Traditions

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.10) of the game.

Society Management

Traditions

Ascension perks

The Shroud

Traditions tab

Stellaris 3.12 Traditions Tier List-2

Stellaris 3.8 Traditions Tier List-2

Stellaris Traditions Tier List

Traditions represent the socio-cultural evolution of an empire as it expands and develops and consist of abilities, edicts, or bonuses unlocked with the unity resource. Traditions are a key mechanic for tailoring the playstyle of an empire by allowing the player to reinforce the empire's strengths or lessen its weaknesses. Completing a tradition tree unlocks a slot for an ascension perk, which provides even further enhancements.

Tradition cost

The cost of unlocking a tradition depends on how many traditions the empire has already unlocked, as well as the empire size cost. The tradition cost formula is the following:

$$\text{tradition cost} = \left[ 300 + \left( 8 \cdot \text{num traditions} \right)^{1.8}\right] \cdot \left[ 1 + (\text{empire size} - 100) \cdot \text{0.002} \cdot \left(1 - \text{empire size effect}\right) \right] \cdot \text{tech/tradition cost}$$

"Tech/tradition cost" refers to the game setting. "Empire size effect" is a modifier to the effect of empire size on its associated penalties, including tradition cost; it is affected by certain authorities. The adoption and finisher effects both count as traditions in their own right, so starting a group counts as one tradition, and unlocking the last tradition in a group counts as two.

Several of these parameters are controlled by defines.

Tradition trees

Traditions are grouped into tradition trees with 5 traditions each, as well as a bonus for adopting the tradition tree and one for finishing it. Each empire can select up to 7 tradition trees.

Discovery

The Discovery tradition tree focuses on exploration and research and is available to all empires.

+20% Anomaly Research Speed Unlocks the Map The Stars edict Unlocks the Chart the Unknown agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+35% Survey Speed +50% Science Ship Disengage Chance	+1 Research Alternatives +1 Scientist Capacity +1 Scientist Starting Skill Levels
+20% Research Station Output +20% Research from Starbase Buildings Unlocks the Research Subsidies edict	+1 Leader Pool Size +10% Leader Experience Gain
	−20% Researcher Upkeep
+10% Research speed Can create Research Cooperative federations if Federations DLC is installed Scholarium tier 3: +1000 Research points in Research Caches

Domination

The Domination tradition tree focuses on better managing planets and is available to all empires.

Not Void Dwellers: −33% Clear blocker cost Void Dwellers: −20% Habitat alloy upkeep Unlocks the Civil Exclusion agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+0.5 Monthly Influence +1 Official Capacity +1 Official Starting Skill Levels	Non-Gestalt: +1 Housing from upgraded Capital buildings +1 Housing from all Housing buildings Hive Mind: +2 Housing from Synaptic Nodes Machine Intelligence: −25% Empire Size from districts	Non-Gestalt: +1 Unity per Enforcer Unlocks the Enhanced Surveillance edict Gestalt Consciousness: −10 Deviancy on all colonies
+20% Councilor Experience Gain +50 Edict fund		Non-Gestalt: +5% Worker and Slave Output Unlocks the Extended Shifts edict Gestalt Consciousness: +5% Menial Drone Output Unlocks the Drone Overdrive edict
−10% Empire Size from Pops Can create Hegemony federations if Federations DLC is installed

Expansion

The Expansion tradition tree focuses on the expansion of territory and colonies and is available to all empires.

+25% Colony Development Speed Unlocks the Superior Colonies agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
−10% Starbase Influence Cost		+1 Extra pops when establishing colony
−25% Empire Size from Systems and Colonies	−20% Starbase Upkeep	+10% Pop Growth Speed if not Machine Intelligence +10% Pop assembly speed if Machine Intelligence
+1 Max Districts on non-artificial planets if not Void Dwellers +1 Max Districts on Habitats if Void Dwellers

Prosperity

The Prosperity tradition tree focuses on various empire-wide bonuses and is available to all empires.

