Terraforming

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (2.8) of the game.

Celestial body

Classification

Colonization

Terraforming

Planetary features

Planet 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 species. 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 the empires has the Ecological Adaptation technology. 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 technology	2000	5
Dry	Dry
Wet	Wet
Cold	Dry or Wet		5000	10
Dry	Cold or Wet
Wet	Cold or Dry
Barren	Dry	Climate Restoration technology 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
Nanite	Dry		1000	1
Nanite	Wet		1000	1
Nanite	Cold		1000	1
Any except Tomb, Hive, Machine	Gaia	World Shaper ascension perk	7500	10
Any	Hive	Hive Worlds ascension perk	10000	20
Any	Machine	Machine Worlds ascension perk
Tomb	Any except Gaia	Climate Restoration technology	10000
Hive	Any except Gaia
Machine	Any except Gaia

Ecumenopolis worlds are created via decisions rather than terraforming. 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, excluding a few rare ones that give access to rare resources, will always be removed.

Cost reduction & speed

Terraforming cost can be affected by the following:

Source	Cost	Speed
World Shaper ascension perk	-25%	-
Secrets of the Baol empire modifier	-15%	-
Ecological Protection resolution 4	+25%	-
Ecological Protection resolution 5	+100%	-
Shallarian Terraforming Knowledge empire modifier	-10%	+20%
Terraforming Gases edict	-	+50%
World Shaper ruler trait	-	+25%

References

Game concepts