Empire

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.2) of the game.

A galaxy populated by multiple empires

An Empire is a group of planets and star systems that are ruled by the same government and controlled by a single player (or AI). Empires may have a variety of governments such as a democracy, oligarchism, despotism or imperial rule.

Ethics are the most defining features of a space empire; they affect the behavior of AI empires, likely technologies, available policies and edicts, valid government types, the opinions of other empires, and - perhaps most importantly - provide the fuel for internal strife in large and diverse empires. Civics are the second-most defining features of a space empire; they affect the finer details of the empire's internal structure as well as having certain effects on the empire's behavior.

It should be noted that the name of the player empire and its government structure can always be changed in the government window.

Initial empire

Each empire starts with a basic setup that's modified by its origin, authority, civics, and species archetype.

Default home system

The default home systems deposits total 12-13  Energy, 12-13  Minerals, and 5-6  Research of up to two random types. The smaller deposits won't have mining or research stations built on them yet.

Celestial object	Station	Deposit0
Star		5 Energy
Random object Star Molten World Gas Giant		5 Energy
2 Random objects Asteroid Barren World Barren World (cold)  Toxic World Frozen World		5 Minerals (x2)
Random object Star Molten World Gas Giant		50%:  2 Energy 50%:  3 Energy
Random object Asteroid Barren World Barren World (cold)  Toxic World Frozen World		50%:  2 Minerals 50%:  3 Minerals
Random object Gas Giant  Toxic World Frozen World Barren World Barren World (cold) Star		Depends on object type  3 Society research if  Toxic World  3 Physics research if Barren World or Star  3 Engineering research if Gas Giant, Frozen World, or Barren World (cold)
Random object Gas Giant  Toxic World Frozen World Barren World Barren World (cold) Star		Depends on object type  2 Society research if  Toxic World  2 Physics research if Barren World or Star  2 Engineering research if Gas Giant, Frozen World, or Barren World (cold)

Default homeworld

Default
Size 18 to 21 planet
Hidden +30% habitability modifier for native species
28 Pops
Planetary features allowing up to 6 generator, 6 mining, and 7 agriculture districts

Homeworld blockers	Requirements (excluding Origin swaps)0
Sprawling Slums 2x Industrial Wasteland	Gestalt Consciousness
Collapsed Burrows 2x Industrial Wasteland	Hive Mind authority
Abandoned Strip Mine Long-Abandoned City	Machine Intelligence authority  Determined Exterminator civic  Rogue Servitor civic  Driven Assimilator civic
Former Organic City Battlefield Remnants	Determined Exterminator civic
Abandoned Strip Mine Unsupervised Settlement	Rogue Servitor civic
Abandoned Strip Mine Silent Ruins	Driven Assimilator civic

Preconstructed districts

Empire	Default districts0
	Housing	Industrial	Generator	Mining	Agriculture
Default	3	2	2	2	2
Corporate authority	+1		−1
Hive Mind authority		−1
Lithoid species				+2	−2
Prosperous Unification origin  Lithoid			+1		+1
Prosperous Unification origin  Lithoid			+1	+1
Mechanist origin			+1
Agrarian Idyll civic	−2				+2
Anglers civic Homeworld has wet climate			−1		+1
Tree of Life origin				−1	+1
Catalytic Processing civic  Machine Intelligence  Lithoid main species with biological subspecies				−2	+2
Lithoid main species and one of the following: Biological subspecies Catalytic Processing civic				−1	+1
Machine Empire	Nexus	Industrial	Generator	Mining	Agriculture
Machine Intelligence default	2	1	4	1	0
Prosperous Unification origin			+1	+1
Rogue Servitor civic Biological subspecies	+1				+1
Rogue Servitor civic  Lithoid subspecies	+1			+1
Driven Assimilator civic Biological subspecies			−1		+1
Driven Assimilator civic  Lithoid subspecies			−1	+1
Machine Intelligence Catalytic Processing civic			-1	-1	+2

Preconstructed buildings

Default buildings	Building swaps0
	Replacement	Requirements
Planetary Administration capital	None
Administrative Offices	None
Research Labs	Dread Encampment Both home system research deposits changed to  6 Engineering research	Reanimators civic
Commercial Zones	Holo-Theatre  +1 Industrial District	Pleasure Seekers civic Spiritualist ethic  Agrarian Idyll civic
	Temple  +1 Industrial District	Spiritualist ethic  Corporate authority  Agrarian Idyll civic  Anglers civic  Catalytic Processing civic  Death Cult civic
	Temple  +1 Agriculture District	Spiritualist ethic  Corporate authority Anglers or Catalytic Processing civic  Agrarian Idyll civic
	Sacrificial Temple  +1 Industrial District	Death Cult civic  Agrarian Idyll civic
None	Robot Assembly Plants	Mechanist origin

Gestalt Consciousness default buildings		Building swaps0
Hive Mind	Machine Intelligence	Replacement	Requirements
Hive Core capital	Administrative Array capital	None
Synaptic Nodes	Uplink Node	Removed	Necrophage origin
Research Labs		None
Spawning Pools	Machine Assembly Plants	Removed	Necrophage origin  Devouring Swarm civic
None		Organic Sanctuary	Rogue Servitor civic

Origin

The Origin represents the background of a species before it unified itself into an empire. In games with randomly generated AI empire most Origins are unique, meaning only one empire with that origin can be generated.

