Traits modding

Version

Please help with verifying or updating older sections of this article. At least some were last verified for version 2.6.

This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

This page is about Traits modding, both Species Traits and Leader Traits. Traits are defined at "common/traits/xxx.txt".

Data Structure

Property	Required/Default	Species Traits	Leader Traits
cost = <int>		The cost of this trait.	Leader traits do also have "costs", see Leader modding for details.
icon = <gfx file path>	gfx/interface/icons/traits/<trait key>.dds	Alternative icon of this trait. gfx/interface/icons/traits/<trait key>.dds	Leader traits always have this property specified because their icons are stored at "gfx/interface/icons/traits/leader_traits/xxx.dds".
initial = <yes/no>	yes	If no, this trait cannot be picked in the empire creator and it cannot be added to a species template.	If no, this trait cannot be given to a leader upon leader generation.
randomized = <yes/no>	yes	If no, this trait can't be picked by species random generator.	It's still unclear, because  Armchair Commander has randomized = no but can stll be given to a newly generated leader.
modification = <yes/no>	yes	If no, this trait cannot be added to or removed from a species template.	It's still unclear, because leader traits always have modification = no.
improves_leaders = <yes/no>	no	If yes, this trait will have a tooltip that says leaders from this species will have traits that enhance them. Actually, those leader traits must be implemented elsewhere.
advanced_trait = <yes/no>	no	If yes, this trait is considered an advanced trait and can be added to or removed from a species template only if the empire has researched any technology with the feature flag "add_advanced_traits". This permission overrides initial = no, but doesn't override modification = no.
forced_happiness = <yes/no>	no	If yes, Pops of a species with this trait will not be affected by happiness.
valid_for_all_ethics = <yes/no>	yes	Whether this trait is valid for all ethics. Will also need to list which ethics it's compatible with.
allowed_ethics = {ethic_xx ethic_yy}		The ethics this trait is valid for. Only put this if you have valid_for_all_ethics set to no.
sapient = <yes/no>	yes	Vanilla pre-sapient traits have sapient = no. Seems to allow the trait to be selected by trait = random_presapient_trait in a create_species effect
immortal_leaders = <yes/no>	no	If yes, leaders from a species with this trait will be immortal. This will also generate an entry of "Immortal" in tooltip.	If yes, leaders with this trait will be immortal. This will also generate an entry of "Immortal" in tooltip.
hide_age = <yes/no>			If yes, leaders with this trait will have their age hidden in the leader tooltip. Only work for ruler traits.
modifier		A block of Modifiers to be applied to Pops, Armies and Leaders of a species with this trait.	A block of Modifiers to be applied to the scope this Leader is assigned at. If this leader was a non-heir ruler, its traits will apply to the entire Empire. If this leader was a governor, its traits will apply to the Sector it's governing. If this leader was a scientist leading a research, only modifiers related to research speed will apply to the category it's researching. If this leader was a scientist commanding a science ship, the modifiers will apply to the science ship. If this leader was an admiral, its traits will apply to the fleet it's commanding. If this leader was a general, its traits will apply to the armies it's commanding.
triggered_pop_modifier = {0 potential = { <triggers> } <modifiers> }		Similar to the above, except it only applies if the potential property evaluates true. Multiple allowed (Pop scope). Modifiers in this block will not show in tooltips, and should be used in addition to a custom tooltip.
growing_modifier assembling_modifier declining_modifier		Blocks of Modifiers to be applied to the Planet while a Pop of this species is growing / assembling / declining. The trait Recycled uses assembling_modifier to reduce Robot Assembler jobs upkeep by −20% to implement its effect.
self_modifier			A block of Modifiers to be applied only to the leader itself. Modifiers that affect leader experience gain, leader lifespan and leader cost / upkeep go here.
custom_tooltip = <localisation key>		If specified, it will overwrite the generated tootlips based on modifiers.
custom_tooltip_with_modifiers = <localisation key>		If specified, will show the given tooltip in addition to the generated tootlips based on modifiers.
prerequisites = { tech_xxx }		This trait can't be added or removed by an Empire unless all technologies listed here have been researched. Vanilla unused.	This trait can't be given to a leader upon leader generation unless all technologies listed here have been researched.
opposites = { trait_xx trait_yy }		List of trait keys to be mutually exclusive with this trait.	Only relevant upon leader generation, but only rulers will generate with 2 traits. This doesn't prevent excluded leader traits from being added by events.
ai_weight	100	How much should the AI prioritize this trait when modifying species. The block can also contain conditional modifier tags, (empire scope, ROOT is the species).	How much should AI prioritize this trait when recruiting leaders and when assigning leaders to tasks. Although Vanilla only uses this on scientist traits it works for all classes.
leader_age_min = <int> leader_age_max = <int>	As set in common/defines/	New leaders from this species will have their age randomized ranged among these properties. Vanilla use these to make Hive Mind leaders younger than usual and  Lithoid leaders older than usual.
sorting_priority = <int>	0	Species traits with same soring priority are sorted by alphabet order.
potential_crossbreeding_chance = <float>	0	The chance this trait is inherited by crossbreeding. Relevant to the ascension perk Xeno Compatibility.
allowed_archetypes = { xxx yyy }	ALL	A list of Species Archetype keys that is required by this species trait. See Species modding for details.
species_class = { xxx yyy }	ALL	A list of Species Class keys that is required by this species trait. See Species modding for details.
allowed_planet_classes = { xxx yyy }	ALL	A list of Planet Class keys that is required (as preferred planet class) by this species trait.
random_weight = { <species class key> = <float> <species class key> = <float> }	1 for all	Adjusts the chance of species randomly receiving this trait depending on their species class. However, currently there is a bug where this block works incorrectly if combined with allowed_planet_classes and has no effect if species_potential_add is also present.
slave_cost = { <resource key> = <int> }	0	The cost of a Pop of this species on slave market is added by this.
species_potential_add species_possible_remove	always = yes	Blocks of Conditions to determine can this trait be added to / removed from a species template. (Species scope, FROM is the empire) With "species_potential_add" be evaluated false, a template with this trait can still be applied to Pops lacking it. Similarly, "species_possible_remove" doesn't prevent Pops with this trait from being applied with a template laking it.
leader_trait = { ... }	all		A list of leader classes. Vanilla generic leader traits have leader_trait = all.
leader_class = { ... }	?		A list of leader classes. Vanilla leader traits always have it the same as leader_trait. Actual difference between the two is unclear.
ai_categories = { ... }			What kind of tasks the AI will consider this leader be suit of. Only relevant to scientists. Can be consist of any number of the following four: engineering, physics, society, survey.
leader_potential_add	always = yes		A block of Conditions to determine can the trait be added to a leader upon leader generation. (Leader scope, FROM is the empire)
trade_acceptance_weight	1		How much extra should the AI value leaders with this trait in trade (multiplied by 10) (not used in Vanilla)

