How To Build Every Megastructure In Stellaris

Abraham Smith

Quick Links

  • Base Game Megastructures: Gateways
  • Distant Stars DLC Megastructures: L-Gates
  • Utopia DLC Megastructures: Habitats, Ring Worlds, Dyson Spheres, Science Nexuses, Sentry Arrays
  • Federations DLC Megastructures: Habitats, Mega Shipyards
  • MegaCorp DLC Megastructures: Matter Decompressors, Mega Art Installations, Strategic Coordination Center, Interstellar Assembly
  • Nemesis DLC Megastructures: Aetherophasic Engine
  • Overlord DLC Megastructures: Hyper Relays, Orbital Rings, Quantum Catapults
  • Ancient Relics DLC: Perfect Mega Art Installation

Your goal in Stellaris is to take your young, space-faring Empire to the highest heights possible! What does that look like for you? Complete control of the galaxy? Effective and solid partnerships with your neighbors? Destroying the galaxy entirely?


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Whatever your plans are, there’s a Megastructure to help you get there. Megastructures are special constructions that perform particular tasks on a massive scale. There are tons of them, and this guide helps you build every single one. For your ease of reading, we’ve divided them up based on the DLC that unlocks them.

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Base Game Megastructures: Gateways

Gateways

The only Megastructures you can build for free are the Gateways, which allow you to transport ships instantly across the entire galaxy. All of the active Gateways in a galaxy are connected to one another, so you can use one Gateway to travel to any of them.

At the start of the game, a certain number of abandoned Gateways will spawn into the galaxy. If you use the ‘Galactic Doorstep’ Origin, one of those abandoned Gateways is guaranteed to be in the solar system where your Empire starts. To reactivate an abandoned Gateway, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure you’ve researched six Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Technologies.
  2. Then, as soon as you discover an abandoned Gateway, there’s a chance that you will receive the option to research the Physics Technology ‘Gateway Activation.’ Research it.
  3. Reactivate the Gateway after that research is complete by interacting with it. It will cost 6,000 Energy Credits, 2,500 Alloys, and take 2 years.
  4. When the Gateway has been reactivated, it will cause one random abandoned Gateway somewhere else in the universe to reactivate, too, so you can travel through it.

Now that you’ve reactivated a Gateway, you can build your own new ones! You’ll want to be careful with how and where you place them, since they’re as useful to your enemies as they are to you.

  1. Make sure to research ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology and complete six Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 Technologies.
  2. Research the Physics Technology ‘Gateway Construction,’ which will appear once those prior technologies have been researched.
  3. Once that is complete, you’ll need to prompt a Construction Ship to build the construction site for the gateway wherever you want it to go. This process costs 2,500 Alloys, 75 Influence, and takes 3 years to finish.
  4. Finally, interact with the Gateway’s construction site to upgrade it into an activated Gateway. This will cost you 6,000 Energy Credits and 2,500 Alloys and take 3 years.

You cannot place a Gateway within the system’s gravity well (basically, it needs to be pretty far from the sun).

Distant Stars DLC Megastructures: L-Gates

L-Gates

L-Gates operate a lot like Gateways, in that they let you travel vast distances in a ridiculously short amount of time. However, instead of connecting to all the other L-Gates in the galaxy, all L-Gates travel to the same place: a little system outside the galaxy, known as the Terminal Egress. From there, you can enter one of the other L-Gates to another part of the galaxy. It’s essentially the Gateway System with an extra step. However, unlike Gateways, you cannot build more L-Gates.

L-Gates do not allow you to travel to Gateways, or vice versa.

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Utopia DLC Megastructures: Habitats, Ring Worlds, Dyson Spheres, Science Nexuses, Sentry Arrays

Dyson Sphere

A Dyson Sphere is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Dyson Sphere is an enormous sphere that encompasses a sun to harvest all of its power. The surrounding planets, not receiving any light anymore, become barren worlds. However, you’ll be able to harvest an incredible amount of Energy Credits! Just be sure not to build it in a system with habitable planets.

Before you can build a Dyson Sphere, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Taken the ‘Galactic Wonders’ Ascension Perk
  • Researched the ‘Dyson Sphere’ Technology

Once that’s done, you’ll build the Dyson Sphere in five stages. Send a construction ship to build the Site around the Star of your choosing to start the process.

Stage Production Per Month Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I None None 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage II None 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage III None 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage IV None 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage V None 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys

Science Nexus

A Science Nexus is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Science Nexus is a space station focused on research. It does wonders for making you the smartest, most superior Empire in the galaxy!

Before you can build a Science Nexus, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Science Nexus’ Technology

Once you’ve researched those, you can build a Science Nexus in three stages. Start the process by building the Site with a Construction Ship.