Origin	Homeworld effects	Empire effects	Requirements	Unique	DLC
Prosperous Unification	4 additional pops 2 additional districts built Start with the Prosperous Unification homeworld modifier for 20 years	Research option gained:  Planetary Unification
Galactic Doorstep	None	Start with a dormant Gateway which will bring the following in the first years: 100-1500  Alloys and/or  Minerals A small space amoeba A special project that creates the From Gateway Sent archaeological site If the Gateway is reactivated it unlocks the Gateway Construction technology
Lost Colony	Start with the Colonial Spirit homeworld modifier Homeworld does not get the +30 Habitability bonus	An Advanced Empire with the same species and random ethics will exist in the galaxy	Gestalt Consciousness
Mechanist	1 Robot Assembly Plants 1 generator district 8 pops being robots	Powered Exoskeletons researched  Robotic Workers researched −5% Robot upkeep	Gestalt Consciousness Materialist
Syncretic Evolution	Start with 12 Pops of the second species	Can create a second species with the Serviles trait	Gestalt Consciousness  Fanatic Purifiers
Tree of Life	Start with a Tree of Life planetary feature Start with +1 built Agriculture district Start with -1 built Mining district	Colonies start with a Tree of Life Sapling planetary feature Enables the Transplant Tree of Life Decision Colony ships cost less Alloys but more Food Tree of Life planetary features are removed at 50 Devastation Worlds without a Tree of Life planetary feature have the following effects: -50% Planet Build Speed -25% Resources from Jobs +10% Upkeep from Jobs -5 Stability	Hive Mind  Devouring Swarm  Terravore
Resource Consolidation	Homeworld is a Machine World with no blockers Start with a Consolidated Resources planetary feature Start with an Malfunctioning Replicator Bat blocker Start with an Organic Slurry planetary feature if Driven Assimilator	Capital star has a deposit of 10  Energy Other home system planets are broken or molten worlds with no resource deposits	Machine Intelligence  Rogue Servitor Catalytic Processing
Clone Army	Start with two Ancient Clone Vat buildings After 3-5 years the Homeworld Excavation archaeological site appears Excavating the archaeological site starts the Genetic Crossroads event chain	Can construct up to 5 Ancient Clone Vat buildings Main species has the Clone Soldier trait Admirals have the Clone Army Admiral trait Start with the Cloning technology researched Start with the Gene Banks technology researched Losing Ancient Clone Vat buildings creates Pop Decline Speed	Gestalt Consciousness
Life-Seeded	Homeworld is a size 30 Gaia world Start with 1 Bubbling Swamp planetary feature Start with 1 Crystalline Caverns planetary feature Start with 1 Dust Caverns planetary feature	Main species has Gaia World Preference	Machine Intelligence Idyllic Bloom
Post-Apocalyptic	Homeworld is a Tomb World	Main species has the Survivor trait	Machine Intelligence  Agrarian Idyll  Anglers
Remnants	Homeworld is a size 22 Relic World Start with 5 Ruined Arcology blockers which unlock random techs when cleared	Guaranteed Habitable Worlds gain the Colonial Remains modifier when colonized	Agrarian Idyll
Calamitous Birth	Start with a Massive Crater planetary feature Start with a Lithoid Crater homeworld modifier	Can build Meteorite Colony Ships	Lithoid main species  Catalytic Processing
Common Ground	None	Start with Diplomacy tradition tree adopted and with the Federation tradition Start as the president of a Galactic Union Federation with two other members The two members will be Xenophile and share at least one ethic with the president There will be no Guaranteed Habitable Worlds regardless of game settings +100 Permanent Opinion to and from Federation members +50 Trust to and from Federation members	Xenophobe  Gestalt Consciousness  Inwards Perfection  Fanatic Purifiers  Barbaric Despoilers
Hegemon	None	Start with Diplomacy tradition tree adopted and with the Federation tradition Start as the president of a Hegemony Federation with two other members The two members will be Xenophile and share at least one ethic with the president There will be no Guaranteed Habitable Worlds regardless of game settings	Xenophobe Egalitarian  Gestalt Consciousness  Inwards Perfection  Fanatic Purifiers
Doomsday	Homeworld will become a Shattered World in 35 to 45 years Start with 10 Devastation Start with the Doomsday homeworld modifier which worsens every decade	A warning is given a year before the homeworld explodes No guaranteed habitable planets will spawn near the home system Pops can be resettled from the homeworld regardless of ethics Enables the Evacuation Protocols Edict +30% Empire Happiness for 5 years after the first planet is colonized
On the Shoulders of Giants	None	A random home system planet has the Ex Gravitas archaeological site Can get the On the Shoulders of Giants mid-game event chain	Gestalt Consciousness
Scion	None	Start as a Scion of a  Fanatic Materialist or  Fanatic Spiritualist Fallen Empire +100 Opinion to and from the Overlord Overlord uses the Improve Relations diplomatic action with the Scion Start with a Wormhole leading to the Overlord's capital system Gain a more powerful gift every few decades Gain a temporary Fallen Empire fleet every 20 years if losing a war against a Superior empire Creates a 1-system Fallen Empire if the game was started with none	Fanatic Xenophobe  Gestalt Consciousness  Pompous Purists
Shattered Ring	Homeworld is a Shattered Ring World Start with 3 Decrepit Tunnels blockers Start with 4 Ancient Rubble blockers	Main species has Ring World Preference Can repair two other sections of the home system Start with an irreparable section with a deposit of 5  Engineering Research Start with a shattered world with a deposit of 10  Minerals Capital star has a deposit of 10  Energy Cannot change the starting system No guaranteed habitable worlds will spawn regardless of game settings	Agrarian Idyll  Anglers Idyllic Bloom
Void Dwellers	Start on a size 6 habitat built over a Research deposit Start on a size 4 habitat built over a Mining deposit Start on a size 4 habitat built over an Energy deposit Start with an Arcane Replicator planetary feature on the capital habitat	Main species has Habitat Preference Main species has the Void Dweller trait Start with the Orbital Habitats technology researched  Habitat Expansion technology starts unlocked and can be researched Start with the Hydroponics Farming technology researched if not Lithoid Start with the Eco Simulation technology researched if not Lithoid Start with the Powered Exoskeletons technology researched if Lithoid Start with the Zero-G Refineries technology researched if Lithoid Hydroponic farms have +1 Farmer Jobs Cannot change the starting system except for a special version of Sol 1% chance to spawn the Crystalline Empire enclave during mid-game (player only)	Gestalt Consciousness  Agrarian Idyll  Anglers Idyllic Bloom
Necrophage	Start with 12 Pops of the prepatent species Start with a Chamber of Elevation building if not Genocidal	Main species starts with the Necrophage trait Only Necrophage Pops can be Leaders or take Ruler jobs Can construct Chamber of Elevation buildings Can use the Necrophage purge type Can create a second species Centralized Command technology starts unlocked and can be researched With Glandular Acclimation converting Pops changes habitability to their current planet's Guaranteed Habitable Worlds contain primitive civilizations advanced up to Iron Age	Xenophile  Fanatic Egalitarian  Death Cult  Corporate Death Cult  Empath
Here Be Dragons		Start with an allied Sky Dragon leviathan A system 2 hyperlanes away will contain a Living Metal deposit	Genocidal
Ocean Paradise	Homeworld is a size 30 Ocean world Start with the Ocean Paradise homeworld modifier Start with a Crystal Reef planetary feature Start with 3 Submerged Ore Veins planetary features Start with 3 Underwater Vents planetary features Start with 8 Teeming Reef planetary features	Main species starts with the Aquatic trait Start inside a nebula Start with 4 Frozen worlds and 10 Ice Asteroids Guaranteed habitable worlds are Frozen worlds Cannot change the starting system	Machine Intelligence

