Species

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (2.7) of the game.

Every habitable planet has the potential of developing different kinds of intelligent beings that may, naturally or not, develop technologically. Sometimes, such beings reach a crucial point in their development that allows them access to FTL technology and, as a consequence, the ability to become full-fledged interstellar empires.

A species may or may not equate with an empire. At first, every empire will be made up entirely of its original species but eventually, it may include other species through conquest, migration pacts, enlightening pre-FTL cultures, or accepting refugees.

The portrait of a species can be changed at will through pop modification if the Genetic Resequencing technology is researched, although the species class cannot be changed.

Species identityEdit

At galaxy generation species are divided into species class groups, parent species and sub-species.

There are 10 different species classes, representing species with similar observable characteristics, including its morphology or physical form and structure, its developmental processes and its biochemical and physiological properties.

A parent species is the first spawned species of its kind (a kind is defined by its species portrait and name). A sub-species is created when a pop modification template is applied to a parent species or another sub-species and is considered to be the same species for the purposes of xenophobia, xenophilia and species rights.

Species within the same class group will be less affected by xenophobia and xenophilia, with the effect increasing if they share the same portrait. If two species are created during galaxy generation with the same portrait and name they will be considered the same species.

List of species classesEdit

Several species are pre-defined, including the Humans of the Sol system. Each species portrait available to start a new empire will belong to one of the following classes: Arthropod (insect-like), Avian (bird-like), Fungoid (fungus-like), Humanoid (human-like), Mammalian (mammal-like), Molluscoid (invertebrates), Reptilian, Plantoid (part of the Plantoids Species Pack DLC), Lithoid (part of the Lithoids Species Pack DLC) and Machine (part of the Synthetic Dawn DLC).

Each species have traits and ethics that can be selected, as well as homeworld preference. Traits and ethics are independent of the species or portrait selected, though players can, of course, use the portrait art as inspiration for their choices, adding to role-playing.

The first ruler of every empire can be customized. For non-humanoid species customization is limited to colors and possibly clothes, while some humanoid species feature hairstyle customization too. Humanoids are the only species group to feature differences in gender appearance across the board, though a few avian portraits feature minor coloration differences between the genders.

Different species will use different voices and manners of speaking when contacted via the Contacts menu.

Note: The order of the portraits is meant to reflect their in-game order.

HumanoidEdit

The humanoids are the only species class that uses different models and voices for each gender. Also, each humanoid portraits has its own diplomacy voice.

Human
Humanoid #2
Humanoid #3
Humanoid #4
Humanoid #5

Ten additional portraits are available as part of the Humanoid Species Pack DLC.

Humanoid HP #1
Humanoid HP #2
Humanoid HP #6
Humanoid HP #7
Humanoid HP #8
Humanoid HP #9
Humanoid HP #10
Humanoid HP #11
Humanoid HP #12
Humanoid HP #13

MammalianEdit

Most of mammalian portraits have a unique insult targeted specifically to them.

Slender #5
Massive #13
Normal #10
Massive #14
Slender #4
Normal #9
Massive #11
Normal #6
Slender #3
Massive #12
Normal #7
Massive #15
Slender #2
Normal #8
Slender #1
Massive #16
Massive #17
Ketling / Racket

The Evil Porcupine (Massive #17) portrait was originally exclusive players who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.

ReptilianEdit

Slender #02
Normal #10
Massive #14
Slender #03
Normal #07
Massive #12
Normal #09
Massive #11
Normal #06
Normal #13
Slender #01
Normal #08
Slender #04
Massive #15
Slender #05
Reptilian #17
Reptilian #16

The Fairy Dragon (Reptilian #17) portrait is part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC.

AvianEdit

Slender #01
Normal #08
Massive #13
Normal #10
Massive #15
Slender #04
Normal #07
Slender #05
Normal #09
Normal #06
Massive #11
Slender #03
Massive #14
Slender #02
Massive #12
Massive #16
Massive #17
Avian #18

Note: The Chirpy portrait (Massive #16) is available to those who login to their Paradox account while in-game.^[1]

The Dinosaur Bird (Massive #17) portrait was originally exclusive to players who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.

The Peacock Avian (Avian #18) portrait is part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC.

ArthropoidEdit

Massive #14
Normal #07
Massive #12
Normal #06
Slender #01
Massive #13
Normal #08
Slender #03
Slender #05
Normal #09
Normal #10
Massive #11
Massive #15
Massive #16
Arthropoid #20
Massive #17
Arthropoid #19
Arthropoid #18

Note: The Shadowy Arthropod (Massive #17) portrait was originally exclusive players who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.