Stage Production Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I
  • +100 Research per month
  • +5% Research Speed
 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys
Stage II
  • +200 Research per month
  • +10% Research Speed
 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys
Stage III
  • +300 Research per month
  • +15% Research Speed
 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys

Habitats

Habitats are space stations where citizens of your Empire can live. They can be built to orbit around any planet, but they’ll earn an extra district type if they’re built around a planet with a resource (like minerals, alloys, and exotic gases).

There are three levels of Habitats; to unlock the ability to create and then upgrade the Habitat, you’ll need to research certain Engineering Technologies.

Habitat Level Number Of Districts It Can Hold Includes Housing Buildings? Required Technology Time To Build/Upgrade Cost
Name Tier Prerequisites
1 4 Only if your Empire is a Gestalt Consciousness Orbital Habitats 3
  • Utopia DLC
  • ‘Starhold’ Technology has been researched
 1800 days
  • 150 Influence
  • 1,500 Alloys
2 6 Yes Habitat Expansion 4
  • ‘Orbital Habitats’ Technology has been researched
  • Utopia DLC
  • ‘Star Fortress’ Technology has been researched
  • You have built at least one Habitat Colony
 720 days
3 8 Yes Advanced Space Habitation 4
  • ‘Habitat Expansion’ Technology has been researched
  • ‘Citadel’ Technology has been researched
  • You have built at least one Habitat Colony
 1440 days

Once you’ve researched the initial Technology. Habitats can be built by a Construction Ship in almost any system!

You can’t build a Habitat to orbit around a sun, a black hole, an asteroid, or a moon.

Sentry Array

A Sentry Array is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Sentry Array is a lot like a Listening Post that you might build on a Starbase, but with a much, much bigger range. The bigger your sensor range, the further away you can detect ships and hyperlanes.

Before you can build a Sentry Array, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Sentry Array’ Technology

Once that’s done, you’ll build the Sentry Array in four stages. Send a construction ship to build the Site around the Star of your choosing to start the process.

Stage Production Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I
  • +20 Hyperlane Scanner Range
  • +10 Base Intel Level
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage II
  • +40 Hyperlane Scanner Range
  • +20 Base Intel Level
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage III
  • +60 Hyperlane Scanner Range
  • +30 Base Intel Level
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage IV
  • Hyperlane Scanner Range Includes The Entire Galaxy
  • +40 Base Intel Level
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys

Since space creatures like Ancient Mining Drones and Space Amoeba only spawn in systems out of your detection, you will effectively stop them from respawning by completing the Sentry Array.

Ring Worlds

A Ring World is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

Ring Worlds are basically artificial planets on a much bigger scale than Habitats. They are built around stars in order to harvest their energy. This is the only type of multi-stage Megastructure you can build more than once. When it’s done, all the other planets are taken out of the system.

Before you can build a Ring World, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Taken the ‘Galactic Wonders’ Ascension Perk
  • Researched the ‘Ring World’ Technology

Now you can start building a Ring World! It’ll take place in five stages and start by building the Site around a star with a Construction Ship.

Stage Production Per Month Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
  • 300 Influence
  • 5,000 Alloys
Stage I None None 13.3 years
Stage II None None 10 years
Stage III None None 10 years
Stage IV None None 10 years
Stage V None None 10 years

Ring Worlds cannot be built around black holes, in systems with more than one star, in systems with no planets or asteroids at all, or in systems with habitable planets or habitats.

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Federations DLC Megastructures: Habitats, Mega Shipyards

Habitats

Habitats are one of the only Megastructure to be available in two DLCs. If the Utopia DLC is owned, Habitats can be built by any race. If only the Federations DLC is owned, then Habitats are only available to species with the ‘Void Dwellers’ Origin.

Refer to the Habitats section of the Utopia DLC for details on how to build them.

Mega Shipyard

A Mega Shipyard is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Mega Shipyard can build ships itself, but it also doubles the build speed of all shipyards across your entire Empire. Obviously, this is an incredible military advantage.

Before you can build a Mega Shipyard, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Mega Shipyard’ Technology

Once that’s done, you can build a Mega Shipyard in stages. As always, send a Construction Ship to build the initial site.

Stage Production Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I
  • +5 Shipyard Capacity
  • +33% Empire Ship Build Speed
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage II
  • +10 Shipyard Capacity
  • +66% Empire Ship Build Speed
 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage III
  • +20 Shipyard Capacity
  • +100% Empire Ship Build Speed
 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys

When the Mega Shipyard is completed, all ships will start with 100 experience and you can build new Titan-, Colossus-, and Juggernaut-class ships.

