Each anomaly outcome can only take place once. Once each outcome of an anomaly has taken place the anomaly can no longer be found again. If an anomaly would give the scientist an expertise trait it already has the scientist will gain 200 experience instead.
Base game anomalies[]
Anomaly | Level | Celestial body | Empire | Possible outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
A Strange Resonance | 2 | Any Star |
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Improbable Orbit | 5 | Any Star |
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Light Phenomenon | 3 | Any Star | ||
Distress Signal | 2 | Any Planet | ![]() ![]() |
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On Solar Sails | 2 | Any Planet |
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Playful Ruins | 3 | Any Planet | ![]() ![]() |
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The Orb | 2 | Any Planet | ![]() ![]() |
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A Feel for Steel | 2 | Any Habitable Planet |
| |
A Glint of Metal | 4 | Any Habitable Planet | ||
Parked | 8 | Any Habitable Planet |
| |
Planetary Scars | 4 | Any Habitable Planet |
| |
Rubiconian Shores | 7 | Any Habitable Planet |
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Signs of Ancient Life | 3 | Any Habitable Planet | ![]() ![]() |
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Steamrolled | 1 | Any Habitable Planet |
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What Hums in the Night | 5 | Any Habitable Planet |
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Ancient Shipyard | 4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Asteroid in Orbit | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Atmospheric Anomaly | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Life Signs | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Doppler Effect | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Massive Impact | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Monoliths | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Peculiar Crater | 7 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Projecting | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Signs of Battle | 4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Solar Sailer | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Space Station | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Strange Mountain Formation | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Strange Readings | 7 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Surface Beacon | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Surface Writing | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Unidentified Object | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Unusual Energy Readings | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Weak Signal | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Confounding Cosmic Rays | 5 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Possible Inhabitants | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Spotty Greenery | 4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Icy Plains | 4 | ![]() |
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Arid and Abandoned | 6 | ![]() |
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Arid Wastes | 3 | ![]() |
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Crash Site | 2 | ![]() |
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Abandoned Station | 3 | ![]() |
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Alien Machine | 3 | ![]() |
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An Asteroid, Carved | 3 | ![]() |
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An Invitation | 3 | ![]() |
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Ancient Battlefield | 5 | ![]() |
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Asteroid Collision | 1 | ![]() |
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Asteroid Waves | 1 | ![]() |
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Astonishing Asteroids | 6 | ![]() |
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Covered in Debris | 3 | ![]() |
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Crashed Ship | 3 | ![]() |
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Dimensional Disturbance | 6 | ![]() |
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Docking Hatch | 3 | ![]() |
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Dustbowl | 1 | ![]() |
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Energy Emissions | 1 | ![]() |
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Lost Soul | 2 | ![]() |
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Mind the Minerals | 2 | ![]() |
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Mystical | 7 | ![]() |
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Mineral Cluster | 3 | ![]() |
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Odd Readings | 6 | ![]() |
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Orbital Speed Demon | 4 | ![]() |
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Radiating Asteroid | 7 | ![]() |
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Spacecraft Remains | 4 | ![]() |
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Unknown Origin | 1 | ![]() |
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Unknown Insides | 3 | ![]() |
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Unusual Temporal Fluctuations | 5 | ![]() |
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A Curious Signal | 2 | ![]() |
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Looking Down | 6 | ![]() |
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On the Barren Plains | 5 | ![]() |
