Starfield religions
If you’re trying to get your head around Starfield religions, our guide to who worships what gods will point you in the right direction.
Starfield religions are an important part of life across the Settled System and beyond. Not only do they influence the beliefs of the people and factions, but they also inspire individuals to perform great acts or commit awful atrocities, affecting the universe at large. We’ve broken down everything we know about the religions in Starfield, so you can avoid offending anyone on your first trip to a god-fearing planet.
For more tips and tricks to traversing the universe, check out our guides for Starfield aliens, Starfield traits, Starfield cities, Starfield planets, and our Starfield NPC list. Or, see when you can start space-walking with our Starfield release date and Starfield collector’s edition guides.
What are the Starfield religions?
Starfield religions are just like religions in our world, ideological belief systems that inform the actions of their followers. Still, the thousands of years between our time and the setting of Starfield means you can’t go into this experience expecting the religions you’re accustomed to dealing with.
Despite there being over 1000 planets throughout the Settled System, there are only three dominant religions. These are:
- The Enlightened
- The Great Serpent
- Sanctum Universum
You can read a little more on each Starfield religion below. You should pay attention, as you can pick a religion when starting your adventure. Religions also have a slightly tenuous relationship with Starfield factions, so take everything into account when making your decision.
The Enlightened
The Enlightened is Starfield’s scientific religious branch, providing an alternative to the mysticism cult of the Sanctum Universum. Essentially, the Enlightened believe in the power of knowledge and science, providing a Humanism for the far-flung future. They’re also an incredible charitable religion, spreading the gospel of the spirit of giving and looking after your fellow man, while avoiding the worship of any specific god or deity. For the Sanctum Universum, science is enough.
You can find out if you’re fit for the ways of The Enlightened by taking a trip to The Well in New Atlantis, or by checking out one of their churches in Akila City. If you’re having trouble finding either of those locations, our interactive New Atlantis map and Akila City map can help you on your way.
The Great Serpent
The Great Serpent is a religion with followers from the incredibly hostile House Va’ruun faction. These fanatics worship the idol of the Great Serpent and feel resentment towards other factions and religions due to the failure of their stand against the universe. This holy war, The Serpent’s Crusade, took place in an era before the beginning of Starfield’s story but sometime after humanity’s venture into the depths of space. Due to losing the war, followers of The Great Serpent now often stick to the shadows, though their presence is still felt across the wider Settled Systems.
In terms of the boon you get for following The Great Serpent, it’s as peculiar as you might imagine for this group of followers. Essentially, followers of the Great Serpent have to jump intermittently to receive health and endurance boosts. The negative side of this mechanic is that if you don’t jump, your stats tank quickly, leaving you susceptible to surprise attacks. If you want a strange limitation for your playthrough, consider joining up with the Great Serpent.
Sanctum Universum
The Sanctum Universum is the closest of the Starfield religions to the ones we have on our planet today. Essentially, they’re the religion that believes there is a capital-G God somewhere out in the expanse of the Settled Systems waiting to be found. This religion is a consequence of humanity creating grav drive technology, with followers believing that this method of easily moving through space is the key to meeting their maker.
Despite only existing for twenty years prior to the beginning of the game, the Sanctum Universum is a popular religion in many corners of the universe. Due to it being a widely held religion throughout multiple planets, you can pick up some discounts for being a Sanctum Universum follower, so it’s well worth thinking about becoming one of the believers if you want to save some cash. You can sign yourself up to be a follower by finding either of the Sanctum Universum churches in New Atlantis or Akila City.
Can you join Starfield religions?
Picking a Starfield religion is part of the Starfield character creation process, with each belief system coming with a specific boon. Which religion you choose is totally up to you, but it’s worth pointing out that followers of The Great Serpent are much less well-received than those of either The Enlightened or Sanctum Universum. Do also remember that you can only join one of the Starfield religions when picking traits at the start of the game, so it’s important to take all these details into account when making your choice.
If you’re looking for more ways to spice up your game, or just add a little more challenge, check out our full Starfield traits guide for a boon and a debuff. Or, if you’re wondering what faction to sign up for first, see our Starfield factions guide.
