Spaceborne aliens

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This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

Spaceborne aliens

Guardians (Leviathans)

Marauders

Caravaneers

Spaceborne aliens are spacefaring forms of life which will likely be the first aliens that new spacefarers will encounter. Every difficulty level above Ensign increases the power of Leviathans and Marauder Empires, with the exact raised stats varying for each. Other Spaceborne Aliens are not affected by the difficulty level.

Space creatures[edit]

Humanoid science ships encountering a pacified Space Amoeba Mother

Space creatures are entities which may not even classify as ships or life in the common meaning of the words. They generally inhabit a certain area of space and are seldom seen away from it. Upon First Contact completion a special project will be added to the situation log, which when completed will allow an empire to deal with them in three ways:

Researching unlocks a special project for detailed research that will grant a choice between an empire modifier and possibly a creature technology.
Hunting will grant a +33% damage bonus empire modifier towards that type of Space Creature, and resources rewards upon killing them. If the creatures cannot be pacified the option is available to all empires, otherwise it is only available to Militarist, Xenophobe and Genocidal empires.
Pacify will unlock a special project that costs 5000 Physics research and allows an empire to turn the space creatures non-hostile and unlock the ability to research all special components the creatures use. Only 2 of the 5 Space Creatures can be pacified. This option is available to Pacifist or Xenophile Empires. If the Galactic Community is formed the Space Amoeba pacification modifier can be offered to all members by passing the Space Amoeba Protection Act Resolution.

If killed, space creatures will slowly respawn in their home system.

Space Creatures

Research option bonuses

Hunting

Pacifying

Type

Home System

Tactics

Ancient Mining Drones

Cost: 2000

Engineering research

+10% Mining Station Minerals

Can expand

Contains 2 normal mining stations and the Home Base Ore Grinder. Each station is guarded by two fleets, one purely destroyers and one made of drones. Destroying Home Base Ore Grinder grants 4000

Minerals and 500

Alloys. If the

Ancient Relics DLC is installed it also grants the

Surveyor Relic.

Ancient Mining Drones use regular components. The Cutting Lasers can be salvaged.

Mining Drone	Combat Drone	Destroyer	Base
2 Cutting Laser 1 Armor T1 1 Armor T1 Reactor T2 Thrusters T2 Sensor T1	1 Cutting Laser 2 Cutting Laser 1 Armor T1 2 Armor T1 Reactor T2 Thrusters T2 Sensor T1	2 Cutting Laser 2 Cutting Laser 1 Armor T1 3 Armor T1 Reactor T2 Thrusters T2 Sensor T1	2 Laser T5 3 Strike Craft 5 Armor T1 Reactor T2 Sensor T1

Crystalline Entities

Cost: 2000

Physics research

+5% Energy from Jobs
OR

Crystal-Infused Plating tech

Can expand

Contains Crystal Nidus, a large crystalline structure guarded by 4 elite fleets. The system can be safely explored and claimed if the crystalline entities have been pacified. As their home system has a pulsar, shields will be useless when attacking it.

Defensively: Armor or shields - their shard weapons deal +50% damage against hull but have no other bonus
Offensively: Any weapon, but especially plasma launchers or mining lasers - Crystalline Entities have resilient and regenerating hulls, but no shields or armor
Unique salvage: Crystal-Infused Plating from ships, Crystal-Forged Plating from Crystal Nidus, both are the only hull increasing components in the game.

Space Amoeba

Cost: 2000

Society research

+5% Evasion
OR

Regenerative Hull Tissue tech

Migratory

Always called Amor Alveo, its various celestial body deposits produce in total 8

Energy, 12

Minerals, 6

Society, 3

Exotic Gases, 3

Volatile Motes and 2

Rare Crystals.

