A mysterious note, a deadly lair, and the promise of legendary loot: Starfield’s “Mantis” quest lures players into the Secret Outpost on Denebola I-b, where a single misstep could trigger a lethal trap. Can you decipher the infamous floor puzzle and claim the vigilante’s coveted armor and starship, or will the secrets of the Mantis remain buried beneath the stars?
That secret outpost happens to be the lair of a mysterious space-vigilante, and if you fight your way through her secret base, you’ll be able to claim some great gear and the impressive Mantis ship, the Razorleaf.
The system the note points you to is a pretty high level – Denebola is level 30 – but the enemies you’ll face are relatively low. If you’re careful (and remember to quicksave often), you should be able to take it on pretty soon after you pick up the mission – around level 10 or so.
Our Starfield Mantis’ Secret Outpost guide will walk you through every step of the ’Mantis’ mission, from finding the first clue to solving the Mantis floor puzzle and then claiming the Mantis’ gear.
Where to find the ’Secret Outpost!’ note
To find the ’Secret Outpost!’ note and begin the Mantis quest in Starfield, search for it on the bodies of Spacer enemies. The note is most commonly found as random loot on Spacers, particularly during early missions such as “The Old Neighborhood” at the Nova Galactic Staryard, but it can also appear on Spacers in other locations throughout the game. Once you pick up the note, check your inventory under the “Notes” section and read it to activate the Mantis quest, which will direct you to the outpost on Denebola I-b. If you haven’t found the note yet, keep defeating Spacers in various bases and areas, as one will almost certainly drop it eventually.
The first step in the “Mantis” mission is to find a clue about the secret outpost’s location – a note conveniently titled “Secret Outpost!” We found it during the “Back to Vectera” mission while on the planet where Heller and Barrett crashed (the specific planet varies between playthroughs).
One of the first pirates you encounter will be carrying the “Secret Outpost!” slate. When you loot it, you’ll get the “Mantis” mission and an objective to read the Secret Outpost slate.
Read the ’Secret Outpost!’ slate
To begin the Mantis quest in Starfield, you need to find and read the “Secret Outpost!” slate. This note is a random drop from Spacer enemies, so keep an eye out for it as you explore and defeat them. Once you pick up the slate, open your inventory, navigate to the Notes section, and read the “Secret Outpost!” entry. Doing so will activate the Mantis mission and mark the location of the Secret Outpost on Denebola I-b in the Denebola system, setting you on the path to uncover the lair’s mysteries and ultimately tackle the infamous Mantis puzzle.
Open your inventory and scroll down to Notes. Find the “Secret Outpost!” slate you just picked up and click on it.
That will add the next objective to the “Mantis” mission – Go to Denebola I-b. (We’re pretty sure this is a set location and won’t vary, but just follow the mission markers on your Starmap.)
Go to Denebola I-b
After obtaining the “Secret Outpost” note from a Spacer, set a course for Denebola I-b in the Denebola star system to begin the Mantis quest. Upon landing at the Secret Outpost, be prepared for immediate combat, as Spacers will attack as soon as you exit your ship. Fight your way through the hostile forces and follow the mission marker toward the entrance of the lair. The path inside is mostly linear, but expect resistance from Spacers of varying levels as you progress deeper into the facility. Make sure to loot fallen enemies for supplies and lore clues as you advance toward the infamous Mantis puzzle room.
When you arrive at Denebola I-b, you’ll find the Secret Outpost landing target near the south pole of the planet. Head there.
When you arrive, there will be a handful of Spacers outside. Ours ranged from level 6 up to one at level 30.
Once you’re past them, head inside.
Explore the Lair of the Mantis, Learn more about the Lair of the Mantis (Optional), and Talk to Livvey (Optional)
After battling through waves of Spacers at Denebola I-b’s Secret Outpost, you’ll reach the entrance to the Lair of the Mantis. Inside, the lair is packed with high-level enemies and valuable loot, so proceed carefully and loot corpses for both supplies and clues about the mysterious vigilante known as the Mantis. As you delve deeper, you’ll encounter optional objectives: exploring the lair reveals audio logs and datapads that shed light on the Mantis’s backstory, and hacking terminals or opening safes can net you extra rewards. In a key chamber, you’ll find an unarmed NPC named Livvey, who can warn you about the deadly floor puzzle ahead if you choose to speak with him. While talking to Livvey is optional, his hints can help you avoid the lethal turrets guarding the next section. Exploring thoroughly and engaging with these optional objectives enriches the quest and prepares you for the legendary rewards that await in the heart of the lair.
