Technology

Technology is the most crucial element of securing galactic hegemony. Each major race has its own technology tree, with staggered technology ages to help streamline the gameplay and avoid the age-old problem of attacking a tank with a phalanx (so to speak).

The technology trees are split into four major categories (some are named differently among the civilizations): colonization, engineering, warfare, and culture. Each section of the tree focuses on different techs that will give your civilization a boost in various areas, from tourism revenue to advanced weapons for facing down your enemies.

Technology trees

All major factions have their own unique technology tree, the minor factions share a technology tree, and custom factions can use any of the technology trees. Clicking on the faction name will take you to more information about that faction, while clicking on the technology tree description will take you to the technologies of that faction.

In the Crusade and Intrigue expansions, the technology tree is no longer faction specific. Instead, different branches of the tree are present or absent based on the faction's abilities and traits. So, for example, the branch that has the Xeno Mysticism, Precursor History, and Dark Energy Research technologies is available to any faction that has the Ancient ability, not just the Altarians.

Commonalities

Every race has access to the basic necessities of expanding and growing their empire. Everyone has some kind of factory progression, for example, and access to colonization tech for extreme worlds. They differ in many of the details, though, and each race has one or more areas of expertise according to their general personality and proclivities.

Major Factions	Icon	Technology Tree Description
Altarian Resistance		Altarian technology tree reflects their love of beauty and culture.
Drengin Empire		Drengin technology tree is ruthless, brutal, and often downright evil. Just like its inventors.
Iconian Refuge		Iconian technology tree focuses on their ancient lineage and the mysticism they've built up over the millenia.
Iridium Corporation		Iridium technology tree is, like the rest of Iridium culture, based on the creation of value and profit.
Krynn Syndicate		Krynn technology tree allows them to explore the Way, which shapes their developing culture along distinct paths.
Terran Alliance		Terran technology tree does it all, with a focus on diplomacy.
Thalan Contingency		Thalan technology tree is weird and wonderful. Living in exile from an apocalyptic future will do that.
Yor Singularity		Yor technology tree is particularly concerned with the extermination of dirty, messy organic life from the galaxy.

Other Factions	Icon	Technology Tree Description
Minor Factions	Custom Race	Minor races each borrow one of the major races' tech trees.
Custom Factions		Custom Race technology trees are of the players choosing, as they can choose any of the other races' tech trees.

Colonization Techs

The colonization portion of the tech tree focuses on techs for settling on other worlds, constructing better buildings for your colonies, and making your citizens happy. Precursor research is also centrally important to this particular part of the tree, since harnessing those ancient technologies can go a long way toward a better quality of life for your people - not to mention a much easier time expanding and colonizing previously uninhabitable planets.

