In Starfield, appearance settings are cosmetic, but your background and traits shape your starting character. Choose a Biometric ID and refine the look you want, then compare background skills and trait trade-offs before confirming. The creator appears during the opening mission after you take the Strange Object.
When the character creator appears
You reach character creation during the opening main mission, One Small Step, after taking the Strange Object. Bethesda’s mission guide identifies this point in the opening sequence.
How to customize your appearance
Choose a Biometric ID
Start with a Biometric ID, which serves as an appearance preset. You can then refine your character in the Body and Face menus rather than treating the preset as a permanent choice.
Adjust body and face details
The Body menu includes body shape, two body types, and walk styles. Body shape is adjusted with the on-screen control. The Face menu includes hair and eye color, facial features such as nose and jaw shape, and details including tattoos, scars, and blemishes. The available controls vary by feature.
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- Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits
- Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets
- Pilot and command the ship of your dreams.
Bethesda states that body options are “purely cosmetic and have no effect on your character’s strengths, weaknesses, or abilities.” Choose the look and movement style you prefer; these settings do not provide a gameplay advantage. See Bethesda’s character-creation guide for the current controls. Button and key details can vary by platform or update.
Choose a background for its starting skills
A background describes your character’s prior role and grants its listed skills at Rank 1 from the start. Pick the package that matches what you want to do early in the game, rather than looking for a universally best option.
Rank #2
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- Travel to the stars in this next-gen RPG from the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4
- Create a character according to your imagination and explore the endless expanses in unparalleled freedom
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| Background | Starting skills at Rank 1 | Good fit if you want to start with |
|---|---|---|
| Bounty Hunter | Piloting, Targeting Control Systems, Boost Pack Training | Ship handling, targeting systems, and boost-pack mobility |
| Diplomat | Persuasion, Commerce, Wellness | Persuasion, commerce, and health |
| Explorer | Lasers, Astrodynamics, Surveying | Exploration and surveying, alongside laser weapons and ship range |
| Soldier | Fitness, Ballistics, Boost Pack Training | Physical fitness, ballistic weapons, and boost-pack mobility |
These are examples from Bethesda’s background reference. Compare all three starting skills for a background against your intended playstyle.
Decide whether to take traits
Traits are optional: you can select none or choose up to three. Bethesda describes them as having advantages and costs, and some combinations are prohibited. Consider when each trait applies, what it asks you to give up, and whether it fits how you expect to play.
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- TELL YOUR STORY - In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become.
- EXPLORE OUTER SPACE - Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets. Navigate bustling cities, explore dangerous bases, and traverse wild landscapes. Meet and recruit a memorable cast of characters, join in the adventures of various factions, and embark on quests across the Settled Systems. A new story or experience is always waiting to be discovered.
- CAPTAIN THE SHIP OF YOUR DREAMS - Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection.
- DISCOVER, COLLECT, BUILD - Explore planets and discover the fauna, flora, and resources needed to craft everything from medicine and food to equipment and weapons. Build outposts and hire a crew to passively extract materials and establish cargo links to transfer resources between them. Invest these raw materials into research projects to unlock unique crafting recipes.
- LOCK AND LOAD - Space can be a dangerous place. A refined combat system gives you the tools to deal with any situation. Whether you prefer long-range rifles, laser weapons, or demolitions, each weapon type can be modified to complement your playstyle. Zero G environments add a chaotic spectacle to combat, while boost packs give players freedom to maneuver like never before.
| Trait | Benefit or effect | Cost, condition, or incompatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Extrovert | Changes oxygen use when adventuring with human companions. | Its effect depends on whether you have human companions; cannot be combined with Introvert. |
| Introvert | Changes oxygen use in the opposite companion context to Extrovert. | Its effect depends on whether you are adventuring with human companions; cannot be combined with Extrovert. |
| Dream Home | Provides a home. | Requires a weekly 125,000-credit mortgage. |
| Kid Stuff | Provides parents in the game world. | Automatically transfers 2% of your credits home each week. |
| Wanted | Can increase damage when your health is low. | Mercenaries may occasionally attack you. |
| Faction allegiance traits | Provide their stated faction-related effects. | A faction allegiance trait cannot be combined with other faction allegiance traits. |
The weekly mortgage and credit transfer are in-game mechanics listed by Bethesda; the support page does not state a publication year. Trait effects and incompatibilities are summarized in Bethesda’s trait reference. Read each trait’s full description in the creator before selecting it.
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When you finalize the profile, set your character’s name and pronouns. Before confirmation, you can return to the background and trait menus to reconsider those choices. Bethesda’s creation guide covers the profile and menu flow.
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- Discover a galaxy of opportunity. Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Experience an original scoundrel story. Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
- Embark on high-stakes missions. Take on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.
- Jump into the pilot seat. Pilot your ship, the Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with the Empire and other foes. Find the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
After creation, Bethesda specifically documents changing facial hair using Appearance Collectibles from the Collectibles menu. That guidance does not establish a full appearance respec or confirm that backgrounds or traits can be changed later. See Bethesda’s facial-hair instructions for that specific change.
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