The Best Starfield Traits To Use

You can choose up to three Starfield traits during character creation. While these aren't mandatory at all--you can select as few as none, some of them are well worth considering. The options here can unlock new interactions, as well as certain quirks to add more fluff and flavor to your playthrough. Our guide discusses the top picks for the campaign and beyond.

The best traits to pick in Starfield

We feel that the best Starfield traits are Empath, Extrovert, and Hero Worshipped. Alternatively, you can choose a trait that pertains to a particular faction. Bear in mind that traits, for the most part, are set in stone. You don't need to level them up, as their bonuses and functions always apply. Outside of certain instances, you also won't be able to remove them.

Empath

Effect: Performing actions that your companion likes will increase combat effectiveness; performing actions they don't like will have the opposite effect.

Unless you prefer a solitary adventure, you're very likely to partner up with various companions in the game, which makes Empath one of the best traits in Starfield. Given that companions tend to approve of friendly and good-natured actions, it's also fairly easy to gain a boost in combat. And, if ever you do something that they dislike, you can always load a backup save.

Extrovert

Effect: Exerting yourself uses less oxygen when adventuring with human companions, but more when adventuring alone; cannot be combined with Introvert.

Extrovert ensures that you won't use up as much oxygen when running around, as long as another human companion is with you. Like Empath, this is only useful if you're bringing a buddy along on your space-faring, but that's most players anyway. If you also have Empath, then you'll gain the effects from two companion-focused traits.

Hero Worshipped

Effect: You've earned the attention of the Adoring Fan, who will jabber at you incessantly. He can also join your ship's crew and give you gifts.

The Adoring Fan returns as an Easter egg from The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, and he's certainly more annoying than ever. He'll show up early in the campaign (i.e. once you reach New Atlantis). While he won't offer the same level of interactivity as Constellation companions like Sarah or Andreja, you can still assign him to man an outpost. And, of course, you could always reject his offer to join your group.

Faction Allegiance Traits: Freestar Collective Settler, Neon Street Rat, or United Colonies Native

These three traits give you additional dialogue options and better rewards from quests that you do for the Freestar Collective, Ryujin Industries, and United Colonies, respectively. However, committing crimes in the territories held by those factions will net you a higher bounty.

While you're not required to pick any of these traits, they still add a bit of role-playing flavor to your run. Just remember that you can only pick one of these faction allegiance traits.

Religion Traits: Raised Enlightened, Raised Universal, or Serpent's Embrace

These choices offer new dialogue options when you talk to certain NPCs that belong to the following religions: House of the Enlightened, Sanctum Universum, and the Great Serpent/Va'ruun. Similar to faction allegiance traits, these are all mutually exclusive with each other. Here are some other tidbits to consider:

• Raised Enlightened and Raised Universal, the game's stand-ins for atheists and agnostics, respectively, spawn a special chest in their houses of worship found in New Atlantis, an early area you'll visit.
• Serpent's Embrace, meanwhile, increases your health and oxygen after a grav jump. But these stats are also lowered if you don't jump to various star systems regularly.
• As of the time of this writing, we're unable to find a lengthy quest arc that's related to the religious factions. Moreover, the Va'ruun worshipers of the Great Serpent are considered a hostile force.
• Lastly, you may see a specific reply that allows you to reject your religious beliefs, thereby removing the trait completely.

These are our suggestions on the best traits in Starfield. Don't forget to take a look at our best backgrounds guide and best skills guide. Later, once you've completed the campaign, you might want to know what New Game Plus mode entails for your selected traits and facets.

Full Starfield traits list

If you're curious about the complete list of traits found in the game, we've included that as well. Just in case you still want to make up your own mind, check out the traits list below.

• Alien DNA - You volunteered for a controversial experiment that combines alien and human DNA. As a result, you start with increased health and oxygen, but healing and food items aren't as effective.
• Dream Home - You own a luxurious, customizable house on a peaceful planet! Unfortunately, it comes with a 125,000 credit mortgage with GalBank that has to be paid weekly.
• Empath - You are deeply connected to the feelings of others. Performing actions your companion likes will result in a temporary increase in combat effectiveness. But, performing actions they don't like will have the precise opposite effect.
• Extrovert - You're a people person. Exerting yourself uses less oxygen when adventuring with human companions, but more when adventuring alone. Can't be combined with Introvert.
• Freestar Collective Settler - You gain access to special Freestar Collective dialogue options, and better rewards from some missions given by the faction. But, crime bounties toward other factions are greatly increased. Can't be combined with any other faction allegiance trait.
• Hero Worshipped - You've earned the attention of an annoying "Adoring Fan" who will show up randomly and jabber at you incessantly. On the plus side, he'll join your ship's crew and give you gifts.
• Introvert - You really need your alone time. Exerting yourself uses less oxygen when adventuring alone, but more when adventuring with other human companions. Can't be combined with Extrovert.
• Kid Stuff - Your parents are alive and well, and you can visit them at their home. But you will automatically send 2% of your credits home to them every week.
• Neon Street Rat - You grew up on the mean streets of Neon. You gain access to special dialogue options and better rewards from some missions on Neon. Crime bounties by other factions are greatly increased. Can't be combined with any other faction allegiance trait.
• Raised Enlightened - You grew up as a member of the Enlightened. You gain access to a special chest full of items in the House of the Enlightened in New Atlantis, but lose access to the Sanctum Universum chest. Can't be combined with any other religion trait.
• Raised Universal - You grew up as a member of the Sanctum Universum. You gain access to a special chest full of items in the Sanctum Universum in New Atlantis, but lose access to the House of the Enlightened chest. Can't be combined with any other religion trait.
• Serpent's Embrace - You grew up worshiping the Great Serpent. Grav jumping provides a temporary boost to health and oxygen, but health and oxygen are lowered if you don't continue jumping regularly--like an addiction. Can't be combined with any other religion trait.
• Spaced - Your body has become acclimated to space. Health and oxygen are increased when in space, but decreased when on the surface. Can't be combined with Terra Firma.
• Taskmaster - Occasionally, if you have crew trained in a certain ship system, that system will automatically repair itself to full health whenever it is damaged below 50%. However, all crew cost twice as much to hire.
• Terra Firma - You've never acclimated to space. Health and oxygen are increased when on the surface, but decreased when you're in space. Can't be combined with Spaced.
• United Colonies Native - You gain access to special United Colonies dialogue options, and better rewards from some missions given by the faction. However, crime bounty by other factions is greatly increased. Can't be combined with any other faction allegiance trait.
• Wanted - Someone put a price on your head, and word has spread. Occasionally, armed mercenaries will show up and try to kill you, but being cornered gives you an edge: When your health is low, you do extra damage.