machine Intelligence  Butcher	Butcher	This leader is unusually concerned with the lives of others, taking care to avoid unnecessary deaths among their own soldiers as well as any civilians caught in the fighting.
	Charismatic	+25% Army morale			Machine Intelligence		This inspiring leader has an undeniable charisma, being worshiped as a hero by the troops.
	Glory Seeker	+10% Army morale +5% Army damage			Machine Intelligence	Armchair Commander	This leader is always in the thick of it, bucking the spirits of the troops by leading from the front despite the risks involved.
	Demoralizer	+30% Army morale damage			Machine Intelligence More likely from level-up (weight x2)	Erratic Morality Core	This leader is fascinated by the fragile minds of organics, and how they can most efficiently be broken through the creative use of terror tactics on the battlefield.
	Armchair Commander	−10% Army morale −10% Army damage			Machine Intelligence  One Mind	Butcher  Glory Seeker	This leader commands from the rear, preferably as far away from the frontlines as possible to avoid exposure to 'unnecessary dangers'.
	Erratic Morality Core	−10% Army damage			Machine Intelligence	Demoralizer	This leader frequently suffers intense bouts of shame and regret over enemy casualties due to an erratic morality core.

Special traits

These traits are only available from events or on specific unique species or leaders.

Class	Trait	Effect	Requirements	Description	DLC
Added by a species trait
	Clone Army Admiral	+25% Fire Rate −10% Ship Upkeep	Clone Soldier	From its extensive military education, this leader understands how to maximize the efficiency of ships and soldiers alike.
	Ascendant Clone Army Admiral	+35% Fire Rate −20% Ship Upkeep	Clone Soldier Ascendant	Subjected since its creation to a military education regimen so intense few could endure it, this leader wields excellent martial and leadership abilities.
	Descendant Clone Army Admiral	+15% Fire Rate −5% Ship Upkeep	Clone Soldier Descendant	From its specialized military education, this leader holds an above-average understanding of martial procedures and how best to optimize them.
Added by an event
Any	Increased Lifespan	+40 Leader lifespan	Transcendence Ascension Perk Shroud event	The powerful psionic energies of the Shroud have slowed the natural aging process of this leader.
	Towel-bearer	+42% Survey Speed	Stay Calm anomaly event	A towel has immense psychological value.
	Percussive Maintainer	+20% Research speed (Computing) +25% Archaeology Excavation Speed −1 Leader Level Cap	Ruined Station Archaeology Site outcome	There is no such thing as a hardware problem that liberal use of the boot will not fix.
	Maimed	−40 Leader lifespan	Archaeology Site bad outcome	This leader has sustained irreversible physical injury that has lowered their life expectancy significantly.
	Traumatized	−10% Research speed −10% Anomaly Research Speed −30% Archaeology Excavation Speed	‘Archaeological Loop’ event	Recently sustained psychological trauma is interfering with this leader's performance.
	Caravan Counter	−10% Emergency FTL Damage Risk	Destroying a Caravan	This leader has ample experience stopping the flighty Caravaneer fleets dead in their tracks.
	Dragonslayer	+10% Sublight Speed +10% Fire Rate	Defeating the Ether Drake	This Admiral has proven themselves in fierce combat.
	Foredoomed to a Rendezvous	+25% Sublight Speed	A Rendezvous Horizon Signal Event	Experienced a troubling future.
	Dragonbane	+25% Leader experience gain +1 Leader Level Cap	Defeating the Ether Drake without an admiral in the fleet	This Leader has seen intense combat, and lived to tell the tale.
Specialized Vassal leaders
	Prospectorium Extractor	+20% Energy Credits from Jobs +20% Minerals from Jobs +20% Alloys from Jobs	Tier 2 Prospectorium Vassal	Energy, alloys, and minerals all empower our ambitions. Extractors maximize their acquisition.
	Prospectorium Optimizer	−15% Upkeep from  jobs	Tier 2 Prospectorium Vassal	Keeping a populace healthy and productive requires resources, and optimizers are ideally suited to manage them.
	Prospectorium Refiner	+25% Chemist Output +25% Gas Refiner Output +25% Translucer Output	Tier 2 Prospectorium Vassal	Refiners have the rarefied expertise necessary to improve our acquisition of exotic gases, motes, and crystals.
	Scholarium Investigator	+10% Research Speed	Tier 2 Scholarium Vassal	Scholarium specialists view the universe as one large puzzle, waiting to be solved.
	Scholarium Explorer	+20% Survey Speed	Tier 2 Scholarium Vassal	The curiosity of Scholarium specialists will drive them to the ends of the universe, and probably beyond.'