Defensively: Shields and point defense - their weapons deal +25% damage against armor and large amoeba launch strike craft
Offensively: Energy weapons - Space Amoeba have natural armor and regenerate
Unique salvage: Amoeba Flagella, strike craft as strong as tier 3 fighters

Void Clouds

Cost: 2000

Physics research

+10% Physics from Jobs

Stationary

Always called Great Wound, it is a black hole cluster guarded by 3 Void Cloud fleets. Most black holes have deposits of 4

Physics and the central one contains the largest

Dark Matter deposit in the galaxy. The system should be attacked with a highly superior force due to the effects of black holes on space battles.

Defensively: Crystal plated hulls if available - their weapons ignore both shields and armor. Their erratic damage can sometimes destroy Corvettes in one hit.
Offensively: Missiles and Autocannons - Void Clouds have equal amounts of natural shields and hull
Unique salvage: Cloud Lightning, L weapons that ignore both shields and armor

Tiyanki Space Whales

Frequency Tuning tech

Passive unless attacked

Migratory

Always called Tiyana Vek, it contains 4 Gas Giants. Each one has a deposit of 6

Society. The star itself always has a deposit of 6

Physics

Tiyanki fleets can consist of Cows, Bulls, Calves and Hatchlings. Regenerative Hull Tissue can be salvaged.

	Bull and Cow	Calf and Hatchling
Loadout	5 Energy Siphon 1 Regenerative Hull Tissue	3 Energy Siphon 1 Regenerative Hull Tissue
Kill rewards	500 Energy 50 Exotic Gases	250 Energy 25 Exotic Gases

VLUUR[edit]

VLUUR is a powerful migrating Void Cloud that has around 32K Fleet Power and is armed with 8 Cloud Lighting weapons. For as long as VLUUR is in a system it will cause a storm that causes -50% Sublight Speed and -15% Fire Rate on ships.

VLUUR is not hostile but can be attacked. It has powerful shields and high Evasion, but low hull, and can be defeated deceptively easily with missile weapons. Defeating VLUUR grants 100 Dark Matter, and will create various deposits of 1-3 Dark Matter on up to 4 planets in the system it's defeated in.

Bemat Thalassocracy[edit]

The Bemat Thalassocracy is a hostile fleet that can appear after the end-game year is reached. It will appear in a system owned by an empire that produces at least 180 Trade Value. The fleet is made up of the following ships:

40 corvettes	35 destroyers	34 cruisers
1 Kinetic T3 1 Plasma T1 1 Disruptor T1 2 Shield T2 1 Afterburners T2 1 Shield Capacitor Jump Drive Thrusters T4 Sensors T2 Reactor T5 Combat Computer T1	1 Plasma T3 1 Plasma T3 3 Laser T5 4 Shield T4 2 Armor T3 1 Shield Capacitor Jump Drive Thrusters T3 Sensors T2 Reactor T5 Combat Computer T2 (Line)	1 Missiles T5 2 Swarmer Missiles T1 2 Disruptor T2 2 Plasma T3 2 Kinetic T3 5 Shield T4 3 Armor T3 1 Auxiliary Fire Control 1 Nanite Repair System Jump Drive Thrusters T3 Sensors T2 Reactor T5 Combat Computer T2 (Artillery)

Nomads[edit]

The nomad fleet

Nomads are replaced by Caravaneers if the MegaCorp DLC is enabled.

The Nomads, or Namarians as they call themselves, are a passive millennia old intergalactic race with no homeworld, forever traveling the void in their starships. Once they establish communications the nomads will help establish communications between any encountered empires that did not discover each other yet. They travel from system to system and their stay in the galaxy is temporary and will eventually set sail for another one. Events related to them can take place during their stay.

The date when and if the Nomads arrive is rolled at game start, with the following chances:

20% chance to appear after 20 years ± 500 days
25% chance to appear after 40 years ± 500 days
25% chance to appear after 55 years ± 500 days
30% chance to never appear

When their time is due they will spawn in a random Rim System that has no ship in it and that no empire has an intel level better than low. Upon appearing, they will decide the midpoint and endpoint of their journey. On their journey Nomads will perform an action when entering a system. Those actions depends on if the system has an owner and what the relationship with the owner is.

