Best ethics in Stellaris 4.5.2, by goal

1. 1Fanatic MaterialistEthic · 2 pt · +10% All Technology Research Speed+10%
2. 2MaterialistEthic · 1 pt · +5% All Technology Research Speed+5%

How it's counted: All research speed % + researcher output % (researcher workforce, researcher jobs) + (physics, society and engineering speed %, and physicist, biologist and engineer workforce %) ÷ 3. One-category bonuses are listed, not added. Every source of research →

1. 1Fanatic SpiritualistEthic · 2 pt · +20% Monthly Unity+20%
2. 2SpiritualistEthic · 1 pt · +10% Monthly Unity+10%

How it's counted: Unity output % of the whole empire, of all jobs and of bureaucrats (workforce %), added. Every source of unity →

1. 1Fanatic XenophileEthic · 2 pt · +20% Trade Trade from Jobs+20%
2. 2XenophileEthic · 1 pt · +10% Trade Trade from Jobs+10%

How it's counted: Trade output % of the whole empire, of all jobs and of traders (workforce %), added. Every source of trade →

1. 1Fanatic AuthoritarianEthic · 2 pt · +10% Job Efficiency for Workers+3.3%
2. 1Fanatic EgalitarianEthic · 2 pt · +10% Job Efficiency for Specialists+3.3%
3. 3AuthoritarianEthic · 1 pt · +5% Job Efficiency for Workers+1.7%
4. 3EgalitarianEthic · 1 pt · +5% Job Efficiency for Specialists+1.7%

How it's counted: All jobs' output % and all pops' workforce % in full, plus one stratum's output or workforce % (workers, specialists, rulers) ÷ 3. Every source of job output (workforce) →

1. 1Fanatic XenophobeEthic · 2 pt · +20% Pop Growth (or Assembly) Speed+20%
2. 2XenophobeEthic · 1 pt · +10% Pop Growth (or Assembly) Speed+10%

How it's counted: Pop growth and assembly %: logistic growth, founder species growth, bonus growth and pop assembly, added. Every source of pop growth →

1. 1Fanatic PacifistEthic · 2 pt · +10 Stability+10
2. 2PacifistEthic · 1 pt · +5 Stability+5

How it's counted: Stability added to every planet (planet_stability_add). Every source of stability →

1. 1Fanatic MilitaristEthic · 2 pt · +20% Ship Fire Rate+20%
2. 2MilitaristEthic · 1 pt · +10% Ship Fire Rate+10%

How it's counted: Fire rate % + weapon damage % of every ship, added (home-territory-only fire rate counts half). Every source of fleet power →

1. 1Fanatic PacifistEthic · 2 pt · -20% Empire Size from Pops-20%
2. 2PacifistEthic · 1 pt · -10% Empire Size from Pops-10%

How it's counted: Empire size % from every source, added — lower is better (less sprawl penalty). Every source of empire size →