Culture Tech	Tech Description
Colonization	Allows construction of colony modules and basic colony buildings.
Colonial Administration	Creates the department of colonization.
Colonial Settlements	Allows construction of improved colony buildings.
Xeno Artifact Studies	Allows the use of alien artifacts found on colonized worlds.
Xeno Manufacturing	Allows construction of improved colony buildings.
Xeno Experimentation	Allows construction of improved research facilities.
Xeno Mysticism	Allows for the construction of the Social Matrix.
Planetology	Allows for the improvement of a planet's ecology.
Xeno Archeology	Increases Precursor research, allowing greater use of their technology.
Resource Processing	Allows for the construction of unique resource-heavy improvements.
Space Laboratories	Allows for the construction of deep research facilities.
Precursor Legacy	Enables better study of Precursor space relics.
Precursor Relic Understanding	Allows for greater utilization of Precursor relics.
Xeno Adaptation	Allows for settlement on extreme worlds, at reduced production potential.
Precursor Studies	Increases Precursor research, allowing further use of their technology.
Xeno Slavery (Drengin Only)	Allows for construction of improved colony buildings.
Xeno Industrialization	Allows for construction of improved colony buildings.
Xeno Research	Allows for construction of improved research facilities.
Environmental Engineering	Allows soil enhancement and improves adjacency terrain efects.
Advanced Foundations	Increases Precursor research, allowing even greater use of their technology.
Mechanized Slavery (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of advanced manufacturing facilities.
Advanced Construction	Allows for the construction of advanced manufacturing facilities.
Starbase Networking	Allows for the construction of deep research facilities.
Precursor History (Altarians Only)	By better understanding the history of the Precursors, we can begin taking steps to make our race even greater than it already is.
Extreme Colonization	Allows for settlement on extreme worlds, at reduced production potential.
Precursor Insight	Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology.
Xeno Resource Mining	Allows for the construction of unique resource-heavy improvements.
Neuro Linking	Allows for construction of improved research facilities.
Colonial Engineering	Allows for the construction of Civil Engineering projects.
Xeno Biology (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of improved medical facilities and increases population growth.
Precursor Investigation	Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology.
Slave Masters (Drengin Only)	Mastery of slave manufacturing techniques.
Industrial Expertise	Allows for the construction of the ultimate manufacturing facilities.
Institutional Research	Allows for the construction of improved research facilities.
Terraforming	Allows for the construction of terraforming plants.
Colonization Focus	Mastering living on an extreme world will make life there a lot more tolerable for the poor fools who volunteered for it.
Agricultural Adaptation (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of improved farms and increases food production.
Precursor Exploitation	Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology.
Advanced Resource Mining	Allows for the construction of unique resource-heavy improvements.
Research Extraction	Allows for the construction of galactic universities.
Collaborative Experimentation (Onyx Hive Only)	Allows for the construction of galactic universities.
Research Centers (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of advanced research facilities.
Terrestrial Harvesting	Allows for the construction of civilian buildings and increases population growth.
Atmospheric Cleansing	Allows for settlement on more extreme worlds at reduced population potential.
Population Enhancement (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of advanced medical facilities and increases population growth.
Food Distribution (Terran Only)	Allows for the construction of farming support buildings and increases food production.
Slavery Focus (Drengin Only)	If we start using the slavelings for the jobs they're best at, or even breeding them that way, we can make everything more efficient.
Manufacturing Focus (Terran Alliance Only)	There's no getting around it: "Incremental improvements in manufacturing techniques" isn't much of a headline. Which is a shame, considering the benefit we expect to see from them.
Intelligence Amplification (Drengin Only)	Boosts the intelligence of slaves.
Integrated Research	Allows for the construction of exotic research facilities.
Dark Energy Research (Altarians Only)	Allows for the construction of the Dark Energy Lab.
Habitat Improvement	Allows for the construction of advanced terraforming plants.
Biosphere Perfection	No longer must our colonists die without cause. Even the deadliest of planets are now perfectly survivable for us.
High Yield Crops (Terran Only)	Allows for the construction of advanced farms.
Precursor Engineering	Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology.
Research Matrix	Allows for the construction of the ultimate research facilities.
Advanced Resource Harvesting	Allows for the construction of civilian buildings and increases population growth.
Slaveling Recycling (Drengin Only)	Recycles slaves.
Xeno Irrigation (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of improved farming support buildings and increases food production.
Mysterious Knowledge (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of reduced torture research facilities.
Deeper Knowledge	Allows for the construction of deep research facilities.
Soil Reclamation	Allows you to add more tiles to your planets.
Protein Resequencing (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of protein sequencing farms.
Biomass Resequencing (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of advanced farming support buildings and increases food production.
Pain-Free Understanding (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of torture-free facilities.
Quantum Understanding	Allows for the construction of improved deep research facilities.
Environmental Resequencing	Increases the amount of usable land on all colonized planets.
Bio Replication (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows for the construction of exotic medical facilities and increases population growth.
Manufacturing Stimulus	Substantially boost manufacturing levels for 15 turns (capstone).
Research Stimulus	Substantially boost research levels for 10 turns.
Beyond Mortality	Allows for the construction of advanced deep research facilities and prepares civilization for ascension.
Precursor Understanding	Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology.

Engineering Techs

The engineering portion of the tech tree focuses on techs that will improve your ships by strengthening their hulls, increasing their speed, optimizing their life support, and more. Many of the techs also focus on building and improving minig facilities and increasing logistics. Some techs will also improve the speed and mobility of ships within hyperlanes.