Unplayable origins

The following origins have no effects and are not available to player empires.

Origin	Source	Description
Elder Race	Fallen Empires	This civilization greatly predates the current generation of galactic powers. Eons of stagnation gradually reduced their empire to a mere shadow of what it once was.
Enlightened	Enlightened pre-FTL civilizations	The natural development of this civilization was greatly accelerated by the interference of another party, who helped them become a spacefaring culture.
Separatists	Rebel empires	This civilization came into being when it rebelled and seceded from another empire.
Khanate Successor	Horde successors	This civilization arose out of the ashes of the Great Khan's mighty empire.
Hegemon Subordinate	Empires generated by the  Hegemon origin	This civilization established early contact with their immediate alien neighbors. Gradually, over the span of a century, they were subordinated to one of those neighbors, who masterminded the birth of an interstellar union with them as its leader.

Capital

The capital is the ruling seat of an empire as well as the final destination for all its trade routes. An empire's capital can be moved once every 10 years for a cost of 250  influence if the empire is at peace. An empire's capital planet and system are marked by gold star corners on the system and galaxy maps.

The capital has its own world designation with the following effects.

Authority	Effects
Regular	Stability +5  Amenities +10  Governing Ethics Attraction +100%
Hive Mind	Stability +5 Amenities +10 Deviancy -20
Machine Intelligence	Stability +5 Amenities +10 Deviancy -20 Drone Resource Output +5%

Empire sprawl

Empire sprawl is a measure of an empire's expansion. It is increased by 5 for each colony, 1 for each system, 1 for each district, 0.5 for each pop and 2 for each owned Branch Office. Empire sprawl can be affected by the following:

Source	Effect
Stellar Culture Shock	-50% Empire Sprawl from pops
Fanatic Pacifist ethic	-30% Empire Sprawl from pops
Subsumed Will civic	-20% Empire Sprawl from pops
OTA Updates civic	-20% Empire Sprawl from pops
Pacifist ethic	-15% Empire Sprawl from pops
Docile species trait	-10% Empire Sprawl from pops, applied per pop
Streamlined Protocols species trait	-10% Empire Sprawl from pops, applier per pop
Finishing the Harmony / Synchronicity tradition tree	-10% Empire Sprawl from pops
Psionic Theory technology	-10% Empire Sprawl from pops
The Greater Good resolution 4	-10% Empire Sprawl from pops
Unruly species trait	+10% Empire Sprawl from pops, applied per pop
High Bandwidth species trait	+10% Empire Sprawl from pops, applied per pop
Nutritional Plenitude edict	+10% Empire Sprawl from pops
per Governor skill level	-2% Empire Sprawl from pops, applied per pop

Source	Effect
Private Prospectors civic	-33% Empire Sprawl from systems
Franchising civic	-25% Empire Sprawl from branch offices
Modular Depots tradition	-25% Empire Sprawl from districts
Construction Templates technology	-10% Empire Sprawl from districts
Courier Network / Limited Autonomy / Extensible Software tradition	-25% Empire Sprawl from systems and colonies
Fortify the Border edict	+10% Empire Sprawl from systems
per continuous edict beyond the Edict Capacity	+25% Empire Sprawl total

Administrative capacity

Administrative Capacity represents the bureaucratic assets available to administrate the empire.

An empire's base Administrative Capacity is 30, which can be affected by the following:

Source	Effect
Imperial Prerogative ascension perk	+20%
Efficient Bureaucracy civic	+20%
Isolationist diplomatic stance policy	+15%
Divided Attention civic	+10%
Oracle empire modifier	+10%
Adaptive Bureaucracy technology	+5%
Effective Bureaucracy technology	+5%
Minor Politics and Culture sanctions	-10%
Moderate Politics and Culture sanctions	-20%
Major Politics and Culture sanctions	-30%

Source	Effect
Corporate authority	+20
Administrative Efficiency repeatable technology	+15
Colonial Bureaucracy technology	+10
Galactic Bureaucracy technology	+10
Bureaucrat Job each	+10

Penalties

Each point the Empire Sprawl exceeds the Administrative Capacity will impart the following penalties:

• +0.4% Tech cost
• +0.6% Tradition adoption cost
• +1% Campaign (Subset of Edicts) cost
• +1% Rare resource edicts (Subset of Edicts) cost

The penalties can be affected by the following authorities:

Authority	Effect
Machine Intelligence	+100%
Corporate	+50%
Dictatorial	-10%
Hive Mind	-25%

Sector systems

Sectors are administrative regions within an empire. Every empire will start with a core sector, named after the homeworld and extending up to four hyperlanes away from the capital. Any colonized planet more than four hyperlanes away from another sector capital can be selected to become the sector capital of a new sector, with the planet becoming marked by blue star corners on the system and galaxy maps. The new sector will extend up to four hyperlanes away from the sector capital. Wormholes and Gateways are not counted for this calculation. Each sector can have a Governor assigned to it.

All sectors, including the core sector, can be given a Sector Focus. Choosing a Sector Focus will make the sector develop itself automatically towards a given direction as long as it has resources, reducing micromanagement.

Energy credits and minerals can be added to a Shared Stockpile for all Sectors to use or given manually to each Sector. Resources transferred to sectors will be converted into a wildcard resource at a 1:1 ratio and it can be spent on planetary construction as though it were energy credits or minerals. Shared and Sector stockpiles are limited to the amount of energy credits you may store. Beyond that, it is wasted.

Relative power

Relative Power is a measure of how much empires are ahead of one another in terms of resource production, fleet power or researched technologies. A Relative Power of Superior/Inferior means that an empire has 50% more (1.5x) resource production, fleet power or researched technologies and a Relative Power of Overwhelming/Pathetic means that an empire has 150% more (2.5x) resource production, fleet power or researched technologies.

