In Starfield’s intense “No Sudden Moves” quest, you’re tasked with infiltrating the notorious ship The Scow and stealing a coveted artifact from the elusive Captain Petrov. Whether you choose to charm your way in, pickpocket the vault key, or go in guns blazing, every decision leads to high-stakes consequences and hidden secrets aboard Petrov’s vessel. Ready to pull off the ultimate space heist? Here’s your complete guide to outsmarting Petrov and escaping with the prize.
In this Starfield guide, we’ll walk you through how to get the artifact from Petrov’s clutches in the “No Sudden Moves” mission.
A possible bug at launch is that players are sometimes unable to follow the scanner. If this happens to you, we recommend returning to orbit and waiting by passing time. Consider shutting the game off and launching it fresh as well, just in case.
Also, when you make to re-land on the planet, be absolutely sure you’re picking the Scanner Anomaly Site. If you land anywhere else by accident, the temple won’t appear on the map and you won’t be able to find it.
Find the artifact
To find the artifact in the “No Sudden Moves” quest in Starfield, you first need to travel to the Scow, a ship orbiting the Procyon A system. Once aboard, make your way to Captain Petrov, who holds the artifact in his collection. You have several options to obtain it: persuade Petrov to cooperate, pickpocket the vault key from him, or attack him to force a surrender. After gaining access to the vault, you can steal the Phi artifact, but be prepared for a possible fight with Petrov and his guards. Sparing Petrov after taking the artifact allows you to explore the ship further and loot additional items before escaping. Finally, return the artifact to the Lodge to complete the mission.
When you start the quest, you’ll talk to Vladimir. He tells you of a guy named Captain Petrov, who – word has it – has collected an artifact and won’t part with it for anything. It’s up to you and a companion to find Petrov’s limit and get that artifact. (For me, Barrett came along for the mission, while another AELGAMES staffer was joined by Sarah.)
Talk to Vladimir // Travel to the Scow // Board the Scow
Vladimir will give you the lowdown on Petrov and basically tell you that he expects you to steal the artifact. Tell him you’re ready to go and Barrett will become your locked companion.
Head over to your ship, undock from The Eye, and jump to the Scow ship, which is in orbit around Procyon V-B. You have two options here, which the game spells out to you very clearly:
- Disable the engines
- Talk your way in
We’re going to go with the (initially) non-violent route here, as violence is usually pretty easy to figure out in Starfield.
Hail the ship and use Persuade on the guy over the radio (it’s only a four pip check). If you let Barrett talk for you, it doesn’t go very well, as Petrov doesn’t seem to like him very much. (You’ll still get the chance to use the Persuasion option even if Barrett makes an ass out of himself, and it doesn’t make the check any harder, so pick it if you want a laugh.)
Once the guy clears you to dock, board the ship and walk on in.
Find Captain Petrov // Follow Petrov
When you get in the Scow, talk to Tao Xun, who is very rude to you. Eventually he’ll give you the all clear and let you meet Petrov. Follow the path and don’t touch anything – at least for now. Eventually you’ll meet up with Petrov, who is a total weirdo, and is lounging on a space couch.
This guy is eccentric and the worst – Bethesda goes a long way to make sure you don’t feel too bad about stealing from him.
Petrov will tell you that he can’t part with his precious new artifact. But this is where Barrett comes in clutch. You can either Persuade Petrov to let you in, attack him, or let Barrett say “Petroooooov! It’s me!” This dialogue option is both funny and effective. Petrov will forgive Barrett for whatever their past grievance is and offer to show you the vault. Bingo.
Follow Petrov down to the vault until he shows you the artifact. Get a shotgun ready and then have a hard conversation with Petrov. Eventually he’ll make it clear that he refuses to give you the artifact, no matter how bad you need or want it. Then he’ll basically dare you to steal it.