Engineering Tech	Tech Description
Engineering	Allows construction of hyperdrives and tiny hulls.
Artificial Gravity	Allows the manipulation of gravity, which has endless applications.
Spatial Manipulation	Allows the manipulation of space and the building of hypergates.
Space Elevators	Allows for the building of supply ships and space elevators.
Interstellar Travel	Improves sensor, life support, and speed of all ships.
Orbital Manufacturing	Allows for the construction of a larger hull size.
Deep Field Inspection	Allows for faster-than-light astronomy.
Life Support	Allows for the construction of improved life support systems.
Advanced Engineering	Paves the way for the design and engineering of complex systems in zero-gravity environments.
Subatomic Organization	Enables miniaturization while maintaining mass.
Precursor Traditions (Altarians Only)	Increases shipyard output and quality.
Ion Drive	Allows for the construction of improved hyperdrives.
Zero Gravity Construction	Allows for the construction of medium hulls.
Interstellar Resupply	Improves logistics and starbase efficiency.
Precursor Specialization (Altarians Only)	With the lessons we have learned from our Precursor Traditions, we have been able to find new ways to make our ships superior to all others.
Interstellar Survey	Allows for the construction of improved sensors and survey modules.
Hull Strengthening	Allows for the construction of tougher hulls.
Interstellar Logistics	Allows for the construction of mining facilities and increases logistics.
Interstellar Mining	Allows for the construction of mining facilities.
Hyperlane Tunneling	Increases the movement of ships in hyperlanes.
Hyperfield Projection	Allows for the construction of speed boosting support modules.
Energy Field Sensors	Allows for the construction of advanced sensors.
Hull Repair Systems	Allows for the construction of hull support and repair modules.
Fleet Logistics	Greatly increases logistics.
High Efficiency Mining	Allows for the construction of improved mining facilities.
Precursor Mysteries (Altarians Only)	Allows the construction of the Precursor Protection Field support module.
Dimensional Fatigue	Studies theoretical weak points in the universe.
Gravity Field Manipulation	Allows for the construction of advanced speed boosting support modules.
Warp Field Theory	Allows for the construction of advanced hyperdrives.
Large Scale Construction	Allows for the construction of large hulls.
Deep Space Logistics	Greatly increases logistics.
Resource Extraction	Allows for the construction of advanced mining facilities.
Hyperfield Disruption	Allows for the construction of enemy speed reduction modules.
Support Field Generation	Allows for the construction of advanced life support systems.
Carriers	Allows for the construction of carrier modules.
Self Healing Hulls	Allows for the construction of tactical repair modules.
Hyperlane Streaming	Increases the movement of ships in hyperlanes.
Stellar Field Projection	Allows for the construction of advanced speed boosting support modules.
Hyperwarp Waves	Allows for the construction of exotic hyperdrives.
Inherent Talent (Altarians Only)	Increases accuracy and interferes with enemy targeting.
Interceptor Drones	Allows for the construction of cheap and light Interceptor drones.
Massive Scale	Construction Allows for the construction of large hulls.
Galactic Logistics	Greatly increases logistics.
Lossless Mining	Allows for the construction of targeted resource extractor modules.
Living Ships (Altarians Only)	Our ships no longer need to be maintained and will self-heal.
Subspace Sensors	Allows for the construction of exotic sensors.
Support Field Mastery	Allows for the construction of fleet life support modules.
Guardian Drones	Allows for the construction of cheap and light Guardian drones.
Lossless Support Systems	Allows for the construction of the ultimate life support systems.
Stellar Folding	Allows for the construction of the ultimate hyperdrives.
High Capacity Carriers	Allows for the construction of high capacity carrier modules.
Drive System Optimization	Substantially boost the speed of all ships for 15 turns (capstone).

Warfare Techs

The warfare portion of the tech tree focuses on things that go ka-boom! It allows for research into various weapon technologies from missiles to kinetics and can also go a long way toward optimizing your potential for winning (or defending against) invasions.

