Traits

Version

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

Traits represents a species' innate functions, abilities and personality. A species's traits are selected at the start of a new game, but a species or certain pops of a species can adapt new traits through genetic engineering or rare events. Traits affect a wide variety of areas, from population growth rate to resource output to lifespan or even how pops are viewed by each other. Most traits come in mutually exclusive groups that affect the same aspect of the species, such as  Nomadic and  Sedentary, and each pop can only have one such trait from the group at any given time. These groups include traits with opposite effects, as well as stronger variants of a trait. Though traits are initially decided at a species level, individual pops of the same species can end up with different traits with genetic modification, producing new subspecies or variants. This rarely happens without player intervention.

Traits are mostly fixed at the start of the game. Altering traits during the game is generally possible only later in the game through some select events or by using genetic engineering. Certain technologies and Ascension Perks add additional trait points that can be used to alter a part of your species' pops; modifications can range from altering their planet habitability to adding an additional positive trait or removing a negative one.

Biological traits

Traits are purchased from a points pool, with 2 points being available at the start of the game. Some traits are negative and have a negative cost, refunding points into the pool. Each species is limited to a maximum of 5 traits; non-standard traits do not count against this limit. Non-standard traits are all traits that have a cost of zero.

Initial traits

Initial traits are available when first creating a species. They can all be changed later via genetic modification. Initial traits can be both positive and negative, with the two being mutually exclusive. Traits that affect  Happiness cannot be added to species with the  Hive-Minded trait.

The  Adaptive and  Rapid Breeders traits are not available to species with the  Lithoid trait but can be added if the  Genetic Resequencing technology has been researched.

Positive traits				Negative traits
Trait	Effects		Slave Price	Trait	Effects		Slave Price
Adaptive	Habitability +10%	2	+50	Nonadaptive	Habitability −10%	−2	−50
Extremely Adaptive	Habitability +20%	4	+100
Agrarian	Food from Jobs +15%	2	+50
Charismatic	Amenities from Jobs +20%	2	0	Repugnant	Amenities from Jobs −20%	−2	0
Communal	Pop housing usage −10%	1	0	Solitary	Pop housing usage +10%	−1	0
Conformists	Governing Ethics Attraction +30%	2	0	Deviants	Governing Ethics Attraction −15%	−1	0
Conservationist	Pop consumer goods upkeep −10%	1	0	Wasteful	Pop consumer goods upkeep +10%	−1	0
Docile	Empire Sprawl from Pops −10%	2	0	Unruly	Empire Sprawl from Pops +10%	−2	0
Enduring	Leader lifespan +20 years	1	0	Fleeting	Leader lifespan −10 years if Biological Leader lifespan −25 years if Lithoid	−1	0
Venerable	Leader lifespan +80 years	4	0
Industrious	Minerals from Jobs +15%	2	+50
Ingenious	Energy Credits from Jobs +15%	2	+50
Intelligent	Research from Jobs +10%	2	0
Natural Engineers	Engineering Research from Jobs +15%	1	0
Natural Physicists	Physics Research from Jobs +15%	1	0
Natural Sociologists	Society Research from Jobs +15%	1	0
Nomadic	Pop growth from immigration +15% Resettlement Cost −25%	1	0	Sedentary	Pop growth from immigration −15% Resettlement Cost +25%	−1	0
Quick Learners	Leader Experience Gain +25%	1	0	Slow Learners	Leader Experience Gain −25%	−1	0
Rapid Breeders	Growth Speed +10%	2	+100	Slow Breeders	Growth Speed −10%	−2	−100
Resilient	Defense Army Damage +50%	1	0
Strong	Army Damage +20% Worker and Menial Drone Pop Resource Output +2.5%	1	+50	Weak	Army Damage −20% Worker and Menial Drone Pop Resource Output −2.5%	−1	−50
Very Strong	Army Damage +40% Worker and Menial Drone Pop Resource Output +5%	3	+150
Talented	Leader Level Cap +1	1	0
Thrifty	Trade value from Jobs +25%	2	0
Traditional	Unity from Jobs +10%	1	0	Quarrelsome	Unity from Jobs −10%	−1	0
				Decadent	Worker Happiness −10% Slave Happiness −10%	−1	0

Botanic traits

Botanic traits are only available to species with the Fungoid or Plantoid archetype.

