Starfield character creation - complete guide (2024)

November 6, 2023: Starfield character creation is a feature with plenty of depth. Find all there is to know in our guide.

Starfield is on the horizon, and there's plenty of information we know about the game now. Starfield character creation is bound to be one of the most complex systems in the entire game.

In this guide, you will find out how character creation in Starfield works. That includes the specifics of the mechanic in the game, as well as the various personality and role classes announced so far.

While you are here, make sure to check our other Starfield content showcasing all of the planets you can explore and details on how space combat works.

Does Starfield have character creation?

Fortunately, Starfield will follow the lineage of Bethesda games by including vast character customisation options. Customising your hero in Starfield allows you to change them not only visually.

In the game, you can choose a professional background that will give your character specific skills. This choice is one of the most important in the entire game, because it gives your character a set of unique features that will help you solve problems and overcome obstacles.

At the same time, the game will provide you with a wide scale of options for the visual customisation of your character.

Visual customisation in Starfield

When it releases, Starfield will no doubt provide some of the most extensive visual customisation in video games nowadays. The game allows you to edit your character's Biometric ID, body, and face. Moreover, you can choose from various available customisation options in every category.

As evident, all these functions are only for visual purposes. They do not affect your gameplay or stats in the slightest. So, you can select even the strangest combinations if you wish.

Starfield traits and backgrounds explained

Background and traits are considerably more critical customisation options in Starfield. As mentioned earlier, they significantly change the gameplay. The game may differ depending on which background and trait you selected.

Starfield Backgrounds

By choosing a background, you will determine the primary class for your character. Most primary backgrounds in Starfield are occupations from real life, with a sci-fi twist.

The attitude of NPCs to you might vary depending on your role. For example, if you select a gangster background, average goons will be scared of you, while the dark part of the world will show respect.

• Read more: When is the Starfield Game Pass release date?

Also, your chosen background provides you with three skills. Even though the game does not provide limitations on choosing skills, and you can choose them while progressing in the game, primary skills are always the most important since you have them from the very beginning.

Below is a list of all traits announced so far along with their skills:

• Beast Hunter - Fitness, Ballistics, and Gastronomy
• Bouncer - Boxing, Security, and Fitness
• Bounty Hunter - Piloting, Targeting Control Systems, and Boost Pack Training
• Chef - Gastronomy, Duelling, and Scavenging
• Combat Medic - Pistol Certification, Medicine, and Wellness
• Cyber Runner - Stealth, Security, and Theft
• Cyberneticist - Medicine, Security, and Lasers
• Diplomat - Persuasion, Commerce, and Wellness
• Explorer - Lasers, Astrodynamics, and Surveying
• Gangster - Shotgun Certification, Boxing, and Theft
• Homesteader - Geology, Surveying, and Weight Lifting
• Industrialist - Persuasion, Security, and Research Methods
• Long Hauler - Weight Lifting, Surveying, and Gastronomy
• Pilgrim - Scavenging, Surveying, and Gastronomy

• Professor - Astrodynamics, Geology, and Research Methods
• Ronin - Duelling, Stealth, and Scavenging
• Sculptor - Medicine, Geology, and Persuasion

• Soldier - Fitness, Ballistics, and Boost Pack Training
• Space Scoundrel - Pistol Certification, Piloting, and Persuasion
• Xenobiologist - Lasers, Surveying, and Fitness
• [File not Found] - Wellness, Ballistics, and Piloting

Traits

Traits are special abilities that provide unique boosts for your character. You need to choose three traits at the start, but you can change your choice and select new traits even after you create the character. As such, they're reminiscent of the character creation mechanics in Fallout 4.

• Read more: Is there romance in Starfield?

Generally, every trait has its advantages and disadvantages. Below, you can find the list of all traits revealed so far:

• Alien DNA - Increased health and oxygen levels, healing and food aren't as effective
• Dream Home - Ability to own a house but has a 125,000 mortgage that is paid weekly
• Empath - Connect to the feelings of other characters. Earn a temporary increase in combat effectiveness but performing actions against people's will result in the opposite effect
• Extrovert - Exerting uses less oxygen when adventuring with human compainions. Not compatible with Introvert trait
• Freestar Collective Settler - Ability to access Freestar Collective dialogue options and better rewards offered by the Freestar Collective faction. Crime bounty to other factions is increased. Not compatible with Neon Street Rat and United Colonies Native traits
• Hero Worshipped - Gained attention of a fan who appears at random. Will join the ship's crew and provide gifts
• Introvert - Use less oxygen when adventuring alone but more when adventuring with other human companions. Incompatible with Extrovert trait

• Kid Stuff - Ability to visit parents at their home. 2% of earned credits will go to them every week
• Neon Street Rat - Ability to access Neon dialogue options and increased rewards from missions on Neon. Crime bounty by other factions is increased. Not compatible with Freestar Collective Settler and United Colonies Native traits
• Raised Enlightened (Religion trait which impacts interactions with certain factions) - Ability to access the House of the Enlightened in New Atlantis but no access to the Sanctum Universum chest. Not compatible with Raised Universal and Serpent's Embrace traits
• Raised Universal (Religion trait which impacts other faction interactions) - As member of the Sanctum Universum, gain the ability to access the Sanctum Universum chest full of items. Unable to access House of the Enlightened chest. Not compatible with Raised Enlightened and Serpent's Embrace traits
• Serpent's Embrace - (Religion trait which impacts other faction interactions) Grav jumps provide a temporary boost to health and oxygen. Health and oxygen are reduced if you don't jump regularly. Not compatible with Raised Enlightened and Raised Universal traits
• Spaced - Increased health and oxygen in space but decreased when on surface of a planet. Not compatible with Terra Firma trait
• Taskmaster - If crew is trained in a certain ship system, the crew will automatically repair itself to full health when damaged below 50% Crew costs twice as much to hire
• Terra Firma - Health and oxygen increased when on the surface but decreased when in space. Not compatible with Spaced trait
• United Colonies Native - Access to United Colonies dialogue options and better United Colonies mission rewards. Crime bounty from other factions is increased. Not compatible with Freestar Collective Settler and Neon Street Rat traits
• Wanted - Armed mercenaries will attempt to kill you. When health is low, receive a damage bonus.

That’s it for our guide to character creation in Starfield! Remember that the latest character creation leaks in Starfield appeared six months ago. Therefore, there is a high chance that this system will be significantly modified before its official release. While you are here, make sure to check our other Starfield guides showcasing how to heal and the PC system requirements needed to run the game smoothly.