Starfield traits let players have a more personalized game experience. They influence various aspects of the game, from combat effectiveness and resource management to social interactions and faction affiliations, providing players with different strategic avenues to explore.
Traits that offer combat advantages or resource management benefits tend to be popular choices, and traits that provide increased health, and oxygen levels are often favored for their immediate and tangible impact on gameplay.
Similarly, traits that offer special dialogue options or better mission rewards are also highly sought after, as they can significantly influence the game's narrative and the player's relationship with various factions.
Best Starfield Starting Traits
Empath, Extrovert, Hero Worshipped, Dream Home, and Raised Enlightened are considered to be the best starting traits in Starfield. These traits range from building deeper relationships with companions to gaining unique advantages in combat scenarios. They also provide opportunities for special dialogue options, access to exclusive resources, and even the challenge of managing ongoing financial obligations.
| Trait | Pros | Cons |
| Alien DNA | Increased Health, Increased Oxygen | Reduced Healing, Reduced Food Effectiveness |
| Dream Home | Luxury Home | Weekly Mortgage |
| Empath | Improved Combat with Liked Actions | Reduced Combat with Disliked Actions |
| Extrovert | Less Oxygen Use with Companions | More Oxygen Use Alone |
| Freestar Collective Settler | Special Dialogue, Better Rewards | Increased Crime Bounty |
| Hero Worshipped | Fan Gives Gifts | Annoying Fan |
| Introvert | Less Oxygen Use Alone | More Oxygen Use with Companions |
| Kid Stuff | Can Visit Parents | Lose 2% of Credits Weekly |
| Neon Street Rat | Special Dialogue, Better Rewards on Neon | Increased Crime Bounty |
| Raised Enlightened | Access to Special Chest | No Access to Sanctum Universum Chest |
| Raised Universal | Access to Special Chest | No Access to Enlightened Chest |
| Serpent’s Embrace | Boost to Health and Oxygen with Jumping | Reduced Health and Oxygen without Jumps |
| Spaced | Increased Health and Oxygen in Space | Reduced Health and Oxygen on Surface |
| Taskmaster | Systems Auto-repair | Crew Cost Doubled |
| Terra Firma | Increased Health and Oxygen on Surface | Reduced Health and Oxygen in Space |
| United Colonies Native | Special Dialogue, Better Rewards | Increased Crime Bounty |
| Wanted | Damage Boost when Health is Low | Mercenaries Attack You |
1. Empath
Effect: 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.
Empath is a trait that shines when you're not going it alone in Starfield. If you often find yourself adventuring with companions, this trait can significantly boost your combat effectiveness. Companions generally respond well to actions that are aligned with their personalities or objectives, making it relatively easy to gain combat boosts. However, if you make choices that your companions disapprove of, your combat effectiveness will decrease. This adds an extra layer of strategy to your interactions and decisions, making the game more engaging. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you've displeased your companion, you always have the option to load a backup save to correct your course.
2. Extrovert
Effect: Less oxygen consumption when adventuring with human companions, but more when alone.
The Extrovert trait is perfect for players who enjoy the social aspects of Starfield and plan to travel with companions frequently. When you have this trait, your oxygen consumption is reduced when you're with human companions, allowing you to explore planets or engage in combat for longer periods without worrying about your life support systems. This can be particularly beneficial in missions that require teamwork or during long exploratory ventures. However, the trait has a downside: if you decide to go solo, you'll find that your oxygen levels deplete more quickly. This makes the Extrovert trait less suitable for players who prefer solo or those who want the flexibility to switch between solo and team play without any drawbacks.
3. Hero Worshipped
Effect: An "Adoring Fan" will join your ship's crew and give you gifts, but he can be annoying and intrusive.
The Hero Worshipped trait adds a unique dynamic to your Starfield adventure. With this trait, you gain an "Adoring Fan" who joins your ship's crew and provides you with gifts. These gifts can range from useful items to rare collectibles, making it a potentially rewarding choice. However, the fan comes with a catch: he can be quite annoying and will show up randomly to talk to you, sometimes at the least convenient moments. This can be either amusing or irritating, depending on your tolerance for such interruptions. If you enjoy unexpected elements in your gameplay for the rewards, Hero Worshipped might be the trait for you.
4. Raised Enlightened
Effect: Access to a special chest full of items in the House of the Enlightened, but no access to the Sanctum Universum chest.
