Abilities

Abilities represent the culture of a race through specific bonuses and access to certain planet types.

and introduce many dependencies of improvements and technologies on abilities. uses abilities to control access to certain citizens. restricts access to some governments behind abilities.

Abilities are distinct from traits in that traits modify a single statistic, while an ability can have broader and more fundamental effects on gameplay.

List

The table below summarizes the abilities. For technologies and improvements specific to an ability, the table only includes the root of a technology branch or base of an improvement progression.

Name	Description	Requirements
Adaptable	Can colonize tier 1 extreme worlds
	Can colonize Unrecognized icon name Aquatic Worlds, Unrecognized icon name Frozen Worlds and Unrecognized icon name Barren Worlds
	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Precursor Archive player wonder	or
Aeroponics	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Aeroponic Farm improvement	or
Amphibious	Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Aquatic Worlds, with no penalty Can terraform 1 extra water tile each technology age Converted to the Aquatic race type by
Ancient	+10 Unrecognized icon name Research upon arriving at an anomaly
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Xeno Mysticism, Unrecognized icon name Inherent Talent, and Unrecognized icon name Precursor Traditions technologies Enables the Unrecognized icon name Biosphere Manipulator improvement	or
	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Unity government
Angry	Start with a Unrecognized icon name Cutter
Bureaucrats	+10 Unrecognized icon name Administrators
	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Coordination Temple technology	or
	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Theocracy government
Certain	+2 Unrecognized icon name Influence Receive +100 Unrecognized icon name Research every time an ideological trait is unlocked
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Defensive Meditation technology Enables Unrecognized icon name Healing Pools, Unrecognized icon name Champion's Temple, Unrecognized icon name Shrine of Tandis, Unrecognized icon name Drathian Temple, Unrecognized icon name Shrine of the Mithrilar, and Unrecognized icon name Precursor Souvenir Shop improvements Disables the Unrecognized icon name Entertainment Center improvement	or
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Free Market improvement (bug? probably meant Traders)
Chaotic	Grants two free random technologies at the beginning of each technology age, starting with Age of War	Villains of Star Control: Origins DLC
Colonizers	First improvement on all new colonies is free
	No free improvement; colony ships refund 1 Unrecognized icon name Administrators when colonizing a new world
Conquerors	+2500 Unrecognized icon name Credits upon conquering a planet +1 Unrecognized icon name Ship Construction
	+100% Unrecognized icon name Soldiering
Cybernetic	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Mechanic
Devout	+25% Unrecognized icon name Administrators +4 Unrecognized icon name Administrators +100 Unrecognized icon name Influence Growth upon unlocking an ideology (bugged)
	No Unrecognized icon name Administrators bonus; start with a Unrecognized icon name Cleric
	Enables Unrecognized icon name The Path, Unrecognized icon name Jihad, Unrecognized icon name The Path of Shadows and Unrecognized icon name Krynniac Conversion technologies	or
Determined	+5 Unrecognized icon name Ship Range
Diplomatic	+1 Unrecognized icon name Diplomacy Bonus
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Majesty technology Enables Unrecognized icon name Galactic Council improvement	or
Discreet	Receives a free random tier 1 mercenary every game, when they first encounter the Galactic Bazaar
Divine Guardian	Starts with warship Jeff Enables Unrecognized icon name Temple of Jeff improvement	Heroes of Star Control: Origins DLC
Engineers	Shipyard and Asteroid Mine production decays at half of the normal rate
Experienced	All ships receive 25% more Unrecognized icon name Experience Points from battle
