Robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for humanoid machines. Sooner than later, we’ll have to ask ourselves what we want our robotic friends to be like. The same applies to Stellaris. Whether you’re creating robotic helpers or playing as a machine intelligence, the traits of your robotic pops can profoundly influence the development of your empire. You owe it to your populace and the galaxy to think things through – so let me help you figure out what the best robotic traits are, depending on your needs!
10. Machine & Mechanical
This might be a little redundant, but it’s important to remember that playing as a machine intelligence or creating mechanical pops is already a boon in and of itself. Machines in Stellaris get 200% habitability, allowing them to colonize any planet easily without worrying about happiness. Moreover, their Leaders are immortal, meaning you can keep accumulating beneficial traits and skills indefinitely. Mechanical pops need Synthetic Personality Matrixes to generate leaders, but getting that is a matter of time. It’s a fantastic playstyle and something you should definitely try out if you still haven’t.
9. Enhanced Memory & Learning Algorithms
Once you’ve developed Synthetic Personality Matrixes, traits like Enhanced Memory (+2) and Learning Algorithms (+1) come into play. These robot traits have the potential of turning your leaders into some of the best in the galaxy with +2 Leader Level Cap and 25% extra Leader Experience Gain. Spending three whole points on these might seem excessive. But when you consider your leaders are pretty much immortal, it’s a no-brainer. You’ll keep getting value out of these for the entire game.
8. Propaganda Machines
Not all robot traits are meant to be used with purely synthetic societies. For example, Propaganda Machines can turn your mechanical pops into walking loudspeakers spouting pro-government nonsense 24/7. You’ll get a 15% increase in Unity production from a nationalistic, brainwashed organic society for the nominal price of one trait point. Increasing your Unity production is one of the hardest things to do in Stellaris. So this trait can be invaluable in large empires with high Tradition costs. It can also help offset the effects of conflicting factions within the government.
7. Harvesters
Another excellent trait for Mechanical pops living among soft-bodied organics is Harvesters, which increases their Food output by 15% in exchange for a single trait point. This is great for strategies like feeding your entire empire from a single Agrarian planet packed with mechanical workers. Harvesters synergize wonderfully with the Nutritional Plentitude edict, which can supercharge your population growth at the cost of 25% more Food consumption.
6. Power Drills
A similar effect can be achieved for Lithoid empires with the Power Drills mechanical trait, which provides a 15% boost to your Mineral production at the cost of one trait point. Even in non-Lithoid empires, Power Drills might still be the better choice, as Minerals are essential throughout the whole game. A healthy Mineral production aided by robotic pops will directly impact your ability to develop your planets by constructing and upgrading buildings. It can also supercharge your Alloy production, which is key to creating and maintaining a powerful fleet and constructing potent Megastructures.
5. Superconductive
As you know, robotic pops consume Energy rather than Minerals or Food like regular organics. The Superconductive trait can help you keep every unit online by increasing your Energy output from jobs by 15% – something you’ll definitely want for machine empires. It’s also useful on regular mechanical pops, as a large Energy surplus means you can buy your way out of any deficit. Your coffers will also be packed whenever you want to purchase rare materials from caravans or get the Curators to help your R&D department. The one reason why this isn’t closer to the top is the somewhat steep cost of two trait points.
4. Efficient Processors
If you’re getting analysis paralysis from so many great resource-producing options and can’t choose what to focus on, you need the Efficient Processors trait. Efficient Processors are well-rounded units that produce a 5% surplus in any job. You don’t have to micro-manage the traits of every robot on every planet, saving you a headache and a lot of time. Again, the one problem with this trait is the high cost of three trait points. It’s probably something you’ll get further down the line after increasing your available modding points through technology.
3. Logic Engines
There’s nothing more critical for any empire – terrestrial or galactic – than technology. Better tech means more production, longer lifespans, and increased comfort. Any investment you make in technology will be paid back tenfold some years down the line. That’s why the Logic Engines trait is essential for machine empires and mechanical pops alike. For the fair cost of two trait points, you get a 10% higher research output. This will give you immediate benefits and help you snowball by achieving other crucial techs like Machine Template System or Synthetic Personality Matrix.
2. Luxurious
You might be surprised to find a negative trait so close to the top of the ranking, but you’ll agree with me once you look at the numbers. Luxurious is a mild negative trait that increases robot assembly costs by 20%. It sounds like a lot at first, but there are numerous ways to offset the extra Mineral expenses, and it gives you two much-needed trait points to spend on stuff like Logic Engines and Efficient processors. Additionally, you can apply this trait when modifying pops after assembly – which means you get two trait points for free!
1. Mass-Produced
The one thing that may be more important for an empire than technological advancement is population growth – and it’s no different for machine empires. Mass Produced is a fantastic trait that gives your robotic species 15% faster assembly speed for just one paltry trait point. This won’t only give you more workers faster but indirectly reduce the cost of each pop assembled since every roboticist also has monthly upkeep. The math is a little complicated, but trust me when I tell you that Mass-Produced is a must.