If the system is owned by an empire that has neither contact nor is hostile to them, they will start orbiting a random planet in the system until contact is established. The player is not capable of deciphering their communications but contact will always be established by them after 100 days. After contact is established they will send the owner a request. If they enter another system owned by the same empire they will roll for a request again. Each interaction has the following chances:

30% - Ask to leave some pops on an owned planet within your borders
- x0 If the system owner does not have a colonized Dry planet within borders or is a Hive Mind
- x0.75 if they already left pops before
- x1.5 if any form of Xenophile, Egalitarian or Spiritualist Empire and not already left pops before
- x0.3 if Slavery policy is set to Allowed
  - Nomads traits are Desert Preference, Nomadic, Venerable and Natural Engineers.
30% - Ask for a planet to settle on, forming a new empire
- x0 if there is no habitable and uncolonized planet or if the system owner is a Hive Mind
- x0.5 if they already settled one planet
- x1.75 if any form of Xenophile, Egalitarian or Spiritualist Empire and did not already settle a planet
  - Nomads ethics are Egalitarian, Spiritualist and Xenophile.
30% - Sell 5 or 15 Cruisers
- x0 if the system owner already was offered ships
- x0.25 if system owner is Fanatic Militarist or Fanatic Xenophobe
- x0.5 if already sold ships to an empire
- x1.75 if any form of Xenophile, Egalitarian or Spiritualist Empire and not already sold ships to anyone
10% - Move on with no request

If the system has no owner, and neither hostile, mid- or endpoint of their journey, they will perform a peaceful action with the following chances:

10% - Build new Ships
- x10 if under 3k Fleet Power
- x5 if under 5k Fleet Power
- x0 if over 10k or has the have the ship building lockout
80% - Pick a random planet and wait in orbit for 30–50 days. Afterwards, they have a 25% chance to move on and 75% chance to pick another planet in the system to repeat it
- x0 if less than 1.5k Fleet Power
10% - Move on without doing anything

While the Nomads are inherently peaceful, a fight can be picked in order to get access to their technology. Nomads are easy prey but their technology is just average by midgame, making this rarely useful. The nomad fleet consists of the following:

20 Protectors	3 Ark Ships
1 Laser T4 2 Point-Defense T2 2 Armor T3 1 Shields T3 Hyperdrive T3 Thrusters T3 Sensors T3 Reactor T4 Combat Computer T3 (Picket)	Hyperdrive T3 Thrusters T3 Sensors T3 Reactor T4

Enclaves[edit]

The Curator enclave is enabled for owners of Distant Stars as well.

Enclave station

Enclaves are neutral NPC spawned factions. They do not own any planets, but consist of large enclave stations. They primarily exist to be interacted with via Diplomacy Menu using the "Others" filter. There are 3 types of enclaves: Artisans, Curators, and Traders. Each of them has two or three basic interactions, and one or two restricted interactions that can only be used after an Opinion of at least 50 is reached.

Their maximum Opinion is 100, and an empire builds opinion with them by using their services or having starbases in their systems. +1 opinion is gained each year. This is not cumulative when owning multiple systems with the same enclave. The enclave Opinion is tracked wholly via the trust mechanic, and no other Diplomacy bonuses or penalties apply.

The primary resource for interacting with enclaves is energy. Most actions are repeatable, but some of the actions also have an increasing cost. The price increases as an empire's population goes past certain thresholds:

Pops	Energy cost
0-60	1000
61-120	2000
121-180	3000
181-240	4000
241+	5000

During the renewal request after a modifier runs out, the player will be able to renew the deal for a sum of energy credits which scales with the number of the empire's population. With Trader enclaves you will be asked how many monthly units (of the respective rare resource sold by the enclave) you want to buy.