The Arachnoid (Massive #16) portrait is included only in the Nova Edition or the Galaxy Edition of Stellaris.

The Larvae (Arthropoid #20) portrait is part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC.

The Mantis Shrimp (Arthropoid #19) portrait is available to those who login to their Paradox account while in-game^[2]

MolluscoidEdit

Slender #03
Normal #07
Massive #13
Slender #02
Massive #14
Slender #04
Normal #08
Slender #01
Massive #11
Massive #12
Slender #05
Normal #06
Massive #15
Massive #16
Molluscoid #17
Molluscoid #18

Note: The Hydra/Xenomorph (Massive #16) portrait was originally exclusive to players those who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.

FungoidEdit

Slender #02
Slender #04
Slender #03
Massive #13
Massive #12
Normal #06
Massive #15
Normal #07
Slender #01
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Massive #11
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Massive #14
Normal #10
Massive #16
Fungoid #17

Note: The Fungoid Infected Mammalian (Massive #16) portrait was originally exclusive to players who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.

PlantoidEdit

The Plantoid class is part of the Plantoids Species Pack DLC. If the Ancient Relics DLC is enabled this class can be played with the Baol portrait but plantoid ship and city appearance will not be available.

Slender #02
Normal #06
Slender #01
Massive #11
Slender #03
Massive #13
Normal #07
Massive #15
Normal #10
Slender #05
Normal #09
Massive #14
Slender #04
Normal #08
Massive #12
Baol

LithoidEdit

The Lithoid class is part of the Lithoids Species Pack DLC. Each portrait has its own diplomacy voice.

Lithoid #01 - Golem
Lithoid #02 - Lava
Lithoid #03 - Geode
Lithoid #04 - Angelic
Lithoid #05 - Mantis
Lithoid #06 - Symbiotic
Lithoid #07 - Pyrite
Lithoid #08 - Sedimentary
Lithoid #09 - Spider
Lithoid #10 - Unicorn
Lithoid #11 - Levitating
Lithoid #12 - Crystal
Lithoid #13 - Exo
Lithoid #14 - Snake
Lithoid #15 - Spined

NecroidEdit

The Necroid class is part of the Necroids Species Pack DLC.

MachineEdit

Machines are not a naturally evolved species but rather an artificial one that can be constructed with the required technology or if by starting as a machine empire. Each portrait has its own diplomacy voice.

Machines share the same portraits and some traits with Mechanical species. When a regular empire first creates robots, they'll use the portrait that matches their main species' class.

Common
Humanoid
Mammalian
Reptilian
Avian
Arthopoid
Molluscoid
Fungoid
Plantoid
Lithoid

Crisis speciesEdit

These are species that accompany the arrival of Endgame Crises. They cannot be found or built before a crisis is triggered.

Prethoryn Scourge
Unbidden
Aberrant
Vehement
Contingency Custodian Bot

Species archetypesEdit

Species classes are further grouped by species archetypes. Each of them can have different mechanics and even available traits.

Species archetype	Trait	Upkeep resource	Multiplication	Modification	Additional mechanics
Biological		Food	Growth	Genetic	Can create hybrid species with all biological groups
Lithoid	Lithoid	Minerals	Growth	Genetic	Can use some natural resource traits Can use the Calamitous Birth origin
Machine	Machine Unit	Energy	Assembly	Cybernetic	Must use Machine Intelligence authority
Robotic	Mechanical	Energy	Assembly	Cybernetic	Unlocked through Robotic Workers technology
Pre-Sapient	Any pre-sapient trait	None	Cannot multiply	Uplifting	Does not wear clothes

When it refers to Robotic, it's usually refering to both Mechanical species and Machine Unit species, not just the former.

When it refers to Biological, it's usually refering to only Biological species, except for Bio-Trophy and Biological Ascension Path being shared between Biological and Lithoid species.

When it refers to Organic, it's usually refering to both Biological species and Lithoid species.

Compliments and insultsEdit

When contacted, empires with a high opinion may compliment you while those with a low opinion may insult you. The flavor text depends on the ruler's species. Species that wear and do not wear clothes also have a special insult with each other.

Species class	Compliment	Insult
Human	angel	monkey
Non-Human Humanoid Mammalian	sphinx	beast
Reptilian	dragon	lizard newt
Avian	phoenix	bird chicken dodo buzzard
Arthropoid	scarab	bug
Molluscoid	kraken	parasite
Fungoid	chanterelle	shroom
Plantoid	rose	weed
Robot Machine	elegant automaton technological marvel	tin can toaster
Lithoid	gem	rock