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MegaCorp DLC Megastructures: Matter Decompressors, Mega Art Installations, Strategic Coordination Center, Interstellar Assembly

Matter Decompressor

A Matter Decompressor is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

Matter Decompressors are built around black holes and drain minerals from it. The theory is that all the materials that the black hole has sucked in over the centuries are still there, just in an incredibly compressed state.

Before you can build a Matter Decompressor, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Taken the ‘Galactic Wonders’ Ascension Perk
  • Researched the ‘Matter Decompressor’ Technology

Pick a black hole to build your Matter Decompresor around, then send a Construction site to build the initial site.

You cannot build a Matter Decompressor in a system with any habitable planets or anomalies.

Stage Production Per Month Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 12,500 Alloys
Stage II 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 12,500 Alloys
Stage III 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 12,500 Alloys
Stage IV 10 years
  • 5,000 Unity
  • 12,500 Alloys

Mega Art Installation

A Mega Art Installation is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Mega Art Installation is basically exactly what you expect: a big art gallery! It provides a lot of jobs and produces tons of Amenities and Unity, which is especially helpful for the Machine Empires.

Before you can build a Mega Art Installation, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Mega Art Installation’ Technology

Build a Mega Art Installation wherever you like by sending a Construction Ship to set up the initial Site.

Stage Production Per Month Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys
Stage II 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys
Stage III 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys

Strategic Coordination Center

A Strategic Coordination Center is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Strategic Coordination Center allows you to take your military presence in space to the next level. It improves the speed you fly at, how many ships you can have, and more.

Before you can build a Strategic Coordination Center, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Strategic Coordination Center’ Technology

Next, start building your Strategic Coordination by sending a Construction Ship to set up the initial site.

Stage Production Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I
  • +50 Naval capacity
  • +2 Starbase capacity
  • +4 Defense Platforms
  • +5% Sublight speed
 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys
Stage II
  • +100 Naval capacity
  • +4 Starbase capacity
  • +8 Defense Platforms
  • +10% Sublight speed
 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys
Stage III
  • +150 Naval capacity
  • +6 Starbase capacity
  • +12 Defense Platforms
  • +15% Sublight speed
 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 15,000 Alloys

Interstellar Assembly

An Interstellar Assembly is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Interstellar Assembly is an official headquarters for the Galactic Community. Since your race provided this wonderful construction, you’ll get huge diplomatic advantages, like extra envoys and increased opinion from other species.

Before you can build an Interstellar Assembly, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Interstellar Assembly’ Technology

Build your new Interstellar Assembly like you do any other multi-stage Megastructure: starting with a site built by a Construction Ship.

Stage Production Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
Stage I
  • +10% Diplomatic weight
  • +10 Opinion from all other Empires
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage II
  • +20% Diplomatic weight
  • +20 Opinion from all other Empires
  • +1 Available Envoy
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage III
  • +30% Diplomatic weight
  • +30 Opinion from all other Empires
  • +1 Available Envoy
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys
Stage IV
  • +40% Diplomatic weight
  • +40 Opinion from all other Empires
  • +2 Available Envoy
 5 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 10,000 Alloys

Nemesis DLC Megastructures: Aetherophasic Engine

Aetherophasic Engine

The Nemesis DLC allows players to take a new Ascension Perk: ‘Become the Crisis.’ Rather than the galaxy facing a unique crisis at the end of the game, you’re facing the rest of the galaxy. If you take that Ascension Perk and complete the related special projects to get to the final Crisis Level, a Aetherophasic Engine appears in the capital system of your Empire.

Complete the Aetherophasic Engine and completely destroy the galaxy with it! There are five stages in total to completing this structure, each one requiring incredible amounts of Dark Matter.

Stage Production Consequences Time Required Cost
Stage I
  • +100 Energy Credits per month
  • +250 Minerals per month
  • +100 Naval Capacity
 None Automatically appears at Crisis level 5 None
Stage II
  • +200 Energy Credits per month
  • +500 Minerals per month
  • +150 Naval Capacity
 None 10 years
Stage III
  • +400 Energy Credits per month
  • +1000 Minerals per month
  • +200 Naval Capacity
  • -1000 Opinion from all other Empires
 10 years
Stage IV
  • +100 Energy Credits per month
  • +250 Minerals per month
  • +100 Naval Capacity
  • -1000 Opinion from all other Empires
 10 years
Stage V N/A 10 years

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Overlord DLC Megastructures: Hyper Relays, Orbital Rings, Quantum Catapults

Hyper Relays

Hyper Relays are built in solar systems to decrease the length of time you spend traveling across that systems. The idea is to build many Hyper Relays across the paths in your Empire that you often traverse, thus significantly decreasing the time it takes to move ships.