Inside the secret outpost, you’ll have to deal with a bunch of Spacers. Scattered throughout, you’ll also find a handful of locked safes with some nice loot inside.
Your goal here is just to shoot (and loot) all of the Spacers. While you do, keep an eye out for any intercoms on the wall – usually near doors. These are automated messages from Doriane Voclain, the vigilante known as the Mantis who is trying to pass the mantle onto her son. Listening to them is part of the learn more about the Lair of the Mantis optional objective.
A couple of the Spacers will be carrying note slates – specifically “Leon Voclain – Mantis Revealed” and “Leon Voclain – Sic Semper Tyrannis.” These are audio notes from the Mantis’ son and are also part of the learn more about the Lair of the Mantis optional objective.
A bit deeper into the outpost, you’ll run into a Spacer named Livvey. He’ll give you some clues about the next step of the outpost. You can cut him in on the take if you want or kill him. (Attempting to send him on his way will make him attack you.)
Starfield Mantis floor puzzle code
The solution to the Mantis floor puzzle in Starfield is to carefully step on the tiles that spell out the word “TYRANNIS” in order, avoiding all other tiles. This puzzle is found in the Secret Outpost during the Mantis side quest on Denebola I-b. Stepping on the wrong tile will trigger deadly turrets, so precision is crucial. The code “TYRANNIS” is revealed in an audio log titled “Leon Voclain – Sic Semper Tyrannis,” which you can find earlier in the lair. Once you cross safely and press the button at the end of the hallway, the traps will be deactivated, allowing you to proceed and claim the quest’s legendary rewards.
When you reach the corridor Livvey told you about, you’ll see a hall with lettered panels on the floor. There are eight rows with seven letters in each row. Stepping on a wrong letter in any row will trigger a set of four level 46 automated turrets to fire on you.
The solution is in one of the notes from Leon you picked up, “Leon Voclain – Sic Semper Tyrannis.” If you listen to it, you’ll hear Leon complaining about his mom – specifically her repetition of the Latin phrase. And that’s your clue – meaning the Mantis floor puzzle code is TYRANNIS.
From here, very carefully pick your way across the floor tiles to spell out TYRANNIS, as shown in the image below. Just be careful because the tiles are very sensitive – we had to stare at our feet to make sure we didn’t miss.
Explore the Lair of the Mantis, Claim the Mantis’ spacesuit, and Claim the Mantis’ starship
After solving the deadly floor puzzle by carefully stepping on the tiles to spell “TYRANNIS,” you’ll gain access to the inner sanctum known as the Lair of the Mantis. This hidden chamber is packed with valuable loot and guarded by high-powered robots and turrets, so proceed with caution and be prepared for a tough fight. Once the enemies are cleared, you can freely explore the lair, where your main rewards await. Inside, you’ll find the legendary Mantis spacesuit set, offering excellent protection and unique bonuses, and the Razorleaf starship-one of the best early-game ships in Starfield. To claim the Razorleaf, locate the computer panel on the left side of the lair and activate it; this will bring the ship to the surface, making it accessible for you to pilot and add to your fleet. Both the spacesuit and starship are yours to keep, marking the successful completion of one of Starfield’s most rewarding side quests.
After the trapped corridor, you’ll run into a bunch of level 20 robots and turrets. Keep listening to any automated messages you spot to complete the optional learn more about the Lair of the Mantis objective.
When you reach the Mantis’ lair, head through the door on the left side to enter the Batcave section beyond. There, you’ll get two new objectives – claim the Mantis’ spacesuit and claim the Mantis’ starship.
The Mantis’ spacesuit is in a storage room in the near left corner of the cave. You’ll have to open the display case and interact with the mannequin to claim it. (Make sure to poke around for a lot of other loot in the rooms nearby.)
