Version
Please help with verifying or updating older sections of this article. At least some were last verified for version 3.12.
This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.
This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.
The capital always occupies the first building slot and provides some of the basic 
housing, 
amenities, 
defense armies, jobs that reduce 
crime, as well as other jobs which vary depending on empire authority and civics. Upgrading the capital is one of the ways of unlocking additional building slots. Capital buildings cannot be demolished, downgraded or disabled, and are automatically converted to the appropriate type if traded, ceded, or conquered by another empire with a different authority or if the planet designation is changed.
Capital tiers[]
Capital buildings can generally be categorized into 4 tiers by which technology unlocks that tier,[1] what other buildings require them,[2] and the max general productivity bonus that they can apply. The standard capitals line up on these criteria neatly, however other types do not. With 
Nemesis, the 
Galactic Emperor can upgrade their empire capital with a "fifth" tier imperial capital building.
| Capital tier | Required technology | Job productivity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Output
|
 Upkeep
|
Required technology | ||
| II |  Planetary Government |
+10% | +10% |  Improved Production
|
| III |  Colonial Centralization |
+20% | +20% |  Efficiencies of Scale
|
| IV+ |  Galactic Administration |
+30% | +30% |  Maximized Productivity
|
Tier IV capitals and Imperial capitals are converted to Tier III and Tier IV capitals respectively, other capitals convert to the same tier unless specified otherwise.
Standard capitals[]
The standard set of capitals are built on planets and ring worlds without a special designation by non-gestalt empires.
| Capital | Produces | Jobs | Upkeep | Cost | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reassembled Ship Shelter
The remains of a Colony Ship, reassembled for planetside form and function.
|
|
|
 −1
|
N/A | ||
|
Planetary Administration
Seat of the local ruling elite.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−5
|
 480  600
|
| |
|
Planetary Capital
A sprawling complex of bureaucratic structures that acts as the administrative center for a major colony.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−8
|
600 800
|
| |
|
System Capital-Complex
A towering configuration of administrative bureaus and networked infrastructure, allowing the construction of highly demanding facilities.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−10
|
900 2000
|
| |
|
Imperial Palace
A massive palace complex fit for the greatest empire history has ever seen. If there is a bright center to the galaxy, this is it.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−10
|
900 2000
|
|
Hive Mind capitals[]
 |
Available only with the Utopia DLC enabled. |
Hive Mind empires only have two regular capital buildings. The Hive Core is a tier II capital, non-Hive tier I capitals will convert into the Hive Core when conquered. The Hive Nexus acts as tier IV capital for building requirements, and converts to tier III capitals for non-Hive empires.
| Capital | Produces | Jobs | Upkeep | Cost | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hive Core
The organizational core from which the Hive Mind coordinates planetside functions.
|
|
−2
|
N/A | |||
|
Hive Nexus
A sprawling capital complex from which the Hive Mind focuses planetary organization, coordination, and planning.
|
|
−5
|
|
| ||
|
Imperial Complex
From this massive structure, the Hive Mind governs the Galactic Imperium. This is where the fate of the galaxy is decided.
|
|
−10
|
|
|
Machine Intelligence capitals[]
 |
Available only with the Synthetic Dawn DLC enabled. |
Machine Intelligence empires have the same four capital tiers as regular empires. Capital conversion works normally, except that the Administrative Array (tier II) will convert to a Reassembled Ship Shelter (tier I) if the planet is conquered by a non-Gestalt empire.[4] Also, the Planetary Processor (tier III) counts as tier IV for building requirements.[5]
Driven Assimilator capitals have one less Replicator, replaced by a Maintenance Drone on upgraded capitals.
| Capital | Produces | Jobs | Upkeep | Cost | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Deployment Post
The initial deployment post from which we will expand on this world.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−1
|
N/A | ||
|
Administrative Array
A semi-autonomous computer network that handles the various administrative functions on a planet.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−3
|
|
| |
|
Planetary Processor
A powerful administrative computer that has been designed to manage and oversee the various functions of a complex planetary settlement.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−5
|
|
| |
|
Primary Nexus
The administrative heart of the system. Hundreds of AIs process requests and manage the minute but critical details that are involved in running an efficient interstellar civilization.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−10
|
|
| |
|
Imperial Center
This colossal complex is the administrative heart of the Galactic Imperium. Thousands of AIs are constantly processing and evaluating the current state of the galaxy.
|
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−10
|
|
|
Habitat capitals[]
Habitats have their own capital buildings, which are used by all empires. If the Galactic Emperor has a habitat as their capital, they can upgrade the capital to the respective Imperial capital. Habitat Administration counts as tier II for building requirements. Habitat Central Control counts as tier III for building requirements. Habitat System Control counts as tier IV for building requirements.
