Designation

Version

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This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

Planetary management

Districts

Buildings

Jobs

Designation

Decisions

Stability

Crime and Deviancy

Holdings

Designation represents the production focus on a world and provides a bonus favoring a certain production focus. It is by default determined by the most common type of Districts or Buildings constructed but can be chosen manually at any point. Capitals have their own unique designation which cannot be changed. If automation is turned on the world will build buildings favoring the designation's bonus unless the planet has low Amenities or high Crime or Deviancy, in which case it will first focus on tackling these issues. Each planetary ascension tier increases the effects of the planet designation by 25% and reduces size from the colony by 5%, which includes pops, districts and the colony itself. Ascension tiers are not lost if the designation is changed.

All designations gain +10% pop growth and assembly speed on ringworlds.

Planet designations

The following designations are available for all non-artificial planets except Ecumenopolis.

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Requirements	Description
Colony	+5 Stability +10 Amenities +10% Happiness if not Gestalt Consciousness +25% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance	Adaptability finisher: +5% Happiness	Less than 5 Pops	A balanced settlement and a bold new frontier. A new colony of our empire, purposely designed for frictionless, everyday efficiency.
Generator World	+25% Generator District build speed +25% Technician output	Adaptability finisher: +10% Technician output Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	None	Nigh-endless complexes of generator plants hum and glow on this planet.
Mining World	+25% Mining District build speed +25% Miner and strategic resource gatherer output	Adaptability finisher: +10% Miner and strategic resource gatherer output Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	None	Strip mines, quarries, boreholes, and heavy machinery dominate this planet's surface.
Agri-World	+25% Agriculture District build speed +25% Farmer output	Adaptability finisher: +10% Farmer output Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	At least one biological species Hive World Machine World	Picturesque pastoral landscapes featuring flourishing crops are effaced only minutely by the ever-present scent of fertilizer.
Fortress World	+25% Stronghold build speed −10% Orbital Bombardment Damage +20% Defense army damage	Adaptability finisher: −10% Orbital Bombardment Damage	None	Dominated by planetary defenses, bunkers and strongholds, foreign invasion and civil unrest will prove difficult on this world.
Tech-World	+25% Research Lab build speed −20% Researcher upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Researcher output	None	This world is a seat of scientific research and technological advancement.
Rural World	+25% Generator District build speed +25% Mining District build speed +25% Agriculture District build speed +10% Worker output	Adaptability finisher: +5% Worker output	Gestalt Consciousness	The nature of this planet's production dispenses with the need for major urban centers.
Fringe Planet	+25% Generator District build speed +25% Mining District build speed +25% Agriculture District build speed +10% Menial Drone output	Adaptability finisher: +5% Menial Drone output	Gestalt Consciousness Hive World Machine World	This planet is a sparsely populated world on the fringes of the collective.
Urban World	+25% City District build speed −10% Building and district upkeep +20% Trade value	Adaptability finisher: +5% Trade value	Gestalt Consciousness	A densely populated world where one glowing metropolis leads almost directly into the next.
Nest Planet	−10% Building and district upkeep +5% Complex Drone output	Adaptability finisher: +2.5% Complex Drone output	Hive Mind	A teeming planet-wide network of bustling hives crisscross this world.
Machine Nexus	−10% Building and district upkeep +5% Complex Drone output		Machine Intelligence Machine World	A mechanical network of thousands of unit service and repair facilities dominate this planet's surface.
Forge World	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Metallurgist upkeep Industrial Districts: Artisans ➡ Metallurgists	Adaptability finisher: +5% Metallurgist output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output	Hive World Machine World	The heat of alloy foundries can be felt almost everywhere on this planet.
Factory World	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Artisan upkeep Industrial Districts: Metallurgists ➡ Artisans	Adaptability finisher: +5% Artisan output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Artisan output	Machine World Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	This planet specializes in manufactories, workshops, and civilian industries.
Industrial World	+25% Industrial District build speed −10% Metallurgist upkeep −10% Artisan upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Metallurgist output +5% Artisan output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +3.75% Metallurgist output +3.75% Artisan output	Machine World Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	Heavy industry with mixed production dominates this planet.
Refinery World	+15% Chemist output +15% Translucer output +15% Gas Refiner output +15% Strategic resources from strategic resource gatherers	Adaptability finisher: +5% Chemist output +5% Translucer output +5% Gas Refiner output +5% Strategic resources from strategic resource gatherers Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +10% Chemist output +10% Translucer output +10% Gas Refiner output +10% Strategic resources from strategic resource gatherers	None	Much of the planet surface is covered in a vast network of pipes, refineries, and distilleries. Try not to inhale too deeply.
Unification Center	+10% Administrator output −10% Administrator upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Administrator output Holy Covenant Level 4: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist Rogue Servitor	An entire world dedicated to unifying our empire.
Ecclesiastical Center	+10% Priest output −10% Priest upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Priest output Holy Covenant Level 4: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist	An entire world dedicated to unifying our empire.
Sanctuary World	+10% Bio-Trophy output +10% Pop Growth Speed		Rogue Servitor	An world dedicated to the care and protection of organic life.
Resort World	+10% Trade value +5% Unity from Jobs Ability to build Resort Districts Cannot support Traditional districts Cannot support certain buildings:0 Slave Processing Facility Psi Corps Clone Vats (Grand) Embassy Complex Hydroponics Farms Food Processing Facilities / Centers Mineral Purification Plant / Hub Energy Grid / Nexus Resource Silo Alloys buildings Consumer goods buildings Strategic resource refineries and mines Ministry of Production Research buildings Galactic Stock Exchange	Adaptability finisher: +5% Unity from Jobs	Create Resort World decision	A tranquil, weather-controlled resort world with beautiful nature that has not yet been scarred by large-scale development.
Penal Colony	+33% Immigration pull +100% Crime −25% Crime on other colonies		Create Penal Colony decision	A bleak penal colony, filled with criminals paying off their debt to society in labor camps.
Thrall-World	Can build Slave Huts and Overseer Residences buildings Cannot grow free pops Cannot support city districts Cannot support specialist buildings Allowed buildings are:0 Slave Processing Facility Clone Vats Gaia Seeders Hydroponics Farms Food Processing Facilities / Centers Mineral Purification Plants / Hubs Energy Grid / Nexus Bio-Reactor Slave Huts Overseer Residences Military Academy Stronghold Fortress Planetary Shield Generator Special feature buildings		Create Thrall-World decision	This world is purpose-built to maximize the growth rate of its enslaved population.
Gestation World	+10% Pop growth speed		Create Gestation World decision	A world dedicated to the growth of cyborg drones, ensuring the progeny will quickly become productive components of the collective.