	Scholarium Observer	+25% Anomaly Research Speed +5% Anomaly Discovery Chance	Tier 2 Scholarium Vassal	No mystery shall be left unsolved in a Scholarium scholar's wake.
	Bulwark Watcher	+15% Evasion in Friendly Systems +15% Tracking in Friendly Systems	Tier 2 Bulwark Vassal	Vigilant crews stand ready to detect enemy fleets daring to attempt furtive and cowardly incursions.
	Bulwark Retaliator	+15% Ship Fire Rate in Friendly Systems	Tier 2 Bulwark Vassal	With a righteous commander at the helm, fleets stand ready to avenge any insult to our sovereignty.
	Bulwark Sentinel	+15% Shield Hit Points in Friendly Systems	Tier 2 Bulwark Vassal	Courageous crews hold the line against invaders, ready to repel anyone foolish enough to invade our domain!
On certain recruitable leaders
	Enclave Trader	+10% Trade Value	Hired from a Trader Enclave for 500  energy	Recruited from one of the independent merchant Enclaves, this leader is particularly adept at maximizing Trade value.
	Merchant of Numa	+10% Trade Value −10% Pop consumer goods upkeep	Hired from the Numistic Order for 1500  energy	A level nine Shakvah with enhanced mind focus and inner gaze...
	Waste Management Specialist	−10% Building Upkeep	Hired from Racket Industrial Enterprise	This leader has an almost uncanny ability to reduce and repurpose industrial waste. How do they do it? It's best not to ask.
	Curator	+15% Research Speed +25% Survey Speed Improved draw chance for rare technologies	Hired from a Curator Enclave for 1000  energy	This leader hails from the Curator enclave. His understanding of technology and exploration is unmatched.
	Mercenary Warrior	+10% Evasion +10% Fire Rate	Rescued or hired from the Marauders for 2000  energy	This Leader hails from a space-based warrior culture, and has been taught unorthodox hit-and-run tactics from an early age.
	Mercenary Warrior	+10% Army damage	Hired from the Marauders for 2000  energy	This Leader hails from a space-based warrior culture, and has been taught unorthodox hit-and-run tactics from an early age.
Unique to a specific leader
	Nanite Entity	−40% Building cost +40% Planet Build Speed +15% Energy from Jobs +15% Minerals from Jobs −40% Clear blocker cost +40% Clear blocker speed Immortal	Gray L-Cluster outcome Unique to the event leader Gray	Gray is in reality a dense swarm of billions upon billions of advanced nanites.
	Oracle	+10 Stability −45% Crime +20% Unity from Jobs −10% Research from Jobs Immortal	Hidden Worlds Archaeology Site outcome Unique to the event leader Oracle	The Oracle sees all.
	Hell's Heart	+10% Fire Rate +10% Sublight Speed +10% Ship weapons damage −10% Leader experience gain −5% Evasion −33% Combat Disengagement Chance	Defeating the Tiyanki Matriarch Unique to the event admiral Reth Unddol	When it comes to warfare, this leader is mercilessly obsessive, and singular in purpose.
	The Great Khan	+20% Fire Rate +20% Sublight Speed +10% Ship weapons damage +10% Ship weapons range +20% Ship Hull Points +30% Evasion +0.5% daily hull regeneration +0.5% daily armor regeneration	Unique to the Great Khan	The Great Khan is a charismatic leader, a brilliant tactician, and, if the rumors are true, a powerful psychic.
Crisis admirals
	Cybrex Databases	+10% Evasion +10% Fire Rate +20% Damage to the Contingency	Cybrex leaders	This Cybrex leader is equipped with ancient tactical databases from their civilization's violent past.
	Dimensional Stutter	+20% Sublight Speed	Extradimensional Invader leaders	For unknown reasons, the vessels under the command of this extradimensional fleet lord seem to rapidly stutter in and out of existence as they move, which has the effect of increasing their sublight speeds.
	Ethereal	+20% Evasion	Extradimensional Invader leaders	Some extradimensional fleet lords have learned to use the ethereal nature of their vessels to greatly enhance their evasive capabilities in combat.
	Hive Affinity	+20% Fire Rate	Prethoryn Scourge leaders	The Prethoryn creatures operating under this fleet consciousness have managed to attain an unusual level of affinity to one another. Their firing discipline has greatly improved, leading to a higher rate of fire.
	Sentinel Training	+20% Damage to Prethoryn Creatures	Sentinel Order leaders	Sentinel fleet commanders possess detailed knowledge of Prethoryn anatomy and tactics.
	Void Hunter	+20% Sublight Speed	Prethoryn Scourge leaders	The hunting instincts of this fleet consciousness has driven the Prethoryn creatures under its dominion into a frenzy. Their eagerness for battle drives them ever forward.