Relative Power is split into three categories: Fleet Power, Economic Power and Technology Level.

Fleet Power: The combined fleet power of every owned fleet.

• +1 per 1 Fleet Power

Economic Power: A weighted sum of all monthly income, including income from trade agreements. Monthly spending is not part of this score. The various resources are weighted the same as their base market price (base energy price for 1 unit):

• +1 per basic resources
• +2 per  Consumer Goods
• +4 per  Alloys
• +10 per advanced resources
• +20 per strategic resources

Technology Level: 60 + the combined base Tech Cost of all researched technologies, divided by 100. Repeatables only count 0.33x as much as regular technologies.

• +60 Base Technology Level
• +0.01 per 1 base Tech Cost of all researched technologies, including repeatable technologies

The formula to calculate the overall power of an empire is: ${\text{Overall Power}}={\text{Fleet Power}}*2+{\text{Economic Power}}*3+{\text{Technology Level}}*1$

Victory score

Victory score tallies an empire's total accomplishment. The empire that has the highest score when the Victory Year arrives is declared winner. The Victory Year is configurable and can be disabled altogether. An empire will always declare victory, if it's the only one that can do so. All players may continue the game session normally even after an empire declares victory and the victory is, in practical terms, of little concern.

The Victory Window shows a total score for each empire and its ranking, as well as a breakdown by category. The categories are as follows:

Economic Strength: +1 per 1 Economic Power based on Relative Power OR +5000 if the Empire has no economy.

Technology Level: 60 +0.25 per 1 Technology Level over 60 based on Relative Power

Number of Systems: +10 per system

Number of Colonies: +50 per colony

Number of Pops: +2 per pop, regardless of type

Subject Empires: +50% of a subject empire's score is given to the overlord

Federation: +10% of each other federation member's score is shared by all federation members

Crisis Ships Killed: +10 per crisis ship destroyed

Relics Collected: Each Relic grants a large amount of score. The score of each Relic is shown on the Relics page.

Empire modifiers

Empire Modifiers are gained through a variety of actions such as event choices or diplomacy with enclaves. They affect the entire empire and as such bring large benefits or penalties.

Permanent modifiers

Permanent Empire Modifiers are always positive and last the entire game. They can only be gained through events.