Machine World designations

The following designations are only available for Machine and Nanite worlds.

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Requirements	Description
Machine World	+25% Industrial District build speed +25% Coordination District build speed +25% Generator District build speed +25% Mining District build speed +5% Resources from Jobs output		None	A Machine World that has not been specialized for any particular production type.
Machine World Foundry	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Fabricator upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Fabricator output	None	An enormous planet-sized machine, designated to produce vast amounts of alloys.
Machine World Factory	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Artisan Drone upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Artisan Drone output	Rogue Servitor	An enormous planet-sized machine, designated to produce vast amounts of consumer goods.
Nanotech World	+15% Building production +5% Worker pop resource output +35% Nanites from Miners −25% Minerals from Miners +10% Building upkeep		Unbridled Consumption tradition Nanite World	A planet evaluated to be the pinnacle of existence through complete nanification.

Hive World designations

The following designations are only available for Hive Worlds.

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Description
Hive World	+25% Generator District build speed +25% Mining District build speed +25% Agriculture District build speed +5% Menial Drone output	Adaptability finisher: +5% Menial Drone output	A planet-sized organism that has not been specialized for any particular production type.
Hive World Foundry	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Metallurgist upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Metallurgist output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output	A planet-sized organism designated to produce vast amounts of alloys.

Ecumenopolis designations

The following designations are only available for Ecumenopolis planets.

