Starfield Backgrounds and Starting Skills: Explained

Starfield, created by the same masterminds behind Skyrim and Fallout 4, presents players with the task of choosing a Background when creating their character. These backgrounds effectively determine your character's starting skills and set the foundation for your journey in the game.

Bethesda's RPGs typically follow a pattern in character creation. Your choices at the outset shape your entire adventure, impacting how you interact with others, confront enemies, and more.

Starfield adheres to this tradition by introducing Backgrounds, which are akin to character classes found in other games. These Backgrounds will significantly influence your character's development from the very beginning.

What Are Backgrounds in Starfield?

Backgrounds in Starfield are pre-set character classes that bestow your character with a distinct personality and three initial skills. For example, choosing the "Cyberneticist" Background will grant you the ability to heal more effectively from Med Packs and deal additional damage to specific types of enemies.

In essence, Backgrounds are tailored to accommodate your preferred playstyle and approach to the game.

List of All Starfield Backgrounds

Starfield offers a selection of 21 Backgrounds to choose from. Given the abundance of choices, selecting the right one might be overwhelming for some players. To simplify the process, here is a list of all Backgrounds, along with their associated skills and descriptions:

Background - Class Skills - Description

1. Beast Hunter - Fitness, Ballistics, Gastronomy - "From the Ashta of Akila to the Terrormorphs that plague the whole of the Settled Systems, hostile alien life abounds. You’ve learned the skills to track them, find them, and take them down."
2. Bouncer - Boxing, Security, Fitness - "You’ve worked the line at the toughest clubs in the Settled Systems. Back then, you learned that most non-lethal confrontations can be solved one of two ways: a strong right hook, or a more strongly secured door."
3. Bounty Hunter - Piloting, Targeting Control Systems, Boost Pack Training - "Wherever there are wanted individuals, there are those who profit from their capture. And your quarry knows that in the vastness of space, they can run… but they can’t hide."
4. Chef - Duelling, Gastronomy, Wellness - "While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more…discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces."
5. Combat Medic - Medicine, Pistol Certification, Weight Lifting - "Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That’s where you come in. You’ve never been afraid to take on the enemy… but you’d much rather take care of your friends."
6. Cyber Runner - Persuasion, Pistol Certification, Security - "From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monument to power, prestige and profit. You’ve worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits."
7. Cyberneticist - Lasers, Medicine, Robotics - "Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one."
8. Diplomat - Bargaining, Diplomacy, Persuasion - "The wars are over. Peace now reigns in the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded… lives were spared."
9. Explorer - Astrodynamics, Lasers, Surveying - "They said exploration is a lost art. You didn’t listen. As the major factions argued over the space they desperately tried to control, you were busy uncovering the wonders of the Settled Systems."
10. Gangster - Shotgun Certification, Boxing, Theft - "You were always disgusted by suckers killing themselves to make an 'honest wage.' As soon as you were old enough to hold a weapon, you took what you wanted from anyone unlucky enough to have it."
11. Homesteader - Geology, Surveying, Weight Lifting - "The discovery of the Settled System’s many oxygen-rich planets and moons meant humans could live just about anywhere…if they had the know-how. You did, and utilized it to great effect."
12. Industrialist - Security, Persuasion, Research Methods - "There was a time when all you wanted to be was a titan of industry, maybe a ship designer or megacorp exec. Thankfully, that skillset never goes out of style in the Settled Systems."
13. Long Hauler - Weight Lifting, Piloting, Ballistic Weapon Systems - "Let those other hothead pilots obsess over laser weapons and maneuverability. You’re a space trucker, pure and simple. Pack the cargo, get it there fast, get paid, repeat. Life is simple and good."
14. Pilgrim - Scavenging, Surveying, Gastronomy - "Wayfarer, wanderer, seeker…transient. You’ve been called many things during your travels and learned something those others could never understand – the journey IS the destination."
15. Professor - Astrodynamics, Geology, Research Methods - "You’ve always enjoyed learning, but nothing could compare to the joy of teaching others. As humankind spread throughout the stars, there was never a lack of knowledge to obtain, and you gladly assisted."
16. Ronin - Duelling, Stealth, Scavenging - "Masterless and unbound, you wandered the Settled Systems as a blade for hire. To some, you were a simple mercenary. To others, a hero. And to a select few…a nightmare they could never wake from."
17. Sculptor - Medicine, Geology, Persuasion - "With your knowledge of anatomy and skilled, steady hands, you could have become a surgeon. Instead, you followed your heart and created works of art to amaze and inspire."
18. Soldier - Fitness, Ballistics, Boost Pack Training - "The Settled Systems is no stranger to warfare, and if there’s one thing armed conflict relies on, it’s trained warriors with guns and guts. You had both. Simple, bloody work…and you were great at it."
19. Space Scoundrel - Pistol Certification, Piloting, Persuasion - "Good? Bad? Whose right is it to say? If there’s anything you’ve learned traipsing through the galaxy, it’s this: space may look black, but it’s really one shade of grey."
20. Xenobiologist - Lasers, Surveying, Fitness - "The Settled Systems is home to untold alien species. And while none of them have yet proven sentient, that never deterred you. So you sought out and studied them for whatever gifts they offered."
21. [FILE NOT FOUND] - Wellness, Ballistics, Piloting - "Oddly, there’s no information on file about your past life. Clerical oversight? Deletion by some powerful unknown faction? Or was there just nothing of note to mention? Whatever the reason, your past is known only to you. What’s important is the here and now, and the path you’re about to forge."

While your character can acquire additional skills as the game progresses, your chosen Background provides an initial advantage in specific areas. Therefore, it's essential for players to make a thoughtful decision when selecting their starting class, as it will shape the early stages of the game and your character's progression.

Check out some of our other Starfield guides below:
Vasco Location In Starfield - How To Get Your First Spaceship In Starfield - Starfield: 5 Skills Every New Player Should Get - How To Bind Your Weapons In Starfield - Starfield Lockpicking Guide - How Many Main Quest Missions Are There?