Starfield - Which faction should I join?

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Starfield faction soldiers breaking in with guns pointing

Being a massive space RPG that Starfield is shaping out to be, it is no surprise that the game constitutes several sections you can join. If you are wondering about all the major factions and which faction you should join in Starfield, keep reading further.

The Settled Systems are homes to various groups of people, each with different ideologies and laws. You can join multiple factions in Starfield, which means you gain access to their resources and form bonds with their members while running missions for them. Knowing which factions to join and which ones to go against will improve your gameplay experience from a story perspective.

Also, check our in-depth guides on every faction and list of best starting builds.

What are Factions?

Factions in Starfield are organizations and groups in the game that follow their own philosophy in the Settled Systems. Each faction has a unique aesthetic and perspective on how things should be run in the Settled Systems.

Through your journey, you will come into contact with many characters from each of these factions, and your interactions will dictate how the story plays out with each faction. While you can choose to join any faction, this might make you an enemy of another faction. So, let’s learn about the philosophy of every faction and which Starfield faction you should join.

What is Constellation?

Constellation is a group of young and ambitious explorers in space and serves as the first main faction you can join in the game. Based in the game’s central city of New Atlantis, Constellation’s members are integral to the main storyline.

Which One Should I Join?

So far, there are six confirmed major factions you can join in the game. They are listed below, along with their pros and cons.

Constellation

starfield factions constellation main base room with Sarah Morgan and VASCO
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Credit: Bethesda

As described earlier, Constellation is tied closely to the main story, and joining it is highly incentivized for the players. One of the significant advantages of joining this faction is that you get to recruit several important Constellation members as your companions and, eventually, romantic partners.

Constellation is more of a neutral faction, and its primary purpose revolves around the main story of Starfield. This is the least controversial faction that you can join.

Freestar Collective

starfield factions freestar collective home base akila city
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Credit: Bethesda

One of the most prominent factions in the game, Freestar Collective, is a group of space cowboys in the city of Akila who wholeheartedly believe in individual freedom. You can join this faction to live your space Western fantasy and become part of such a large group to live by their ideals of freedom and collective bonds.

However, since the Freestar Collective has bad water with some other factions like the United Colonies, you might find yourself at odds with them.

United Colonies

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Credit: Bethesda

Another one of the largest factions in the game, the United Colonies, founded the city of New Atlantis. This faction consists of diverse people from different backgrounds who uphold law and discipline above anything.

Joining the United Colonies means you will have strong political and military backing but at the cost of an adverse relationship with Freestar Collective.

Crimson Fleet

Starfield factions crimson fleet pirate suit
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Credit: Bethesda

The signature evil faction in Starfield, Crimson Fleet, is a group of pirates known for plundering and pillaging in space. You can side with this faction and become evil or join them as a spy and remain a good guy.

However, remember that these pirates don’t take the deserters and traitors lightly.

Ryujin Industries

starfield factions ryujin industries man in blue suit
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Credit: Bethesda

This faction represents the corporate life in space that is bright and shiny on the outside but hides some grim secrets beneath.

According to Bethesda, you can be hired to join Ryujin Industries and enjoy a great start to your game. However, as of now, much remains to be discovered about this group.

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Xenofresh Corporation

starfield factions xenofresh corporation main city with neon lights
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Credit: Bethesda

Like Ryujin Industries, the Xenofresh Corporation is also based in the city of Neon and is home to some shady industrial practices. You can join this faction and integrate yourself as a member of this “city of pleasure”. However, it is uncertain how your storyline will be shaped as a result.

After reading the description of each faction, you should be able to decide which faction to join in Starfield. We recommend working mainly with Constellation while siding with either United Colonies or Freestar Collective in parallel for the first playthrough. During your second run of the game, you can join the other two major factions to change things up a bit or even take the evil route by becoming a dedicated member of the Crimson Fleet.

While you are here, why not brush up on some space skills with our Astronaut Training Manual or even check out all the best starting builds for Starfield? Whatever your need may be, you can find it all here on the site and in our comprehensive database.

For all things Starfield, stick with us at Starfield Portal.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Faction Guides page.