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Requirements	Description
Colony	+5 Stability +10 Amenities +10% Happiness if not Gestalt Consciousness +25% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance	Adaptability finisher: +5% Happiness	Less than 5 Pops	A balanced settlement and a bold new frontier. A new colony of our empire, purposely designed for frictionless, everyday efficiency.
Ecumenopolis	−25% Building and District Upkeep +20% Trade Value		None	This city planet has not been specialized for any particular industry.
Ecumenopolis Research	+25% Research Lab build speed −20% Researcher upkeep		None	A vast city-planet that specializes in the latest cutting-edge research.
Ecumenopolis Foundry	+25% Foundry Build Speed +25% Foundry Arcology build speed −20% Metallurgist upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output	None	A vast city-planet that specializes in the ceaseless production of alloys.
Ecumenopolis Factory	+25% Factory Build Speed +25% Factory Arcology build speed −20% Artisan upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Artisan output	Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	A vast city-planet that specializes in the ceaseless production of consumer goods.
Ecumenopolis Industrial	+25% Industrial District build speed −10% Metallurgist upkeep −10% Artisan upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output +5% Artisan output	Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	A vast city-planet that splits its focus between that of alloys and consumer goods.
Unification Center	+10% Administrator output −10% Administrator upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Administrator output Holy Covenant Level 4: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist Rogue Servitor	An entire world dedicated to unifying our empire.
Ecclesiastical Center	+10% Priest output −10% Priest upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Priest output Holy Covenant Level 4: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist	An entire world dedicated to unifying our empire.
Sanctuary World	+10% Bio-Trophy output +10% Pop Growth Speed		Rogue Servitor	An world dedicated to the care and protection of organic life.

Ring World designations

The following designations are only available for Ring Worlds.

All Ring World designations have the following effects in addition to the ones in the table below:

• +10% Pop Growth Speed
• +10% Pop Assembly Speed

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Requirements	Description
Colony	+5 Stability +10 Amenities +10% Happiness if not Gestalt Consciousness +25% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance	Adaptability finisher: +5% Happiness	Less than 5 Pops	A balanced settlement and a bold new frontier. A new colony of our empire, purposely designed for frictionless, everyday efficiency.
Ring World	+20% Immigration Pull +5% Resources from Jobs +5% Pop Growth Speed +5% Pop Assembly Speed		None	An immense ringworld, its massive area spread between all matters of produce.
Research Ring World	+15% Research from Jobs		None	An immense ringworld section is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge.
Agriculture Ring World	+25% Food from Farmers	Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	None	Endless fields are supported by the infrastructure of this ring world section to maximize growing potential.
Generator Ring World	+25% Energy from Technicians	Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	Gestalt Consciousness	Linking generator segments together across this ring world section provides efficiencies of scale.
Commercial Ring World	+20% Trade Value		Gestalt Consciousness	If you can't buy it here, it either doesn't exist or you didn't really want it anyway.
Forge World	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Metallurgist upkeep Industrial Segments: Artisans ➡ Metallurgists	Adaptability finisher: +5% Metallurgist output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output	None	The heat of alloy foundries can be felt almost everywhere on this planet.
Factory World	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Artisan upkeep Industrial Segments: Metallurgists ➡ Artisans	Adaptability finisher: +5% Artisan output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Artisan output	Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	This planet specializes in manufactories, workshops, and civilian industries.
Industrial World	+25% Industrial District build speed −10% Metallurgist upkeep −10% Artisan upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Metallurgist output +5% Artisan output Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +3.75% Metallurgist output +3.75% Artisan output	Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	Heavy industry with mixed production dominates this planet.
Unification Center	+10% Administrator output −10% Administrator upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Administrator output Holy Covenant Level 4: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist Rogue Servitor	An entire world dedicated to unifying our empire.
Ecclesiastical Center	+10% Priest output −10% Priest upkeep	Adaptability finisher: +5% Priest output Holy Covenant Level 4: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist	An entire world dedicated to unifying our empire.
Sanctuary World	+10% Bio-Trophy output +10% Pop Growth Speed		Rogue Servitor	An world dedicated to the care and protection of organic life.
Gestation World	+10% Pop growth speed		Create Gestation World decision	A world dedicated to the growth of cyborg drones, ensuring the progeny will quickly become productive components of the collective.

Habitat designations

The following designations are only available for Habitats.