Class dependent traits

Certain events and species traits grant leaders a unique trait that offers different benefits depending on the leader class. Some leader traits are incompatible with one another and will not be added to its leaders, but have full effect on pops as species traits.
The  Erudite leader trait will not be added and will not give its leader class bonus if added to a species with the  Cybernetic or either of the  Psionic traits.
The  Brain Slug Host leader trait will not be added and will not give its leader class bonus if added to a species with the  Cybernetic trait.
The  Brain Slug Host leader trait has 20% of appearing on any leader of any species in the leader pool in the empire that embraced and accepted the Neural Symbiosis event regardless if the species have the trait or not, but leaders with the  Brain Slug Host trait will not appear outside of the original empire.

Trait	Requirements	Ruler effects	Governor effects	Scientist effects	Admiral effects	General effects
Cyborg	Cybernetic	None	+5% Minerals from Jobs	+5% Research speed	+5% Fire rate	+5% Army damage
Synthetic	Mechanical	+5% Robot resource production	+5% Energy from Jobs +5% Minerals from Jobs	+15% Anomaly research speed +5% Research speed	+5% Fire rate +10% Weapon range	+10% Army damage
Psychic	Either:  Latent Psionic 20% chance Leader Revealed as Psychic event  Psionic	+10% Governing ethics attraction +0.5 Monthly Influence	+5 Stability +10% Unity from Jobs	+10% Research speed +10% Research speed (Psionics) +25% Survey speed +1 Archaeology skill	+10% Damage +15% Evasion	+15% Army Morale +15% Army Morale Damage
Chosen one	Psychic leader trait Shroud event (Once per empire)	+20% Governing ethics attraction +1 Monthly Influence Immortal	+10 Stability +20% Unity from Jobs Immortal	+20% Research speed +50% Survey speed +2 Archaeology skill Immortal	+20% Damage +30% Evasion Immortal	+20% Army Damage +30% Army Morale +30% Army Morale Damage Immortal
Erudite	Erudite  Not Cybernetic Not Latent Psionic or Psionic	+5% Research speed	+5% Research from Jobs	+5% Research speed	+5% Fire rate +10% Disengagement chance	+5% Army damage +10% Army disengagement chance
Brain Slug Host	Neural Symbiosis event 20% chance  Not Cybernetic Not Robotic	+10% Research from Jobs +10% Naval Capacity	+10% Planet Build Speed +15% Research from Jobs	+10% Research speed +15% Survey Speed +15% Anomaly Research Speed	+5% Fire Rate +5% Evasion −10% Ship Upkeep	−15% Army Upkeep

Unique leaders

A few leaders can be obtained through events and, unless the empire's main species has traits that give unique bonuses to leader classes, are usually superior to regular leaders.

Leader	Class	Level	Species	Age	Immortal	Traits	Source	DLC
0101010111	Admiral	3	Random Machine	1		Aggressive  Fleet Logistician	The Servants of Sand anomaly event
The Exile	Scientist	3	Main Species	random		Random	The Exile anomaly event
Majula the Bearer	General	5	Arthropod Warrior	random		Charismatic  Glory Seeker	Beneath the Battlefield anomaly event
Sobak	Scientist	6	Primitive Species	random		Spark of Genius	Abduction Proposal observation event
Tuborek	Admiral	10	Fanatic Xenophobe Fallen Empire Species	65		Fleet Logistician  Gale Speed Resilient	Shielded Militant Isolationists world (25% chance)
S875.1 Warform	Admiral	3	/	random		Random	Mysterious Construct anomaly outcome
Caretaker AX7-b	Governor	4	/	709		Analytical  Ai-Aided Design	Unidentified Drop Pods anomaly outcome
Reth Unddol	Admiral	5	/	random		Hell's Heart Random	Defeating the Tiyanki Matriarch
Gray	Governor	10	Main Species	random		Nanite Entity	L-Cluster outcome
Oracle	Governor	5	/	random		Oracle	Hidden Worlds outcome choice

References

Game concepts