Traditions

Version

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

Traditions

Traditions

Ascension perks

The Shroud

Traditions tab

Traditions represent the socio-cultural evolution of an empire as it expands and develops and represent abilities or bonuses unlocked with the  unity resource. Traditions help define an empire by allowing the adoption of traditions trees that suit its particular play-style. Completing a tree allows the empire to pick an  ascension perk to further enhance themselves.

Tradition cost

The cost of unlocking a tradition depends on how many traditions the empire has already unlocked as well as whether the  Empire Sprawl is larger than  Administrative Capacity. Adopting and completing a tree both increase the unlocked traditions factor by 1. The tradition cost formula is the following:

${\text{Tradition cost}}=\left[300\,+\,\left(8\,\cdot \,{\text{Unlocked traditions}}\right)^{1.7}\right]\,\cdot \,\left(1\,+\,0.05\,\cdot \,{\text{Unlocked tradition trees}}\right)\,\cdot \,\left(1\,+\,0.006\,\cdot \,{\text{Empire size above cap}}\right)$

Example
An empire has completed one tradition tree and opened another, for a total of 8 unlocks (5 + 2 opens + one extra for finisher) and 2 open trees. Their empire size is 3 over their limit.

${\text{Tradition cost}}=\left[300\,+\,\left(8\,\cdot \,8\,\right)^{1.7}\right]\,\cdot \,\left(1\,+\,0.05\,\cdot \,2\,\right)\,\cdot \,\left(1\,+\,0.006\,\cdot \,3\,\right)\approx \,1653$

Tradition trees

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

Discovery

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

+20% Anomaly Research Speed Unlocks the Map The Stars edict
+35% Survey Speed +50% Science Ship Disengage Chance	+1 Research Alternatives +2 Scientist Level Cap
+20% Research Station Output +20% Research from Starbase Buildings Unlocks the Research Subsidies edict	+25% Leader Experience Gain +1 Leader Level Cap
	−20% Researcher Upkeep
+10% Research speed

Domination

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

−33% Clear blocker cost −20% Habitat Upkeep if  Void Dwellers
+2 Governor level Cap +0.5 Monthly Influence	+1 Housing from upgraded capital buildings if not  Gestalt Consciousness +1 Housing from all Housing buildings if not  Gestalt Consciousness +2 Housing from Synaptic Nodes if  Hive Mind −25% Empire Sprawl from Districts if  Machine Intelligence	+1 Unity per Enforcer if not  Gestalt Consciousness Unlocks the Enhanced Surveillance edict if not  Gestalt Consciousness −10 Deviancy on all planets if  Gestalt Consciousness
+2 Ruler Level Cap +1 Edict capacity		+5% Worker and Slave Output if not  Gestalt Consciousness Unlocks the Extended Shifts edict if not  Gestalt Consciousness +5% Menial Drone Output if  Gestalt Consciousness Unlocks the Drone Overdrive edict if  Gestalt Consciousness
+20% Administrative Capacity

Expansion

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

+25% Colony Development Speed
−10% Starbase Influence Cost		+1 Extra pops when establishing colony
−25% Empire Sprawl from Systems and Colonies	−20% Starbase Upkeep	+10% Pop Growth Speed if not  Machine Intelligence +10% Pop Assembly Speed if  Machine Intelligence
+1 Max Districts for all non-artificial planets if not  Void Dwellers −20% Habitat Build Cost if  Void Dwellers

Prosperity

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

+20% Mining Station Output
−10% Building and District Upkeep		−10% Building and District Build Cost +25% Planet Build Speed
+5% Specialist and Complex Drone Output	+1 Clerk per City District if not  Gestalt Consciousness +1 Clerk per Trade District if not  Gestalt Consciousness +3 Clerk per Residential Arcology if not  Gestalt Consciousness +5 Clerk per City Segment if not  Gestalt Consciousness +5% Monthly Energy Credits if  Gestalt Consciousness	+1 Housing per City/Hive/Nexus District if not  Void Dwellers +3 Housing per Residential Arcology if not  Void Dwellers +5 Housing per City/Hive/Nexus Segment if not  Void Dwellers +1 Building Slot for Orbital Habitats if  Void Dwellers
+5% Resources from Jobs +5 Stability on all planets