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Requirements	Description
Habitat	+5 Stability +10 Amenities		Less than 5 Pops	An artificial deep-space arcology.
Trade Station	+20% Trade Value Habitation Districts: 1 Clerk ➡ Trader		Gestalt Consciousness	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to trade.
Hydroponics Station	+25% Hydroponics Farms build speed +25% Farmer output Habitation Districts: ➡ Farmers	Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	None	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to the growing of crops.
Generator Station	+25% Reactor District build speed +10% Technician output	Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	Can build Reactor Districts	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to the generation of energy.
Mining Station	+25% Astro-Mining Bay build speed +10% Miner and strategic resource gatherer output	Five Year Plans resolution: +10% Worker output +10% Menial Drone output	Can build Astro-Mining Bays	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to the harvesting of minerals.
Research Station	+25% Zero-G Research District build speed +10% Researcher output		Can build Zero-G Research Districts	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to scientific research.
Fortress Station	+25% Stronghold Build Speed −10% Orbital Bombardment Damage +20% Defense Army Damage +1 Defense Army per Pop if Order's Keep +10% Lord Commander and Knight Output if Order's Keep		None	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to defensive structures.
Foundry Station	+25% Industrial District build speed Industrial Districts: Artisans ➡ Metallurgists −20% Metallurgist upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output	None	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to alloy production.
Factory Station	+25% Industrial District build speed Industrial Districts: Metallurgists ➡ Artisans −20% Artisan upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Artisan output	Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to consumer good production.
Industrial Station	+25% Industrial District build speed −20% Metallurgist upkeep −20% Artisan upkeep	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +5% Metallurgist output +5% Artisan output	Either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to balanced alloy and consumer good production.
Refinery Station	+15% Chemist output +15% Translucer output +15% Gas Refiner output +15% Strategic resources from strategic resource gatherers	Environmental Ordinance Waivers resolution: +10% Chemist output +10% Translucer output +10% Gas Refiner output +10% Strategic resources from strategic resource gatherers	None	An artificial deep-space arcology dedicated to the production of strategic resources.
Unification Station	+10% Administrator output −10% Administrator upkeep	Level 4 Holy Covenant member: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist	An entire habitat dedicated to unifying our empire.
Ecclesiastical Station	+10% Priest output −10% Priest upkeep	Level 4 Holy Covenant member: +1 Priest job per 25 pops	Spiritualist	An entire habitat dedicated to unifying our empire.

Capital designations

The following designations are only available on empire capitals. All capital designations have the following effects in addition to the ones in the table below:

Effects	Bonuses
+5 Stability +10 Amenities +10% Automatic Resettlement Destination Chance +100% Governing Ethics Attraction if not Gestalt Consciousness −20 Deviancy if Gestalt Consciousness	Adaptability finisher: +5% Resources from Jobs Ring World: +10% Pop Growth Speed +10% Pop Assembly Speed

Designation	Effects	Requirements	Description
Empire Capital	+10% Resources from Jobs	Individualist	The capital planet of an interstellar empire is a vast complex of government buildings, bureaus and agency headquarters.
Hive Capital	+10% Resources from Jobs	Hive Mind	The capital planet of a Hive Mind is the primary seat of the Mind, from where the collective's thoughts and actions spring.
Machine Capital	+15% Resources from Jobs	Machine Intelligence	The capital planet of a Machine Intelligence is the primary focus of its central networked consciousness.
Factory Capital	+15% Artisan output Industrial Districts: Metallurgists ➡ Artisans	Empire uses Consumer Goods	Factories and manufacturing plants create a vast ocean that covers our Capital's surface.
Forge Capital	+15% Metallurgist output Industrial Districts: Artisans ➡ Metallurgists		The sound of our capital's forges is the beating heart of our Empire.
Capital Extraction World	+15% Worker resource output		Resource extraction dominates the planet's surface.
Trade Capital	+15% Trade Value	Individualist	Our capital is a metropolis of trade and prosperity.

Synaptic Lathe

The Synaptic Lathe has only one designation, also called Synaptic Lathe. It has the following effects:

• +15% Resources from Jobs
• −5% Upkeep from Jobs
• −10% Pop Housing Usage
• −5% Pop Decline Speed

Unplayable designations

The following designations are unavailable for player empires.