Modifier	Effects	Source	Description	DLC
Market Nexus	-10% Market Fee	Galactic Market Station Can be captured	Hosts the Galactic Market Station
Flagellating Movement	+5% Evasion	Space Amoebas First contact choice.	We have updated our Evasive fleet stance protocols based on observations of the Space Amoebas' flagella.
Amoeba Hunter	+33% Damage to Space Amoebas 1000 Energy per destroyed Space Amoebas fleet	Militarist, Xenophobe or Genocidal Space Amoebas First contact choice.	Amoeba carcasses are rounded up after battle and their internal organs harvested for valuable organic compounds, bringing in 1000 for every fleet destroyed.
Amoeboid Pacification	Space Amoebas will not attack owned ships	Pacifist or Xenophile Space Amoebas First contact choice.	Fleets regulate radiation venting when approaching Space Amoebas, and the spaceborne creatures no longer recognize us as a threat.
Crystal Focus	+5% Energy Credits from Jobs	Crystalline Entities First contact choice.	Improved transmission mediums modeled after the Crystalline Entities' unique internal structures minimize resistive losses in energy production and distribution.
Crystal Hunter	+33% Damage to Crystalline Entities 500 Minerals per destroyed Crystalline Entities fleet	Militarist, Xenophobe or Genocidal Crystalline Entities First contact choice.	The shattered remains of Crystalline Entities are automatically salvaged after battle, bringing in 500 for every fleet destroyed.
Crystalline Pacification	Crystalline Entities will not attack owned ships	Pacifist or Xenophile Crystalline Entities First contact choice.	Short-wave broadcasts at certain frequencies effectively disguise our fleets as fellow Crystalline Entities, and the spaceborne creatures no longer recognize us as a threat.
Drone Mining Techniques	+10% Mining Station Minerals Output	Ancient Mining Drones special project choice	Using techniques derived from the Mining Drones allows us to efficiently exploit mineral veins previously not deemed worth the trouble.
Drone Destroyer	+33% Damage to Ancient Mining Drones	Ancient Mining Drones first contact choice.	The Mining Drones are obviously mass-produced. A weakness found in one is a weakness found in all.
Void Loops	+10% Physics Research from Jobs	Void Clouds first contact choice.	The anomalous nature of the Void Clouds open up new possibilities in physics research.
Cloud Destroyer	+33% Damage to Void Clouds	Void Clouds first contact choice.	The Void Clouds' charge fluctuates in a rapid but observable cycle. Striking with precise timing dramatically destabilizes the inscrutable energies that animate the entities.
Sentinel Data	+20% Damage to Prethoryn Creatures	The Prethoryn Scourge covers 50% of the galaxy Sentinels weren't defeated	These detailed anatomy files on the Prethoryn were given to us by the Sentinels. With their help we have been able to identify several weak points in the exoskeletons of the Prethoryn creatures.
Asteroid Encryption	+1 Encryption	Asteroid Collision Anomaly event choice	Using ancient encryption discovered inside an abandoned relay station, this empire protects their secrets.
Asteroid Relay Stations	+2 Planet Sensor Range +2 Planet Hyperlane Detection Range	Asteroid Collision Anomaly event choice	This empire has started placing sensors inside asteroids of surrounding systems, granting them increased sensor range.
Minerals Mapping	+10% Minerals from Jobs	Possible Inhabitants Anomaly event choice	A system enabling us to quickly chart underground terrain and accurately map mineral veins.
A Life Worthwhile	+5% Happiness	Never Forget archaeology site outcome	Ever since the archaeological uncovering of an alien memorial stone, the empire's population have started to appreciate life a bit more.
Hive Harrier	+25% Damage to the Asteroid Hives	Asteroid Hives alive and awakened Purchasing advice from the Curators (-2000  Energy)	Updated targeting data will allow our fleets to bombard Asteroid Hives where their surface armor is the most vulnerable.
Draconic Beats	+25% Damage to the Ether Drake	Ether Drake alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	Military fleets have been instructed to fire at the Ether Drake in a specific rhythm when engaging the dragon.
Dreadnought Dazzler	+25% Damage to the Automated Dreadnought	Automated Dreadnought alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	Fleet commanders engaging the Automated Dreadnought have been instructed to target any subsystems that will impair its automation processes.
Portal Pacifier	+25% Damage to the Dimensional Horror	Dimensional Horror alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	The portal spawned by the Dimensional Horror can be destabilized if we launch pinpoint attacks against certain weak areas.
