This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.6) of the game.
Designation represents the production focus on a world and provides a bonus favoring a certain production focus. It is by default determined by the most common type of Districts or Buildings constructed but can be chosen manually at any point. Capitals have their own unique designation which cannot be changed. If automation is turned on the world will build buildings favoring the designation's bonus unless the planet has low Amenities or high Crime or Deviancy, in which case it will first focus on tackling these issues. Each planetary ascension tier increases the effects of the planet designation by 25% and reduces size from the colony by 5%, which includes pops, districts and the colony itself. Ascension tiers are not lost if the designation is changed.
The following designations are available for all habitable celestial bodies but have special requirements. On ringworlds, capital and colony designations also have +10% Pop growth and assembly speed.
Designation
Effects
Requirements
Description
Empire Capital
+5% Stability
+10 Amenities
+10% Resources from Jobs
+100% Governing Ethics Attraction
+10% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance
Capital world
Gestalt Consciousness
The capital planet of an interstellar empire is a vast complex of government buildings, bureaus and agency headquarters.
Hive Capital
+5 Stability
+10 Amenities
+10% Resources from Jobs
−20 Deviancy
+10% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance
Capital world
Hive Mind
The capital planet of a Hive Mind is the primary seat of the Mind, from where the collective's thoughts and actions spring.
Machine Capital
+5 Stability
+10 Amenities
+15% Resources from Jobs
−20 Deviancy
+10% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance
Capital world
Machine Intelligence
The capital planet of a Machine Intelligence is the primary focus of its central networked consciousness, from where all units and drones are tasked, controlled and administered.
Colony
+5 Stability
+10 Amenities
+10% Happiness
+25% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance
Less than 5 Pops
Gestalt Consciousness
A balanced settlement and a bold new frontier.
Colony
+5 Stability
+10 Amenities
+25% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance
Less than 5 Pops
Machine Intelligence
A new colony of our empire, purposely designed for frictionless, everyday efficiency.
Fallen Empire Capital
+10% Stability
Capital world
Fallen Empire
Though its empire may be in decline, the level of technological advancement on this world is astounding.
Fallen Empire Colony
+5% Stability
Fallen Empire
Though its empire may be in decline, the level of technological advancement on this world is astounding.
Primitive World
None
Pre-FTL civilization
A primitive planet that is home to a pre-FTL society.
Contingency World
None
Contingency
This planet has been taken over by the Contingency.
Infested World
None
Prethoryn Scourge
This planet has been infested by the Prethoryn Scourge.
Planets (including habitats and ringworlds) can be ascended using unity, which increases the effects of the planet's designation and reduces empire size from that planet (from the colony, districts, and pops).
Each planetary ascension tier increases the effects of the planet's designation by +25% of the base and reduces empire size contribution from the colony, its districts, and its pops by −5% each. Secondary modifiers (such as bonuses to resource gathering designations from the Greater Good line of resolutions) are not increased. The maximum planetary ascension tier depends on the number of unlocked ascension perk slots, with the first tier being unlocked by the third ascension perk slot. Each additional ascension perk unlocked allows an additional planetary ascension tier. Once all eight ascension perk slots have been unlocked, an additional four planetary ascension tiers are unlocked for a maximum of 10, a possible total +250% designation effect increase and −50% reduction in empire size from that planet.
For example, a Generator World with 2 ascension tiers would give a +37.5% bonus to technician output; i.e. the original +25% bonus, multiplied by a +50% increase.
The cost of increasing a planet's ascension tier depends on the empire's size and total number of planetary ascension tiers already present in the empire, whether on the same planet or other planets. For example, an empire with 200 size and 3 total ascension tiers (whether from three planets at tier 1, one at tier 3, or one at tier 2 and one at tier 1) would need to spend 5600 unity to increase the ascension tier of a planet. The precise formula is shown below: