Starfield Traits Guide Top Starting Picks and Rankings for Character Builds

Start your Starfield adventure with the perfect edge by choosing the best traits that shape not only your character’s abilities but also your entire playthrough. Whether you want to maximize combat effectiveness, unlock unique dialogue options, or gain valuable early-game perks, knowing which traits to pick can make all the difference. From the social boost of Extrovert to the practical benefits of Kid Stuff and Dream Home, these traits offer a blend of gameplay advantages and immersive roleplay opportunities that every explorer should consider before blasting off into the Settled Systems.

At the end of the day, know that traits are optional – you can skip past choosing if you don’t find the tradeoff for any of them particularly worth it. And if you dislike your choices, some of them can be removed at Reliant Medical surgery centers.

There’s no right or wrong trait to pick – but depending on how you want to play, some traits are better than others. Based on our playtime, here are the best traits to start with in Starfield.

The best traits in Starfield

The best traits in Starfield offer a mix of practical benefits and unique roleplaying opportunities that can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Top recommended traits include Extrovert, which reduces oxygen consumption when traveling with companions, making it ideal for cooperative play; Hero Worshipped, which can unlock special dialogue options and rewards; and Kid Stuff, which provides valuable early-game items from your parents. Other notable traits are Dream Home, granting access to a personal base early on, and Alien DNA, which boosts health and oxygen capacity. These traits generally have minimal downsides and can even be removed later if needed, allowing flexibility in how you shape your character’s journey through the Settled Systems.

Traits don’t change too much about the game, but if you’re stuck on which ones to pick, you should choose one (or more) of these five:

Dream Home
Extrovert or Introvert
Wanted
Raised Enlightened or Universal
One of the faction traits (Freestar Collective Settler, Neon Street Rat, or United Colonies Native)

You can see our explanations as to why these are the best traits in Starfield below.

Dream Home

If you know you want to decorate a house, you should opt for the Dream Home trait. For a payment of 500 credits per week, you can have a huge spacious area to call home right off the bat. You’ll quickly realize that 500 credits is nothing in Starfield, so it’s a really cheap house. The location is a little bit out of the way (unlike the apartments on Neon or other hub areas) but it is gigantic. And cheap.

Extrovert or Introvert

You should take either Extrovert or Introvert as an early trait, which will reduce your oxygen consumption when you’re with or without companions respectively. Just take whichever one suits your gameplay style more – if you like having companions following, take Extrovert, and if you don’t like having people follow you around, take Introvert.

That said, the opening quests force you to use companions, so you will be stilted for a bit in the early game if you opt for Introvert.

Wanted

In exchange for random mercenaries spawning around you, you deal more damage when your health is low, so Wanted is a pretty good trade off. The damage boost can get you out of sticky situations, and the mercenaries aren’t really hard to kill.

Raised Enlightened or Raised Universal

If you have extra trait slots, you might as well take Raised Enlightened or Raised Universal, as you’ll get access to exclusive loot depending on which religion you side with. There’s not really a downside to these traits, so it doesn’t hurt.

Freestar Collective Settler or Neon Street Rat or United Colonies Native

Again, if you have a spare trait slot, you might as well take one of these faction traits. We recommend taking one based on where you plan on hanging out the most. Note that Neon is singular area, whereas the Freestar Collective and United Colonies have influence over a wider breadth of planets. These traits increase your rewards from missions given by your chosen faction, but increase your bounties from other factions. As mentioned in the Dream Home section, lack of credits isn’t really a big problem, so this isn’t really that big of a boon.

Starfield traits list

Traits in Starfield are optional character modifiers chosen during customization, allowing players to select up to three traits that add unique benefits and drawbacks to their gameplay experience. These traits range from faction allegiances and personality types like Introvert or Extrovert to special conditions such as Alien DNA or Dream Home, each influencing dialogue options, combat effectiveness, resource management, or social interactions. While traits provide flavorful enhancements, they often come with trade-offs, and some are mutually exclusive, requiring careful consideration to match your playstyle. Notably, traits like Empath, Hero Worshipped, and Serpent’s Embrace are popular for their balanced advantages, and players can remove traits later if desired, offering flexibility in character development.

Below, you can just see a full list of traits available to pick in the game.

Alien DNA: You volunteered for a controversial experiment that combines alien and human DNA. As a result, you start with increased health and oxygen, but healing and food items aren’t as effective.
Dream Home: You own a luxurious, customizable house on a peaceful planet! Unfortunately it comes with a 125,000 credit mortgage with GalBank that has to be paid weekly.
Empath: You are deeply connected to the feelings of others. Performing actions your companion likes will result in a temporary increase in combat effectiveness. But, performing actions they don’t like will have the precise opposite effect.
Extrovert: You’re a people person. Exerting yourself uses less oxygen when adventuring with human companions, but more when adventuring alone. (Can’t be combined with Introvert.)
Freestar Collective Settler: You gain special access to Freestar Collective dialogue options, and better rewards from some missions given by the faction. But, crime bounty towards other factions is greatly increased. (Can’t be combined with any other faction allegiance trait.)
Hero Worshipped: You’ve earned the attention of an annoying “Adoring Fan” who will show up randomly and jabber at you incessantly. On the plus side, he’ll join your ship’s crew and give you gifts.
Introvert: You really need your alone time. Exerting yourself uses less oxygen when adventuring alone, but more when adventuring with other human companions. (Can’t be combined with Extrovert.)
Kid Stuff: Your parents are alive and well, and you can visit them at their home. But you automatically send 2% of your credits home to them every week.
Neon Street Rat: You grew up on the mean streets of Neon. You gain access to special dialogue options, and better rewards from some missions on Neon. Crime bounty by other factions is greatly increased. (Can’t be combined with any other faction allegiance trait.)
Raised Enlightened: You grew up as a member of the Enlightened. You gain access to a special chest full of items in the House of the Enlightened in New Atlantis, but lose access to the Sanctum Universum chest. (Can’t be combined with any other religion trait.)
Raised Universal: You grew up as a member of Sanctum Universum. You gain access to a special chest full of items in the Sanctum Universum in New Atlantis, but lose access to the House of the Enlightened chest. (Can’t be combined with any other religion trait.)
Serpent’s Embrace: You grew up worshiping the Great Serpent. Grav jumping provides a temporary boost to health and oxygen, but health and oxygen are lowered if you don’t continue jumping regularly. (Can’t be combined with any other religion trait.)
Spaced: Your body has become acclimated to space. Health and oxygen are increased when in space, but decreased when on the surface. (Can’t be combined with Terra Firma.)
Taskmaster: Occasionally, if you have crew trained in a certain ship system, that system will automatically repair itself to full health whenever it is damaged below 50%. However, all crew cost twice as much to hire.
Terra Firma: You’ve never acclimated to space. Health and oxygen are increased when on the surface, but decreased when you’re in space. (Can’t be combined with Spaced.)
United Colonies Native: You gain access to special United Colonies dialogue options, and better rewards from some missions given by the faction. However, crime bounty by other factions is greatly increased. (Can’t be combined with any other faction allegiance trait.)
Wanted: Someone put a price on your head, and word has spread. Occasionally, armed mercenaries will show up and try to kill you, but being cornered gives you an edge – when your health is low, you do extra damage.

Which traits in Starfield offer the most impactful early-game advantages

The most impactful early-game traits in Starfield are widely recognized as Hero Worshipped, Kid Stuff, and Alien DNA.

Hero Worshipped grants you an Adoring Fan companion early on, providing useful gifts and encouragement, and can be assigned to outposts to avoid annoyance while still benefiting from their presence.
Kid Stuff offers unique roleplay opportunities by allowing interactions with your character’s parents, adding depth and some early narrative advantages despite a minor income penalty.
Alien DNA gives a significant boost to health and endurance, which is crucial for surviving the early challenges without needing immediate upgrades, though it slightly reduces the effectiveness of health items.

Additionally, Extrovert is notable for reducing oxygen consumption when adventuring with companions, which is beneficial since companions are abundant and help carry loot, a key advantage early in the game.

These traits combine tangible gameplay benefits with roleplaying flavor, making them excellent choices to jumpstart your Starfield experience.

How does Hero Worshipped give me an early-game edge in Starfield

The Hero Worshipped trait gives you an early-game edge in Starfield by summoning an “Adoring Fan” who appears randomly and can be recruited as your first crew member shortly after starting the game. This companion is useful because he can follow you on missions, fight alongside you, and most importantly, carry extra items, helping to alleviate early inventory limitations. He also occasionally brings you gifts, which can provide additional resources or gear. While his constant praise can become annoying over time, his early utility as a loyal companion and pack mule makes the trait a practical choice for jumpstarting your adventure. If needed, you can send him back to your ship or persuade him to leave, but having him early on provides tangible benefits before you acquire stronger companions.