On the far side of the cave, you’ll find a panel for the starship lift controls. Interact with it to raise the Mantis’ ship up to the surface – you’ll have to go get it from there. Head all the way back topside, and follow the mission marker to the Razorleaf. Sit down in the pilot’s seat and set a course for a new grav jump. This will make the Razorleaf your home ship. As much of your cargo and crew as possible will transfer over.
You can change your home ship in any spaceport from the Ship menu (bottom left of the pause menu) or by talking to a spaceport technician and asking to view and modify my ships.
Starfield Mantis rewards, including the Mantis ship
Completing the Mantis quest in Starfield grants players some of the most valuable early-game rewards, most notably the legendary Mantis ship, known as the Razorleaf, and the full Mantis armor set. The Razorleaf is a standout reward: it’s a nimble Class A ship equipped with shielded cargo space, making it ideal for smuggling contraband and offering a significant upgrade over the starting vessel. The ship’s reputation is so formidable that enemy ships may even flee upon seeing it, giving you a unique advantage in space encounters. Alongside the ship, you’ll receive the legendary Mantis spacesuit, helmet, and pack, each offering strong protection and powerful perks such as cloaking, reduced weight for carried resources, and enhanced environmental resistances. These rewards not only boost your survivability and mobility but also provide a major advantage throughout Starfield’s early and mid-game exploration.
The rewards for the mission are the Mantis’ spacesuit and the Mantis’ starship that you just claimed. They are extremely good rewards for a relatively simple mission, though.
The Razorleaf starship is well-equipped and well-armed. It’s better than the Frontier (your default ship from way back in the “One Small Step” mission) in every stat except ballistic weaponry.
The Mantis’ spacesuit is also much better than most other gear you’ll find in the early (or even mid-) game. It’s also pretty heavy, but the trade off is worth it. Each piece of the spacesuit has beefy damage protection, and has some extra situational damage reductions, too. But the real draw is the other traits:
- The Incendiary Mantis spacesuit comes with both the resource hauler (resources weigh 25% less to aid carry capacity) and the incendiary (10% chance to ignite nearby attackers) traits.
- The Assisted Carry Mantis pack includes a boostpack and has the assisted carry (drain 75% less O2 when running while encumbered) trait.
- The Incendiary Mantis space helmet adds 2 max auto-attempts to your bank when lock-picking and also has the same incendiary trait as the spacesuit.
What hidden secrets does the ‘Secret Outpost’ hold in Starfield
The ‘Secret Outpost’ in Starfield is the hidden lair of a mysterious space vigilante known as the Mantis. This dangerous facility is packed with hostile enemies, deadly booby traps, and an infamous environmental puzzle that requires players to spell out a specific word on a floor of lettered tiles to avoid being instantly killed by powerful turrets.
Inside, players can uncover several audio logs and slates that reveal the backstory of the Mantis, offering insight into the vigilante’s motives and the fate of those who dared to challenge her legacy. Successfully navigating the outpost rewards explorers with the coveted Mantis armor set and the unique Razorleaf starship-some of the best early-game loot available.
In short, the Secret Outpost is not just a treasure trove of powerful gear, but also a rich narrative hub filled with hidden lore and deadly challenges for those brave enough to uncover its secrets.
What is the backstory of the mysterious Mantis hideout in Starfield
The mysterious Mantis hideout in Starfield, known as the Secret Outpost, carries a tragic and layered backstory centered on the vigilante Doriane Voclaine and her son, Leon. Doriane, who assumed the mantle of the Mantis-a legendary space vigilante feared by criminals and revered by many-used the lair as both her base of operations and a fortress filled with traps and defenses.
Audio logs and slates scattered throughout the lair reveal that Doriane intended for her son Leon to inherit the Mantis title, armor, and ship. However, their relationship was fraught with neglect and resentment, as Doriane prioritized her vigilante mission over motherhood. Leon, estranged and embittered, returned to the lair not out of duty, but to claim his inheritance. Tragically, he fell victim to the very traps his mother set to protect the Mantis legacy, dying inside the outpost.
The story, pieced together through personal recordings and computer logs, exposes the cost of Doriane’s double life: a fractured family and a legacy tainted by sorrow. The Mantis identity itself is revealed to be a mantle passed down through generations, evolving from mercenary roots to a symbol of justice in the Settled Systems.
