Starfield backgrounds are one of the many ways you can personalize your character in Bethesda’s latest RPG. They form the basis of who you are at the beginning of the game and shape your character, but what are all the Starfield backgrounds that have been revealed so far?
Each background comes with three unique starting skills. There are a vast variety of Starfield skills in the game, so three starting skills don’t lock you into playing Starfield in a specific way. However, they will help you out very early on in the game, and your background my trigger unique opportunities and dialogue options throughout your playthrough. Here are all of the backgrounds we know about so far ahead of the Starfield release date.
Starfield backgrounds list
The 16 confirmed Starfield backgrounds are:
- Beast Hunter
- Bouncer
- Bounty Hunter
- Chef
- Combat Medic
- Cyber Runner
- Cyberneticist
- Diplomat
- Explorer
- Gangster
- Homesteader
- Industrialist
- Long Hauler
- Pilgrim
- Professor
- Ronin
These Starfield backgrounds were spotted in in-game menus during the 2022 and 2023 Starfield showcases.
Beast Hunter
Nothing is known about the Beast Hunter background yet.
Bouncer
Nothing is known about the Bouncer background yet.
Bounty Hunter
Nothing is known about the Bounty Hunter background yet.
Chef
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.
Starting skills:
- Gastronomy – You can craft specialty food and drinks, and research additional recipes at a Research Lab.
- Dueling – Melee weapons do 10% more damage.
- Wellness – Immediately gain 30 points of health.
Combat Medic
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.
- Pistol Certification – Pistols do 10% more damage.
- Medicine – Med Packs heal 10% more.
- Weight Lifting – Increase total carrying capacity by 10 kilograms.
Cyber Runner
From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige, and profit. You’ve worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits.
- Pistol Certification – Pistols do 10% more damage.
- Security – You can attempt to hack advanced locks, and 2 auto attempts can be banked.
- Persuasion – Gain an increased chance of success on speech challenges.
Cyberneticist
Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one.
- Medicine – Med Packs heal 10% more.
- Robotics – You deal 10% more damage to robots and turrets.
- Lasers – Laser weapons do 10% more damage.
Diplomat
The wars are over. Peace now reigns 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.
- Persuasion – Gain an increased chance of success on speech challenges.
- Diplomacy – You can force a target NPC at or below your level to stop fighting for a while.
- Bargaining – Buy items for 5% less and sell for 10% or more.
Explorer
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.
- Lasers – Personal laser weapons are in widespread use across the Settled Systems, and specialized training can greatly increase their effectiveness.
- Astrodynamics – Advanced technology is one thing, but it takes skill, patience, and a little bit of love to coax even more capability out of a shup’s grav drive.
- Surveying – Humanity now has access to untold alien worlds, and the ability to decipher all that data while on the ground has become and essential skillset.
Gangster
Nothing is known about the Gangster background yet.
Homesteader
Nothing is known about the Homesteader background yet.
Industrialist
Nothing is known about the Industrialist background yet.
Long Hauler
Nothing is known about the Long Hauler background yet.
Pilgrim
Nothing is known about the Pilgrim background yet.
Professor
Nothing is known about the Professor background yet.
Ronin
Nothing is known about the Ronin background yet.
That covers all the Starfield backgrounds that have been confirmed so far. For more on building out your character in Starfield, check out all the Starfield traits you can apply while exploring the Starfield planets on the map.
