Technology

Technology is one of the core game systems in ES2. Much like "experience points" in an RPG, players are able to gain  science points as they play, and these progressively unlock new abilities for their empire. These include new movement abilities for starships, new kinds of buildings, new kinds of ships and equipment, and access to major game features (like the galactic market, or many forms of diplomacy) which are initially "locked" when the game begins.

It is even possible to win the game directly by simply researching technologies (see below).

The technology tree in Endless Space 2 is split into four sections, Military, Economy and Trade, Science and Exploration and Empire Development.

Each section has 5 tiers or eras. You have to research a set number of technologies from an era to have access to the next one. Technology cost increases based on the era it's in as well as the current number of technologies researched by your civilization. Reaching an era may unlock a Deed or an improvement.

Many of the technologies - as well as the different ships, buildings, planet colonizations, etc. that the technologies unlock - are specific to your faction. This means that each faction will have some technologies that are exclusive to that faction, either being a entirely new technology or tweaks to the standard technology. These technologies can be identified by a small icon along the bottom of the tech's icon: either a faction icon (indicating it's been altered by your Visual Affinity, such as "The Vodyani") or a yin yang icon (indicating it's been altered by your Gameplay Affinity, such as "Shipbound").

Some technologies are also exclusive if paired with another technology on the tree, where you can only unlock one of the two. This is the case for many of the military technologies where you have to chose between energy or projectile weapons.

Each technology has a political affinity associated with it.

As you explore the galaxy you may also come across technology caches containing rare technology that you otherwise could not research.

Information about science cost calculations can be found in this spreadsheet.

## Military

These technologies focus on warfare and will provide upgrades and improvements to ship weaponry and modules, command points, ground troops, manpower and defensive improvements to your systems.

## Economy and Trade

These technologies focus on the exploitation of Strategic Resources, in addition to System Development upgrades, dust and industry improvements, and allows access to Trade Companies and the Marketplace. It also includes some Planet Colonization technology.

## Science and Exploration

These technologies provide further improvements in science generation, curiosity exploration, ship movement, probes and Luxury Resources. It also contains a large portion of the Planet Colonization technologies and specifically the ability to make ships travel between star systems without starlanes.

## Empire Development

The technologies in this tree cover a broad spectrum, from new ship hull types, food growth, diplomacy, minor faction interactions, new government types, faction alliances, overcolonization penalties and the Wonder Victory construction. Each Empire also has a unique technology in this tree to research.

## Technology Victory

Main article: Victory: Science

By discovering the four advanced and unique technologies at the farthest edges of each quadrant of the Technology screen, you will have a depth of knowledge and technical power that makes you the unquestioned leader of the galaxy.

Once you've researched all 4, you'll immediately win the game, as long as the science victory condition is enabled for that match, and you are not in an alliance (in an alliance, additional members up the requirement count beyond the 4 you, yourself are allowed to research. This makes this victory condition a bit difficult within an alliance, because unlike e.g. a wonder victory, which similarly increases the number of "obelisks" you need to build to win, you're not able to complete the task, yourself, on behalf of your team. You have to research 4 of the technologies, and then simply wait for your allies to finish the additional ones on their own.).

1. ↑ Endless Space 2 User Manual, p. 22. 2017. Amplitude Studios SAS.[1]