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Traversing the universe, smuggling goods between planets, and fighting pirates in Bethesda’s new RPG is difficult work. Even the most talented captains can only do so much by themselves. Whether you’re exploring space in a ship you’ve purchased or a vessel of your own design, you’ll need to think about crewmates. There are plenty of ship companions you can bring aboard in Starfield, each with their own unique skills. It’s possible to just bring whichever companions you find the most interesting or entertaining, but it pays to understand their skills. Here are the best ship companions in Starfield, in no particular order.
Vasco
- Aneutronic Fusion: Rank 1
- Shield Systems: Rank 2
- EM Weapon Systems: Rank 1
There are a lot of reasons to like Vasco. Not only is this hulking robot capable of saying the player’s chosen name, but he’s also a useful addition to any crew. Aneutronic Fusion adds 1 extra unit of power to the ship’s reactor, giving the player additional flexibility during dogfights. At Rank 2, Shield Systems boosts the ship’s shield capacity by 40%, allowing it to take a bigger beating before it gives way. EM Weapon Systems increases the DPS of those weapons while also reducing the cost of using them while in Targeting Mode. Combined, these skills make Vasco one of the best ship companions, balancing offense, defense, and general utility.
Sam
- Piloting: Rank 4
- Rifle Certification: Rank 3
- Payloads: Rank 2
- Geology: Rank 1
When he’s not listening to his daughter’s terrible jokes, Sam stays busy working as one of the best ship companions. With an astounding 4 ranks in Piloting, Sam massively improves the maneuverability of your ship. That’s a huge boon for dogfights, especially when you’re facing multiple ships and struggling to keep them in your sights. After surviving the battle, you’ll want to fill your cargo hold with the loot you’ve won. Sam has Rank 2 Payloads, increasing your ship’s storage capacity. Whether you want to pack your vessel full of stolen goods or just haul some extra ship parts for emergencies, having extra space never hurts. Planetside, Sam puts his training in Geology and Rifle Certification to good use, too.
Barrett
- Gastronomy: Rank 1
- Particle Beam Weapon Systems: Rank 3
- Robotics: Rank 2
- Starship Engineering: Rank 4
Barrett may live to regret trusting the Frontier to a stranger fresh out of the mines. Since there’s no guarantee you’ll keep his ship safe by yourself, the least he can do is try to help you out. Particle Beam Weapon Systems buffs damage from weapons of that type and also reduces the cost of using them in Targeting Mode. Rank 3 provides a 30% buff, so Barrett’s contribution is noticeable. Starship Engineering affects how fast you repair your ship after it’s been damaged, so Barrett is also handy for keeping your ship in one piece. Robotics and Gastronomy are the outliers here, but even they can be occasionally useful, making Barrett one of the best ship companions.
Andreja
- Energy Weapon Systems: Rank 2
- Particle Beams: Rank 3
- Stealth: Rank 4
- Theft: Rank 1
Considering how we meet her in the story, Andreja’s skillset is fitting. As a crewmate, her focus on Energy Weapon Systems makes her a great pick for disabling enemy ships. Whether you do so to save yourself from a rough fight or to board and steal an enemy’s vessel, it’s a handy ability to have. While other Starfield companions arguably provide more value on a ship, Andreja makes up the difference with her overall skill set. On the ground, she focuses on sneaky skills, with a rank in Theft and a whopping four ranks in Stealth. If things go south, she’ll use her Rank 3 Particle Beams proficiency to take the enemy out.
Sarah
- Astrodynamics: Rank 4
- Lasers: Rank 3
- Leadership: Rank 2
- Botany: Rank 1
As the leader of Constellation, Sarah needs to be prepared for all eventualities. She has one of the most well-rounded skill sets of any companion in Starfield, including an extremely useful crewmate ability. Sarah possesses the highest rank in Astrodynamics. That increases Grav Jump range and decreases fuel costs by a substantial amount. This combination allows your ship to jump multiple systems without needing to stop. That means finishing jobs quicker and encountering hostile pirates less frequently. If you want to minimize travel time but don’t want to spend the skill points on Astrodynamics yourself, Sarah is the perfect choice.
Starfield is available now for PC and
