Stellaris Military Fleet
Screenshot by The Guide Hall

Stellaris: How to Board Cultist Ships

Wondering how to board cultist ships in Stellaris? Here’s how!

The Radical Cult Event

In the game’s early stages, you may get a random event labeled “Radical Cult.” This event chain will require you to engage and defeat several cultist ships and stations. You’ll be rewarded with a battleship-class vessel when you finish all the tasks. Remember that the name of the event chain may be of the cultist faction instead. For example, the cult was called “The Throne of God” in my run. 

Once the event randomly triggers, you’ll see a fleet of cultist ships spawn in your home system. Luckily, they won’t be stronger than your starting fleet, but build a couple of more corvettes or frigates to make the engagement easier.


Related: New Achievements in Update 1.37 of Europa Universalis IV

How to Board Cultist Ships

After engaging and destroying the fleet, the event to board the disabled cultist ship will appear. To do this, the game will require you to have at least one military ship orbiting the disabled cultist ship. Military ships are the vessels within your fleet. Ships transporting army groups do not count towards the number.

Stellaris Board Cultist Ship P1
Screenshot by The Guide Hall

To orbit the disabled cultist ship, select your fleet and ‘right-click‘ above the red ship marker. Sometimes, the movement command will move them somewhere else, so make sure you can see where your ships are going.

Stellaris Board Cultist Ship P2
Screenshot by The Guide Hall

Once they are in orbit, open the “Situation Log“, go to “Board Cultist Ship“, and click the “Research button on the bottom right of the menu. If the button is grayed out, check that the mission objective is highlighted green and states “1/1 Military Ship(s) in orbit“. Then, wait a few in-game days, and the objective will be marked as completed; you can move on to the following tasks to complete the “Radical Cult event chain.


The Guide Hall has a deep appreciation for grand strategy games. More guides on Stellaris are on the way!