Starfield: 6 Best Builds [Backgrounds & Skill Set]

When it comes to options for building your character, you have a generous list to choose from. I enjoyed the in-depth Character Builder and was surprised by the customization freedom I was given. 

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Key Takeaways

• Space Ranger focuses on fighting with exploration.
• Hitman build is a stealth build option.
• Brawler is a close-ranged melee option with high damage output. 
• Sniper is a long-ranged, high-damage alternative option. 
• Negotiator and Expert Craftsman are non-combat-related builds. 

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Builds Comparison Table:

Build	Backgrounds	Traits	Speciality
Space Ranger	Soldier Bounty Hunter	Extrovert Spaced/Terra Firma	Combat and Exploration orieneted.
Hitman	Cyber Runner Ronin Combat Medic	Introvert	Be stealthy with high damage.
Brawler	Boucer	Alien DNA Extrovert/Introvert Unwanted Hero	Close-ranged with high damage potential.
Sniper	Combat Medic Space Scoundrel	Alien DNA Introvert	Long-ranged with high damage potential.
Negotiator	Diplomat	Empath Extrovert Kid Stuff	More of a middle-man than a fighter.
Expert Craftsman	Professor	Dream Home Kid Stuff	Work in research related projects.

Space Ranger

Two things that I think about when I hear the name Starfield are combats and exploration. This build can offer you both from its unique specialty: Boost pack. Boost packs let you transverse and move in the air and give you an upper hand in combat.

Whether you want to explore the map faster and more efficiently, or you want to fight your enemies by closing distance on them. This build will work just perfectly for the situation. Ideally, these are the options to choose for in the character development. 

Build Overview Table:

Character	Options
Background	Bounty Hunter Soldier
Traits	Extrovert Spaced/Terra Firma
Combat Skills	Ballistics Shotgun Certification Rifle Certification Targeting
Physical Skills	Wellness Rejuvenation Gymnastics
Science Skills	Medicine Surveying
Social Skills	Isolation
Tech Skills	Boost Pack Training Boost Assault Training Ballistic Weapon Systems

Bounty Hunter and Soldier backgrounds offer the Boost Pack Training skills to break down this build. We recommend opting for the Soldier background since you get more combat advantages with Fitness and Ballistics skills. 

All combat, physical, and tech skills synergize well with this build. Using shotgun certification, you can close the distance with your enemies and deal more significant damage to them.

This will also make up for close-combat fights. The Medicine Skill combined with these will increase your survivability by providing better health regeneration. 

Boost Assualt Training is a crucial skill to max out immediately. Once maxed, it offers a chance to knock down enemies while hovering and slows the World movements by 70%.

Hitman

The Hitman build is based on Stealth and sneakiness. Although I would not consider Stealth to be my strong suit, some fights, from my experience, are better to be avoided. I am approaching the enemy undetected while breaching all the security and getting the job done. 

Build Overview Table:

Character	Options
Background	Cyber Runner Ronin Combat Medic
Traits	Introvert
Combat Skills	Dueling Pistol Certification
Physical Skills	Stealth Gymnastics Concealment Rejuvenation
Science Skills	Medicine
Social Skills	Scavenging Theft Isolation
Tech Skills	Secruity

While Cyber Runner and Ronin offer Stealth as the primary skill, Combat Medic offers Pistol certification that can be crucial in this build.

Your primary goal is to stay undetected while wiping out a complete enemy base. For this, focus on maxing out the Stealth skill. Once maxed, you cannot be detected, while sneaking and suppressed weapons deal more significant damage. 

To synergize this with your build, you must opt for Pistol certification. Your primary weapon of choice should be suppressed pistols that damage enemies heavily. 

Another beneficial skill is Concealment, which will further add to your secrecy and also damage your opponents more significantly. 

The last set of skills to combine are Scavenging and Theft, which will help you loot more and faster from your targets. This build is excellent if you prefer to be a ghost while exploring the map and stealing items you need. 

Brawler

Are you looking for a Melee ranged power unit? Look no further since this build is the best for Melee combats. Even though my character was an expert in shooting enemies, I did enjoy occasionally pulling out my Legendary Rescue Axe and decimating the enemy. Speaking of Legendary weapons, you can go through our extensive guide for a list of the best legendary weapons in Starfield. 

Build Overview Table:

Character	Options
Background	Bouncer
Traits	Alien DNA Extrovert/Introvert Unwanted Hero
Combat Skills	Dueling Crippling Armor Penetration
Physical Skills	Boxing Rejuvination Wellness Martial Arts Gymnastics
Science Skills	Medicine Weapon Engineering
Social Skills	Intimidation Diplomacy
Tech Skills	Any

Bouncer offers Boxing and Fitness skills, which are beneficial to start with. Alien DNA can help boost your initial health and oxygen for fights. 

Start investing in Boxing and Wellness. Boxing skill, when maxed, allows you to deal more significant damage and a chance to knock down your opponent. Combined with wellness and medicine, this will improve your survivability and make you more resilient. 

Gymnastics helps you be more mobile while in fights. It also allows you to run faster and engage with your enemy more quickly while being more challenging to target if sliding.

