To recruit NPC crew for your Railjack, raise your Command Intrinsic to Rank 1, hire a crewmate from Ticker in Fortuna, then assign them at the Dry Dock. Command Ranks 3 and 5 unlock additional crew slots; later ranks add training, converted Liches, and an On-Call crew member. Choose roles to cover the ship jobs you do not want to handle yourself.
What Railjack crew can do
Railjack crew are NPC allies who help operate the ship when other Tenno are not available. Hired crew can serve as a Defender, Pilot, Gunner, or Engineer. A converted Lich is a separate, Defender-only option.
Digital Extremes’ Railjack support guide describes the roles and current crew system. The Update 30 notes add detail about how crew assignments and training were introduced; where details may have changed, use the current support guide.
How to unlock and hire crew
- Reach Command Intrinsic Rank 1. This unlocks your first crew slot and access to Ticker’s crew contracts in Fortuna.
- Hire a crewmate from Ticker. Contract costs can vary with your Syndicate alignment; check the offer before confirming.
- Assign the crew member in the Dry Dock. Open the Railjack crew configuration to select a role and manage your crew.
- Unlock more slots with Command. Rank 3 opens the second slot and Rank 5 opens the third.
You can also change roles through the Tactical Menu during a mission. Command Ranks 2, 4, and 6 provide competency points; Rank 7 unlocks retraining, Rank 8 allows converted Liches as crew, and Rank 9 unlocks On-Call crew.
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Which role should you assign?
There is no documented universal “best crew” setup. Assign roles according to the job you want covered and how you prefer to operate your ship.
| Role | What the crew member does | When to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Defender | Fights enemies aboard the Railjack. | Choose this if you want an ally focused on boarders and intruders. |
| Pilot | Takes control of the Railjack. | Useful when you want the ship piloted while you handle another station. Update 30 notes say a crew Pilot holds the ship steady when you or a squadmate uses Forward Artillery or the Archwing Slingshot. |
| Gunner | Operates a turret against attackers. | Consider one if you want an additional turret operator. |
| Engineer | Repairs the Railjack. | Consider one if you want repairs handled while you focus on another task. |
How crew stats and training work
Hired crew have five competency stats. Higher values indicate greater proficiency in the associated area. Command ranks grant points that you can assign to hired crew using Train; the Update 30 notes state that points are available to each crew member rather than being permanently spent on just one.
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- Piloting: affects maximum Railjack speed while the crew member is piloting.
- Gunnery: affects turret accuracy and heat accretion.
- Repair: affects ship repair and self-healing time.
- Combat: affects crew combat damage.
- Endurance: affects crew health and shields.
Match training to the role you assign: Piloting for a Pilot, Gunnery for a Gunner, and Repair for an Engineer. Combat and Endurance relate to fighting and survivability. These are role-based choices, not a tested ranking of crew builds.
Weapons and Railjack mods
Hired crew can be equipped and customized at the Dry Dock. The current support guide confirms that crew can use weapons and that their weapons can be modified. Update 30 notes specify rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the player’s Arsenal, including the selected weapon’s mods and appearance. Railjack Plexus mods also apply to crew on missions.
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What converted Liches can and cannot do
At Command Rank 8, a converted Lich can be assigned to defend the Railjack. Digital Extremes describes this as a defensive powerhouse, but a Lich cannot take the Pilot, Gunner, or Engineer roles. Unlike hired crew, converted Liches cannot be trained or customized like ordinary crew members.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Using a crew member outside Railjack
At Command Rank 9, you can designate a hired crew member as On-Call and unlock the On-Call Crew gear item. Using that item summons the designated crew member in non-Railjack missions. Digital Extremes’ current support guide does not specify a summon duration or cooldown, so those timing details should not be assumed from older or community descriptions.
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Choosing a setup for your play style
- Cover the task you least want to leave unattended: choose a role based on whether you need piloting, turret operation, repairs, or defense.
- Train toward that role: use the corresponding competency stat rather than trying to optimize every stat at once.
- Distinguish crew types: hired NPCs can be assigned across the four roles, trained, and equipped; converted Liches are defenders only.
- Think about where you will use them: ship assignments support Railjack missions, while On-Call is for non-Railjack missions.
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