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Strange Emissions | 4 | ![]() |
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Winking | 5 | ![]() |
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Continental Findings | 1 | ![]() |
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Buried in the Sand | 4 | ![]() |
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Desolate Sands | 1 | ![]() |
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Dunes | 3 | ![]() |
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Cold Hard Potential | 3 | ![]() |
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Cold Wastes | 2 | ![]() |
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Ice Lit | 3 | ![]() |
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Mysterious Heat | 2 | ![]() |
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Something Smells | 2 | ![]() |
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Thin Ice | 4 | ![]() |
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Minesweeper | 2 | ![]() |
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Paradise Anticipated | 3 | ![]() |
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Aerostat Structures | 1 | ![]() |
| |
Atmospheric Object | 4 | ![]() |
| |
Atmospheric Storms | 1 | ![]() |
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Cargo Pod | 1 | ![]() |
| |
Clouds Dance | 1 | ![]() |
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Gas Giant Ship | 5 | ![]() |
| |
Gas Giant Signal | 5 | ![]() |
| |
Ice Ice Giant | 6 | ![]() |
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Promising Moon | 1 | ![]() |
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Space Debris | 1 | ![]() |
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Terminal Orbit | 5 | ![]() |
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Heated Rhythm | 2 | ![]() |
| |
Drops in the Ocean | 3 | ![]() |
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Floating Value | 3 | ![]() |
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Kaleidoscopic | 2 | ![]() |
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Spontaneous Explosions | 3 | ![]() |
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The Winter of the Fallen | 3 | ![]() |
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Impossible Organism | 6 | ![]() |
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Pigment Poison | 7 | ![]() |
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Poison-coated | 2 | ![]() |
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Signs of Former Habitation | 1 | ![]() |
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Toxic Construction | 8 | ![]() |
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Toxicity | 3 | ![]() |
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Among the Vines and Trees | 3 | ![]() |
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Tropical Oddities | 3 | ![]() |
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Scurrying | 4 | ![]() |
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Wooden Hegemony | 3 | ![]() |
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Rainbow in the Dark | 5 | ![]() |
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Astral Scar | 6 | ![]() |
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Human anomalies[]
If the Sol system is present in the galaxy two special anomalies can appear once per game. If a human empire investigates them it will gain 40-100 Influence.
- Debris Field is a level 3 anomaly that can appear on a random asteroid. Investigating it will discover the Pioneer 11 probe. If the empire is not human it will bring the following options:
- Decipher the data disk and gain 500
Engineering Research while the science ship leader gains 200 Experience. The location of the Sol system is added to the situation log. Entering the system will grant 80-175
Influence.
- Sell the data disk and gain 500
Engineering Research.
- Use the data disk as furniture and gain 40-100
Influence if
Xenophobe or
Fanatic Xenophobe.
- Decipher the data disk and gain 500
- A Lush Planet is a level 4 anomaly that can appear on a random Continental or Tropical planet. Investigating it will discover the Voyager golden record. If the empire is not human it will gain 350
Engineering.
Distant Stars anomalies[]
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Available only with the Distant Stars DLC enabled. |
Distant Stars anomalies have only one possible outcome.
Anomaly | Level | Reward | Celestial body | Requirements |
---|---|---|---|---|
Armed Vessel | 3 | 50 ![]() ![]() |
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No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Secret Heart | 5 | +1 ![]() |
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|
Unscannable Object | 1 | 90-250 ![]() +1 L-Gate Insight if an L-Gate was discovered |
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Waterless Canyons | 1 | +4 ![]() |
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Gray Goo | 4 | Random ![]() +1 L-Gate Insight if an L-Gate was discovered |
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Inconsistent Readings | 1 | +3 ![]() |
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Metallic Crystal Formations | 2 | 90-250 ![]() 200 ![]() ![]() ![]() 90-250 ![]() ![]() ![]() +1 L-Gate Insight if an L-Gate was discovered |
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|
Alien Activity | 3 | 60-150 ![]() |
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No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Ancient Hulk | 8 | 50 ![]() |
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![]() ![]() No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Movement in the Clouds | 2 | Lost Amoeba event chain | ![]() |