Supremacy

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

+20 Naval Capacity +20% Army Damage
−10% Ship Build Cost +25% Ship Build Speed	−10% Ship Upkeep +20% Naval Capacity	+10% Ship Fire Rate +20% Orbital Bombardment Damage
+20 Fleet command limit +2 Admiral Level Cap		+20% Damage against Starbases
Unlocks War Doctrine policies Unlocks the Supremacist diplomatic stance

Diplomacy

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

−50% Diplomatic Influence Cost Unlocks the Diplomatic Grants edict
Can create Federations +1 Available envoys	+3 Unity per Embassy
+100% Federation Naval Capacity Contribution	+33% Trust Cap +33% Trust Growth	+5 Diplomatic Acceptance 1% Monthly chance to gain a Favor per Improve Relations action
+10% Diplomatic Weight +1 Available envoys

Adaptability

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

−10% Pop Housing Usage
+10% Monthly food 15% Refund per demolished building if  Lithoid	+10% Habitability
−25% Orbital bombardment damage +25% Defense Army Damage	+1 Building slot for all planets	−33% Resettlement Cost
Unlocks Planetary Prospecting Decision if not  Void Dwellers Unlocks Orbital Surveying Decision if  Void Dwellers

Harmony

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

−10% Pop Food Upkeep −10% Pop Minerals Upkeep
+20 Years Leader Lifespan if not Necrophage +1 Leader Level Cap if not Necrophage +5-100 Unity per converted pop if Necrophage	−75% Pop Demotion Time if not  Shared Burdens −20% Leader Upkeep if  Shared Burdens	+25% Governing Ethics Attraction
+1 Edict capacity		+5 Stability on all planets
−10% Empire Sprawl from Pops

Mercantile

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

+5 Trade protection +1 Collection range
+1 Trade Value per Clerk	Unlocks the Consumer Benefits trade policy if not a member of a  Trade League federation Unlocks the Marketplace of Ideas trade policy if not a member of a  Trade League federation +50% Federation Naval Capacity Contribution if member of a  Trade League federation
+1 Merchant job per Commercial Zone +1 Merchant job per Commercial Segment and Trade District	+10% Trade Value	−10% Market Fee
+10% Trade Value

Synchronicity

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

−10% Pop Upkeep
+20 Years Leader Lifespan if niether  Machine Intelligence nor Necrophage −50% Leader accident chance if  Machine Intelligence +5-100 Unity per converted pop if Necrophage	−20% Leader Upkeep	+2 Amenities per Synapse Drone if  Hive Mind +3 Administrative Capacity per Coordinator if  Machine Intelligence -2 Deviancy per Coordinator if  Machine Intelligence
+1 Edict capacity		+5 Stability on all planets
−10% Empire Sprawl from Pops Unlocks the Industrial Maintenance edict if  Machine Intelligence

Unyielding

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

+2 Starbase capacity +50% Starbase Upgrade Speed
+25% Defense Army Health +3 Unity per Stronghold	+33% Starbase Health +33% Starbase Damage +33% Defense platform damage +33% Defense platform hull points
−25% Orbital Bombardment Damage Received −25% War exhaustion gain +25% Hostile claim influence cost	+2 Starbase capacity −50% Starbase Upgrade Cost +4 Hostile Operation Difficulty for Sabotage Starbase
+15% Ship Fire Rate within the empire's borders +33% Ship Build Speed while in a defensive war
+50% Defense platform cap −20% Starbase Upkeep

Subterfuge

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

+1 Codebreaking
+1 Encryption		+1 Codebreaking +1 Operation Skill
+1 Hostile Operation Difficulty +10% Hostile Operation Cost	+10 Intel per failed Hostile Operation		+50% Infiltration Speed
50% Infiltration Level refund for successful Operations

Versatility

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

−10% Pop Assembly Cost
+50 Trust Cap from Machine Intelligence empires +1 Available envoys	−10% Pop Housing Usage
−10% Market Fee	−5% Job Upkeep	−33% Resettlement Cost
50% Refund per demolished building or district

Ascension perks

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

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

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

Tier 0 ascension perks can be taken from the start. Tier 1 ones require 1 previous ascension perk, tier 2 ones require 2 previous ascension perks and tier 3 ones require 3 previous ascension perks.

