Starfield: Best start Starfield guide, tips

Starfield is a game that can overwhelm you at first with the amount of the possibilities you have, so much so that some uninformed decisions made by the player can hinder the gameplay. Our guide will explain what to do when you start playing.

Last update: 31 August 2023

On this page of the guide, you will learn what to look for when you first come into contact with Starfield to get the best start. We advise on what skills and traits to choose and other things to pay special attention to at the beginning.

• Choosing the best background
• Selection of the best traits
• Unlocking the best skills
• Ways to gain experience points
• Increasing oxygen reserve
• Ways to earn credits

Choosing the best background

You have to choose your character's background in the character creator. There are over 20 options, and each one provides 3 different skills at the start of the game. A conscious choice of the background saves some time required to gain levels, which is necessary to unlock the best skills at the start.

Below we list the backgrounds that are the most beneficial, as they offer some of the best abilities.

1. Diplomacy - provides Persuasion, Commerce, and Wellness.
2. Space Scoundrel - grants Pistol Certification, Piloting, and Persuasion.
3. Combat Medic - provides Pistol Certification, Medicine, and Wellness.
4. Soldier - provides Boost Packs, Performance, and Ballistics.
5. [File not found] - provides Wellness, Ballistics, and Piloting.

You will learn more about the character's background from the page: Which background to choose?

Selection of the best traits

When creating a character , you can choose up to 3 traits for your protagonist. They all have both positive and negative effects. It's hard to pick the best traits for that reason, but below you'll find a list of the more interesting ones which provide good bonuses.

1. One of three faction traits: FreeStar Collective Settler or United Colonies Native or Neon Street Rat. Each of these traits provides better rewards for missions assigned by the selected faction and special dialogue options.
2. Wanted - Armed mercenaries are after you, but you deal extra damage when you're low on health.
3. Hero Worshipped - this trait causes the player to have an "Adoring Fan" who talks a lot about the protagonist. He could be recruited for the crew and occasionally deliver gifts.

You can read more about traits on the page: The Best Traits.

Unlocking the best skills

You will receive a skill point for each level you gain. You can use it to unlock a new skill or improve one you already have, only if you have previously managed to complete the relevant challenge.

At the very start of the game, you can acquire skills only from the first section, as the others require a greater amount of skill points. Below, we listed types of skills that are worth investing in at the beginning of your Starfield adventure.

1. Medicine - thanks to this ability, healing items will restore more health. We recommend developing the skill of medicine as often as possible.
2. Abilities from the Combat category - it's best to unlock Ballistics and Pistol Certification at the beginning, because weapons of this type are easy to find. Invest in the skills of these abilities as often as possible.
3. Persuasion - an important skill for people who prefer to solve problems peacefully. It increases the chances of persuading the character to your point.
4. Commerce - thanks to this ability, after collecting a large amount of unnecessary items, you'll earn more from them. At the beginning of the game, this is a good way to earn credits.
5. Boost Pack - only after unlocking this skill you can use Boost Pack, which is useful when traveling long distances (it doesn't consume oxygen).

If you want to learn more about these abilities, go to the page: Best Skills to Start With.

Ways to gain experience points

In order to unlock new skills, you must gain experience points. It's a good idea to get new levels at the beginning of the game in order to facilitate your gameplay. Below you'll find tips for easily earning experience points at the beginning of the game.

1. Completing missions - this requires more time, but you'll receive a lot of experience for the main missions.
2. Discovering new planets - if you fly to a moon or a planet you've never been to (or haven't been near) before and land on them, you'll receive a small amount of experience points. By exploring space for longer, you will be able to gain new levels.
3. Surveying the surface and defeating opponents - killing multiple enemies on planets will also provide experience points. Outside the main cities, you can encounter large groups of opponents, such as fauna.

You will learn more about this on the page: How to Accumulate XP Fast?

Increasing oxygen reserve

If you have problem with long running and losing oxygen, at the beginning of the game focus on completing these main missions:

1. The Old Neighborhood;
2. Into the Unknown.

As part of this second task, you will receive your first power. This will allow you to gain more powers. A very useful power is Personal Atmosphere, which provides unlimited access to oxygen for a short time. You can find that power in the temple on planet Altair III in the Altair system.

Also, remember that:

1. Oxygen drops much faster during a run if you have even one more item than your inventory can accommodate;
2. Fitness Skill increases oxygen reserves;
3. Some inventory elements affect oxygen consumption.

You can learn more about oxygen reserves on the page: How to increase oxygen reserve?

Ways to earn credits

At the beginning of the game in Starfield, it's difficult to earn a significant amount of credits, if only to buy a new ship or an exclusive house. Credits are still necessary for purchasing ammunition, new weapons, armors, or healing items. How to simply collect credits for this? There are several ways.

1. Collecting junk and selling it - at the beginning of the game, collect items found in cabinets or on corpses, because you can sell them for credits. Don't worry about the inventory storage limit, as you can store your gear with your companions before selling it.
2. Survey of the planets - the acquired information can be sold after surveying the planet in 100%. To do this, you need to scan all the minerals and animals and items in special locations (some planets require less research).
3. Collecting contraband and selling it - illegal items, but of high value. They have a yellow icon next to their name.

You will learn more about this on the page: How to earn credits fast?