+20% Mining Station Output Unlocks the Favored Society agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
−10% Building and District Upkeep		−10% Building and District Build Cost +25% Planet Build Speed
+5% Specialist and Complex Drone Output	−5% Upkeep from Jobs	Not Void Dwellers: +1 Housing per City / Hive / Nexus District +5 Housing per City / Hive / Nexus Segment +3 Housing per Residential Arcology Void Dwellers: +1 Housing per Habitation District +1 Max Districts on Habitats
+5% Resources from Jobs

Supremacy

The Supremacy tradition tree focuses on fleets and armies and is available to all empires.

+20 Naval Capacity +20% Army Damage Unlocks the Military Backup agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
−10% Ship Build Cost +25% Ship Build Speed	−10% Ship Upkeep +20% Naval Capacity	+10% Ship Fire Rate +20% Orbital Bombardment Damage
+20 Fleet command limit +1 Commander Capacity +1 Commander Starting Skill Levels		+20% Damage against Starbases
Unlocks War Doctrine policies Unlocks the Supremacist diplomatic stance

Diplomacy

The Diplomacy tradition tree focuses on improving the benefits an empire can gain through diplomacy and is not available to empires with the Inward Perfection or Devouring Swarm civics.

−50% Diplomatic Influence Cost Unlocks the Diplomatic Grants edict Unlocks the Build Relations agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
Can create Federations +1 Available envoys	+3 Unity per Embassy Allows advanced diplomatic actions without an Embassy
+100% Federation Naval Capacity Contribution	+50 Trust Cap +33% Trust Growth	+5 Diplomatic Acceptance 1% Monthly chance to gain a Favor per Improve Relations action
+10% Diplomatic Weight +1 Available envoys

Adaptability

The Adaptability tradition tree focuses on using planets more efficiently and is not available to Machine Intelligence empires.

−10% Pop Housing Usage Unlocks the Conquer Nature agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
−10% Building and District strategic resource cost and upkeep	+10% Habitability
−25% Orbital bombardment damage +25% Defense Army Damage	+1 Building slots for all planets	−33% Resettlement Cost
Unlocks Planetary Prospecting Decision if not Void Dwellers Resources from Habitat Planetary Features if Void Dwellers

Harmony

The Harmony tradition tree focuses on better managing the empire and is not available to Gestalt Consciousness empires.

−10% Pop Upkeep Unlocks the Inner Stability agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+10 Years Leader Lifespan if not Necrophage −1 Leader Maximum Negative Traits if not Necrophage +5-100 Unity per converted pop if Necrophage	−10% Empire Size from Pops −75% Pop Demotion Time if not Shared Burdens −20% Leader Upkeep if Shared Burdens	+25% Governing Ethics Attraction −10 Crime
+50 Edict fund		+5 Stability
+25% Planetary Ascension Effect Can create Holy Covenant federations if Federations DLC is installed

Mercantile

The Mercantile tradition tree focuses on trade and is not available to Gestalt Consciousness empires.

+5 Trade protection +1 Collection range Unlocks the Open Markets agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+1 Trade Value per Clerk +1 Amenities per Clerk	Not Worker Cooperative: Not a member of a Trade League: Unlocks the Consumer Benefits trade policy Unlocks the Marketplace of Ideas trade policy Member of a Trade League: +50% Federation Naval Capacity Contribution   Worker Cooperative: +5% Happiness for pops with Employee Ownership living standards +5% Resources from Jobs for pops with Employee Ownership living standards
+2 Amenities per Trader +1 Trader job per Commercial Zones +2 Trader jobs per Commercial Megaplexes	+10% Trade Value	−10% Market Fee
+10% Trade Value Can create Trade League federations if Federations DLC is installed

Unyielding

The Unyielding tradition tree focuses on defense and is available to all empires.

