As an experienced Starfield player with over 100 hours across multiple character builds, I know first-hand the impact your choice of background has on long term success. With so much depth across twenty-one backgrounds and their associated skills, the decision can feel overwhelming.
But fear not, friends, I‘ve compiled everything you need to know to select the perfect background to match your preferred playstyle and thrive on your adventures amongst the stars!
How Backgrounds Work in Starfield
Before jumping into recommendations, let‘s quickly cover what backgrounds represent in Starfield:
- Each background provides three starting skills that unlock abilities and bonuses
- Skills can be leveled up through gaining experience to become more powerful
- Backgrounds also influence dialogue and roleplaying opportunities
- But backgrounds are flexible enough to work with any build or playstyle
So while backgrounds nudge you down certain paths, they mainly offer key skills to give you early game advantages rather than locking you into set styles.
Starfield Backgrounds Ranked
To assess which backgrounds excel in providing the most universally useful skills, I‘ve separated them into tiers:
S Tier Backgrounds
The best of the best, these backgrounds provide versatile skills applicable to many playstyles:
- Bounty Hunter: Piloting, Targeting Systems, Boost Pack
- Space Scoundrel: Pistol Skill, Piloting, Persuasion
- [File Not Found]: Wellness, Ballistics, Piloting
- Diplomat: Persuasion, Commerce, Wellness
- Cyber Runner: Stealth, Security, Theft
A Tier Backgrounds
Useful in combat but less flexible than S Tier:
- Soldier
- Combat Medic
- Industrialist
- Cyberneticist
- Ronin
B Tier Backgrounds
Decent skills but lack power of S & A Tier:
- Beast Hunter
- Long Hauler
- Xenobiologist
C Tier Backgrounds
Weakest starting skills of all backgrounds:
- Professor
- Sculptor
- Homesteader
- Chef
- Explorer
- Pilgrim
- Bouncer
Now let‘s analyze the S Tier backgrounds to see why they are so effective.
Why Bounty Hunter Excels
The Bounty Hunter‘s combination of Piloting, Targeting Systems, and Boost Pack skills combine to make both space and ground encounters easier.
Boost Pack increases exploration mobility while piloting enables nimble ship maneuvering for dogfights and asteroid navigation. Targeting systems boost the accuracy of seeking weapons like missiles and torpedoes – a powerful complement for piloting to devastate foes.
These skills allow you to effectively traverse environments and win battles with enhanced mobility and aim. Bounty Hunter is a great match for combat focused builds as well as explorers who value Boost Pack mobility.
Recommended Builds
- Gunslinger Mercenary
- Missile Specialist
- Armored Tank
- Explorer
Why Space Scoundrel Shines
If you fancy yourself more rogue than warrior, Space Scoundrel is a perfect fit providing Pistol Skill, Piloting, and Persuasion.
Specialized pistol training increases damage with Starfield‘s various sidearms letting you drop foes with skill and flair. Persuasion opens additional peaceful pathways during missions and dialogues conveying silver-tongued charm.
Piloting facilitates daring maneuvers whether escaping bandit swarms or threading dense asteroid fields to reach secret pirate bases. Embody the lovable rapscallion life amongst the stars!
Pair with high Charisma to really capitalize on dialog-heavy playstyles. Scoundrels operate best on the edges of factions making more enemies than friends.
Recommended Builds
- Gunslinger Smuggler
- Charismatic Pirate Captain
- Persuasive Con Artist
- Asteroid Field Explorer
What Makes [File Not Found] Special
Wellness passively expands your health pool to endure more punishment while ballistics increases damage with bullet-based weapons – an easy early game damage source. Piloting facilitates travel between the manifold planets.
With no backstory constraints, [File Not Found] lets you freely define your character‘s narrative whether hero, anti-hero or villain. The combat relevant skills give you added durability and lethality to overcome threats while piloting supports boundless exploration.
A flexible foundation usable by all builds and playstyles.
Recommended Builds
- Juggernaut Tank
- Commando Soldier
- Wanderer Explorer
- Bounty Hunter
- Crit-Based Gunslinger
How Diplomat Excels Through Dialogue
Prefer words over weapons? Diplomat conveys Persuasion, Commerce, and Wellness catering to peaceful builds.
Persuasion enables access to non-violent paths with extra dialogue checks providing additional rewards. Invest perks towards improving your silver-tongue. Soon you‘ll have enemies joining your cause!
Commerce skills let you buy commodities low and sell high earning ludicrous profits for purchasing top tier gear. Wellness conveys extra durability so you can make more mistakes attempting "persuade" options during missions.
Diplomat facilitates incredibly powerful economic and social climbing builds able to amass power through sheer force of personality!
Recommended Builds
- Leader Politician
- Pacifist Explorer
- Economic Tycoon
- Investor Mogul
Why Cyber Runner Excels at Covert Ops
Embrace the dark side of corporations and factions with Cyber Runner and its Stealth, Security, and Theft skills.
Stealth convey unseen movement and silent takedowns letting you surgically eliminate lone guards. Combined with Security‘s hacking of doors and terminals, you gain unrestricted infiltration access. Pick exhausted patrols clean of valuables using theft to finance your exploits.
Cyber Runner perfectly enables covert agent builds relying on infiltration, stealth combat, hacking, and thievery. With the right gear upgrades, no site security system can keep you out!
Recommended Builds
- Corporate Espionage Spy
- Hacker Infiltrator
- Thief Rogue
Comparing S Tier Backgrounds
| Background | Combat | Social | Exploration | Customization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bounty Hunter | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Space Scoundrel | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| [File Not Found] | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Diplomat | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Cyber Runner | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
While the S Tier contains the most versatile backgrounds, subtle differences in focus exist between them that are important to weigh against your goals.
This table conveys at a glance how each option skews towards combat, social or exploratory playstyles.
For example, if you plan a tank juggernaut build relying on heavy weapons and armor with little care for conversations, Bounty Hunter is likely the best fit.
But a charismatic pirate captain wielding pistols and amassing a crew through persuasion would benefit most from Space Scoundrel.
Use this overview to narrow down your shortlist then read the detailed sections above to finalize your selection.
I hope this guide has illuminated which backgrounds excel and the ideal pairings with intended character builds! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
Now get out there and leave your mark on the galaxy, brave pioneers! Glory and riches await amongst the stars!
