It doesn’t take long before Starfield gives you the freedom to explore the universe and forge your own story. Visit the various planets and you’ll discover different factions with unique ideologies and aims. If you find any of them appealing, you can join them, provided you’re willing to do what it takes.
The different factions have exclusive missions that provide some of the best moments Starfield has to offer. Join the Crimson Fleet and you’ll find yourself using guns and persuasion to amass riches. If you choose to side with Ryujin Industries, you’ll be caught in a web of corporate espionage that reveals just how seedy the business side of the Settled Systems can get.
If you’re having trouble deciding which factions to explore, this nifty Starfield faction tier list should give you some direction.
5. Freestar Collective
The Freestar Collective is one of the first factions we were introduced to through Starfield‘s prerelease marketing. It is a major faction that once warred with the United Colonies but is now at peace with them. Akila City, which was created by an ancestor of Sam Coe, lies in the faction’s territory.
Truth be told, it’s a boring libertarian faction without anything particularly noteworthy to offer. They are cool on some level, as they are space cowboys who aren’t afraid of charging into danger, but they certainly won’t appeal to everyone.
The Freestar Rangers enforce the law in Freestar Collective territory, so they’re the group to head to if you want some action. The best thing about the faction is that they have great rewards, with some of the best being the massive Star Eagle spaceship and the Ranger armor.
4. United Colonies
After joining Constellation, the next faction that’ll probably approach you is the United Colonies. The UC is a major faction but scores low on the list simply because it doesn’t present anything new. The missions are pretty straightforward, and the faction doesn’t have much of a personality outside of being a dominant governing force.
The one upside is that there are big rewards to be gained from the faction. You’ll get citizenship to the UC, discounts at New Atlantis businesses, and a penthouse in New Atlantis’ residential district.
To join the faction, you’ll have to visit the MAST building which is in New Atlantis. Speak to Commander Tuala and he’ll have you complete a spaceship battle simulation. If you manage to do this, you’ll become a faction member after swearing an oath. Missions from this group are action-packed, and they involve uncovering the secrets of the Terrormorphs, which are deadly aliens that seem to pop up wherever humans settle.
3. Ryujin Industries
Ryujin Industries seems very unassuming at first. It’s a megacorporation whose headquarters is found in Neon. It’s not too hard to join Ryujin Industries. All you have to do is find a Ryujin terminal and submit your application. After the application is accepted, head to Neon on the planet Volii Alpha to complete your interview and finally join the team.
The missions involve a ton of corporate espionage, so it’s best to increase your persuasion skills before you seek the faction. You do this by investing your Skill Points into the Persuasion skill in the Social category of your skill tree. You’ll have the opportunity to resort to bullets, but smooth words tend to get the job done with less of a mess.
The biggest negative aspect of this faction is the lacklustre rewards. You’ll score plenty of Credits for completing the missions, and eventually, you’ll also receive a luxurious office in Ryujin Industries. Not much for all your hard work.
2. Crimson Fleet
If you’re interested in exploring the space pirate life, you have to join the Crimson Fleet. It’s one of the harder factions to enter, but you’ll be rewarded greatly for your efforts. To become a pirate, you’ll have to either join the UC Vanguard and work undercover or get arrested and agree to enter the fleet undercover instead of going to jail.
Once you’re part of the fleet, you’ll gain access to The Key, which is the headquarters for the pirates. Here, you’ll have the chance to sell any contraband you’ve accumulated. The vendors also have a good selection of guns and armor you can pick up at a reasonable price. The only downside is that you’ll be penalized for killing any Crimson Fleet members, and until you pay off your bounty with them, you won’t be able to make use of The Key.
The Crimson Fleet missions should not be missed, as they are some of the most action-packed experiences the game has to offer, and they involve intricate heists and robbing Galbank. Completing the missions will land you plenty of great rewards, including the Keelhauler Pistol and the Revenant rifle. You’ll also get the chance to nab a USC Prison spaceship, but its stats are nothing to get excited about.
1. Constellation
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the main faction lands at the top of the list. Constellation is the first faction you’ll join, and there you’ll meet a host of interesting characters including Sarah Morgan, Barrett, Sam Coe, Matteo, Noel, and more. The organization has its headquarters in New Atlantis, and its main aim is to explore the furthest reaches of the cosmos, uncover the secrets of the universe, and advance scientific research.
You’ll be leaning heavily on Constellation to progress through the main story, find all the strange artifacts, and learn more about the temples located on various planets. Constellation doesn’t quite have the best missions (that honor goes to the Crimson Fleet), but you learn so much about Starfield‘s universe from them.
Constellation is the one faction that seems to best capture Starfield‘s desire to deliver cosmic mystery and exploration to players. Thanks to Sarah’s encouraging leadership and Noel’s intelligence, it feels like Constellation is the group of classic good guys in a world where it’s not always easy to decide who to trust, making it feel good to be a member.
There are plenty of factions to join, and you can join multiple factions at the same time. If you feel like joining a certain faction would clash with your character’s values, but you’re still curious, you can explore those factions in New Game+.