	Ascension perk	Tier	Effects	Prerequisites	AI weight	DLC
	Consecrated Worlds	0	Consecrate World decision	Spiritualist	10
	Eternal Vigilance	0	+25% Starbase Hull Points +25% Starbase Damage +25% Defense platform damage +5 Defense platform cap	Star Fortress technology	10 15 if Xenophobe 30 if  Inwards Perfection
	Executive Vigor	0	+2 Edict capacity		10
	Galactic Wonders	0	Ring World research option if Utopia is installed Dyson Sphere research option if Utopia is installed Matter Decompressor research option if MegaCorp is installed	Mega-Engineering technology Built or repaired a multi-stage megastructure	10 20 if  Pacifist 30 if  Fanatic Pacifist
	Hydrocentric	0	−25% Ocean Terraforming Cost Can construct Ice Mining Station starbase buildings 50% increased effects of the Aquatic trait Unlocks the Deluge Machine colossus weapon	Aquatic main species trait  Ocean main species climate preference  Terrestrial Sculpting technology	40 80 if Xenophobe or  Hive Mind
	Imperial Prerogative	0	+20% Administrative capacity	Corporate	10
	Interstellar Dominion	0	−20% Claim influence cost −20% Starbase influence cost		10 20 if  Xenophobe 30 if  Fanatic Xenophobe
	Mastery of Nature	0	−33% Clear Blocker Cost Mastery of Nature decision		1 5 if second ascension perk 10 if first ascension perk
	Nihilistic Acquisition	0	Unlocks the Raiding bombardment stance	Is either:  Gestalt Consciousness Authoritarian Xenophobe  Barbaric Despoilers	10 if not Genocidal
	One Vision	0	−10% Pop amenities usage +10% Monthly unity +50% Governing ethics attraction	Machine Intelligence	10 20 if  Authoritarian or  Spiritualist 30 if  Fanatic Authoritarian or  Fanatic Spiritualist
	Shared Destiny	0	−50% Subject integration influence cost +100 Subject Trust Cap +2 Available envoys	Corporate  Inward Perfection Genocidal	5 if has any  Vassal
	Technological Ascendancy	0	+10% Research Speed +50% Rare technology chance		10 20 if  Materialist 30 if  Fanatic Materialist
	Transcendent Learning	0	+2 Leader Level Cap +50% Leader Experience Gain		10
	Universal Transactions	0	−15% Branch Office Cost Commercial Pacts are free	Corporate  Criminal Heritage	10
	Voidborne	0	+20% Habitat Habitability +2 Habitat Building Slots Can upgrade Housing buildings on Habitats Can always research the next tier of Habitat technology	Orbital Habitats technology	10 20 if  Pacifist 30 if  Fanatic Pacifist or  Void Dwellers
	Xeno-Compatibility	0	+33% Immigration pull +20% Pop growth speed if world has at least 2 different species Hybrid Species	Xenophile Any biological alien pop living in empire  Gene Tailoring technology	10 20 if  Xenophile 30 if  Fanatic Xenophile
	Enigmatic Engineering	1	+2 Encryption Destroyed ships don't leave debris Enemy Steal Technology operations fail		10 20 if  Materialist 30 if  Fanatic Materialist
	Grasp the Void	1	+5 Starbase capacity		10 15 if Xenophobe 30 if  Inwards Perfection
	Engineered Evolution	1	+3 Genetic modification points Clone Vats building −25% Modify Species special project cost Gene Seed Purification research option	Gene Tailoring technology Mind over Matter The Flesh is Weak  Machine Intelligence	10 if at least 10 worlds
	Mind over Matter	1	Telepathy research option Psi Corps building Psionic Armies Primary species gains the Latent Psionic trait New leaders have a 20% chance to get the Psychic trait Existing leaders can get the Psychic trait through events Increased Spiritualist ethics attraction	Psionic Theory technology Engineered Evolution The Flesh is Weak  Mechanical main species  Gestalt Consciousness	2 if at least 10 worlds 20 if at least 10 worlds and Spiritualist