Examples

Species Traits

Ingenious

trait_ingenious = {
	cost = 2
	potential_crossbreeding_chance = 1.0
	allowed_archetypes = { BIOLOGICAL LITHOID }
	modifier = {
		planet_jobs_energy_produces_mult = 0.15
	}
	slave_cost = {
		energy = 50
	}
}

Proles (Pre-Sapient)

trait_presapient_proles = {
	cost = 1
	opposites = { "trait_presapient_natural_intellectuals" }
	initial = no
	sapient = no
	modification = yes
	icon = "gfx/interface/icons/traits/trait_primitive.dds"
	allowed_archetypes = { BIOLOGICAL PRESAPIENT LITHOID }
	modifier = {
		army_damage_mult = 0.10
		planet_jobs_minerals_produces_mult = 0.10
		planet_jobs_food_produces_mult = 0.10
		planet_jobs_physics_research_produces_mult = -0.15
		planet_jobs_engineering_research_produces_mult = -0.15
		planet_jobs_society_research_produces_mult = -0.15
	}
}

Proles (Syncretic Evolution)

trait_syncretic_proles = {
	cost = 1
	potential_crossbreeding_chance = 0.33
	opposites = { "trait_intelligent" "trait_erudite" "trait_natural_engineers" "trait_natural_physicists" "trait_natural_sociologists" }
	initial = no
	modification = yes
	species_potential_add = { always = no }
	icon = "gfx/interface/icons/traits/trait_primitive.dds"
	allowed_archetypes = { BIOLOGICAL LITHOID }

	custom_tooltip = TRAIT_SYNCRETIC_PROLES_EFFECT
	modifier = {
		pop_happiness = 0.10
		planet_jobs_produces_mult = 0.10
	}
}

Leader Traits

Adaptable

leader_trait_adaptable = {
	cost = 1
	modification = no
	icon = "gfx/interface/icons/traits/leader_traits/leader_trait_adaptable.dds"
	self_modifier = {
		species_leader_exp_gain = 0.25
	}
	leader_potential_add = {
		NOT = { leader_class = ruler}
		NOT = { from = { has_ethic = "ethic_gestalt_consciousness" } }
		
	}
	leader_class = { admiral scientist general governor }
	opposites = { "leader_trait_stubborn" }
	leader_trait = all
	
	ai_categories = {
		engineering
		physics
		society
		survey
	}
	
	ai_weight = {
		weight = 50
	}
}

Corvette Focus

trait_ruler_corvette_focus = {
	cost = 1
	modification = no
	icon = "gfx/interface/icons/traits/leader_traits/trait_ruler_corvette_focus.dds"
	leader_potential_add = {
		NOT = { from = { has_ethic = "ethic_gestalt_consciousness" } }
	}
	modifier = {
		ship_corvette_cost_mult = -0.2
	}
	leader_trait = { ruler }
	leader_class = { ruler }
	prerequisites = { tech_destroyers } # 'corvette focus' is a bit silly when it's the only available ship
	opposites = { "trait_ruler_destroyer_focus" "trait_ruler_cruiser_focus" "trait_ruler_battleship_focus" }
}

Chosen One (Admiral)

leader_trait_admiral_chosen = {
	cost = 0
	modification = no
	icon = "gfx/interface/icons/traits/leader_traits/leader_trait_psionic_chosen_one.dds"
	immortal_leaders = yes
	modifier = {
		ship_weapon_damage = 0.2
		ship_evasion_mult = 0.3
	}
	leader_trait = { admiral }
	leader_class = { admiral }
	initial = no
	randomized = no
}

Modding

Pops	Jobs • Factions

Leaders

Leaders • Leader traits

Species

Species • Species traits

Land Warfare

Armies • Bombardment stance