Exterminators	Enables Unrecognized icon name Spore Weapon technology Enables Unrecognized icon name Inspiration Extractor, Unrecognized icon name Temple of Despair, Unrecognized icon name Monument of the Final War, Unrecognized icon name Eulogy of the Fallen, Unrecognized icon name Grave of Lessers, Unrecognized icon name Shrine of A'Aghohl improvements Enables the Unrecognized icon name Work Camp (Korath) improvement Disables Unrecognized icon name Galactic Mainframe, Unrecognized icon name Supply Depot improvements Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Toxic Worlds +10% Unrecognized icon name Raw Production, +25% Unrecognized icon name Research
Federation	Starts with Unrecognized icon name Universal Translator and Unrecognized icon name Interstellar Alliances technologies	Heroes of Star Control: Origins DLC
Heroic	+25% Unrecognized icon name Resistance Start with Unrecognized icon name War College technology
Hopeful	+1 Unrecognized icon name Morale
Intuitive	Starts with +250 Unrecognized icon name Research
	Starts with only +50 Unrecognized icon name Research
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Xeno Anthropology tech tree Enables Unrecognized icon name Data Center improvement	or
Imperial	Ships in own Zone of Control gain additional Unrecognized icon name Hit Points per controlled colony	Villains of Star Control: Origins DLC
Inventive	Starts with Unrecognized icon name Zero Gravity Construction technology Starts with Unrecognized icon name Constructor
Knowledgeable	Starts knowing the location of other homeworlds
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Gravitonics tech tree	or
Mitosis	Receives free Unrecognized icon name Administrators points for each existing nearby colony when colonizing a new world	Villains of Star Control: Origins DLC
Needy	+2 Unrecognized icon name Morale for every civilization that loves them (up to a maximum of +10)	Heroes of Star Control: Origins DLC
Paranoid	Free drones defend planets, shipyards and starbases
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Molecular Fabrication technology tree	or
Prolific	+50% Unrecognized icon name Population upon colonization
	+50% Unrecognized icon name Growth
Ravenous	Receive fresh Unrecognized icon name Food from each victorious battle (spoils after 25 turns if unused)	Villains of Star Control: Origins DLC
Resourceful	Starts with +2 Unrecognized icon name Durantium and +2 Unrecognized icon name Hyper Silicates
Scavengers	+25% Unrecognized icon name Scavenger's Chance	Revenge of the Snathi DLC
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Recovery and Unrecognized icon name Vicious technologies	Revenge of the Snathi DLC and either or
Silicon Based	Eat Unrecognized icon name Durantium instead of Unrecognized icon name Food Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Frozen Worlds +10% Unrecognized icon name Raw Production, +35% Unrecognized icon name Research, +20% Unrecognized icon name Influence Growth Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Radioactive Worlds +10% Unrecognized icon name Raw Production, +50% Unrecognized icon name Social Construction Converted to the Silicon-based Life race type by
Slavers	+15 for the dominant ideology upon conquering a planet Can immediately train the Unrecognized icon name Slave Master
	Disables Unrecognized icon name Food Distribution technology Enables Unrecognized icon name Garrison, Unrecognized icon name Work Camp, Unrecognized icon name Slave Pit, Unrecognized icon name Research Chamber, and Unrecognized icon name Fighting Pit improvement lines Disables Unrecognized icon name Computer Core, Unrecognized icon name Central Bank, Unrecognized icon name Starport, Unrecognized icon name Space Elevator, Unrecognized icon name Supply Depot, Unrecognized icon name Factory, Unrecognized icon name Xeno Research Laboratory, Unrecognized icon name Discovery Sphere, Unrecognized icon name Technological Capital, Unrecognized icon name Entertainment Center, Unrecognized icon name Virtual Vacation improvements	or
	Disables Unrecognized icon name Engineering Center, Unrecognized icon name Resupply Center, Unrecognized icon name Colonization Center, Unrecognized icon name Virtual Vacation, Unrecognized icon name Entertainment Capital improvements
Sneaky	Starts with Unrecognized icon name Espionage technology Enables the Unrecognized icon name Spider
Starfaring	All starbases get the first module free All ships are immune to nebulae
