Distant Worlds 2 – Ultimate Guide to Playable Races

by Falagar / Articles, Misc. Guides / 10 Jan 2022

There are 7 playable races from which to choose at the beginning of a new game. There are also 13 additional non-playable races, which can be found on independent worlds. Each race has its own unique characteristics, prejudices, advantages, and disadvantages
over others. Your diplomatic relations with other empires will be affected by both their own race and that of the other players. Your choice of race, because of its diplomatic and other implications, can deeply affect the outcome of the game and should therefore factor
into one’s strategy. For example, if the victory conditions set are to achieve a certain population level, it is advantageous to select a race that reproduces at a high rate.

What follows is a brief list of the major characteristics of each race; a treatment of each is also available in the Galactopedia. You can also check out our other Distant Worlds 2 guides.

Name & Primary Playstyle	General Characteristics	Unique Technologies	Special Governments and Victory Conditions
Ackdarian (Industrious Efficient Builders)	Amphibian, Ocean and Deep Ocean Planets, reproduce at a 6% rate (default), neutral and careful, somewhat dependable, gifted scientists, master hull engineers.	TurboThruster (Efficient Engines), Skip Fighters (Fast Interceptors), Wave Bombers (Fast Bombers)	Special Government: Technocracy, Also Preferred: Republic Want to control Ocean Colonies and build the largest ships, Worse at colonizing Desert planets
Boskara (Merciless Conquering Deceivers)	Insectoid, Volcanic and Sulphur Volcanic Planets, reproduce at 8%, extremely aggressive, reckless, very unreliable, strong warrior class, terrible diplomats	Firestorm Torpedo (Improved Energy Torpedos), FluxHardened Armor (Better Reactive Armor), Plasma Blasters (High Damage Pulse Blasters)	Special Government: Hive Mind, Also Preferred: Military Dictatorship Destroy enemy ships, bases, and troops, enslave or exterminate their people, control their homeworlds.
Haakonish (Selfish Mercantilist Xenophobes)	Reptilian, Marshy Swamp and Mangrove Forest Planets, reproduce at 5%, aggressive, unreliable, xenophobic schemers, master hyperspace and gravitic engineers	Mega-Density Fuel Cell (Longer Range Fuel Cell), Dealbreaker Beam (Longer Range Gravitic Beam), Starfield Generator (Stealth Countermeasures)	Special Government: Mercantile Guild, Also Preferred: Feudalism Successful Espionage and CounterEspionage, Trade, Control Restricted Resources, Larger military ships
Humans (Curious Cunning Explorers)	Humanoid, Continental, Forest and Grasslands Planets, reproduce at 6%, aggressive, adaptable, cunning and adventurous, Talented Scientists, Spies and Diplomats	Gyrfalcon Fighters (Accurate Interceptors), Bulwark Missiles (Accurate Point Defense), Hail Cannons (High Rate of Fire Rail Guns)	Preferred Governments: Republic, Democracy Control Continental colonies, make Form alliances, Be victorious when at war, Build Trade and Tourism
Mortalen (Aggressive Disciplined Warriors)	Part-Mammal/ Part-Reptile, Rocky Desert, Desert Savanna, Sandy Desert Planets, reproduce at 5%, very aggressive, very dependable, strong warrior class, poor diplomats, Master Weapon and Armor Engineers, Maneuverable Ships	Swiftvector Thrusters (More Maneuverable), Pulse Torpedos (Higher Rate of Fire Energy Torpedos), Multilock Sensors (Improved Targeting)	Preferred Governments: Military Dictatorship, Feudalism Have the best Admirals and Generals, Destroy enemy troops, subjugate their empires and conquer their colonies
Teekan (Peaceful Salvagers and Traders)	Rodent-like, Sandy Desert , Desert Savanna, Rocky Desert Planets, reproduce at 7%, passive and compliant but adventurous, industrious miners, natural traders, salvagers, fast builders and tinkerers.	ZimZip Shuttles (Improved Speed/ Defense Strike Fighters), Ion Bombs (Improved Ion Area Weapons), Grapple Beam (Long Range Tractor Beam)	Special Government: Mercantile Guild, Also Preferred: Monarchy Make money through trade and the private economy, Avoid war, Annihilate the hated Sand Slugs, Smaller military ships, larger Civilian ships, Faster builders, Good Traders, High Migration rate
Zenox (Secretive Defensive Lorekeepers)	Feline, Ice Tundra, Ice and Frozen Ice planets, reproduce at 5%, very cautious, master shield engineers, talented spies, master influencers	Megatron Z4 Shields (Improved Recharge Rate Shields), Crystal Sensors (Improved Short Range Sensors), Star Beams (Accurate Beam weapons)	Preferred Governments: Monarchy, Democracy Explore the galaxy and Control colonies with Ruins, Keep military casualties to a minimum, Build the Galactic Archives Wonder, Knowledge of additional historical locations

Falagar

He is the founder and editor of Magic Game World. He loved gaming from the moment he got a PlayStation 1 with Gran Turismo on his 7th birthday.
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