Enclave	Option	Effect	Requirements
Curators	Research aid	Gain the Curator Insight modifier for 10 years (+10% Research Speed) +20 Opinion	scales with population
	Mysteries of the Universe - not known	Adds a Leviathan point of interest will be added to the situation log +10 Opinion	300
	Mysteries of the Universe - how to defeat	Adds a permanent +25% Damage modifier against the chosen Guardian +20 Opinion	2000 for Hives 600 for Infinity Machine 1000 for other Guardians
	L-Gates	Gain an L-Gate Insight +20 Opinion	5000 Once per 10 years
	Establish Think Tank	Allow the construction of Curator Think Tanks buildings in enclave system starbases	50
	Recruit scientist	Gain a level 5 Scientist with the Curator trait (can only have one curator scientist at a time)	50 1000
	Buy Intelligence	Gain +20 Intel on target empire +10 Opinion	50 1000
	Infinity mystery	Gain 1000-10000 Engineering research (can only be done once, though the modifier is kept)	Mirror of Knowledge modifier
Artisans	Become patron	Gain the Patron of the Arts modifier for 10 years (+10% Monthly Unity). Becoming a patron also allows Patron Events to trigger: Newsletter events give the option to convert 500 Energy into 50 Influence. It can only happen up to 4 times. Equipment malfunction events give the option to get 500 Minerals or 50 Influence. The more important one grants access to the Planet Unique Ministry of Culture for 500 Energy.	scales with population
	Commission art piece	Gain the Exhibit Art Monument Decision +10 Opinion	600 Does not own 5
	Found Art College	Allow the construction of Art College buildings in enclave system starbases	50
	Organize festival	+15 Opinion Gain the Festival of Worlds modifier for 10 years (+15% Happiness and +10% Pop Growth Speed). There is also a chance for one of the following to happen within the next year: 10% chance: A stampede kills a pop. You can either divert the media's attention for 100 Influence or suffer a negative modifier for two years (-20% Happiness, -10% Energy from Jobs). Increased chance for Materialist or Fanatic Materialist empires. 10% chance: Some artisans wish to settle. Accepting will add 2 artisan pops to one of your worlds. The climate preference will always match. Increased chance for Xenophile, Fanatic Xenophile, Pacifist, or Fanatic Pacifist empires. 5% chance: The artisans steal 1000 , end the festival modifier, and refuse to communicate for 10 years. Increased chance for Xenophobe, Fanatic Xenophobe, Materialist, or Fanatic Materialist empires.	50 1000
Traders	Strategic Resource deal	Provides a unit of a rare resource for 10 years. The resource amount can be scaled up to 5 times. The higher the volume, the faster Opinion increases. Resources vary based on which specific trader Enclave is encountered: XuraCorp sells Exotic Gases Muutagan Merchant Guild sells Rare Crystals Riggan Commerce Exchange sells Volatile Motes	500 per unit 10 monthly per unit
Traders	Seek expertise	Gain an immortal level 5 Governor with the Enclave Trader trait (once per enclave)	50 500

Curator strength opinion

Curator enclaves can always be asked how would the player's fleets fare against the leviathans. Depending on the total fleet power they will give the following replies:

Below 5k: Poorly. Very poorly. Wait a second, you're not actually thinking of...? My goodness, with the ships you have? It... it would be a slaughter!
Between 5k and 15k: I would strongly advise against it. Your attacks would likely be more of an annoyance than a threat.
Between 15k and 30k: Hmmm... yes... yes, I suppose you might actually stand a chance. If you combined your entire fleet... it would not be an easy victory, mind you, but one that is at least within the realm of possibility.
Over 30k: Yours is a mighty fleet, comparable to some of the greatest armadas recorded in the annals of the Curator Order. Victory is certainly within your reach.

Note that their advice is inaccurate on the highest difficulties which require an even stronger fleet.