Type	Effects	Excludes		Slave Price	Description
Phototrophic	Replaces half of the Food upkeep with Energy	Radiotrophic	1	+100	This species is sustained by a combination of both food and sunlight.
Radiotrophic	Replaces half of the Food upkeep with Energy No Energy upkeep on Tomb Worlds Tomb World Pop Growth Speed +10% Tomb World Habitability +10%	Phototrophic	2	+150	This species is sustained by a combination of both food and low-energy radiation, and as such can thrive on the most inhospitable of worlds.
Budding	Each pop produces 0.02 monthly Organic Pop Assembly	Slow Breeders  Rapid Breeders  Clone Soldier  Necrophage	2	+250	This species is capable of reproduction by budding, in addition to the more usual fertilization of seeds or spores.

Lithoid traits

Lithoid traits are only available to species with the Lithoid archetype. The Lithoid trait is always present on such species.

Type	Effects	Excludes		Slave Price	Description
Lithoid	Pop Growth Speed −25% Pop assembly speed −25% Habitability +50% Army health +50% Leader lifespan +50 years Leader initial age +22～30 Consumes  Minerals instead of  Food	Agrarian  Extremely Adaptive  Nonadaptive  Slow Breeders	0	0	This species has a silicon based biology, and consumes minerals rather than food. They are tougher than traditional organics and have slower metabolisms, making them long lived but slow to reproduce.
Gaseous Byproducts	Each pop produces 0.01 monthly Exotic Gases	Scintillating Skin  Volatile Excretions	2	+100	The metabolic processes of this species cause regular venting of gases useful to industry.
Scintillating Skin	Each pop produces 0.01 monthly Rare Crystals	Gaseous Byproducts  Volatile Excretions	2	+100	The outermost layer of this species is studded with sparkling crystals and gemstones that occasionally flake off.
Volatile Excretions	Each pop produces 0.01 monthly Volatile Motes	Gaseous Byproducts  Scintillating Skin	2	+100	The highly compressed spoor created by this species is unstable and contains an unbelievable amount of power.

Origin traits

Origin traits can only be given by certain Origins. The  Serviles trait can be removed after researching the  Genetic Resequencing technology but other origin traits are permanent.

Type	Effects	Excludes		Slave Price	Inherit chance	Origin	Description	DLC
Serviles	Happiness +10% Resources from Jobs +10% Cannot be employed in Ruler or Specialist Jobs Cannot generate governors or scientists	Intelligent  Erudite  Natural Physicists  Natural Sociologists  Natural Engineers	1	0	33%	Syncretic Evolution	This species evolved alongside a second, more advanced species. Never particularly intelligent to begin with, selective breeding for physical prowess and docility has reduced them to servile proles.
Clone Soldier	Governing Ethics Attraction +50% Army Damage +50% Leader Lifespan -40 years Admirals gain the Clone Army Admiral trait Cannot be genetically modified Cannot reproduce naturally	Rapid Breeders  Slow Breeders  Budding	0	0		Clone Army	Engineered for compliance and war: short-lived, unable to reproduce naturally, and very efficient.
Survivor	Leader lifespan +10 years Tomb World Habitability +70%		0	+50	33%	Post-Apocalyptic	This species has survived the horrors of a nuclear apocalypse. Their capacity for thriving in the most inhospitable circumstances should not be underestimated.
Void Dweller	Pop Output on Habitats +15% Pop Output on Planets −15% Pop Growth Speed −10% Pop Happiness on Planets −30%		0	0	33%	Void Dwellers	This species thrives in orbital habitats, with an instinctive ability to efficiently navigate their maze-like corridors and complicated architecture. However their weakened immune systems do not respond well to a planetary environment.
Necrophage	Leader lifespan +80 years Pop Upkeep −50% Resources from Ruler and Specialist Jobs +5% Resources from Worker Jobs −10% Pop Growth Speed −75% Pop assembly speed -50%	Budding	0	0		Necrophage	This species of near-immortals procreates by consuming pops of other species.

Special traits

These traits are required for special cases of species and cannot be removed from the creation menu.

The Hive-Minded trait can only be added by hive mind empires and can only be removed by empires that are not hive minds. Pops with this trait in an non-Hive Mind empire will slowly die while pops without the Hive-Minded trait in a Hive Mind empire can only be displaced, purged or used as livestock.

Special traits that cost trait points can be removed via the biological ascension path. Special traits that do not cost trait points have a fixed chance of being inherited by hybrid species.