	No free starbase module with Enables Unrecognized icon name Hyperion Logistics System, Unrecognized icon name Hyperion Shipyard, Unrecognized icon name Hyperion Shrinker, Unrecognized icon name Hyperion Supply System, Unrecognized icon name Hyperion Sensor System improvement	or
Synthetic	Disables Unrecognized icon name Food and natural Unrecognized icon name Growth; instead constructs Unrecognized icon name Population +100 Unrecognized icon name Morale, so Unrecognized icon name Approval is essentially fixed at 100% Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Aquatic Worlds and Unrecognized icon name Frozen Worlds Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Bacterial Worlds +10% Unrecognized icon name Raw Production, +35% Unrecognized icon name Research, +20% Unrecognized icon name Influence Growth Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Barren Worlds +10% Unrecognized icon name Raw Production, +35% Unrecognized icon name Social Construction, +35% Unrecognized icon name Ship Construction Can immediately colonize Unrecognized icon name Toxic Worlds +25% Unrecognized icon name Research Enables Unrecognized icon name Manufacture Population, Unrecognized icon name Production Center, and Unrecognized icon name Experiment Chamber improvements Converted to the Synthetic race type by
Time Travelers	Starts with Unrecognized icon name Eminence, Unrecognized icon name Large Scale Construction and Unrecognized icon name Stellar Folding technologies
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Dimensional Weapons and Unrecognized icon name Dimensional Phasing technologies	or
Traders	+1 Unrecognized icon name Approval from trade routes for both parties +2 Unrecognized icon name Trade Licenses Max
	Start with Freighter
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Trade Post and Unrecognized icon name Trade Center improvements Enables Unrecognized icon name Acquisitions, Unrecognized icon name Marketing and Unrecognized icon name Galactic Facilitation technologies 5 Unrecognized icon name Trade Licenses Max (without )	or
Unrelenting	Invasions never cost Unrecognized icon name Credits
	+1 Unrecognized icon name Influence Growth
Unshackled	+30% Unrecognized icon name All Weapons, +30% Unrecognized icon name Accuracy, +30% Unrecognized icon name Dodge when fighting Synthetic ships	Heroes of Star Control: Origins DLC
Unwavering	+20 Unrecognized icon name Rebellion Points
	Enables the Unrecognized icon name Unbroken Spirit technology	or
Vigilant	starbases have +1 Area of Effect Enemy ships have -1 Unrecognized icon name Moves in vicinity of a starbase +1 Unrecognized icon name All Weapons in vicinity of a starbase Starbases have -50% Unrecognized icon name Hit Points, +1 Unrecognized icon name All Weapons, +9 Unrecognized icon name All Defenses, +2 Unrecognized icon name Sensor Power, +3 Unrecognized icon name Influence, +1 Unrecognized icon name Starbase Range
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Xeno Geology, Unrecognized icon name Interstellar Navigation, Unrecognized icon name Stellar Forge, and Unrecognized icon name Territorial Reinforcement technologies	and either or
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Temple of Valor improvement	and
War Profiteers	+200% Unrecognized icon name Credits when trading with a civilization at war
Warriors	+0.1 Unrecognized icon name Beam Damage Resistance, +0.1 Unrecognized icon name Kinetic Damage Resistance, +0.1 Unrecognized icon name Missile Damage Resistance +10% Unrecognized icon name Beam Range, +10% Unrecognized icon name Kinetic Range, +10% Unrecognized icon name Missile Range	or
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Temple of Valor improvement
Wealthy	Tourism enabled immediately Starts with +2500 Unrecognized icon name Credits
	Tourism not enabled immediately Starts with only +1000 Unrecognized icon name Credits +1 Unrecognized icon name Raw Production
Xenophobic	+200% Unrecognized icon name Research +200% Unrecognized icon name Social Construction -50% Unrecognized icon name Ship Construction -95% Unrecognized icon name Influence on planets
	Enables Unrecognized icon name Dream Conclave improvement	or
Zealots	+15 to dominant ideology upon conquering a planet	Renamed to Slavers by

Removed

The following abilities were removed for the final release but still remain within the game's code.

• Patriotic (Immune to the large empire Approval penalty)