Bethesda is one of the first developers to offer fully customizable characters in RPGs. So, naturally, their character creation has evolved into perfection, even by today’s standards. If you have played any of their previous titles, you would know the importance of picking out the best backgrounds. Each background option offers a unique backstory to support your role-playing character.
Furthermore, the option that you choose gives you 3 unique skills to get you started in the extraterrestrial landscape. However, with over 21 options at hand and only one available slot, players can feel confused. Therefore, this article provides the top 5 best backgrounds in Starfield to help you get a head start in the game.
Table of Contents
What are the Backgrounds in Starfield?
Backgrounds in Starfield add an extra depth of lore and character development. Your background defines who you were before stepping into the huge game universe and may, in some ways, affect how the game progresses. So, choosing the right background is extremely important for your build and gameplay experience.
When you select a background, you will get 3 Starfield Skills to help you in the starting quests. Moreover, the reaction of NPCs also changes according to your character. Don’t worry; your skills aren’t limited to these three only. So, you can earn XP and credits to acquire more skills and gain the respect of your fellow citizens.
Top 5 Best Backgrounds in Starfield:
Now that you know the importance of choosing the right background, it is time to shortlist the top 5 from 21 options. However, before you can choose a background, you must acknowledge your planned build, playing style, best traits to consider, and experience in Bethesda games.
Secondly, don’t feel bad if you really want 2 skills from one background and one skill from another. In that case, you will have countless opportunities during your adventures to gain additional skills. In other words, choosing the right background is only important to get you through an early game phase.
Afterward, you can polish and customize your skills to complement your build. So, without further delay, here are the top 5 best backgrounds for most Starfield builds:
1. Ronin: Best Backgrounds for Stealth
Skills:
- Stealth: Increases your Stealth by 25% when sneaking, and suppressed weapons deal 5% bonus damage. Moreover, you also gain the Stealth meter.
- Dueling: You gain 25% bonus damage with melee weapons and take 10% less damage when wielding melee weapons.
- Scavenging: Gain extra credits by looting containers.
Ronin is a masterless mercenary who worked as a blade for hire. However, some even considered him a hero as he never backed off from helping those in need. So, it is one of the few heroic backgrounds that boosts the role-playing element in your story.
Needless to say, Ronin is among the few classes in Starfield that give Stealth options in the early game. Moreover, the first few quests are Stealth-focused, so you will feel overpowered in such missions. Secondly, Scavenging is a plus point as it can quickly fill up your credits pouch.
Lastly, melee is pretty limited in the game. However, if you want to recreate Fallout or Skyrim, this skill will definitely boost your kill streaks. However, you should consider adding the best traits if you really wish to flourish in the game.
2. Industrialist: Best Backgrounds for Newcomers
Skills:
- Security: Grants you the ability to hack advanced lockups with 2 auto attempts in the bank.
- Persuasion: Increases your chance to successfully persuade someone by 10%.
- Research Methods: Reduces the resource requirements for crafting by 10%.
The industrialist is a unique background that mainly focuses on the non-combat elements of Starfield. However, the skills you gain are over-the-top useful for the majority of new players.
Firstly, you will need those Persuasion skills to get yourself the best deal in every dialogue. Moreover, it can also reduce the fighting scenarios as you can talk your way out. Secondly, Security and hacking aren’t that crucial, but they can definitely open up several doors for you.
Lastly, crafting is a major element for many players, but resources are scarce. So, Research Methods can help you craft the best equipment without spending too many resources. In short, if you aren’t really sure about the background options, you should consider the Industrialist.
3. Soldier: Best Backgrounds for Combat
Skills:
- Ballistics: You deal 10% bonus damage with Ballistic weapons.
- Boost Pack Training: You gain novice level training in Boost Pack, which usually becomes available later on.
- Fitness: Increases your oxygen supply by 10%.
The Soldier is perhaps the best-starting background in Starfield. It offers a unique yet balanced combination of 3 skills that complement each other. So, if you are looking for the perfect background class that supports you, you should definitely choose the Soldier.
Firstly, the Ballistic weapons mainly work well with Boost Pack. Since you have the training for both skills, you will do pretty well from the very beginning.
Similarly, you won’t need much oxygen for the first few quests. However, oxygen becomes vital once you leave for other planets. So, having some extra oxygen will increase your survivability so that you can focus on other resources.
4. Diplomat: Best for Persuasion
Skills:
- Commerce: You can buy items for 5% less and sell your goods for 10% extra credits.
- Wellness: You gain 10% extra HP right from the start.
- Persuasion: Increases your chance to successfully persuade someone by 10%.
Diplomate is yet another perfectly balanced non-combat class. It combines all the vital skills that you need to get through the first few hours. So, if you are looking for a background with a charismatic personality, you should start as a Diplomat.
Diplomat comes with 3 charismatic skills that work perfectly together. For instance, you can’t say no to those extra 10% maximum health. Believe it or not, you will be investing at least one skill point in it later on.
Similarly, persuasion and commerce are must-have skills for all non-combat situations. So, you will pretty much thrive in any community as long as you don’t cross your limits. In other words, Diplomats are perfect for experiencing the non-combat elements of Starfield.
5. Bounty Hunter: Best for Piloting
Skills:
- Targeting Control Systems: You acquire ship-targeting features for your starship.
- Piloting: Allows you to utilize your ship’s thrusters.
- Boost Pack Training: You gain novice level training in Boost Pack, which usually becomes available later on.
Bounty Hunter is a unique yet niche-exclusive background in Starfield. They have all the skills required to track down and eliminate wanted NPCs. However, their skills are also useful in exploration and galactic combat encounters. In other words, starting as a Bounty Hunter will give you a head start on many activities.
Firstly, you will invest at least one skill point in both Boost Pack and Piloting. So, having these skills right from the beginning can save your hard-earned points. Both these skills are pretty useful when you are out exploring different planets.
As for the Target Control System, it isn’t as useful as the first two skills. However, you will find some use for it when you are in a ship battle, and trust me, it’s not that far. So, if you can’t decide what to pick for your techie build, you should pick the Bounty Hunter background.
Bonus Backgrounds:
Don’t worry if you don’t like any of the top picks; there are many other options for you to explore. Almost all of our top 5 background picks focus on the combat and exploration elements of the game. But what if you just want to calmly travel through space and explore other planets? In that case, here are a few picks that can help create your dream build:
Sculptor: Best Backgrounds for Resources
- Persuasion: Increases your chance to successfully persuade someone by 10%.
- Geology: You can extract extra uncommon and common inorganic resources from the surface.
- Medicine: You gain 10% extra health from Trauma Packs, Med Packs, and Emergency Kits and 10% faster.
Cyber Runner: Best Backgrounds for Sneak
- Stealth: Increases your Stealth by 25% when sneaking, and suppressed weapons deal 5% bonus damage. Moreover, you also gain the Stealth meter.
- Security: Grants you the ability to hack advanced lockups with 2 auto attempts in the bank.
- Theft: You can now pickpocket targets by sneaking behind them.
[File Not Found]: Best Backgrounds for All Builds
- Wellness: You gain 10% extra HP right from the start.
- Piloting: Allows you to utilize your ship’s thrusters.
- Ballistics: You deal 10% bonus damage with Ballistic weapons.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right background for your character in Starfield gives it a unique backstory special skills, and affects some dialogues. So, you must acknowledge your build plans, playing style, and preferred role-playing conditions before selecting an option. Still, selecting just one from over 21 options can be pretty tricky. Therefore, this article covers the top 5 best backgrounds in Starfield and how you can benefit from them.