Stellar Drain	+25% Damage to the Stellar Devourer	Stellar Devourer alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	The Curators have instructed us to fire at the Stellar Devourer's regulatory valves in order to disperse its inner heat.
The Infinite Calibrator	+25% Damage to the Infinity Machine	Infinity Machine alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-600  Energy)	The Infinity Machine's real-time threat update system has one weak spot. It cannot keep up with constant change. We will henceforth assign a crew member on each ship to constantly make calibrations to the ship guns.
Technology of the Divine	+5% Happiness	Spiritualist Declared the Infinity Machine a divine object	Our people are praising the gigantic spherical calculator as a sign of the Divines' true power in the world.
The Singularity Processor	+5% Research Speed	Helping or successfully hacking the Infinity Machine Already have the  Positronic AI and  Zero Point Power technologies	A processing unit capable of expanding upon itself. This will further enhance our research capabilities.
The Mirror of Knowledge	+10% Research Speed	Helping the Infinity Machine successfully	We have gazed into the mirror universe of the Pantagruel black hole, enhancing our research capabilities.
Spectral Residue Studies	+5% Physics Research Speed +5% Energy Weapons Damage +10% Energy from Jobs	Successfully defeating the Spectral Wraith	Obtained by defeating the Spectral Wraith. Any of the three colors works.
Ageless	+15 years Leader lifespan	Essence of Ageless Science Nexus event	Aging less with Ageless...
Covenant: Composer of Strands	+20% Pop Growth Speed +20 years Leader Lifespan	Shroud choice	We have formed a Covenant with a powerful being in the Shroud and now benefit from its patronage. There will be a price to pay.
Covenant: Eater of Worlds	+30% Army Morale +15% Fire Rate	Shroud choice	We have formed a Covenant with a powerful being in the Shroud and now benefit from its patronage. There will be a price to pay.
Covenant: Instrument of Desire	+10% Resources from Jobs	Shroud choice	We have formed a Covenant with a powerful being in the Shroud and now benefit from its patronage. There will be a price to pay.
Covenant: Whispers of the Void	+15% Research Speed +15% Monthly influence	Shroud choice	We have formed a Covenant with a powerful being in the Shroud and now benefit from its patronage. There will be a price to pay.
Inoculated Population	+5% Pop Growth Speed +10 years Leader lifespan	Ancient Caretakers inoculation success	The inoculations given to us by the Ancient Caretakers have proven of immense benefit, reducing illness and increasing the life expectancy of our population.
Improved Code Standards	+5% Robot output	Ancient Caretakers code changes success	The changes that the Ancient Caretakers made to our code base have turned out well, and has resulted in an permanent upgrade in resource production capabilities across our whole population.
Matricidal Instinct	+25% Damage to the Tiyanki Matriarch	Tiyanki Matriarch alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	There is a chink in the ancient Tiyanki Matriarch's armor, in the form of a massive unexploded proton torpedo lodged in her hide. Our fleets know how to detonate it.
Protective Coating	+25% Damage to the Voidspawn	Voidspawn alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	Heeding the Curators' advice, we have covered our ships in a coating that will protect them from the Voidspawn's corrosive spittle and spikes.
Scavenger Slayer	+25% Damage to the Scavenger Bot	Scavenger Bot alive Purchasing advice from the Curators (-1000  Energy)	The Scavenger was not built on any pre-engineered design. As a result, its ramshackle construction contains a number of structural weaknesses. Any fleet made aware of them could exploit this.
Secrets of the Baol	-15% Terraforming cost	Finishing the Delve into the Secrets of the Baol Special Project	We have put the ancient knowledge of the Baol to our own use.
Secrets of the Cybrex	+10% Megastructure research speed	Finishing the Delve into the Secrets of the Cybrex Special Project	We have put the ancient knowledge of the Cybrex to our own use.
Secrets of the First League	+15% Industry research speed +10% Planet build speed	Finishing the Delve into the Secrets of the First League Special Project	We have put the ancient knowledge of the First League to our own use.
Secrets of the Irassians	+20% Biology research speed +5% Pop growth speed	Finishing the Delve into the Secrets of the Irassians Special Project	We have put the ancient knowledge of the Irassians to our own use.
