Terraforming

Version

This article is considered accurate for the current version (2.2) of the game.

This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

Celestial body

Classification

Colonization

Terraforming

Planetary features

Modifiers

Terraforming is the act of changing the planet classification of a celestial body in order to make it more habitable for the empire's citizens. The base technologies requires significant society research to unlock and each terraforming project requires significant investments of Energy and time.

Terraforming requirements

Terraforming is started via a button in Planet Detail view. The world must be surveyed and within your borders. Only habitable worlds and Barren Worlds that have the rare "Terraforming Candidate" modifier can be terraformed. The expansion planner screen can be used to find these rare candidates.

It is possible to terraform inhabited planets if you have the technology Ecological Adaptation. Doing so gives a -20% happiness penalty to the planet for the duration of the procedure.

Original climate	New climate	Requirements	Cost	Years
Cold	Cold	Terrestrial Sculpting	2000	5
Dry	Dry
Wet	Wet
Cold	Dry or Wet		5000	10
Dry	Cold or Wet
Wet	Cold or Dry
Any	Gaia	Terrestrial Sculpting and World Shaper Ascension Perk	10000	20
Any	Machine	Terrestrial Sculpting and Machine Worlds Ascension Perk
Any	Hive	Terrestrial Sculpting and Hive Worlds Ascension Perk
Machine	Any	Climate Restoration	10000	20
Hive	Any
Tomb	Any
Barren	Dry	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	5000	10
Barren	Wet		10000	15
Barren	Cold		15000	20
Frozen Barren	Cold		5000	10
Frozen Barren	Wet		10000	15
Frozen Barren	Dry		15000	20

Ecumenopolis worlds are created with the Arcology Project decision rather than teraforming. They must be inhabited but pops do not suffer a happiness penalty during the process.

The following planet modifiers are always removed when terraforming a planet:

• Bleak
• Irradiated
• Hazardous Weather
• Hostile Fauna
• Wild Storms

If the planet is being terraformed into a Machine or Hive world the following modifiers are also removed:

• Atmospheric Hallucinogen
• Atmospheric Aphrodisiac
• Lush
• Natural Beauty

When and if terraforming a planet to Hive or Machine World, keep in mind that all planetary features, including rare ones that give access to rare resources and even event spawned ones (such as Odd Factory), will always be removed.

Cost reduction & Speed

• The edict Terraforming Gases increases terraforming speed by +50% at the base cost of 25 Exotic Gases
• The World Shaper Ascension Perk decreases terraforming cost by -25%.
• The ruler trait World Shaper increases terraforming speed by 25%.

References

Game concepts