Warfare Tech	Tech Description
Warfare	Allows for the research of weapons technologies.
Militarization	Begins the path of building a space navy.
Weapons Systems	Allows for the construction of basic weapon systems.
Planetary Invasion	Allows for the construction of transport modules and provides 10 legions.
Defense Systems	Allows for the construction of basic defensive systems.
Beam Weapons	Allows for the construction of improved beam weapons.
Missile Weapons	Allows for the construction of improved missile weapons.
Kinetic Weapons	Allows for the construction of improved kinetic weapons.
Invasion Optimization	Good news! We've developed some new - possibly amoral but certainly effective - techniques for pacifying enemy ground forces.
Shield Systems	Allows for the construction of improved shield systems.
Point Defenses	Allows for the construction of point defense systems.
Armor Systems	Allows for the construction of improved armor systems.
Beam Weapon Optimization	Weapons researchers have to keep paces with advances in many other fields to get the most out of their inventions. Right now, recent advances in material sciences are opening the door to a new generation of more efficient weapons.
Missile Optimization	After blowing up several thousand target drones and one unfortunate asteroid, our weapons engineers have come up with a number of possible improvements we can implement for our missile platforms.
Kinetic Optimization	Some modest improvements in the energy delivery system of our kinetic weapons could result in improvements to the cost, mass, or range of each unit.
War College	Allows for the training of Commanders.
Shield Optimization	We've received quite a bit of useful data on real world performance of our shield systems, and have devised several possible improvements we can begin making to them.
Point Defense Optimization	Optimizing our point defense systems should lead to a number of different performance gains. Like possibly less exploded ships.
Armor Optimization	We've blown up lots and lots of slabs of armor on the test range and have come up with a few possible improvements we could make to our armor systems.
Beam Weapon Augmentation	Allows for the construction of beam support systems.
Missile Augmentation	Allows for the construction of missile support systems.
Kinetic Augmentation	Allows for the construction of kinetic support systems.
Defensive Meditation (Altarians Only)	Allows for the construction of the Champion's Temple.
Fortification	Allows for the construction of defensive fortifications and improves planetary defense.
Shield Support Systems	Allows for the construction of shield support systems.
Point Defense Support	Allows for the construction of point defense support systems.
Armor Support Systems	Allows for the construction of armor support systems.
Matter Disruption	Allows for the construction of advanced beam weapons.
Harpoons	Allows for the construction of advanced missile weapons.
Pulse Cannons	Allows for the construction of advanced kinetic weapons.
Stellar Marines	Improves soldier effectiveness and transport capacity.
Barrier Field Generation	Allows for the construction of advanced shield systems.
Point Defense Augmentation	Allows for the construction of improved point defense support systems.
Durantium Composite	Allows for the construction of advanced armor systems.
Beam Weapon Miniaturization	Allows more beam weapons to fit in a particular space.
Missile Miniaturization	Allows for smaller missiles that deliver the same payload.
Hyper Field Mass Launchers	Decreases the size needed for kinetic based weapons.
Orbital Defense Platform	Adds defensive fighters to orbit and improves planetary defense.
Energy Defense Optimization	Reduces the size of shield emitters.
Counter Measures	Allows for the construction of advanced point defense systems.
Armor Materials Science	Improves the understanding of kinetic energy defenses, allowing for more optimized use of armor materials.
High Energy Transfer	Allows for the construction of improved beam support systems.
Advanced Missile Guidance	Allows for the construction of improved missile support systems.
Mass Manipulation	Allows for the construction of improved kinetic support systems.
Planetary Defense Dome	Allows for the construction of planetary defense dome and improves planetary defense.
Shield Augmentation	Allows for the construction of improved shield support systems.
Counter Targeting Computers	Eliminates the need to reserve space in point defenses for targeting computers.
Armor Enhancement	Allows for the construction of improved armor support systems.
Plasma Projection	Allows for the construction of exotic beam weapons.
Photonic Warheads	Allows for the construction of exotic missile weapons.
Graviton Thrower	Allows for the construction of exotic kinetic weapons.
Force Fields	Allows for the construction of exotic shield systems.
Drone Sentry Systems	Allows for the construction of exotic point defense systems.
Kanvium Laminate	Allows for the construction of exotic armor systems.
High Energy Magnification	Allows for the construction of advanced beam support systems.
Intelligent Warheads	Allows for the construction of advanced missile support systems.
Inertial Magnification	Allows for the construction of advanced kinetic support systems.
Gravitational Focus	Our ability to manipulate gravitational fields presents several unique tactical possibilities for our ground forces. These are powerful weapons we're giving to guys with pretty thick skulls, so we should definitely remember to keep an eye on them.
Energy Field Manipulation	Allows for the construction of advanced shield support systems.
Point Defense Manipulation	Allows for the construction of advanced point defense support systems.
Integrity Field Projection	Allows for the construction of advanced armor support systems.
Energy Phasing	Allows for the construction of devastating beam weapons.
Photon Torpedoes	Allows for the construction of devastating missile weapons.
Quantum Drivers	Allows for the construction of devastating kinetic weapons.
Drone Soldiers	Improves soldier effectiveness and transport capacity.
Invulnerability	Allows for the construction of the ultimate shield systems.
Aereon Missile Defense	Allows for the construction of the ultimate point defense systems.
Zero Point Armor	Allows for the construction of the ultimate armor systems.
Doom Ray	Allows for the construction of the ultimate beam weapons.
Nightmare Torpedoes	Allows for the construction of the ultimate missile weapons.
Singularity Drivers	Allows for the construction of the ultimate kinetic weapons.
Advanced Invasion Tactics	Improves soldier effectiveness and allows the construction of advanced transports.