Secrets of the Vultaum	+15% Computing research speed +10% Amenities	Finishing the Delve into the Secrets of the Vultaum Special Project	We have put the ancient knowledge of the Vultaum to our own use.
Secrets of the Zroni	+10% Psionics research speed	Finishing the Delve into the Secrets of the Zroni Special Project	We have put the ancient knowledge of the Zroni to our own use.
The Chosen of Zarqlan	+10% Spiritualist Ethics Attraction	Head of Zarqlan Relic	As the chosen people of Zarqlan we can safely colonize Holy Worlds.
Oracle	+10% Administrative capacity	Hidden Worlds archaeology site outcome choice	The Oracle operates the empire like a well-oiled machine...when you oil her.
Anthem of Aurora	+5% Monthly energy credits	Beautiful Bubble archaeology site outcome(33%)	The science division has managed to reproduce the ethereal hymn "sung" by an encountered aurora borealis entity. All Energy production facilities now have harmonics systems that amplifies the yield.
Modern Trench War	+20% Defense Army Health	Trench World archaeology site outcome(33%)	Archaeological discoveries from a planet once besieged by gargantuan snail-like creatures has led to new and effective insight on how to utilise the environment for protection. This will improve the survivability of our armies in defensive combat against all ground assaults - even from giant space slugs!
Killer Microorganism	+50% Army Damage +100% Army collateral damage	The Library archaeology site outcome choice	Our armies go into battle armed with a microorganism capable of devouring the life tissue of any being with verocious speed. Of course, they cannot entirely guarantee the safety of innocent bystanders as a result of its use...
Shallarian Terraforming Knowledge	-10% Terraforming cost +20% Terraforming Speed	Ruined Star System archaeology site outcome	The ancient Shallarian nation is long-extinct, but their unparalleled knowledge of terraforming lives on in us."
Rudari Death Laser	+5% Energy weapons damage +5% Ship weapons range	Ruined Station archaeology site outcome	As their civilization crumbled under the onslaught of enemy forces, the Rudari attempted to create a laser weapon capable of being deployed at interstellar range. Although they failed in this endeavor, their research has proved extremely useful to our own weapons specialists.
Studying Polarian Seeds	+20% Biology research speed	One Last Hope archaeology site outcome choice
Forced Mindfulness	+5% Monthly unity	Any Other Rock archaeology site outcome(66%) Not  Gestalt Consciousness	During their time trapped in a deadly, lava-filled maze, our archaeology team developed a routine of mindful relaxation. The fundamental principles of this exercise is now commonly known throughout the empire.
Glory to the Many	+5% Monthly unity	Any Other Rock archaeology site outcome(66%)  Hive Mind	An expedition marooned inside a maze full of lava temporarily lost touch with the Hive Mind. Unable to rely on the collective consciousness they suffered a brief encounter with the dreaded notion of Self; a terrifying experience that only strengthened the contempt for individualism.
Debug Subroutine	+5% Monthly unity	Any Other Rock archaeology site outcome(66%)  Machine Intelligence	While temporarily isolated in a maze full of lava, our archaeology units were disconnected from the network and unable to perform their function. They developed an algorithm that allowed them to run a debug subroutine while in sleep mode. This subroutine was later uploaded and patched in to the main system.
Spurred by the Past	+5% Monthly unity +5% Happiness +5% Research Speed +10% Governing Ethics Attraction	On the Shoulders of Giants Archaeological Site chain	The revelation of our true past sparks motivation and a sense of purpose in our entire species.
Full Circle	+10% Monthly unity +5% Happiness +5% Research Speed +20% Governing Ethics Attraction +0.5 Monthly influence	On the Shoulders of Giants Origin conclusion	Our empire may forever enjoy the sense of purpose and closure we acquired by helping the Benefactors of our past.
Goes Around, Comes Around	+10% Monthly unity +5% Happiness +5% Research Speed +20% Governing Ethics Attraction +0.5 Monthly influence	On the Shoulders of Giants Origin conclusion	Our empire is enjoying the positive effects from helping and forgiving an enemy of the past.
Imperial Charter	-25% Empire Sprawl from Branch Offices +10% Branch Office Value	Imperial Charter resolution	Our Imperial Charter gives us the right to open branch offices on planets throughout the Galactic Imperium, where we can establish Imperial Concession Ports. These branch office buildings generate income for both us and the ruler of the Galactic Imperium.