Void Dwellers with finished 
Domination tradition tree pay 20% less 
alloy upkeep.
| Capital | Produces |  Individualist jobs
|
 Gestalt jobs
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upkeep | Cost | Requirements | |||
Habitat Administration The administrative hub of the Habitat, serving as its capital and the seat of the local government. |
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
| ||
|
— | ||||
Habitat Central Control An extensive complex of bureaucratic offices that oversees the administration of a highly-populated habitat. |
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}}
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
| ||
|
|
| |||
Habitat System Control A huge sprawling complex of bureaucratic offices that oversees the administration of a highly-populated habitat. |
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}}
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
| ||
|
|
| |||
Special designation capitals[]
Resort Worlds and Thrall Worlds have their own unique capital buildings. For each designation, the basic capital acts as tier 2, except for job productivity, for which it has no bonus; the upgraded capitals convert as tier 3 and count as tier 2 for job productivity and as tier 4 for building requirements.
|
Produces | Jobs | Upkeep | Cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Resort Administration The central complex from where this planet-wide resort is administrated. |
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−2
|
N/A |   Resort World Resort World
|
Resort Capital-Complex A huge sprawling complex capable of administrating an even greater number of resorts and tourist attractions. |
|
{{{type}}}
{{{body}}} |
−5
|
|
|
Governor's Palace The lavish palace from which this Thrall-World is governed. |
|
|
−2
|
N/A |   Thrall-World Thrall-World
|
Governor's Estates Sprawling and luxurious palaces that house the ruling elite of the Thrall-World. |
|
|
|
|
|
Synaptic Lathe capitals[]
 |
Available only with the The Machine Age DLC enabled. |
The Synaptic Lathe uses its own set of capitals.
| Capital | Effects | Upkeep | Cost | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Processing Unit
The quantic nature of the processing units of the Synaptic Lathe allows it to parallelize computing across multiple dimensional layers.
|
−8 −5
|
N/A | Synaptic Lathe | ||
|
Processing Unit: Parallelized
This improved processing unit is now more capable of running parallel operations by rebounding the cognitive echoes of Neural Chips in contained gamma-space pockets.
|
|
−8 −10
|
|
| |
|
Processing Unit: Vectorial
This upgraded processing unit streamlines computations through the creation of negative space vectors. This dimensional compartmentalization of processes yields extraordinary results in efficiency and stability.
|
|
−8 −15
|
|
|
Fallen empire capitals[]
The following capitals are found only on the worlds of fallen empires. They all unlock all building slots on the planet.
| Building | Housing |
Amenities
|
 Jobs
|
Converts to | Use | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Palace | +12 | +150 |
|
Tier IV capital |
|
A massive palatial complex built in a different age. The decrepit and abandoned wings are not betrayed by its shining exterior. | |
| Ancient Control Center | +12 | +150 |
|
Tier IV capital | Machine Intelligence fallen empire
|
The ancient control center of this section of the ringworld is just barely kept functional by the tireless effort of a legion of machine drones. | |
| Venerable Nucleus | +12 | +150 |
|
Tier IV capital | Hive Mind fallen empire
|
This ancient nexus of the hive's supremacy is where uncountable generations of drones have dutifully executed directives. | |
| Xeno Preserve | +30 | +15 |  +2 Xeno-Keeper
|
Tier II capital |  The Preserve
|
A highly sophisticated preserve that maintains the natural habitat of the "preserved" alien species perfectly. | |
| Habitat Administration | +5 | +25 |
|
Habitat Central Control | Fallen empire habitats | A highly sophisticated preserve that maintains the natural habitat of the "preserved" alien species perfectly. |
Pre-FTL capitals[]
The following capitals are found only on the worlds of pre-FTL species.
| Individualist | Hive Mind
|
Converts to | Ages | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | Produces | Jobs | Building | Produces | Jobs | ||||
| Crude Huts |
|
Simple Nests |
|
Tier I capital |  Stone Age
| ||||
| Stone Palaces |
|
|
Stone Hive |
|
|
Tier I capital |  Bronze Age – Steam Age
| ||
| Regional Capitals |
|
|
Continental Nexus |
|
|
Tier II capital |  Industrial Age – Early Space Age
| ||
| Junkheap |
|
 +10 Scavenger
|
|
Tier II capital |  Junk Ratling planet
| ||||
References[]
- ↑ 00_capital_buildings.txt: see "prerequisites" blocks
- ↑ 01_scripted_triggers_buildings.txt
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Hive Mind and Machine drones are considered sapient; pre-sapient pops are not.
- ↑ 00_capital_buildings.txt: see "building_machine_capital", "convert_to" block. Possibly a bug
- ↑ 01_scripted_triggers_buildings.txt: see "has_fully_upgraded_capital". Possibly a bug
- ↑ Bug, lacks the
Cybernetic Creed and 
Exalted Priesthood swap to 
Technophants
Game concepts
| 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 |