Type	Effects	Excludes		Slave Price	Inherit chance	Requirements	Description	DLC
Uplifted	None		0	0	0%	Epigenetic Triggers technology	This species was uplifted from a primitive origin, and its members are happier when living on planets belonging to their benefactor.
Self-Modified	Cannot colonize if not primary species Cannot be removed		0	0		A New Species event	Members of this offshoot species have spontaneously altered their genetic makeup to give themselves an advantage.
Nivlac	Habitability: +50% Pop Growth Speed: +15%		2	+100	random	Impossible Organism event species	This species possessed perplexing adaptability, allowing it to thrive in most environments and survive virtually everywhere.
Bioadaptability	Habitability +5%		0	+25	33%	Orbital Speed Demon event (Green solution)	This species has been modified to be slightly more adaptive and can now better endure harsh climates.
Limited Regeneration	Army Damage: +10%  Leader lifespan: +10 years		0	+25	33%	Orbital Speed Demon event (Blue solution)	This species is has been modified to heal faster, making them more dangerous in battle and somewhat longer-lived in general.
Social Pheromones	Pop housing usage: −5%		0	+25	33%	Orbital Speed Demon event (Red solution)	This species has been modified to be more social and accepting of crowded conditions.
Cybernetic	Army Damage: +10%  Habitability: +20%  Leader lifespan: +40 years	Latent Psionic  Psionic	0	0	0%	The Flesh is Weak ascension perk  Driven Assimilator civic Keepers of Knowledge fallen empire	This species has embraced cybernetics on such a scale that its members may be considered cyborgs. They routinely replace their organic body parts with more advanced mechanical versions.	0
Latent Psionic	Energy from Jobs: +5%  Research: from Jobs: +5%  Psionic Leaders have a chance to gain the psionic trait	Cybernetic	0	0	25%	Mind over Matter ascension perk	This species has latent psionic abilities, which are dormant in most of its members. Although quite rare, these powers will manifest in some leaders.
Psionic	Energy from Jobs: +10%  Research: from Jobs: +10%  Happiness: +5%  Psionic Leaders have the psionic trait	Cybernetic	0	0	25%	Transcendence ascension perk Holy Guardians fallen empire pops  Ketling Star Pack pops  Racket Industrial Enterprise pops	All members of this species possess powerful psionic abilities. They typically communicate with each other through telepathy.	0
Hive-Minded	Not affected by Happiness Leader initial age −10 Leader lifespan +20		0	0		Hive Mind	This species is made up of semi-autonomous individuals slaved to a single, unfathomably vast consciousness.
Clone Soldier Ascendant	Governing Ethics Attraction +50% Habitability +20% Resources from Ruler Jobs +40% Resources from Specialist Jobs +25% Army Damage +75% Army Health +25% Admirals gain the Ascendant Clone Army Admiral trait Cannot be genetically modified Cannot reproduce naturally	Rapid Breeders  Slow Breeders  Budding	0	0		Clone Army event	Clones at their genetically-engineered peak, with further improved strength, efficiency, durability, and longevity - but forever infertile.
Clone Soldier Descendant	Governing Ethics Attraction +20% Army Damage +20% Admirals gain the Descendant Clone Army Admiral trait		0	0	random	Clone Army event	Once infertile, engineered for compliance and war. Their genetic edge diminished, they are now stable enough for natural reproduction.
Docile Livestock	Pop Growth Speed: +30%  Unity from Jobs: +10%  Energy from Jobs: −50%  Research from Jobs: −75% Cannot be employed in Ruler or Specialist Jobs Cannot generate Leaders Not affected by Happiness	Intelligent  Erudite  Natural Physicists  Natural Sociologists  Natural Engineers	1	0	random	Wild Eukaryotes event species	Docile and delicious, this species has had its higher brain functions genetically altered to create a kind of harmless livestock that can care for itself, without the pesky need for social interaction or self-determination.
Brain Slug Host	Research from Jobs: +10%  Unity from Jobs: +10% Pop Growth Speed −25%		0	0	0%	Neural Symbiosis event	This species is enjoying the presence of a neural symbiont: a helpful slug that attaches itself to the brain stem of its host.
Unlifted	Research from Jobs −60%	Intelligent	0	0	0%	Enigmatic Cache event	This species has suffered the tragic consequences of an uplifting gone wrong.
Somewhat Uplifted	Research from Jobs +10%	Intelligent	0	0	0%	Enigmatic Cache event	This species was partially uplifted by a benevolent extragalactic intellect and has left some of its primitive origins behind.
Uplifted	Researcher Output +10% Leader Experience Gain +25%	Slow Learners  Erudite  Nerve Stapled	0	0	0%	Enigmatic Cache event	This species was uplifted by a benevolent extragalactic intellect and has left its primitive origins behind.
Numistic Administration	Energy Credits from Jobs +15% Extra Trade Value from certain Jobs  Angler: +0.2  Artificer: +0.2  Pearl Diver: +0.2  Manager: +0.75  Clerk: +1 (+1.1 with Trickle up economics)  Preacher +1  Executive +1.5  Subterranean Liaison Officer +1.5 Titan Hunter: +2  Merchant: +3		1	0	random	Numistic Order pops	This species has been trained in the holy art of Numistic Administration.
Aquatic	Ocean Habitability +20% Housing Usage on Ocean Worlds −10% Worker Output on Ocean Worlds +10% Dry and Frozen planet Habitability −20% Housing Usage on Dry and Frozen planets +30% Hydrocentric ascension boosts this trait's effects by 50%		1	0	random	Ocean Preference trait  Anglers civic  Ocean Paradise origin  Evolutionary Mastery ascension perk	This species is perfectly adapted to living in the depths of the ocean. However, on dry land, it is like a fish out of water.