+2 Starbase capacity +50% Starbase Upgrade Speed Unlocks the Impenetrable Border agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+25% Defense Army Health +0.5 Unity per Defense Army	+33% Starbase Health +33% Starbase Damage +33% Defense platform damage +33% Defense platform hull points
−25% Orbital Bombardment Damage Received −25% War exhaustion gain +25% Hostile claim influence cost	+2 Starbase capacity −50% Starbase Upgrade Cost +4 Hostile Operation Difficulty for Sabotage Starbase
+15% Ship Fire Rate within the empire's borders +33% Ship Build Speed while in a defensive war
+50% Defense platform cap −20% Starbase Upkeep Can create Martial Alliance federations if Federations DLC is installed Bulwark tier 3: −0.5 Hostile Ship Daily Hull Regen in owned systems

Synchronicity

The Synchronicity tradition tree focuses on better managing the empire and is only available to Gestalt Consciousness empires.

−10% Pop Upkeep Unlocks the Revision agendas
Non- Necrophage Hive Mind: +10 Years Leader Lifespan −1 Leader Maximum Negative Traits Necrophage Hive Mind: +5-100 Unity per converted pop Machine Intelligence: −50% Leader accident chance	−20% Leader Upkeep −10% Empire Size from Pops	Hive Mind: +2 Amenities from Synapse Drones Machine Intelligence: −3 Deviancy from Evaluators +30% Automatic resettlement chance
+50 Edict fund		+5 Stability
+25% Planetary Ascension Effect

Versatility

The Versatility tradition tree focuses on various empire-wide bonuses and is only available to Machine Intelligence empires.

−10% Pop Assembly Cost Unlocks the Self Maintenance agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+50 Trust Cap from Machine Intelligence empires +1 Available envoys	−10% Pop Housing Usage
−10% Market Fee	−5% Upkeep from Jobs	+1 Unity production to Maintenance Drones.
+2 Amenities per Maintenance Drone

Enmity

The Enmity tradition tree focuses on facing rivals and is not available to Genocidal, Inwards Perfection or Driven Assimilator empires.

+3% Pop Growth per neighboring Rival +3% Pop Assembly per neighboring Rival Unlocks the Second Strike agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+0.5 Leader Capacity for each class per Rival	Economic Power is Inferior or Pathetic towards a Rival: +10% Worker and Menial Drone Output Fleet Power is Inferior or Pathetic towards a Rival: −10% Ship Build Cost +10% Ship Build Speed Technology Level is Inferior or Pathetic towards a Rival: −15% Researcher Upkeep Research buildings are built instantly
+50% Diplomatic Weight When Opposing Resolutions	+15% Damage to Rivals
	+2% Research per Rival for 10 years after winning a war with the Animosity casus belli +2% Unity per Rival for 10 years after winning a war with the Animosity casus belli
+1 Available envoys Unlocks the Antagonistic diplomatic stance

Subterfuge

The Subterfuge tradition tree focuses on espionage and counterespionage and is available to all empires.

+1 Codebreaking Cloaking and Detection technologies appear 5 times more often Unlocks the Uncover Secrets agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
+1 Encryption +5 Chance to Evade		+1 Codebreaking +1 Operation Skill +10 Tracking
+1 Hostile Operation Difficulty +20% Hostile Operation Infiltration Required	+10 Intel per failed Hostile Operation +1 Available Envoys +10 Maximum Infiltration Level		+50% Infiltration Speed
50% Infiltration Level refund for successful Operations +1 Cloaking Strength

Aptitude

The Aptitude tradition tree focuses on leaders and is available to all empires.

+1 Additional Leader Trait Options Unlocks the Leadership Conditioning agenda
−25% Leader Cost		+1 Leader Pool Size
−25% Leader Upkeep	−1 Leader Maximum Negative Traits	+1 Leader Starting Skill Levels
+1 Leader Capacity for each class

Statecraft

The Statecraft tradition tree focuses on the government council and is available to all empires.