Designation	Effects	Bonuses	Requirements	Description
Fallen Empire Capital	+10 Stability		Fallen empire capital world	Though its empire may be in decline, the level of technological advancement on this world is astounding.
Fallen Empire Colony	+5 Stability		Fallen empire colony	Though its empire may be in decline, the level of technological advancement on this world is astounding.
Contingency World		None	Contingency	This planet has been taken over by the Contingency.
Infested World		None	Prethoryn Scourge	This planet has been infested by the Prethoryn Scourge.

Planetary ascension

All worlds can be ascended using unity, which increases the effects of the world's designation by +25% and reduces empire size from that planet (from the colony, districts, and pops) by −5% each. If a planet is conquered its ascension level is reset.

The maximum planetary ascension tier depends on the number of unlocked ascension perk slots, with the first tier being unlocked by the third ascension perk slot. Each additional ascension perk unlocked allows an additional planetary ascension tier. Once all eight ascension perk slots have been unlocked, an additional four planetary ascension tiers are unlocked for a maximum of 10, a possible total +250% designation effect increase and −50% reduction in empire size from that planet.

For example, a Generator World with 2 ascension tiers would give a +37.5% bonus to technician output; i.e. the original +25% bonus, multiplied by a +50% increase.

The effect of planetary ascension can be enhanced by the following bonuses:

Source	Planetary ascension effects
Ascensionists civic	+25%
Elevational Contemplations civic	+25%
Elevational Hypotheses civic	+25%
Harmony tradition tree	+25%
Synchronicity tradition tree	+25%
Holy Covenant federation level 3	+20%

Secondary planet's designation modifiers (such as bonuses to resource gathering designations from the Greater Good line of resolutions) are increased [needs further verification, see Discussion]. The +1 Priest job per 25 pops (if a member of a level 4 Holy Covenant federation) modifier with a level 10 planetary ascension gets upgraded to a +1 Priest job per 7 pops modifier.

Planetary designation effects are affected by the following formula:

${\text{modifier after planetary ascension}}={\text{modifier before planetary ascension}}*(100+{\text{tier}}\cdot 25\%\cdot {\tfrac {100+X+Y+Z}{100}})/100$

where X, Y, Z are the optional bonus source for the enhanced planetary ascension effect from the table above (values: 25 | 20 | 25). A few examples of typical effects values are listed in the table:

Planetary designation	Effect and its values
	Planetary ascension tiers:	0	1	5	10	10†
Urban World	Building and District Upkeep	−10%	−12.5%	−22.5%	−35%	−52.5%
	Trade Value	+20%	+25%	+45%	+70%	+105%
Generator World	Technician Output	+25%	+31.25%	+56.25%	+87.5%	+131.25%
Forge World	Metallurgist Upkeep	−20%	−25%	−45%	−70%	−105%
Factory World	Artisan Upkeep	−20%	−25%	−45%	−70%	−105%
Refinery World	Chemist Output	+15%	+18.75%	+33.75%	+52.5%	+78.75%
Ecclesiastical / Unification Center	Administrator / Priest Output	+10%	+12.5%	+22.5%	+35%	+52.5%
	Administrator / Priest Upkeep	−10%	−12.5%	−22.5%	−35%	−52.5%
	+1 Priest job per _ pops (from Holy Covenant Level 4)	25	20	11.1	7.1	4.8

† with all three bonus sources to enhance the planetary ascension effect

Ascension cost

The cost of increasing a planet's ascension tier depends on the empire's size and total number of planetary ascension tiers already present in the empire, whether on the same planet or other planets. For example, an empire with 200 size and 3 total ascension tiers (whether from three planets at tier 1, one at tier 3, or one at tier 2 and one at tier 1) would need to spend 5600 unity to increase the ascension tier of a planet. The precise formula is shown below:

${\begin{aligned}{\text{ascension unity cost}}&=({\text{empire size}}\cdot 10)\cdot (1+0.6\cdot {\text{total ascension tiers}})\\&=(200\cdot 10)\cdot (1+0.6\cdot 3)=5600\end{aligned}}$

From there, a formula for the total cost of performing $n$ ascensions can be derived:

${\begin{aligned}{\text{total unity cost}}&=({\text{empire size}}\cdot 10)\cdot (n+0.6\cdot n(n-1)/2)\\&=(200\cdot 10)\cdot (4+0.6\cdot 4\cdot 3/2)=15200\end{aligned}}$

References

Game concepts