Terraforming
Terraforming is the act of changing the planet classification of a
planet in order to make it more
habitable for the empire's species. Terraforming technologies requires significant
society research to unlock, and each terraforming project requires large investments of
energy and
time.
The first time a planet is terraformed, there's a chance of triggering a terraforming event. Terraformed planets cannot receive colony events.
Terraforming requirements[edit | edit source]
Terraforming is started via a button in Planet Detail view. The world must be surveyed and within the empire's borders. Only habitable worlds or uninhabitable worlds that have the Terraforming Candidate modifier can be terraformed; Frozen and Toxic terraforming candidates further require a specific ascension perk to terraform. The expansion planner screen can also be used to find these candidates.
Relic Worlds and
Ecumenopolises can never be terraformed through the regular mechanics.
It is possible to terraform inhabited planets if the empire has the Ecological Adaptation technology. Doing so inflicts a
−20% happiness penalty on the planet for the duration of the process.
Original climate | New climate | ![]() |
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Requirements | Additional requirements |
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2000 | 5 | ![]() |
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5000 | 10 | ||
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5000 | 10 | — | |
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10000 | 15 | |||
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15000 | 20 | |||
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5000 | 10 | ||
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10000 | 15 | |||
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15000 | 20 | |||
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Any regular climate | 1000 | 1 | ||
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12500 | 25 | ![]() | |
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Any regular climate | 10000 | 20 | ![]() |
— |
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All regular climates | ![]() |
7500 | 10 | ![]() |
— |
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12500 | 25 | |||
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Any habitable | ![]() |
10000 | 20 | ![]() |
— |
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Any habitable | ![]() |
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— | ||
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All regular climates | ![]() |
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10 |
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— |
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15 | |||
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12500 | 25 | |||
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Any habitable except ![]() |
10000 | 10 | — | |
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15 |
The following planet modifiers are always removed when terraforming a planet:
If the planet is being terraformed into either a Machine or
Hive World the following modifiers are also removed:
If the planet being terraformed was a Toxic World, the following blockers will be created:
If the planet is terraformed into a Machine World, the
Paradise Made modifier is also removed. Additionally, if there are any
Pops on the planet without the
Cybernetic,
Mechanical, or
Machine traits, they are all killed and an
Organic Slurry deposit is added.
When and if terraforming a planet to Hive or Machine World, keep in mind that all planetary features, excluding a few rare ones that give access to rare resources, will always be removed.
Alternative terraforming methods[edit | edit source]
In addition to the regular terraforming mechanics above, certain events, special projects, decisions, or other actions can change a planet's classification. The following is a partial list:
Armageddon bombardment: if the last pop is killed, the planet becomes a
Tomb World
Javorian Pox bombardment: if the last pop is killed, the planet becomes a
Tomb World, does not kill
robotic pops
Deluge Machine Colossus: all pops without the
Aquatic trait are killed, planet is terraformed into an
Ocean World, owned planets can be targeted, if any pops remain, perpetrator gains ownership of the planet if not already owned
- Toxic God Colossus: all pops are killed, all deposits and buildings are removed, planet is terraformed into a
Toxic World, if planet was previously habitable it will have the
Toxic Terraforming Candidate modifier
- The Worm can terraform all planets and moons in the empire's capital system, habitable and uninhabitable alike, into
Tomb Worlds; only
Gas Giants,
Relic Worlds, and
Ecumenopolises are spared.
- Gaia Seeders:
Idyllic Bloom empires can build special buildings that will terraform the world into a
Gaia world. They can also build a holding on subjects' worlds to terraform those worlds.
Relentless Industrialists can build Coordinated Fulfillment Center and Universal Productivity Alignment Facility buildings which terraform planets into
Tomb Worlds over time. The first time triggers the Environmental Deterioration situation, and in following instances, the planet is terraformed without any warning.
Colonized planets can also be terraformed by certain decisions. The following decisions will terraform the world to a new class.
Cost reduction & speed[edit | edit source]
Terraforming cost and
speed can be affected by the following:
References[edit | edit source]
Regular terraforming links are found in Stellaris/common/terraform; special terraforming methods can be found by searching the game files for the effect change_pc
.
- ↑ The Environmental Deterioration situation must be concluded to unlock the
Industrialism policies
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