Species
Version
This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.
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 or accepting refugees.
Note: A higher resolution image is available by clicking on the portraits.
Contents
Species identity[edit]
At galaxy generation species are divided into species phenotype groups, parent species and sub-species.
Species phenotype groups are composed of species with similar observable characteristics or traits, including its morphology or physical form and structure; its developmental processes; its biochemical and physiological properties; its behavior, and the products of behavior.
There are, at the moment, 8 different species groups. In Stellaris, species phenotype group focus mostly on external characteristics and does not get into more biological, developmental and sociocultural details.
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 phenotype group will be friendlier towards each other with the effect increasing if they are sub-species within the same species family. This, in turn, can affect other relation modifiers.
List of species phenotype groups[edit]
A number of species are pre-defined, including the Humans of the Sol system. Each race will belong to one of the eight phenotype groups: Arthropoid (insect-like), Avian (bird-like), Fungoid (fungus-like), Humanoid, Mammalian, Molluscoid (invertebrates), Reptilian, and Plantoid (part of the Plantoids Species Pack 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. Humans, though Mammalian, appear in a separate phenotype (Humanoids).[1]
There is an option for player-defined species, complete with traits, ethics and government type to appear in the game as AI nations.
Note: The order of the portraits is meant to reflect their in-game order.
Humanoid[edit]
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
Mammalian[edit]
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
Mammalian Ratling
Most of mammalian portraits have an unique insult targeted specifically to them.
Note: The platypus (Massive #16) portrait was originally available for those who signed up for the Project Augustus web game, but due to popular demand, was added in the Clarke patch.
The Evil Porcupine (Massive #17) portrait was originally exclusive to Creatures of the Void DLC portrait pack for those who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.
The Ratling portrait was first shown off at PDXCON 2018[2] and was released for free alongside the with the 2.1 (Niven) patch. It always appears for Ketling Empire galactic event, as well, as Racket caravaneers.
Reptilian[edit]
Slender #2
Normal #10
Massive #14
Slender #3
Normal #7
Massive #12
Normal #9
Massive #11
Normal #6
Normal #13
Slender #1
Normal #8
Slender #4
Massive #15
Slender #5
Reptilian #16
Reptilian #17
Note: The Gecko (Reptilian #16) portrait is part of the Cuties Portraits Pack, included in the Leviathans Story Pack DLC.
The Fairy Dragon (Reptilian #17) portrait is part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC.
Avian[edit]
Slender #1
Normal #8
Massive #13
Normal #10
Massive #15
Slender #4
Normal #7
Slender #5
Normal #9
Normal #6
Massive #11
Slender #3
Massive #14
Slender #2
Massive #12
Massive #16
Massive #17
Avian #18
Note: The Chirpy-inspired[3] (Massive #16) portrait is available to those who login to their Paradox account while in-game.[4]
The Dinosaur Bird (Massive #17) portrait was originally exclusive to Creatures of the Void DLC portrait pack for those 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.
Arthropoid[edit]
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
Arthropoid #18
Massive #16
Arthropoid #20
Massive #17
Arthropoid #19
Note:The Shadowy Arthropod (Massive #17) portrait was originally exclusive to Creatures of the Void DLC portrait pack for those 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 Butterfly (Arthropoid #18) portrait is part of the Cuties Portraits Pack, included in the Leviathans Story Pack DLC.
The Larvae (Arthropoid #20) portrait is part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC.
The Mantis Shrimp (Arthropoid #19) portrait was originally released with the Bradbury Multiplayer Beta Patch as an incentive for opting-in before being released officially as part of the 1.8 update. It is available to those who login to their Paradox account while in-game[5].
Molluscoid[edit]
Slender #3
Normal #7
Massive #13
Slender #2
Massive #14
Slender #4
Normal #8
Slender #1
Massive #11
Massive #12
Slender #5
Normal #6
Massive #15
Massive #16
Molluscoid #17
Molluscoid #18
Note: The Hydra/Xenomorph (Massive #16) portrait was originally exclusive to Creatures of the Void DLC portrait pack for those who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.
The Starfish (Molluscoid #17) and Snailien (Molluscoid #18) portraits are part of the Cuties Portraits Pack, included in the Leviathans Story Pack DLC.
Fungoid[edit]
Slender #2
Slender #4
Slender #3
Massive #13
Massive #12
Normal #6
Massive #15
Normal #7
Slender #1
Normal #9
Massive #11
Normal #8
Massive #14
Normal #10
Massive #16
Fungoid #17
Note: The Fungoid Infected Mammalian (Massive #16) portrait was originally exclusive to Creatures of the Void DLC portrait pack for those who pre-ordered Stellaris before being released as part of the free Anniversary Portraits Pack DLC accompanying the Adams patch.
The Prettyshroom (Fungoid #17) portrait is part of the Cuties Portraits Pack, included in the Leviathans Story Pack DLC.
Plantoid[edit]
The Plantoid phenotype is part of the Plantoids Species Pack DLC.
Slender #2
Normal #6
Slender #1
Massive #11
Slender #3
Massive #13
Normal #7
Massive #15
Normal #10
Slender #5
Normal #9
Massive #14
Slender #4
Normal #8
Massive #12
Machine[edit]
Robots 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.
Standard
 |
Available only with the Synthetic Dawn DLC enabled. |
Eight additional machine portraits are available in empire creation that morphologically correspond to their progenitor species group.
Humanoid
Mammalian
Reptilian
Avian
Arthopoid
Molluscoid
Fungoid
Plantoid
Crisis species[edit]
Prethoryn Swarm
Unbidden
Aberrant
Vehement
Contingency Custodian Bot
These are species that accompany the arrival of Endgame Crises. They cannot be found or built before a crisis is triggered.
Compliments and insults[edit]
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 Group | Compliment | Insult |
|---|---|---|
| Human | angel | monkey |
| Mammalian (including Humanoids) | sphinx | beast |
| Reptilian | dragon | lizard newt |
| Avian | phoenix | bird chicken dodo buzzard |
| Arthropoid | scarab | bug |
| Molluscoid | kraken | parasite |
| Fungoid | chanterelle | shroom |
| Plantoid | rose | weed |
| Machine | elegant automaton technological marvel |
tin can toaster |
References[edit]
- ↑ The Human portrait was originally part of the Mammalian phenotype prior to the introduction of the Humanoid phenotype in the Heinlein patch.
- ↑ "Time for the King LAN at #PDXCON2018 playing Stellaris in game 7." https://twitter.com/Tokryva/status/997387235677876224
- ↑ "The Platypus and Chirpy portraits were more or less a joke thing." http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/mammalian-platypus-how-do-we-get-the-avatar-now.926579/page-6#post-21147836
- ↑ https://twitter.com/RikardAslund/status/728482852711628800
- ↑ https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/stellaris-dev-diary-95-humanoids-species-pack.1056888/page-6#post-23544920
| Governance | Crime • Empire • Ethics • Government • Policies • Edicts • Leader • Factions • Population • Species rights • Traditions |
| Exploration | Exploration • Map • Species • Anomaly • Events • FTL • Fallen empire • Pre-FTL species • Spaceborne aliens |
| Colonization | Colonization • Celestial body • Planetary management • Economy • Technology • Construction • Starbase • Ship |
| Diplomacy | Diplomacy • Trade • Subject empire • Federations • AI personalities |
| Warfare | Warfare • Space warfare • Land warfare • Ship designer |
| Others | Traits • Terraforming • Pop modification • Slavery • Crisis • Preset empires • AI players • Easter eggs |