	The Flesh is Weak	1	−10% Robot upkeep +10% Pop Assembly Speed Special Project to turn all pops into cyborgs All biological pops gain the Cybernetic trait All biological leaders gain the class appropriate Cyborg trait Assimilation Citizenship option Increased Materialist ethics attraction Enslaved robots will never rebel	Droids technology Engineered Evolution Mind over Matter  Mechanical main species  Gestalt Consciousness	2 if at least 10 worlds and not  Necrophage 20 if at least 10 worlds and Materialist and not  Necrophage
	World Shaper	1	−25% Terraforming Cost Gaia World terraforming option	Climate Restoration technology Is either:  Gestalt Consciousness  Rogue Servitor  Driven Assimilator	5
	Arcology Project	2	Arcology Project decision	Anti-Gravity Engineering technology  Agrarian Idyll Is either:  Gestalt Consciousness  Rogue Servitor	10 20 if  Pacifist 30 if  Fanatic Pacifist
	Galactic Force Projection	2	+20 Fleet Command Limit +80 Naval Capacity		10 20 if  Militarist 30 if  Fanatic Militarist 20 if Become the Crisis
	Hive Worlds	2	Hive World terraforming option	Hive Mind  Climate Restoration technology Terravore	10
	Machine Worlds	2	Machine World terraforming option	Machine Intelligence  Climate Restoration technology	10
	Master Builders	2	+50% Megastructures build speed +1 Megastructures build capacity	Mega-Engineering Technology	10 20 if  Pacifist 30 if  Fanatic Pacifist
	Synthetic Age	2	+2 Machine Modification Points −33% Modify Species special project cost	Machine Intelligence  Machine Template System technology	10
	Evolutionary Mastery	2	+3 Genetic modification points −25% Modify Species special project cost Genetic Resequencing research option Can add or remove the Hive-Minded trait by assimilation	Engineered Evolution  Glandular Acclimation technology	100
	Synthetic Evolution	2	+1 Robot Modification Points −50% Modify Species special project cost +10% Robot output Special Project to turn the empire synthetic A new robotic species will be created and can be named. All organic pops and leaders become that species All organic pops have their traits replaced with Mechanical Every organic army is turned into an Android Assault Army. Machine Intelligences regard you as a machine empire −40 opinion from Spiritualist empires −60 opinion from Fanatic Spiritualist empires −20 opinion from every empire that is not Materialist, Fanatic Materialist, Machine Intelligence or Synthetic	The Flesh is Weak special project  Synthetic Personality Matrix technology Synthetics technology  Mechanical main species  Gestalt Consciousness	100
	Transcendence	2	+2 Codebreaking +2 Encryption +10 Base intel level Primary species gains the Psionic trait Assimilation Citizenship option All primary species leaders gain the Psychic trait Special Project to breach the Shroud	Mind over Matter  Cybernetic main species  Mechanical main species  Gestalt Consciousness	100
	Become the Crisis	2	Unlocks Menace and the Crisis tab	Xenophile Pacifist  Rogue Servitor Subject Galactic Sovereign Corporate Sovereign Not the Galactic Custodian	7.5 if Militarist, Xenophobe or  Gestalt Consciousness 75 if Genocidal
	Colossus Project	3	Colossus ship type Colossus Project Special Project	Titans technology	10 20 if Militarist or Xenophobe 100 if Determined Exterminator 200 if  Fanatic Purifiers 2.5 if Pacifist 1 if Xenophile
	Defender of the Galaxy	3	+50% Damage to endgame crisis factions +50% Damage to crisis empires +20 Opinion from all empires		20 if any crisis happened (Includes Gray Goo L-gate Outcome)
	Galactic Contender	3	+20% Diplomatic weight +33% Damage to Awakened Empires +33% Damage to Fallen Empires +33% Damage to The Gate-builders	Communications with a fallen or awakened empire	10 20 if an awakened empire exists

References

Game concepts