The Raised Enlightened trait offers a unique advantage for players interested in the religious aspects of Starfield. Choosing this trait grants you access to a special chest located in the House of the Enlightened in New Atlantis. This chest is filled with exclusive items that can aid you on your journey, potentially giving you a leg up in both combat and exploration. However, the trait comes with a trade-off: you lose access to the special chest in the Sanctum Universum, another religious faction in the game. This means you'll have to weigh the benefits of aligning with one religious group over another.
5. Dream Home
Effect: Own a luxurious, customizable house on a peaceful planet, but it comes with a weekly mortgage payment.
The Dream Home trait offers a slice of domestic bliss in the midst of your spacefaring adventures. With this trait, you get to own a luxurious and customizable house located on a peaceful planet. This home can serve as a sanctuary where you can rest, store items, and perhaps even showcase your achievements. However, every rose has its thorn; in this case, it's a weekly mortgage payment of 125,000 credits to GalBank. This ongoing financial obligation means you'll need to manage your in-game finances carefully. If you're the type of player who enjoys resource management and the idea of having a home base to return to, the Dream Home trait could add an enjoyable complexity to your Starfield experience.
More Starfield Traits
Alien DNA
Effect: Increased health and oxygen due to a controversial experiment. Alien DNA is a trait for those who want a bit of an edge in survival. With increased health and oxygen levels, you can explore more freely and take on tougher challenges. However, the downside is that healing and food items are less effective, so you'll need to be more cautious with your resources.
Freestar Collective Settler
Effect: Special access to Freestar Collective dialogue options and better rewards. If you're interested in aligning with the Freestar Collective, this trait is a must. It opens up new dialogue options and provides better mission rewards. However, it also increases your crime bounty with other factions, so choose wisely.
Introvert
Effect: Less oxygen consumption when adventuring alone, but more when with human companions. Introvert is the go-to trait for solo players. You'll consume less oxygen when exploring alone, allowing for longer expeditions. However, if you decide to take on a companion, your oxygen levels will deplete faster.
Kid Stuff
Effect: Your parents are alive, and you can visit them, but you lose 2% of your credits weekly. Kid Stuff adds a familial element to your adventure. You can visit your parents, which could offer emotional and narrative depth. However, the trait requires you to send 2% of your credits home every week, affecting your financial resources.
Neon Street Rat
Effect: Special dialogue options and better rewards on Neon, but increased crime bounty by other factions. Neon Street Rat is perfect for those who plan to spend a lot of time on Neon. You'll have access to unique dialogue and better mission rewards. However, your actions on Neon could make you a target for other factions.
Raised Universal
Effect: Access to a special chest in the Sanctum Universum, but no access to the House of the Enlightened chest. Similar to Raised Enlightened, Raised Universal provides you with exclusive loot but locks you out of another faction's benefits. Your choice will depend on which faction aligns more with your playstyle.
Serpent’s Embrace
Effect: Temporary boost to health and oxygen when grav jumping, but reduced levels if you don't continue jumping. Serpent's Embrace is for the agile player who enjoys constant movement. Grav jumping will give you a temporary boost, but failing to keep up the pace will result in penalties to your health and oxygen.
Spaced
Effect: Increased health and oxygen in space, but reduced levels on the surface. Spaced is ideal for players who prefer space exploration over planetary visits. You'll benefit from increased health and oxygen while in space, but these levels will drop when you're on a planet's surface.
Taskmaster
Effect: Systems will automatically repair if you have crew trained in a certain ship system, but crew costs are doubled. Taskmaster is a trait for those who prefer a well-maintained ship. Systems will auto-repair, saving you time and resources. However, the cost of hiring crew is doubled, so you'll need to balance your finances carefully.
Terra Firma
Effect: Increased health and oxygen on the surface, but reduced levels in space. Terra Firma is the opposite of Spaced, benefiting players who spend more time on planets. You'll have increased health and oxygen on the surface, but these advantages disappear in space.
United Colonies Native
Effect: Special dialogue options and better rewards, but increased crime bounty by other factions. United Colonies Native is another faction-specific trait, offering unique dialogue and better mission rewards. However, aligning with this faction makes you a target for others, increasing your crime bounty.
Wanted
Effect: Damage boost when health is low, but mercenaries will attack you. Wanted adds an element of danger to your journey. You'll get a damage boost when your health is low, but you'll also be a target for mercenaries. If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay, this trait is for you.