December 21, 2024

A Beginner’s Guide to the Stellaris Technology Tree

Gareth Evans06 mins

Greetings fellow galactic conquerors! If you’re just starting out in Stellaris, the endless tech tree can seem pretty daunting. With hundreds of technologies to research, it’s hard to know where to begin. Well, fear not! In this post, I’ll walk you through the basics of the Stellaris technology tree, so you can start upgrading your empire and dominating the galaxy.

First Steps on the Tech Tree

When you first start a game of Stellaris, you’ll have access to some core primitive technologies to get your civilization going. These will allow you to make basic improvements like increasing food production, unlocking new ship types, and establishing spaceports.

It’s important in the early game to focus on research that will rapidly expand your economy and naval capacity. Key techs to prioritize are things like:

  • Basic science lab – allowing you to employ researchers and boost your research speed.
  • Mining networks – increasing mineral production from mining stations.
  • Corvette assembly yards – enabling the construction of your first military ships.
  • Colonization procedures – allowing you to settle new planets to grow your empire.
  • Crew quarters – increasing naval capacity so you can build bigger fleets.

In the first 50 years, your goal should be to get established on multiple planets while teaching up to build a decent fleet to defend yourself. Stellaris rewards rapid expansion in the early game, so claim systems and colonize new worlds whenever you can.

Mid-Game Technologies

Once you’ve got a few planets under your belt, it’s time to transition from the basic techs and aim for more advanced upgrades. In the mid-game phase, you’ll want technologies that take your economy, military power, and expansion capabilities to the next level.

Important mid-game techs include:

  • Orbital hydroponic farms – increasing food production from space stations.
  • Destroyers and cruisers – unlocking new heavier ship classes.
  • Galactic administration – allowing you to reform into an imperial government.
  • Mega-engineering – enabling the construction of megastructures like Dyson Spheres.
  • Terraforming – allowing you to modify planets into new climate types.

At this stage, you should be looking to specialize your research towards a particular victory type. If you want to conquer the galaxy through force, focus on military advances. If you’re pursuing a technological or economic victory, prioritize research speed and production tech.

Related:

Late-Game Technologies

By the end-game year of 2400, you should have a sizable empire and be working towards your victory conditions. The extremely advanced late-game technologies will take your civilization to the next power level.

These late-game wonders include:

  • Battleships and titans – opening up Leviathan-class warships.
  • Sapient AI – enabling advanced automaton workers and combat AI.
  • Jump drives – allowing ships to teleport across the galaxy.
  • Ascension perks – biologically or cybernetically enhancing your primary species.
  • Megastructures – building a Science Nexus, Sentry Array, or even a complete Ringworld.

At this stage of the game, you should be leveraging your economic and technological superiority to decisively move towards your win condition. Use your advanced techs to overwhelm rivals with sheer military might, technological prowess, or economic production.

The Future Awaits

And that covers the basics of plotting your course through the Stellaris technology tree! With over 750 techs to research, the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different research paths in each game. The joy of Stellaris is unfolding the next steps on the endless march of technological progress.

So upgrade those reactors, retrofit your corvettes, and gear up to dominate the galaxy! With the power of technology, your civilization will stand the test of time. The future awaits, so research on my friends!

Related News