|
Solid Core | 3 | +2 ![]() ![]() +1 L-Gate Insight if an L-Gate was discovered |
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Volcanic Vents | 1 | +1 ![]() ![]() |
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Deep Tunnels | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Impenetrable Clouds | 1 | +3 ![]() |
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Mysterious Construct | 5 | Special project to gain the S875.1 Warform renowned paragon if AI Policy is not Outlawed | ![]() |
No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Fleet Signatures | 4 | +3 ![]() |
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|
Heavy Pulse | 2 | +4 ![]() |
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|
Ship Fragments | 1 | 120-350 ![]() |
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No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Abandoned Settlements | 4 | Special project to gain the ![]() ![]() ![]() 150-500 ![]() ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Alien Life | 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Attractive Magnetism | 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | ![]() |
Bizarre Blanket | 1 | 90-250 ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | |
Corrupt Survey Data | 4 | 60-150 ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Isolated Ruin | 2 | ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | |
Megaflora | 1 | 90-250 ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | ![]() ![]() |
Peculiar Patterns | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | |
Resonant Crystals | 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | ![]() ![]() |
Overgrown Ruins | 6 | 120-350 ![]() ![]() ![]() 90-250 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Any Habitable Planet | |
Deep Caverns | 7 | +1 ![]() ![]() |
Any Uninhabitable Planet | |
Webwork | 2 | +3 ![]() |
Any Uninhabitable Planet | |
Silent Behemoth | 2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Any Uninhabitable Moon | |
Unusual Moon | 3 | +3 ![]() |
Any Uninhabitable Moon | No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Encrypted Transmission | 2 | +1 L-Gate Insight | Any Planet | System has an L-Gate |
Metallic Sands | 2 | 90-250 ![]() ![]() +4 ![]() +1 L-Gate Insight if an L-Gate was discovered |
Any Planet | |
Supply Ship Wreckage | 2 | 300 ![]() ![]() |
Any Planet | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Heavy Readings | 2 | Special project to gain 90-250 ![]() ![]() |
Any Star | System has a Gateway |
Interference | 1 | 60-150 ![]() ![]() |
Any Star | |
Irregular Energy Emissions | 4 | 25 ![]() ![]() |
Any Star | ![]() ![]() No empire discovered the same anomaly |
Astral Harvesting anomalies[]
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Available only with the Astral Planes DLC enabled. |
The following anomalies can only appear once per game after the Astral Harvesting technology has been researched and only if the system does not contain an astral scar or astral rift.
- Bright Object Detected is a level 2 anomaly that can appear on a random asteroid. Investigating it will bring the option to pay 1000
Energy to spawn the Entertainment Nexus astral rift. Alternative empires that are not
Gestalt Consciousness can gain 500
Energy and +10
Trade Value} deposit and empires that are
Gestalt Consciousness can gain 140-160
Astral Threads and 250
Minerals and
Alloys.
- Black Hole Instability is a level 5 anomaly that can appear on a random black hole. Investigating it will bring the option to gain 40-60
Astral Threads and a random astral rift or +3
Astral Threads deposit and replace it with an astral rift and 140-160
Astral Threads in 3-7 years.
Spiky Readings[]
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Available only with the Galactic Paragons DLC enabled. |
If an anomaly is randomly discovered on planet with a pre-sapient species the anomaly will always be the level 2 anomaly Spiky Readings and the pre-sapient species will always have the Psionic trait. Investigating the anomaly and choosing to continue to investigate will bring a special project that unlocks a second special project. Finishing the second special project will ring the option to pay various amounts of
Energy. Agreeing will unlock The Beholder legendary paragon.
Repeatable anomalies[]
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Available only with the Galactic Paragons DLC enabled. |
Repeatable anomalies can be discovered regularly by leaders with certain traits and will give the celestial body a deposit:
- Hidden Resources adds 3
Energy or
Minerals
- Rare Geological Formation adds 2
Exotic Gases,
Rare Crystals or
Volatile Motes
- Unusual Phenomenon adds 3
Engineering,
Physics or
Society
References[]
Exploration | Exploration • FTL • Anomaly • Archaeological site • Relics • Pre-FTL species • Fallen empire • Events • Spaceborne aliens • Enclaves • Guardians • Marauders • Caravaneers |
Celestial bodies | Celestial body • Colonization • Terraforming • Planetary features • Planet modifiers |
Species | Species • Traits • Population • Pop modification • Species rights • Ethics • Leader |
Governance | Empire • Origin • Government • Civics • Policies • Edicts • Factions • Technology • Traditions • Situations |
Economy | Resources • Planetary management • Districts • Buildings • Holdings • Jobs • Designation • Trade • Megastructures |
Diplomacy | Diplomacy • Relations • Galactic community • Federations • Subject empires • Intelligence • AI personalities |
Warfare | Warfare • Space warfare • Land warfare • Starbase • Ship • Ship designer • Crisis |
Others | The Shroud • L-Cluster • Unique systems • Preset empires • AI players • Easter eggs |