Biological ascension traits

There are 5 advanced traits which are made available for genetic modification if the Evolutionary Mastery ascension perk is taken and  Genetic Resequencing has been researched. Biological ascension traits are only half as likely as standard traits to be inherited by hybrid species.

Type	Effects	Excludes		Slave Price	Description
Erudite	Researcher Output +20% Leader Level Cap +1  Erudite Leaders have special traits	Intelligent  Nerve Stapled  Uplifted	4	0	Biological engineering has unlocked previously dormant parts of this species' brains, greatly increasing mental acuity.
Fertile	Pop Growth Speed +30% Pop housing usage −10%	Lithoid  Rapid Breeders  Slow Breeders	4	+200	The natural fecundity of this species has been dramatically enhanced through aggressive physical and behaviorial sculpting.
Robust	Habitability +30% Resources from Jobs +5% Leader lifespan +50 years	Lithoid  Extremely Adaptive  Adaptive  Nonadaptive	4	+200	Bio-Optimized organs with redundant functions have made this species extraordinarily resistant to environmental hazards and disease.
Delicious	Food from Livestock and Processing: +2	Lithoid	2	+100	This species has the curious evolutionary adaptation of being highly nutritious when eaten.
Nerve Stapled	Resources from Jobs +5% Cannot be employed in Ruler, Specialist or Complex Drone jobs Cannot generate Leaders Not Affected by Happiness Can't join a faction	Erudite  Intelligent Natural Inclination  Talented  Communal  Solitary	3	+150	Unessential neural pathways relating to self-preservation and free-will are severed, creating a docile and obedient client species.

Pre-Sapient traits

Pre-Sapient species have exclusive traits that cannot otherwise be chosen when creating or modifying a species. They retain these traits after being uplifted as a sapient species. All of these traits cost 1 trait point.

Type	Effects	Description
Conservative	+5% Happiness +25% Governing Ethics Attraction −33% Leader Experience Gain	Members of this species often prefer old wisdom over new experiences.
Earthbound	+10% Energy from Jobs +50% Defense Army Damage	Members of this species are very possessive of the planets they call home.
Irradiated	+100% Tomb World Habitability +30 Years Leader Lifespan	This species has evolved to thrive in environments subject to extremely high levels of background radiation.
Natural Intellectuals	+5% Unity from Jobs +10% Research from Jobs −10% Minerals from Jobs	Members of this species are more philosophically inclined than most.
Proles	+10% Army Damage +10% Minerals from Jobs +10% Food from Jobs −15% Research from Jobs	This species has traditionally shunned intellectual pursuits in favor of physical labor.
Starborn	+25% Pop Growth from Immigration −25% Resettlement Cost +10% Habitability	This species has always, consciously or not, longed to traverse the void between the stars.

Climate preference traits

Each organic species has a climate preference trait that determines their base  Habitability on the various types of planets, usually that corresponding to the type of their homeworld. Habitability traits can be changed through genetic modification, but a pop can never have more than one Habitability trait. The Habitability of other celestial body types is unaffected by these traits.

