Starfield has finally arrived on both PC and Xbox Series X and S. Now that we've been able to explore the vast world (or rather universe) of Starfield, we have been able to discover several of the mechanics, features, and planets that we can visit throughout our interplanetary travels. Building your character and determining which Starfield backgrounds to pick is one feature we will discuss today.
Being an RPG and a Bethesda game, character creation is one of the main features that will create a hand-crafted custom journey for the player. With a very automated and accessible character creation system, we all were introduced to Starfield backgrounds. Providing certain skills to our character, each of these backgrounds promises to bring more journeys and interactivity to an already enormous galaxy full of things to discover. That said, here are all the Starfield backgrounds.
Starfield Backgrounds Explained
Starfield backgrounds are starting skills for your characters along their journey so far. Think of them as their origin or their previous work before turning to interplanetary travel.
You will get three skills and 16 backgrounds plus one more, which functions as a blank slate of sorts. These backgrounds and their skills do not bring any negative effects, such as the Starfield traits, and they do not align you with any faction.
Having a specific background will affect your interactions, especially in certain missions where your background could make things a little easier.
Starfield Backgrounds List
As said before, we have 16 backgrounds plus an extra one that keeps your character's past a mystery:
- Beast Hunter
- Bouncer
- Bounty Hunter
- Chef
- Combat Medic
- Cyber Runner
- Cyberneticist
- Diplomat
- Explorer
- Gangster
- Homesteader
- Industrialist
- Long Hauler
- Pilgrim
- Professor
- Ronin
- File Not Found
Best Starfield backgrounds
Selecting the best Starfield background can be tough, especially since you don't know how each will affect your gameplay experience. Here are some of our favorites that will hopefully steer you in the right direction -
Chef
Bio:
“While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more… discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces.”
Starting Skills:
- Gastronomy: Access to brand new worlds means access to brand new ingredients, and there is almost no limit to the delicious foods and drinks a talented chef can prepare. You can craft speciality food and research additional recipes at a Research Lab.
- Dueling: Considered by many to be a lost art, close attacks with a melee weapon can often be deadlier than ranged combat when carried out by a skilled practitioner. Melee weapons do 10% more damage.
- Scavenging: There are those who can find just about anything, and their success is usually dependent on knowing how and where to look.
Combat Medic
Bio:
“Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That’s where you come in. You’ve never been afraid to take on the enemy… but you’d much rather take care of your friends.”
Starting Skills:
- Pistol Certification: Considering the popularity of the personal sidearm in the Settled Systems, familiarity with such weapons is often considered essential. Pistols do 10% more damage.
- Medicine: Only through advancements in medical training and technology has humanity been able to withstand the galaxy’s many dangers. Med packs heal 10% more.
- Wellness: By embracing an active lifestyle and good nutrition habits, one may improve their overall sense of health, and even gain prolonged life expectancy. Immediately gain 30 points of health.
Cyber Runner
Bio:
“From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige and profit. You’ve worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits.”
Starting Skills:
- Stealth: For a combatant who values discretion above all else, the ability to approach a target while undetected and kill with a silenced weapon is as terrifying as it is effective.
- Security: While the standardized digital locking mechanism is renowned for its security, any code can be broken with the proper training. You can attempt to hack Advanced locks and 2 auto attempts can be banked.
- Theft: While not entirely honorable, and certainly not legal, it is nonetheless occasionally necessary to discreetly remove property from someone’s person.
Cyberneticist
Bio:
“Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one.”
Starting Skills:
- Medicine: Only through advancements in medical training and technology has humanity been able to withstand the galaxy’s many dangers. Med packs heal 10% more.
- Security: While the standardized digital locking mechanism is renowned for its security, any code can be broken with the proper training.
- Lasers: Personal laser weapons are in widespread use across the Settled Systems, and specialized training can greatly increase their effectiveness. Laser weapons do 10% more damage.
Diplomat
Bio:
“The wars are over. Peace now reigns the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded… lives were spared.”
Starting Skills:
- Persuasion: In the Settled Systems, the nuanced ability to listen and discuss can often accomplish far more than simply shooting first and asking questions later. Gain an increased chance of success on speech challenges.
- Commerce: In the Settled Systems’ free market economy, almost anyone with the right skill set can open and run a successful business.
- Wellness: By embracing an active lifestyle and good nutrition habits, one may improve their overall sense of health, and even gain prolonged life expectancy.
Explorer
Bio
They said exploration is a lost art. You didn’t listen. As the major factions argued over the space they desperately tried to control, you were busy uncovering the wonders of the Settled Systems.
Starting Skills:
- Lasers: Personal laser weapons are in widespread use across the Settled Systems, and specialized training can greatly increase their effectiveness. Laser weapons do 10% more damage.
- Astrodynamics: Advanced technology is one thing, but it takes skill, patience, and a little bit of love to coax even more capability out of a ship’s grav drive.
- Surveying: Humanity now has access to untold alien worlds, and the ability to decipher all that data while on the ground has become an essential skill set.
There are many more, and we have detailed guides for all in our Starfield backgrounds database!
While you are here, why not check out some of our other guides and articles like Starfield achievements or all Starfield worlds and planets revealed so far?
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