+50 Edict Fund Unlocks the Departmental Efficiency agenda
+25% Councilor Agenda Speed	+150 Councilor Experience per Skill Level per launched agenda
Unlocks the Rightful Claims agenda Unlocks the Oppose the Fallen agenda	+1 Effective Councilor Skill
+25% Council Agenda Effect Duration
−5% Empire Size

Politics

The Politics tradition tree focuses on power in the Galactic Community and is only available after the Galactic Community has been formed. It is not available to genocidal empires.

+1 Envoy +0.1 Monthly influence per Skill Level of official assigned to the Galactic Community Unlocks the Pioneer Politics agenda if Galactic Paragons DLC is installed
When a resolution passes with this empire's support, +1 Favor with empire who proposed it	−25% Resolution Propose Cost −25% Resolution Veto Cost +2.5% Diplomatic Weight per Skill Level of official assigned to the Galactic Community
Whenever a resolution proposed by this empire passes, gain 18x unity output (250 ~ 1 000 000)	Whenever another empire's resolution passes, +25% Diplomatic Weight until a resolution proposed by this empire passes.
−25% Veto Cooldown −25% Emergency Measures Cooldown
+10% Diplomatic Weight Unlocks the Politics Traditions resolutions

Ascension tradition trees

Ascension tradition trees require a specific technology and one of the Ascension path perks (or Teachers of the Shroud). As such they are all mutually exclusive.

Synthetic

The Synthetic tradition tree requires either the Synthetic Evolution ascension perk and Synthetic Personality Matrix technology or the Synthetic Age ascension perk and Machine Template System technology.

Unlocks the Synthetic Yield agenda Not Machine Intelligence: −25% Robot Upkeep, −25% Pop Assembly Cost Machine Intelligence: Can assimilate robotic pops
−10% Robotic pop amenities usage	Not Machine Intelligence: Unlocks a special project to turn all organic non-Livestock pops mechanical and unlock Synthetic assimilation Fanatic Purifiers: +10% Pop assembly speed Machine Intelligence: +1 Machine species trait picks
+10% Robot output	−50% Modify Species special project cost	+2 Robot modification points
Not Machine Intelligence: +1 Roboticist from capital buildings +1 Mechanical species trait picks Machine Intelligence: +1 Replicator from capital buildings Leaders gain the Synthetic trait

Cybernetic

The Cybernetic tradition tree requires either the The Flesh is Weak or the Organo-Machine Interfacing ascension perk and the Integrated Cybernetics technology. Its traditions can only be unlocked after the special project unlocked by adopting the tree is completed.

Unlocks the Cybernetic Advantage agenda Not Driven Assimilator: Unlocks a special project to give all pops the Cybernetic trait Driven Assimilator: Doubles Unity and Society research gained for each pop assimilated; also adds Engineering research per assimilated pop.
Not Driven Assimilator: Unlocks Cybernetic Assimilation Driven Assimilator: Cybernetic Assimilation assimilates +1 Pop each year, and can assimilate Hive-Minded pops Fanatic Purifiers or Devouring Swarm: +10% Pop growth speed on planets with ongoing purges
−10% Cybernetic pop upkeep Hive Mind: −10% Empire Size from Cybernetic pops	Cybernetic pops can be modified with additional cyborg traits +1 Organic species trait picks
Non-Gestalt: Unlocks the Assembly Standards policy Driven Assimilator: Unlocks the Create Crucible World decision Hive Mind: −50% Empire Size from Districts	−50% Modify Species special project cost Non-Gestalt: Robot modification points apply to biological pops as well Hive Mind: +2 Augumentation Drone jobs from Spawning Pools
+10% Resources from Cybernetic pops +1 Organic species trait picks

Genetic

The Genetic tradition tree requires the Engineered Evolution ascension perk and the Gene Tailoring technology.

Unlocks the Genetic Pursuit agenda Unlocks the Clone Vats building +2 Genetic modification points
Genetic modification can remove positive and overtuned traits Genetic modification can add negative traits	+1.5 Monthly Organic Pop Assembly from Clone Vats buildings
+2 Genetic modification points Genetic modification can add biological ascension traits Unlocks assimilation into or out of Hive Minds	−50% Modify Species special project cost
+1 Organic species trait picks Genetic modification can change species portrait
+2 Genetic modification points Can research Transgenesis technologies if certain DLCs are enabled.