Martial Arts skills will provide a chance to deal with crit hits while punching, and once maxed, damage dealt to you will be reflected. This allows you to pack a more potent punch in a fight. 

Pro Tip: Focus on consumables along the way. Several items can provide instant healing, as some can increase damage resistance. Make sure to pile up on these.

The best strategy, from my experience, would be to try to take cover while being fired at and rush the enemy as they are about to reload. While in cover, the rejuvenation skill can boost your health faster. Keep picking the right timing to fight to make the best of this fantastic build. 

Sniper

If you prefer Solo hunting while dealing ranged damage, this is the build for you. I recommend this to players who enjoy sitting in one corner while they wipe out the enemies. The sniper character development is: 

Build Overview Table:

Character	Options
Background	Combat Medic Space Scoundrel
Traits	Alien DNA Introvert
Combat Skills	Pistol Certification Marksmanship Sniper Certification Sharpshooting Rapid Reloading Armor Penetration
Physical Skills	Stealth Concealment Rejuvenation
Science Skills	Medicine
Social Skills	Persuasion Isolation
Tech Skills	Any

Both backgrounds offer Pistol certification, and the latter gives Persuasion skills. These conveniently fit your build, as you can build a high-damaging stealth pistol with suppression and scope to offer an extended range. 

All listed combat skills offer the best weaponry stats for a sniper. Marksmanship increases crit chance and increased damage if using a pistol with a scope. Sniper certification offers higher damage while scoped in, synergized with Sharpshooter to grant ranged crit damage on headshots. 

Stealth and Concealment skills work well to keep you hidden and place yourself in the optimum spot to target. Rejuvenation will provide extra healing in the hidden phase. If caught, the persuasion skill can help you get out of trouble and re-position accordingly. 

I suggest using Sniper rifles as your primary weapons, but also having a Rifle in case you get detected and have to fight in close range. 

Negotiator 

Not a fan of always taking part in combats? I mean, I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is not fun to shoot enemies in the face, but talking your way out of sticky situations is always a good option.

Build Overview Table:

Character	Options
Background	Diplomat
Traits	Empath Extrovert Kid Stuff
Combat Skills	Any
Physical Skills	Fitness Wellness Nutrition
Science Skills	Any
Social Skills	Persuasion Diplomacy Manipulation Intimidation Instigation Commerce
Tech Skills	Any

With a Diplomat background, you are offered Persuasion and Commerce. Both these skills set you up for an ambassador. Empath and Extrovert traits make you a people person. This will benefit you while surrounded by crews or in group explorations.

Combat skills are not as critical as others, so you may choose according to your needs. Fitness and Wellness physical skills offer health benefits generally. You may also select any science skills depending on your play style.

Your primary set of skills relies on Social Skills. Commerce is one of my favorite skills, allowing me to get more credit for everything I sold during my campaign. In addition to this, Persuasion and Negotiation work well with each other to get your point across and also offer free bribery. 

Intimidation, Diplomacy, Manipulation, and Instigation are all NPC-related skills that allow you to make them run away from fights, control their actions for some time, or command them to target their allies. All four of these skills evolve you to stand higher than the NPCs around you. 

Expert Craftsman

This next build from Starfield: Best Builds helps you stay in touch with the best weaponry and items and have knowledge of everything.

Build Overview Table:

Character	Options
Background	Professor
Traits	Dream Home Kid Stuff
Combat Skills	Any
Physical Skills	Fitness Environmental Conditioning Decontamination
Science Skills	Astrodynamics Geology Research Methods Zoology Weapon Engineering Spacesuit Design Outpost Engineering Special Projects
Social Skills	Commerce Scavenging Outpost Management
Tech Skills	Secuity

Here is another non-combat build where you must choose the Professor’s background since it offers the best set of skills for development and research. Traits do not matter much, so you may choose any other. 

Combat skills are also a free option to choose from. Physical skills such as fitness offer better health regeneration, whereas Conditional Contamination and Decontamination keep your survival rate higher in space. 

Your primary set of skills lies in Science. As the list suggests, you have multiple options for your desired sub-build. Geology, Zoology, and Chemistry help you understand the World from a closer perspective. You can harvest much rarer items quicker than usual. 

Moreover, another research-oriented build will focus on Research methods, Weapon Engineering, Outpost Engineering, and Special Projects. These synergize well, allowing you to develop unique and sharper equipment. They will cost less when the skills are maxed and produce additional outpost resources. 

My Pick For The Best Build

During my 30-plus hours in the campaign, I was able to evolve my character from one class to another. In the early part of the campaign, my character was designed to do the most damage, but it evolved into a smooth-talker, avoiding most combat situations.

However, if I were to pick one, the “Space Ranger” build would stand out. Its unique Boost Pack specialty offers versatility in both combat and exploration, providing a strategic advantage. 

Nevertheless, if you are still confused about what build you want to start as in the beginning, I suggest you use any of the given builds as your template. I mean, the game would never restrict your build, so you can always change your character according to your playstyle.

Up Next:

• Starfield Digipick Guide.
• Starfield Best Quests To Do First.
• Starfield Best Melee Weapons.