Starfield traits

After completing the Starfield opening and reaching the Starfield character creator, you’ll be given the option to pick up to three of 17 Starfield traits. Each trait offers a unique benefit for your playthrough, but also comes with a penalty.

The best traits provide unique Starfield NPC interactions or give you bonus rewards from several Starfield factions. Traits are completely optional, and you always have the ability to remove a trait if you find it unrewarding or uninteresting. Of course, you can always add a trait back in later or take more than three traits if you’re willing to use Starfield console commands. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best traits in Starfield to help you better prepare yourself for the Settled Systems.

On this page:

• Best Starfield traits
• Every trait in Starfield
• What are the best Starfield traits for my build?

Best Starfield traits

The best traits in Starfield will either have benefits that far exceed the negatives, or give you some truly unique encounters while exploring the Settled Systems. However, some traits go way beyond that and offer an additional element to your playstyle. Our top picks offer not just additional dialogue options, but entire encounters that brought a smile to our faces.

Here are our best Starfield traits:

• Kid Stuff – The Kid Stuff trait introduces two NPCs to your playthrough: Mom and Dad. These two NPCs live in New Atlantis, and will provide unique dialogue options, experiences (keep an eye out for them on holiday as you travel to other planets), and even offer free items. The only downside? You’ll have to pay for their upkeep on a weekly basis, which amounts to a measly 500 Credits per in-game week. Should you no longer want to pay for your parent’s living, you can simply tell them you won’t support them anymore. Note: these NPCs give you free items including some of the best early-game armor, the Wanderwell ship, and even a unique Starfield weapon, so maybe don’t disown your parents until after you have these items in hand (however cruel that decision seems).
• Wanted – Damage boosts while at low health are a welcome addition no matter the situation. The “downside” of this perk, according to one Bethesda developer, is that you’ll be hunted down by bounty hunters at regular intervals. While that might sound like a negative, it’s actually not. Rephrased, what you have is a loot crate that delivers itself to you at regular intervals. Plus, you’ll occasionally see the [Wanted] dialogue option, making numerous encounters much easier to navigate.
• Hero Worshipped – Not only is this a great trait that offers you plenty of free equipment during your playthrough, the Hero Worshipped trait also serves as one of many Starfield Easter Eggs by bringing back the Adoring Fan from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Sure, it’s annoying when the Adoring Fan turns up during a high-intensity quest like High Price to Pay or Deep Cover, but the benefits mainly outweigh the negatives when taking into account how much this NPC can save you, but he also happens to be one of the best written companions in the game.

The best Starfield traits ranked

Some traits give you a distinct advantage regardless of the situation, or introduce content that’s absolutely worth seeing. Other traits, however, aren’t as useful, and only shine in either rare or disadvantageous situations where a better trait would work.

• S tier – Kid Stuff, Hero Worshipped, Wanted.
• A tier – Taskmaster, Alien DNA, Extrovert
• B tier – Terra Firma, Neon Street Rat, Freestar Collective Settler, United Colonies Native
• C tier – Raised Enlightened, Raised Universal, Spaced, Dream Home, Empath
• D tier – Serpent’s Embrace, Introvert

If our best Starfield traits don’t suit you, we have a full list of Starfield traits just below.

Every trait in Starfield

There are 17 traits in Starfield, and you can use our database to get the full details on all of them, including how to remove them, or add them using a Starfield console command.

All Starfield traits:

	Alien DNA summary Gain more health, but heal less with food and drink items.
	Dream Home summary You have a luxury house, but a 50,000 Credits mortgage.
	Empath summary Gain bonuses by pleasing companions, but incur penalties for angering them.
	Extrovert summary Use less oxygen when adventuring with companions, but use more if going it alone.
	Freestar Collective Settler summary Gain special dialog options with the FC, but receive higher bounties from other factions.
	Hero Worshipped summary The Adoring Fan gives you gifts, but he won’t stop talking.
	Introvert summary Use less oxygen when adventuring alone, but use more when travelling with companions.
	Kid Stuff summary You can visit your parents, but you pay for their upkeep.
	Neon Street Rat summary Gain special dialog options in Neon, but receive higher bounties from other factions.
	Raised Enlightened summary Get a discount at the Enlightened store, but lose access to other religious stores.
	Raised Universal summary Get a discount at the Sanctum Universum store, but lose access to other religious stores.
	Serpent’s Embrace summary Gain more health and oxygen by grav jumping frequently, but suffer penalties if you don’t jump enough.
	Spaced summary Gain more health in space, but less when on a planet’s surface.
	Taskmaster summary All crew cost twice as much, but can auto repair ship systems.
	Terra Firma summary Gain more health and O2 on planets, but have less in space.
	United Colonies Native summary Gain special dialog options with the UC, but receive higher bounties from other factions.
	Wanted summary Do extra damage at low health, but bounty hunters are after your head.

What are the best Starfield traits for my build?

If you’re trying to create specific Starfield build, certain traits can help you out on your way. Of course, you can also get rid of traits through certain means, like removing the Neon Street Rat trait by talking to Madame Sauvage in Neon, but getting it right from the start is always the goal.

Stealth builds – If you’re putting together a stealth build, your best options are to go for Terra Firma, Wanted, and Introvert skills. This is essentially the only build that turns Introvert into a useful trait, as you’re going often to be leaving companions behind so they don’t blow your cover.

Social builds – There aren’t really any specific traits that work towards putting together a speech and social build, but opting for one of the faction options like Freestar Collective Settler or United Colonies Native offers unique dialogue options that can carry you through conversations quicker.

Melee builds – Extrovert is a great choice of skill for melee builds as it offers extra oxygen when traveling with a companion, and you’re going to be relying on companions like Sam Coe and Andreja for covering fire while you run around finishing the job off with the Barrow Knife.

Samurai build – You’re going to need all the health you can get if you’re putting together a samurai build, so the best call here is the Alien DNA trait.

There you have it, our guide to the best Starfield traits. Now you’ve got your Spacefarer ready for action, get out into the stars with our Starfield map hub, including interactive versions of the Starfield New Atlantis map, Starfield Akila City map, Starfield Cydonia map, Starfield Neon map, and more.