Psionic

The Psionic tradition tree requires either the Mind Over Matter ascension perk or the Teachers of the Shroud origin and the Psionic Theory technology.

Unlocks the Psionic Supremacy agenda All pops gain the Latent Psionic trait Adds the Telepathy technology as a research option if Teachers of the Shroud
Unlocks the Psi Corps building Unlocks the Psi Corps orbital ring building Adds the Thought Enforcement technology as a research option	+10 Base Intel Level Unlocks the Sight Beyond Sight edict
Main species replaces the Latent Psionic trait with Psionic Unlocks Psionic assimilation
Unlocks a special project to enter the Shroud +5% Resouces from Psionic pops from each Telepath job	+2 Codebreaking +2 Encryption
−10% Edict upkeep −20% Shroud delve cooldown Can confirm an established Covenant

Stellaris 3.12 Ascension Perks Tier List-2

Ascension perks

Finishing an entire tradition tree or acquiring the Ascension Theory technology unlocks an ascension perk slot. Ascension perks represent the empire's greater-scope ambitions and, in the case of the ascension paths, its ultimate fate.

Ascension perks often favor either a tall or wide gameplay, with some that allow access to gameplay mechanics not available through traditions alone. This includes the ascension paths, the ability to build advanced deep-space megastructures, the ability to use terraforming to create special planets, and becoming a Galactic Nemesis. An empire can have up to 8 Ascension perks.

Tier 0 ascension perks can be taken from the start. Tier 1 perks require 1 previous ascension perk to be taken, tier 2 perks require 2 previous ascension perks, and tier 3 perks require 3 previous ascension perks. The higher the AI weight, the more likely an AI empire will select that ascension perk.