Preference	Climate	80% Habitability	60% Habitability	20% Habitability
Arid	Dry	Arid	Desert Savannah	Alpine Arctic Tundra Continental Ocean Tropical
Desert	Dry	Desert	Arid Savannah	Alpine Arctic Tundra Continental Ocean Tropical
Savannah	Dry	Savannah	Arid Desert	Alpine Arctic Tundra Continental Ocean Tropical
Alpine	Frozen	Alpine	Arctic Tundra	Arid Desert Savannah Continental Ocean Tropical
Arctic	Frozen	Arctic	Alpine Tundra	Arid Desert Savannah Continental Ocean Tropical
Tundra	Frozen	Tundra	Alpine Arctic	Arid Desert Savannah Continental Ocean Tropical
Continental	Wet	Continental	Ocean Tropical	Arid Desert Savannah Alpine Arctic Tundra
Ocean	Wet	Ocean	Continental Tropical	Arid Desert Savannah Alpine Arctic Tundra
Tropical	Wet	Tropical	Continental Ocean	Arid Desert Savannah Alpine Arctic Tundra

Exotic climate preferences

Exotic climate preferences can only be obtained through Origins, events, conquest of a unique species, or when the Omnicodex relic creates a species on a matching celestial body.

Preference Trait	Habitability on native climate	Habitability on regular planets	Sources other than the Omnicodex
Tomb World Preference	80% Tomb World	60%	Pre-FTL or pre-sapient species inhabiting a Tomb World Horizon Signal event A New Species event on a Tomb World
Gaia World Preference	100% Gaia World	0%	Pre-FTL or pre-sapient species inhabiting a Gaia World  Life-Seeded Origin Baol pops created by the Nu-Baol Life Seeding decision Unexpected Mutations Terraforming event
Habitat Preference	100% Habitat	0%	Void Dwellers Origin Marauder and Enclave pops
Ring World Preference	100% Ring World	0%	Shattered Ring Origin Sanctuary pre-FTL civilizations
AI World Preference	100% AI World	1%
Hive World Preference	100% Hive World	0%
Machine World Preference	100% Machine World	0%
Relic World Preference	80% Relic World	0%

Robotic traits

All robotic species have either the  Mechanical or the  Machine trait. Both traits grant +200%  Habitability on all planets.  Mechanical Pops can exist within  Machine Intelligence empires via conquest but  Machine Pops cannot exist outside  Machine Intelligence empires. All such species can then be given new traits through Robomodding once the  Machine Template System technology is researched, a few of them being restricted to  Mechanical or  Machine species. Robotic traits can be both positive and negative, which are mutually exclusive with each other, and both of them can be added and removed at will once the technology to enable Robomodding becomes available.

Empires that are not  Machine Intelligence must research higher tiers of robot technologies before they can add some of the more powerful traits to  Robot Pops.

Positive Traits			Negative Traits			Requirements
Trait		Effect	Trait		Effect
Machine	0	Not affected by  Happiness  Habitability +200% Leaders are Immortal				Machine Intelligence
Mechanical	0	Not affected by Happiness unless the Artificial Intelligence policy is not set to Outlawed  Habitability +200% Leaders are Immortal Cannot generate Leaders unless the Synthetic Personality Matrix technology is researched				Robotic Workers technology
Domestic Protocols	2	Can be employed in Servant jobs if under AI Servitude Amenities from Jobs +20%				Droids technology  Mechanical trait
Double Jointed	1	Pop housing usage −10%	Bulky	–1	Pop housing usage +10%
Durable	1	Robot upkeep –10%	High Maintenance	–1	Robot upkeep +10%
Efficient Processors	3	Resources from Jobs +5%
Emotion Emulators	1	Amenities from Jobs +20%	Uncanny	–1	Amenities from Jobs −20%	Machine trait
Enhanced Memory	2	Leader Level Cap +2				Synthetic Personality Matrix technology
Harvesters	2	Food from Jobs +15%				Mechanical trait
Learning Algorithms	1	Leader Experience Gain +25%	Repurposed Hardware	–1	Leader Experience Gain –25%	Synthetic Personality Matrix technology
Logic Engines	2	Research Output +10%				Synthetics technology
Loyalty Circuits	2	Happiness +10%				Synthetics technology  Mechanical trait
Mass-Produced	1	Pop assembly speed +15%	Custom-Made	–1	Pop assembly speed –15%
Power Drills	2	Minerals from Jobs +15%
Propaganda Machines	1	Unity from Jobs +15%				Mechanical trait
Recycled	2	Pop Assembly Cost –20%	Luxurious	–2	Pop Assembly Cost +20%
Streamlined Protocols	2	Empire Sprawl –10%	High Bandwidth	–2	Empire Sprawl +10%
Superconductive	2	Energy Credits from Jobs +15%

Game concepts