Attacking enclaves[edit]

While enclaves will never become hostile to any empire except in retaliation, they can be attacked like any neutral entity. With around 7k fleet power and highest level weapons they are no easy prey. Various rewards can be salvaged from their remnants, depending on the type of enclave destroyed.

	Curator station	Artisan station	Trader enclave
Loadout	1 Lance T2 4 Torpedo T3 6 Energy Torpedo T2 6 Disruptor T3 6 Disruptor T3 4 Point-Defense T3 10 Armor T5 10 Shield T5 2 Shield Capacitor Tachyon Sensors	1 Arc Emitter T2 4 Missile T5 6 Laser T5 6 Plasma Cannon T3 6 Autocannon T3 4 Point-Defense T3 10 Armor T5 10 Shield T5 2 Shield Capacitor Tachyon Sensors	1 Cannon T2 4 Multi-Missiles T2 6 Artillery T2 6 Kinetic T5 6 Autocannon T3 4 Flak T2 10 Armor T5 10 Shield T5 2 Shield Capacitor Tachyon Sensors
Reward	1000 Engineering Research 1000 Physics Research 1000 Society Research	2000 Energy Credits 2000 Minerals	2000 Energy Credits 2000 Minerals
AI Opinion change	-15	0	-15

Enclave stations do not drop debris for salvage. Attacking a curator or artisan enclave will make every enclave station of the same type unavailable for trade.

Crystalline Empire[edit]

If playing with the Void Dwellers origin (AI empires can't trigger it) then there is a 1% chance that during the mid-game a unique enclave known as the Crystalline Empire will spawn near the galactic core. Its system does not have hyperlane connections but will have a wormhole to a random system in the galaxy. Empires that are not Genocidal and did not attack them can offer to help them every 20 years to receive one of the following:

1 use of the Settle Crystalline Refugees decision for 10 years
1 use the the Cystalline Construction decision for 10 years
A level 7 scientist leader

Destroying the Crystalline Empire enclave grants no rewards.

Enigmatic Cache[edit]

Enigmatic Cache

The Enigmatic Cache, or BALDOR as it calls itself, is a tubular entity that will emerge from any Gateway or L-Gate once the mid-game year is reached and set course for the nearest empire that is not at war. Upon taking damage to its hull it will instantly teleport away to the closest system with a Gateway or L-Gate.

Once the Enigmatic Cache enters an empire's borders it will start orbiting each one of the empire's colonies for a decade. As long as it orbits a colony it gives it a +30% Research Output modifier but also -10% Happiness to any pops with the Xenophobe ethic. The first time it happens the empire will get the option of issuing a special project to study it or leave it alone for 50 Influence. The special project costs 2500 Engineering research and finishing it refunds 90-250 Engineering research and grants an L-Gate insight. Once all colonies have been scanned the Enigmatic Cache will set course for the nearest empire and repeat the process.

After all colonies in the galaxy have been scanned, the Enigmatic Cache will go to the capital of a biological empire that did not attack it and request to uplift the main species via a special project that takes 2 years. In multiplayer the human player with the lowest Relative Power is chosen, random if tied. In singleplayer the player empire is always chosen.

Around 4 months into the project is started the empire will be notified that the Enigmatic Cache is deteriorating and bring the following options:

Abort the uplift, causing the Enigmatic Cache to teleport away and never return.
Ignore it. Once the project is complete there is a 75% chance the main species gains the Somewhat Uplifted trait and -20% Happiness for 10 years and a 25% chance the main species gains the Uplifted trait and -10% Happiness for 10 years. The Enigmatic Cache will also remain in orbit above the capital and permanently give its Research Output modifier.
Issue a special project to repair the Enigmatic Cache with a construction ship. Once the uplift is complete the main species will gain the Uplifted trait. The Enigmatic Cache will also remain in orbit above the capital and permanently give its Research Output modifier.