Before building a Hyper Relay, you must have…

  • Researched the following Physics Technologies:
    • ‘Hyperspace Travel’
    • ‘Hyperlane Breach Points’
    • ‘Hyper Relays’
  • Access to Rare Crystals (whether through the Galactic Market or your own production)

Use the ‘Build Megastructure’ in a Construction Ship’s menu to build a Hyper Relay. It will cost 25 Influence, 500 Alloys, and 100 Rare Crystals.

Orbital Rings

Orbital Rings are to planets what Starbases are to suns. They provide bonuses, protection, resources, and much more.

In order to start building Orbital Rings, make sure you have researched the following Technologies:

  • ‘Starhold’
  • ‘Galactic Administration’
  • ‘Ceramo-Metal Infrastructure’
  • ‘Orbital Rings’

Then, use a Construction Ship to add Orbital Rings to planets! They can even be upgraded further down the line.

Tier Cost/Time To Build Upkeep Per Month Max Number Of Modules Max Number Of Buildings Max Number Of Defense Platforms Hull HP Armor HP Weapons Utilities Prerequisites
1 720 days and… 2 0 2 5,000 1,000
  • 1 Large Weapon
  • 3 Medium Weapons

+100% Range
  • 2 Large Utilities
  • 1 Auxilary Utility
 Have researched…

  • ‘Starhold’ Technology
  • ‘Galactic Administration’ Technology
  • ‘Ceramo-Metal Infrastructure’ Technology
  • ‘Orbital Rings’ Technology
2 900 days and…

  • 100 Influence
  • 1500 Alloys
 3 1 4 10,000 2,000
  • 2 Large Weapons
  • 6 Medium Weapons

+150% Range
  • 4 Large Utilities
  • 1 Auxilary Utility
  • Have researched…
    • ‘Starhold’ Technology
    • ‘Galactic Administration’ Technology
    • ‘Ceramo-Metal Infrastructure’ Technology
    • ‘Orbital Rings’ Technology
    • ‘Star Fortress’ Technology
  • The planet has Capital Tier 2 or Planetary Ascension Tier 3
3 1080 days and…

  • 150 Influence
  • 2000 Influence
 4 2 6 20,000 2,000
  • 3 Large Weapon
  • 9 Medium Weapons

+200% Range
  • 6 Large Utilities
  • 1 Auxilary Utility
  • Have researched…
    • ‘Starhold’ Technology
    • ‘Galactic Administration’ Technology
    • ‘Ceramo-Metal Infrastructure’ Technology
    • ‘Orbital Rings’ Technology
    • ‘Star Fortress’ Technology
    • ‘Citadel’ Technology
  • The planet has Capital Tier 3 or Planetary Ascension Tier 5

Once complete, you’ll be able to add your own modules and buildings to the Orbital Ring.

Quantum Catapult

A Quantum Catapult is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

Can you guess what the Quantum Catapult is flinging? Why, your ships, of course! When you use the Quantum Catapult, you’ll be able to throw a fleet of ships across the galaxy (up to a certain range that increases as the Catapult is upgraded). The downside is that you’ll lose access to them until they get to their destination.

Before you can build a Quantum Catapult, you must have…

  • Researched the ‘Mega-Engineering’ Technology
  • Researched the ‘Quantum Catapult’ Technology

Once that’s done, pick the best spot for your Quantum Catapult to start throwing from. Keep your range in mind! A Construction Ship can build the initial site.

Stage Production Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Site None 5 years
  • 300 Influence
  • 5,000 Alloys
Stage I
  • Can catapult fleets…
    • Distance: 200
    • Base Spread: 60
  • -10% Missing in Action time (with Hyper Relays)
 5 years
Stage II
  • Can catapult fleets…
    • Distance: 350
    • Base Spread: 45
  • -25% Catapult windup time
  • -20% Missing in Action time (with Hyper Relays)
 5 years
Stage III
  • Can catapult fleets…
    • Distance: 500
    • Base Spread: 30
  • -50% Catapult windup time
  • -30% Missing in Action time (with Hyper Relays)
 5 years

Ancient Relics DLC: Perfect Mega Art Installation

Perfect Mega Art Installation

A Mega Art Installation is a multi-stage Megastructure. Only one multi-stage Megastructure can be built per system and only one multi-stage Megastructure can be constructed or upgraded at a time. All multi-stage Megastructures can only be built once per Empire, except for the Ring World.

The Ancient Relics DLC allows you to perfect the Mega Art Installations you can build with the MegaCorp DLC. There are no special steps other than just having that DLC.

You need to build a Mega Art Installation and upgrade it to the third Stage before perfecting it in the fourth Stage.

Stage Production Per Month Maintenance Per Month Time Required Cost
Stage IV 10 years
  • 2,500 Unity
  • 100 Minor Artifacts

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