Renewable modifiers

Renewable Empire Modifiers are always positive and last as long as an empire can afford their upkeep costs.

Modifier	Effects	Source	DLC
Resolution Passed	+5% Diplomatic weight	Proposed resolution passed
Resolution Failed	-5% Diplomatic weight	Proposed resolution did not pass
Ethic Promoted	+100% Chosen ethic attraction -2 Monthly influence	Promoting a faction
Ethic Suppressed	-75% Chosen ethic attraction -1 Monthly influence	Suppressing a faction
Additional Sacrifice: Bounty	+6%/+12%/+18%/+24%/+30% Monthly energy credits +6%/+12%/+18%/+24%/+30% Monthly minerals	Bounty sacrifice edict	Necroids
Additional Sacrifice: Harmony	+10%/+20%/+30%/+40%/+50% Happiness	Harmony sacrifice edict	Necroids
Additional Sacrifice: Togetherness	+6%/+12%/+18%/+24%/+30% Monthly unity	Togetherness sacrifice edict	Necroids
Muutagan Deal	+1/+2/+3/+4/+5 Monthly rare crystals -10/-20/-30/-40/-50 Monthly energy	Muutagan Merchant Guild Trader Enclave service	Leviathans
Riggan Deal	+1/+2/+3/+4/+5 Monthly volatile motes -10/-20/-30/-40/-50 Monthly energy	Riggan Commerce Exchange Trader Enclave service	Leviathans
Xuran Deal	+1/+2/+3/+4/+5 Monthly exotic gasses -10/-20/-30/-40/-50 Monthly energy	XuraCorp Trader Enclave service	Leviathans
Patron of the Arts	+10% Monthly unity	Artist Enclave service	Leviathans
Curator Insight	+10% Research speed	Curator Enclave service	Leviathans OR  Distant Stars

Unique empires

The following empires can appear during the game as a result of certain events. The species' climate preference will always match its homeworld.

Empire Name	Species	Traits	Homeworld	Authority	Ethics	Civics	Requirements
United Nations of Earth	Human	Adaptive  Nomadic  Wasteful	Earth	Democratic	Fanatic Egalitarian  Xenophile	Beacon of Liberty  Idealistic Foundation	Sol primitive civilization achieving FTL after spawning in Early Space Age
Awoken	Awoken	Mechanical	Random	Random	Fanatic Materialist  Xenophile	Random Random	Limbo event chain outcome
Subterranean Empire	Random	Random	Random	Random	Fanatic Militarist  Authoritarian	Random Random	Subterranean Civilization event chain outcome
Nivlac Circle	Nivlac	Quick Learners Nivlac	Random	Random	Random Random	Random Random	Impossible Organism event chain outcome
Namaria	Namarian	Natural Engineers  Nomadic  Venerable	Random	Democratic	Egalitarian  Spiritualist  Xenophile	Random Random	MegaCorp DLC not enabled Nomad fleet offer
Ketling Star Pack	Ketling	Psionic  Thrifty  Deviants  Fleeting  Repugnant  Slow Breeders	Ruinous Core	Oligarchic	Egalitarian  Pacifist  Xenophile	Functional Architecture  Mining Guilds	Junk Ratlings systems were discovered At least one Junk Ratlings world was not claimed or invaded for a few decades
Prikkiki-Ti	Prikki	Industrious  Decadent  Solitary	Gish	Random	Fanatic Xenophobe  Militarist	Fanatic Purifiers  Cutthroat Politics	Time Loop anomaly event outcome

References

Game concepts