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Starfield Backgrounds List

Beast Hunter

From the Ashta of Akila to the Terrormorphs that plague the whole of the Settled Systems, hostile alien life abounds. You've learned the skills to track them, find them, and take them down.
Starting Skills
Fitness Gastronomy Ballistics

Bouncer

You've worked the line at the toughest clubs in the Settled Systems. Back then, you learned that most non-lethal confrontations can be solved one of two ways: a strong right hook, or a more strongly secured door.
Starting Skills
Boxing Fitness Security

Bounty Hunter

Wherever there are wanted individuals, there are those who profit from their capture. And your quarry knows that in the vastness of space, they can run... but they can't hide.
Starting Skills
Boost Pack Training Piloting Targeting Control Systems

Chef

While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more... discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces.
Starting Skills
Gastronomy Scavenging Dueling

Combat Medic

Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That's where you come in. You've never been afraid to take on the enemy... but you'd much rather take care of your friends.
Starting Skills
Wellness Pistol Certification Medicine

Cyber Runner

From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige and profit. You've worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits.
Starting Skills
Stealth Theft Security

Cyberneticist

Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlour tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one.
Starting Skills
Lasers Medicine Security

Diplomat

The wars are over. Peace now reigns in the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded... lives were spared.
Starting Skills
Wellness Commerce Persuasion

Explorer

They said exploration is a lost art. You didn't listen. As the major factions argued over the space they desperately tried to control, you were busy uncovering the wonders of the Settled Systems.
Starting Skills
Lasers Astrodynamics Surveying

Gangster

You were always disgusted by suckers killing themselves to make an "honest wage." As soon as you were old enough to hold a weapon, you took what you wanted from anyone unlucky enough to have it.
Starting Skills
Boxing Theft Shotgun Certification

Homesteader

The discovery of the Settled System' many oxygen-rich planets and moons meant humans could live just about anywhere...if they had the know how. You did, and utilized it to great effect.
Starting Skills
Weight Lifting Geology Surveying

Industrialist

There was a time when all you wanted to be was a titan of industry, maybe a ship designer or megacorp exec. Thankfully, that skillset never goes out of style in the settled systems.
Starting Skills
Persuasion Research Methods Security

Long Hauler

Let those other hothead pilots obsess over laser weapons and manoeuvrability. You're a space trucker, pure and simple. Pack the cargo, get it there fast, get paid, repeat. Life is simple and good.
Starting Skills
Weight Lifting Ballistic Weapon Systems Piloting

Past Life

Oddly, there's no information on file about your past life. Clerical oversight? Deletion by some powerful unknown faction? Or was there just nothing of note to mention? Whatever the reason, your past is known only to you.
Starting Skills
Wellness Ballistics Piloting

Pilgrim

Wayfarer, wanderer, seeker...transient. You've been called many things during your travels, and learned something those others could never understand - the journey IS the destination.
Starting Skills
Gastronomy Scavenging Surveying

Professor

You've always enjoyed learning, but nothing could compare to the joy of teaching others. As humankind spread throughout the stars, there was never a lack of knowledge to obtain, and you gladly assisted.
Starting Skills
Astrodynamics Geology Research Methods

Ronin

Masterless and unbound, you wandered the Settled Systems as a blade for hire. To some, you were a simple mercenary. To others, a hero. And to a select few...a nightmare they could never wake from.
Starting Skills
Stealth Scavenging Dueling

Sculptor

With your knowledge of anatomy and skilled, steady hands, you could have become a surgeon. Instead, you followed your heart, and created works of art to amaze and inspire.
Starting Skills
Persuasion Geology Medicine

Soldier

The Settled Systems is no stranger to warfare, and if there's one thing armed conflict relies on its trained warriors with guns and guts. You had both. Simple, bloody work...and you were great at it.
Starting Skills
Fitness Ballistic Weapon Systems Boost Pack Training

Space Scoundrel

Good? Bad? Whose right is it to say? If there's anything you've learned traipsing through the galaxy, it's this: space may look black, but it's really one shade of grey.
Starting Skills
Persuasion Pistol Certification Piloting

Xenobiologist

The Settled Systems is home to untold alien species. And while none of them have yet proven sentient, that never deterred you. So you sought out and studied them for whatever gifts they offered.
Starting Skills
Fitness Lasers Surveying

Backgrounds will be chosen during Character Creation in Starfield, and will set up a baseline for your character's starting abilities and what they will be proficient at early on in the game. Sometimes these choices will also affect gameplay in other ways, such as unlocking special dialogue options in some situations. 

Below we have listed the Backgrounds that we currently know about, along with their effect. Please keep in mind that this information comes from pre-release footage or Starfield, so it may have changed come release. 

Starfield Backgrounds List

There are 16 different backgrounds in Starfield. However at the moment we only have information about six of them. This information is listed in the table below:

Background Name Description Starting Skills
Chef While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more... discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces. Gastronomy, Dueling, Scavenging
Combat Medic Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That's where you come in. You've never been afraid to take on the enemy... but you'd much rather take care of your friends. Pistol Certification, Medicine, Wellness
Cyber Runner From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige and profit. You've worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits. Stealth, Security, Theft
Cyberneticist Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one. Medicine, Security, Lasers
Diplomat The wars are over. Peace now reigns in the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded... lives were spared. Persuasion, Commerce, Wellness
Explorer They said exploration is a lost art. You didn't listen. As the major factions argued over the space they desperately tried to control, you were busy uncovering the wonders of the Settled Systems. Lasers, Astrodynamics, Surveying

There are ten other Backgrounds that we don't have any specific information about yet. These are:

  • Beast Hunter
  • Bouncer
  • Bounty Hunter
  • Gangster
  • Homesteader
  • Industrialist
  • Long Hauler
  • Pilgrim
  • Professor
  • Ronin