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.

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. Terraforming also removes all tile blockers from the surface, as well as a subset of planet modifiers. The base technologies requires significant society research to unlock, while each terraforming project requires significant amounts of energy credits, and time.

Terraforming requirementsEdit

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

The requirements for terraforming a world depend on the magnitude of the change. A change within the same climate (wet, cold, dry) is faster and cheaper than a change between climates. Barren worlds are considered to be closer to Dry or Cold Climate, depending on the subtype.

Change	Technology, Ascension Perk or Modifier required	Cost	Years
Within same climate	Terrestrial Sculpting	2000	5
Different climate	Terrestrial Sculpting	5000	10
Wet, Cold or Dry to Gaia	Terrestrial Sculpting and World Shaper Ascension Perk	10000	20
Wet, Cold, Dry, Gaia, Tomb or Hive World to Machine World	Terrestrial Sculpting and Machine Worlds Ascension Perk	10000	20
Wet, Cold, Dry, Gaia, Tomb or Machine World to Hive World	Terrestrial Sculpting and Hive Worlds Ascension Perk	10000	20
Machine World to any Wet, Cold or Dry	Climate Restoration	10000	20
Hive World to any Wet, Cold or Dry	Climate Restoration	10000	20
Tomb to any Wet, Cold or Dry	Climate Restoration	10000	20
Barren to any Dry	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	5000	10
Barren to any Wet	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	10000	15
Barren to any Cold	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	15000	20
Frozen Barren to any Cold	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	5000	10
Frozen Barren to any Wet	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	10000	15
Frozen Barren to any Dry	Climate Restoration and Terraforming Candidate Modifier	15000	20

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.

Several planet modifiers are permanently removed after terraforming. The following modifiers are always lost when terraforming a planet:

Bleak
Irradiated
Hazardous Weather
Hostile Fauna
Wild Storms

If the planet is being terraformed into a Machine 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 & SpeedEdit

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%.

Alternatives to terraformingEdit

Terraforming is only one way to allow a species to better live on a planet. Other methods include gene tailoring species to have a specific climate preference via the Glandular Acclimation technology or using synthetics to colonize otherwise uninhabitable worlds.