Culture Techs

The culture portion of the tech tree focuses on making friends and influencing aliens. In this tree, you'll find helpful techs like universal translator that will let you speak with other civilizations, along with many techs that provide leaders and building improvements that will boost income from tourism.

Culture Tech	Tech Description
Culture	Allows the research of communication technologies.
Universal Translator	Allows communications with other alien civilizations.
Ministry of Alien Affairs	Provides a framework for colonies to interact with alien species.
Interstellar Governance	Provides a leader and increases administration.
Xeno Commerce	Allows for the construction of basic economic buildings and freighters.
Cultural Exchange	Begin spreading cultural influence across the galaxy and earn a profit from it.
Enjoyment (Altarians Only)	Allows for the construction of basic entertainment buiildings and increases approval.
Diplomacy	Provides a Diplomat and allows for the construction of embassies and the formation of basic treaties.
Fighting Pits (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of fighting pits.
Digital Exchange (Yor Only)	Increases the efficacy of trade between colonies and other species.
Xeno Entertainment	Allows for the construction of basic entertainment buildings and increases approval.
Interstellar Immigration	Encourages aliens to begin making our worlds a home. Increases population growth, but reduces approval.
Cultural Influence	Allows for the construction of basic cultural buildings, increases influence, and provides a celebrity.
Espionage	Allows for the training of agents who can be used to destabilize and surveille other civilizations.
Xeno Economics	Allows for the construction of improved economic buildings and grants an Entrepreneur.
Interstellar Tourism	Allows for the construction of improved entertainment buildings and allows you to collect tourism income.
Cultural Outreach	Allows for the construction of improved cultural buildings and increases influence.
Galactic Governance	Provides a free leader and 3 more administrative points.
Interstellar Trade	Allows for the construction of basic trading buildings and adds one trade route.
Open Immigration	Encourages aliens to begin making our worlds a home. Increases population growth, but reduces approval.
Stellar Emigration	Allows for the construction of advanced cultural buildings and increases influence.
Interstellar Alliances	Allows for the construction of improved diplomatic buildings and increases diplomacy.
Interstellar Banking	Allows for the construction of advanced economic buildings.
Wonders of the Galaxy	Allows for the construction of advanced tourism structures and increases tourism income.
Cultural Assimilation	Allows for the construction of exotic cultural buildings and increases influence.
Eminence	Allows for the construction of advanced diplomatic buildings and increases diplomacy.
Market Extortion (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of improved trading buioldings and adds two trade routes.
Galactic Trade	Allows for the construction of improved trading buildings and adds 2 trade routes.
Open Citizenship	Encourages aliens to begin making our worlds a home. Increases population growth, but reduces approval.
Cultural Domination	Allows for the construction of the ultimate cultural buiildings and increases influence.
Technocracy (Onyx Hive Only)	Provides a free leader and 3 more administrative points.
Interstellar Democracy (Terran Alliance Only)	Provides a free leader and 3 more administrative points.
Majesty (Terran Alliance Only)	Allows the formation of assimilation treaties.
Financial Sectors	Allows for the construction of exotic economic buildings.
Homage (Drengin Only)	Allows for the construction of the Temple of Strength.
Pilgrimage	Allows for the construction of exotic tourism structures and increases tourism income.
Cultural Affinity	Prepares civilization for acension.
Star Federation	Provides a free leader and 3 more administrative points.
Galactic Stock Market	Allows for the construction of the ultimate economic buildings.
Economic Study	Substantially boosts civilization's wealth for 15 turns (capstone).
Technological Outreach	Greatly increases the speed of colonies' influence for 15 turns (capstone).