	Ascension perk	Tier	Effects	Prerequisites	AI weight	DLC
	Archaeo-Engineers	0	+1 Scientist Capacity +33% Archaeotech Weapon Damage −10% Minor Artifact Ship Cost +2 Jobs from Faculty of Archaeostudies building +60% Shields from Ancient Suspension Field components +100% Shields from Ancient Pulse Armor components +5% Armor from Ancient Rampart starbase modules +10% Armor Hardening from Ancient Rampart starbase modules +33% Effects from Starbase buildings unlocked by Archaeostudies	Archaeostudies technology	4.5 x0 if Xenophobe x0.25 if Spiritualist x2 if Xenophile x2 if at least 1000 Minor Artifacts x2 if Materialist x3 if Fanatic Materialist x3 if completed 5 archaeological sites
	Consecrated Worlds	0	Consecrate World decision	Spiritualist	10
	Detox	0	Can terraform worlds with the Toxic Terraforming Candidate modifier	Climate Restoration technology	20
	Eternal Vigilance	0	+1 Commander Capacity +25% Starbase Hull Points +25% Starbase Damage +25% Defense platform damage +5 Defense platform cap	Star Fortress technology	10 x1.5 if Xenophobe x2 if Inwards Perfection
	Executive Vigor	0	+100 Edict fund		30
	Galactic Wonders	0	Ring World research option if Utopia is installed Dyson Sphere research option if Utopia is installed Matter Decompressor research option if MegaCorp is installed	Mega-Engineering technology Built or repaired a multi-stage megastructure	10 x2 if Pacifist x3 if Fanatic Pacifist
	Hydrocentric	0	−25% Ocean Terraforming Cost Can construct Ice Mining Station starbase buildings Can terraform worlds with the Frozen Terraforming Candidate modifier 50% increased effects of the Aquatic trait Unlocks the Deluge Machine colossus weapon	Aquatic main species trait Ocean main species climate preference Terrestrial Sculpting technology	40 x0.5 if not Xenophobe or Hive Mind x5 if Ocean Paradise
	Imperial Prerogative	0	−50% Empire size from colonies +2 Official capacity	Corporate	10
	Interstellar Dominion	0	−20% Claim influence cost −20% Starbase influence cost		10 x0 if Pacifist, Driven Assimilator, or Genocidal x2 if Xenophobe x3 if Fanatic Xenophobe
	Lord of War	0	+1 Mercenary Enclave Capacity +25% Diplomatic Weight from Fleet Power −2.5 Months Dividend Wait Time if patron of a Mercenary Enclave		5 x2 if Corporate x2 if Militarist x3 if Fanatic Militarist
	Mastery of Nature	0	−33% Clear Blocker cost Mastery of Nature decision		10 x0 if Void Dwellers x0.5 if chose 1 ascension perk x0.1 if chose 2 ascension perks x2 if below 8 planets
	Mechromancy	0	+15% L Slot Weapon Damage +15% XL Slot Weapon Damage +15% T Slot Weapon Damage Defeated organic guardians can be resurrected 33% chance to resurrect each purged pop as Cyborg Zombie	Machine Intelligence	10 x0 if Rogue Servitor or Determined Exterminator x2 if Driven Assimilator x10 if any neighbor system contains a Guardian
	Nihilistic Acquisition	0	Unlocks the Raiding bombardment stance	Is one of: Gestalt Consciousness Authoritarian Xenophobe Barbaric Despoilers Minamar Specialized Industries	10 x0 if Inwards Perfection or Genocidal
	One Vision	0	−10% Pop amenities usage +10% Monthly unity +50% Governing ethics attraction	Machine Intelligence	10 x2 if Authoritarian x2 if Spiritualist x3 if Fanatic Authoritarian x3 if Fanatic Spiritualist
	Shared Destiny	0	+2 Available envoys +1 Subjects exempt from Divided Patronage	Inward Perfection Genocidal	5 x0 if no Vassal or below 3 Envoys
	Technological Ascendancy	0	+10% Research Speed +50% Rare technology chance		30 x2 if Materialist x3 if Fanatic Materialist
	Transcendent Learning	0	+2 Scienfist capacity +25% Leader experience gain		10
	Universal Transactions	0	+1 Official capacity +20% Commercial pact efficiency −15% Branch office cost Commercial Pacts are free Commercial Pacts do not require Embassy	Corporate Criminal Heritage	10
	Voidborne	0	−20% Habitat Build Cost +0.25 Building Slots from Non-Urban Habitat Districts +2 Habitat Max Districts +1 Jobs from Habitat Districts Can upgrade housing buildings on Habitats Can always research the next tier of Habitat technology	Orbital Habitats technology Void Dwellers	10 x2 if Pacifist x2 if at least 2 Habitat colonies x3 if Fanatic Pacifist
	Xeno-Compatibility	0	+33% Immigration pull +20% Pop growth speed if world has at least 2 different species Hybrid Species	Xenophile Any biological alien pop living in empire Gene Tailoring technology	10 x2 if Xenophile x3 if Fanatic Xenophile
	Enigmatic Engineering	1	+2 Cloaking Strength +2 Encryption Destroyed ships don't leave debris Enemy Steal Technology operations fail		2 x2 if Materialist or Xenophobe x10 if Inwards Perfection or Minamar Specialized Industries
	Grasp the Void	1	+5 Starbase capacity +50% Chance to discover FTL technologies0 Hyperlane Breach Points Hyperspace Slipstreams Speculative Hyperlane Breaching jump drive tech Psi Jump Drives Wormhole Stabilization Gateway Activation Gateway Construction Hyper Relays Quantum Catapult		3 x1.5 if Xenophobe x2 if Inwards Perfection
	World Shaper	1	−25% Terraforming cost Gaia World terraforming option	Climate Restoration technology Is either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor Driven Assimilator	5 x0 if Shattered Ring, Void Dwellers or Aquatic
	Arcology Project	2	Arcology Project decision	Anti-Gravity Engineering technology Agrarian Idyll Is either: Gestalt Consciousness Rogue Servitor	10 x2 if Pacifist x3 if Fanatic Pacifist
	Become the Crisis	2	Unlocks Menace and the Crisis tab	Xenophile Pacifist Rogue Servitor Subject Galactic Sovereign Corporate Sovereign Minamar Specialized Industries Galactic Custodian	7.5 x0 if not Militarist, Xenophobe or Gestalt Consciousness x2 if finished  Supremacy tradition tree x2 if controlling at least 20% of the galaxy x10 if Genocidal
	Galactic Force Projection	2	+1 Commander Capacity +2 Max Influence from Power Projection +50 Fleet Command Limit +100 Naval Capacity		10 x1.5 if below 10 planets x1.5 if below 20 planets x2 if Militarist x2 if Become the Crisis x3 if Fanatic Militarist
	Hive Worlds	2	Hive World terraforming option	Hive Mind Climate Restoration technology Terravore	20
	Machine Worlds	2	Machine World terraforming option	Machine Intelligence Climate Restoration technology	20 x0 if Rogue Servitor
	Master Builders	2	+50% Megastructure build speed +1 Megastructure build capacity	Mega-Engineering Technology	10 x2 if Pacifist x3 if Fanatic Pacifist
	Colossus Project	3	Colossus ship type Colossus Project Special Project	Titans technology	10 x0 if crisis level 5 x0.1 if Xenophile x0.25 if Pacifist x2 if Militarist x2 if Xenophobe x2 if Machine Intelligence x2 if Become the Crisis x10 if Fanatic Purifiers or Determined Exterminator
	Defender of the Galaxy	3	+50% Damage to endgame crisis factions +200 Opinion from all regular empires		20 x0 if no crisis happened unless Xenophile, Custodian or Galactic Emperor
	Galactic Contender	3	+20% Diplomatic weight +33% Damage to Awakened Empires +33% Damage to Fallen Empires +33% Damage to The Gate-builders	Communications with a fallen or awakened empire	10 x0 if bordering an Awakened Empire x2 if an Awakened Empire exists