Become a space pirate
In the “No Sudden Moves” quest of Starfield, becoming a space pirate means taking a bold and risky approach to steal a valuable artifact from Captain Petrov aboard his ship, The Scow. You can either persuade your way in, pickpocket the vault key if you have the skill, or launch a direct attack to force entry. Once aboard, stealing the artifact inevitably triggers hostilities, but you can subdue Petrov and his crew, causing them to surrender and allowing you to loot the ship freely. This daring heist marks you as a wanted criminal in the UC systems, embracing the true spirit of a space pirate in this high-stakes mission.
Now that it’s become immediately clear that Petrov just wants to gloat about his new toy, it’s time to take the artifact by force.
Steal the Artifact
Once you’ve exhausted all of the diplomatic options with Petrov, pull your gun out and grab the artifact off the shelf. Petrov and his goons will instantly become hostile and start shooting at you. Pull out the shotgun we told you to prepare (assuming you have one), and blast Petrov with it. He’ll go down very quickly, in just a couple of shots, depending on your weapon’s power.
When his health hits zero, Petrov will go into a kind of “down-but-not-out” state and beg for mercy. Tell him to call off his goons and let you leave. He’ll agree as long as you don’t kill him. Put your weapon away.
Leave the Scow // Add the Artifact to the collection
Petrov and his crew will now disdainfully call you a pirate, but they won’t attack you. Feel free to loot anything you’d like from Petrov’s vault or ship, as you’ve already shown that you can take him down if need be. Stuff your pockets and head back to your ship. His crew will promise revenge, but we didn’t hear from Petrov again for the rest of the main campaign. (Although it is distinctly possible that he could show up in a side mission we missed).
What secret tactics can I use to steal the artifact without alerting Petrov
To steal the Artifact from Captain Petrov without immediately alerting him or triggering a bounty, you can use a combination of persuasion and stealth tactics. First, repeatedly persuade Petrov during your conversation to gain his trust and convince him to lead you to the vault where the Artifact is kept. Flattering him about his collection and goading him to show off can help you succeed in this.
Once Petrov takes you to the vault, you can attempt to negotiate or distract him, but ultimately, you must steal the Artifact, which will provoke him to attack. However, if you shoot Petrov during this confrontation, he will surrender and order his crew to stand down, allowing you to leave without further combat-though you will still receive a bounty for the theft.
Alternatively, you can bypass the direct confrontation by finding a secret route: locate and cut through thin walls in the back hallways of the ship to access the vault stealthily. This lets you grab the Artifact without alerting Petrov or his guards initially, but you should be prepared for a fight when escaping.
In summary, the secret tactics involve:
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Using repeated persuasion to get Petrov to show you the vault.
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Shooting Petrov to force a surrender and avoid full combat.
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Exploring secret cuttable walls to stealthily access the vault without alerting the crew immediately.
All these methods still carry risks, including bounties, but they allow for a more nuanced approach than outright frontal assault.
How can I persuade Petrov to lead me to the artifact peacefully
To persuade Captain Petrov to lead you peacefully to the artifact in Starfield’s “No Sudden Moves” quest, follow these key steps:
1. Use Repeated Persuasion Attempts
During your dialogue with Petrov, choose persuasion options multiple times. The game allows you to keep trying persuasion even if you fail initially. Persistence is crucial here.
2. Compliment and Flatter Petrov
Appeal to Petrov’s ego by praising his reputation, his ship, or his collection. Flattery makes him more inclined to trust you and show off the artifact.
3. Show Genuine Interest in His Collection
Express curiosity and admiration for his possessions. This helps build rapport and makes him more willing to share details about the vault.
4. Choose Calm and Non-Threatening Dialogue
Avoid aggressive or suspicious dialogue options. Keep your tone friendly and respectful to maintain his trust.
5. Be Patient and Let the Conversation Progress Naturally
Don’t rush or push too hard. Let Petrov feel in control and comfortable before asking to see the vault.
By combining these tactics, you increase your chances of convincing Petrov to lead you to the artifact without hostility, setting the stage for a smoother heist or negotiation.
