Starting a new character in Starfield means working through three linked choices before you ever set foot on New Atlantis: a background, up to three traits, and the starting skills that come bundled with that background. None of these choices are permanent enough to ruin a playthrough, since Bethesda Game Studios designed the skill tree so you can eventually learn any skill in the game regardless of what you pick at the start. Still, a smart opening choice saves you time and skill points in the early hours, when credits and levels are hardest to come by. This guide breaks down how character creation works and which backgrounds and traits give new players the smoothest start.
How character creation works in Starfield
Character creation happens after the brief prologue mission “One Small Step,” once you have joined Constellation and boarded your first ship. You will adjust your character’s appearance, then choose one of 21 available backgrounds and up to three of 17 available traits. Your background determines three starting skills, one from each of three different skill categories, giving your character an immediate head start in those areas. Traits are entirely optional and add roleplay flavor by pairing a benefit with a drawback, such as gaining a free house but losing access to certain dialogue, or reducing oxygen use with companions while increasing it when you explore alone.
It is worth remembering that background skills are just a starting point. Every skill in the game, including ones tied to other backgrounds, becomes available to learn as you spend skill points earned from leveling up, so there is no wrong pick that locks you out of content permanently.
Understanding the five skill categories
Skills in Starfield are organized into five categories: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. Each category has four tiers, Novice, Advanced, Expert, and Master, and you must spend four skill points within a category before the next tier unlocks. Because your background grants one starting skill in three separate categories, your first few skill points are usually best spent finishing off those categories rather than jumping around. For a broader breakdown of the entire skill system and how it fits into the rest of the game, check out our complete Starfield guide.
Best backgrounds for new players
Bounty Hunter is one of the most beginner-friendly picks. It starts you with Targeting Control Systems, which lets you target specific systems on enemy ships in combat, along with Boost Pack Training for jetpack use and a weapon skill that helps in early firefights. The combination supports both ground combat and space combat from the outset, which suits players who are not yet sure what kind of build they want to specialize in.
Diplomat is the only background that grants the Commerce skill immediately, letting you buy for less and sell for more right away. Paired with its persuasion-oriented skills, Diplomat is an excellent choice for players who want to talk their way through quests and fund their ship and outpost projects through trading rather than looting.
Cyber Runner starts you with Stealth, Security, and Theft, three skills built around sneaking, lockpicking, and pickpocketing. This is a strong pick for players who want to avoid open combat early on, since a maxed Stealth skill lets you land powerful sneak attacks and bypass dangerous encounters entirely.
Space Scoundrel blends a pistol damage bonus with a persuasion boost, giving you a background that can talk or shoot its way out of trouble. The included Piloting skill is less useful immediately since you start with a capable ship already, but the combat and social bonuses make up for it in the early game.
Ultimately, background choice matters most for roleplay flavor and a small head start, since GameSpot’s own reporting on the system, along with other outlets like GamesRadar and Game Rant, all note that any starting skill can be learned later regardless of background. Pick whichever origin story appeals to you and lean into its skills first for efficiency.
Best traits to pick at the start
You can choose up to three traits, and unlike backgrounds, skipping them entirely is a completely valid option if you would rather avoid drawbacks. That said, a few traits offer strong upside with a manageable downside.
Extrovert or Introvert is a straightforward pick depending on your playstyle. Extrovert reduces oxygen consumption while a human companion travels with you but increases it while you are alone, while Introvert does the opposite. Since most players spend a lot of time with a companion in tow, Extrovert tends to be the more broadly useful of the pair.
Kid Stuff gives you living parents you can visit at a home in New Atlantis, along with a backpack that adds ten kilograms of carry capacity. The only real drawback is an occasional phone call, making it one of the lowest-risk trait choices in the game.
Serpent’s Embrace grants a flat 25-point boost to both health and oxygen in exchange for periodically needing to visit a shrine, something that lines up naturally with the frequent grav jumping you will already be doing between star systems.
Empath rewards you for keeping a companion happy by boosting your combat effectiveness, though it works against you if your companion dislikes your recent choices. It pairs especially well with a build focused on running with a favorite companion throughout the story.
Choosing skills to invest in early
Once you are past character creation, prioritize finishing your background’s starting category before branching out. A common early spread includes one Physical skill for survival, one Combat skill tied to your preferred weapon type, and one Tech or Science skill that supports ship repairs, outpost building, or research. Environmental hazards like extreme heat or cold on certain planets make an early point in a resistance-boosting Physical skill worthwhile if you plan to explore aggressively.
Respeccing and experimenting safely
Because Starfield does not let you fully undo a background or trait selection once the game begins, take your time on this screen rather than rushing through it. However, skill points themselves are never wasted long-term, since the wide skill tree means a “bad” early pick simply gets folded into a broader build later. New players should not stress excessively over optimizing every choice, since the game is flexible enough to accommodate almost any combination of background, traits, and skill investment as you grow into your character.
Final tips for a strong start
Pick a background whose starting skills match how you actually want to play in your first ten hours, whether that is stealthy exploration, fast-talking your way through quests, or straightforward combat. Add traits that complement that playstyle rather than working against it, and do not be afraid of traits with minor drawbacks if the benefit is strong. Above all, remember that character creation in Starfield is the beginning of a build, not the whole of it, and the skill tree will let you fill in whatever gaps your background leaves behind as you progress through the Settled Systems.