Ascension paths

Ascension paths are special tier 2 ascension perks that will unlock a tradition tree and an agenda with the same name that will unlock technologies required to advance through them. Each empire can take only one ascension path perk and only if fewer than 7 tradition trees have been taken. Empires with the Teachers of the Shroud origin are locked into the Psionic ascension and cannot take any of these perks.

	Ascension perk	Prerequisites	Tradition tree	AI weight	Description	DLC
	Engineered Evolution	Machine Intelligence	Genetic	15 x0 if below 6 worlds x3 if Hive Mind	To leave our genetic destiny in the hands of nature is an inefficient and excruciatingly slow process. Why not jump-start the future of our species?
	Mind over Matter	Gestalt Consciousness	Psionic	100 x0 if below 6 worlds x0.1 if not Spiritualist x10 if Become the Crisis	Only a fraction of the potential contained within our minds has been unlocked. The latent psionic abilities of our species are only now beginning to manifest in certain individuals.
	The Flesh is Weak	Machine Intelligence	Cybernetic	20 x0 if below 6 worlds x0.5 if not Materialist	The limits and constraints imposed on us by our feeble organic bodies are simply unacceptable. To reach our full potential, we must turn to cybernetic implants.
	Organo-Machine Interfacing	Driven Assimilator Assimilated at least 30 pops	Cybernetic	20 x0 if below 10 worlds	The limits and constraints imposed on us by our creators are simply unacceptable. To reach our full potential, we must turn to cybernetic implants.
	Synthetic Evolution	Gestalt Consciousness	Synthetic	20 x0 if below 6 worlds, Necrophage or MSI x0.1 if not Materialist	It is time to abandon the flawed organic vessels that imprison our minds. By transferring our neural patterns into synthetic bodies, we will achieve a higher state of being.
	Synthetic Age	Machine Intelligence	Synthetic	20 x0 if below 10 worlds	The age of organics has come and gone, the future of the galaxy belongs to the machines. This is the dawn of a synthetic age.

References

Game concepts