In the vast expanse of Starfield, recruiting adept crew members is pivotal for exploration and survival. Among the myriad of choices, the iconic clone of Amelia Earhart stands out. With her unparalleled piloting skills and proficient rifle certification, Amelia ensures both navigational prowess and combat readiness for any interstellar journey.
- Players can find around 25+ companions in Starfield that can be recruited as Crew Members as well.
- Players can have up to 8 active Crew Members with them at a time in Starfield if they have Ship Command Rank 4.
- Crew Members come with lower-ranking skills & which is why they’re much better to hire for a ship than companions in Starfield.
- Crew members bring specialized skills to enhance spaceship operations.
- Each crew member possesses unique talents, offering varied gameplay experiences.
- Assembling the right crew can lead to more successful missions and unlocks.
- Having the best crew members & choices in Starfield will allow players to adapt to challenges as the narrative progresses.
- Author’s Note: After going through Starfield for several weeks on Xbox, I feel confident going into the topic with thorough experience.
Best Crew Members In Starfield
Here is a quick glance at the best crew members for your ship in Starfield along with the best features, all skills, and how to recruit information in the game.
| Serial Number | Name | Best Feature | Skills | How to Recruit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Rafael Aguerro | Enhances ship's damage mitigation by 25% | Outpost Engineering (Rank 1), Outpost Management (Rank 1), Starship Engineering (Rank 2) | Recruit during the "Entangled" quest at the Viewport in New Atlantis. | Best In Outpost Management And Engineering. |
| 5 | Heller | Enhanced yields from mined common and uncommon inorganic resources | Geology (Rank 1), Outpost Engineering (Rank 3) | Respond to the first distress call in Vectera during the "Back to Vectera" mission. | Best Resource Mining Skill. |
| 4 | Andromeda Kepler | Enhances a ship's power output and effective use of ship thrusters | Aneutronic Fusion (Rank 1), Outpost Engineering (Rank 2), Piloting (Rank 1) | Locate at The Broken Spear in Cedonia; persuade for half the price of 15,000 Credits. | Best Outpost And Ship Management Expert. |
| 3 | Supervisor Lin | Increases the number of cargo links and robots at an outpost | Demolitions (Rank 1), Outpost Management (Rank 3) | Interact with Lin during the "Back to Vectera" mission. | Best At Completing Outpost Crew. |
| 2 | Omari Hassan | Boosts starship's shield capacity by 60% | Shield Systems (Rank 3), Starship Engineering (Rank 1) | Approach at The Hitching Post in Akila City, Cheyenne System; persuade for a discounted price of 8,250 Credits. | Best Defender For Your Ship. |
| 1 | Amelia Earhart | Exceptional piloting and handy in combat scenarios | Piloting (Rank 2), Rifle Certification (Rank 2) | Complete the "Operation Starseed" quest and interact with Amelia at Crucible. | Best Side Quest. |
Crew members in Starfield are unique characters, including clones of historical figures, that players can recruit to their ship. Having crew members in Starfield enhances your space journey by providing specialized skills.
6. Rafael Aguerro
- Why I Chose This: During the start of my playthrough, I particularly liked his damage mitigation for my ship. Not to mention the great outpost management he offers for early-game.
| Skill | Rank |
|---|---|
| Outpost Engineering | Rank 1 |
| Outpost Management | Rank 1 |
| Starship Engineering | Rank 2 |
Rafael Aguerro is a crew member in Starfield renowned for his Outpost Engineering, Outpost Management, and Starship Engineering (Rank 2) skills.
- Rafael excels as an early-stage asset in building outposts and establishing cargo links due to his Outpost skills.
- Furthermore, when assigned to a starship, his Starship Engineering skill significantly enhances the ship’s damage mitigation by 25%.
- These combined skills make him indispensable for both outpost construction and starship operations.
How To Recruit
Rafael can be recruited during the “Entangled” quest. To add him to your crew, either shut down the probe in his universe or complete the experiment to save both him and the Research Lab. Post-mission, Rafael becomes available for recruitment at the Viewport in New Atlantis.
- Buffs ship’s damage mitigation.
- Good choice for Outpost management.
- Highest rank is only 2 stars.
5. Heller
- Why I Chose This: You will not find a better choice than Heller for resource mining along with great Outpost engineering.
| Skill | Rank |
|---|---|
| Geology | Rank 1 |
| Outpost Engineering | Rank 3 |
Heller is a miner from Argos Extractors, previously your workplace, before joining Constellation. He has specialized skills, particularly useful for outposts and resource extraction.
While Heller might not boast a wide range of abilities, his expertise is invaluable. His Geology skill ensures enhanced yields from mined common and uncommon inorganic resources. Moreover, his Outpost Engineering (Rank 3) skill is vital for advanced outpost construction.
With this, players can research and build cutting-edge outpost modules, elevating the efficiency and capabilities of their outposts. This combination makes Heller a top pick for outpost-related tasks.
How To Recruit
Once found, he will propose joining your crew, offering his unique set of skills. His recruitment is free and enriches your team, especially if outpost development is a priority.
- Buffs the efficiency of Outposts.
- Great humor.
- Doesn’t have a diverse amount of abilities.
4. Andromeda Kepler
- Why I Chose This: Andromeda Kepler is one of the best choices for your ship because of her Aneutronic Fusion and piloting skills.
| Skill | Rank |
|---|---|
| Aneutronic Fusion | Rank 1 |
| Outpost Engineering | Rank 2 |
| Piloting | Rank 1 |
Andromeda Kepler is an explorer and aspiring writer available for recruitment as a crew member in Starfield. She can be found in the Sol Star System’s Cedonia, at The Broken Spear.
While not suited for combat, Andromeda’s skills make her a valuable asset for both starship operations and outpost management. Her Aneutronic Fusion ability enhances a ship’s power in Starfield output by an extra unit, and her Piloting skill lets her effectively use ship thrusters.
However, her standout capability is the Outpost Engineering (Rank 2) skill, enabling the research and construction of superior outpost modules, ensuring your outposts are state-of-the-art.
How To Recruit
For a higher persuasion chance, consuming food or beverage items with a persuasion buff can help. If you identify as an Explorer in-game, unique dialogues with her can be unlocked. Typically, her fee is 15,000 Credits, but with successful persuasion, it drops to 7,500 Credits.
- Aneutronic Fusion buffs ship’s power.
- Piloting buffs ship’s speed.
- Can be expensive to hire.
3. Supervisor Lin
- Why I Chose This: If you want to optimize your Outpost management, you must go for Lin. She also lets you assign more of your crew to the Outpost.
| Skill | Rank |
|---|---|
| Demolitions | Rank 1 |
| Outpost Management | Rank 3 |
Supervisor Lin, previously your commanding officer at Argos Extractors, is a critical crew member specializing in Outpost Management (Rank 3) and Demolitions, enhancing explosive radius by 25%.
- Lin is indispensable for outposts.
- Not only can she increase the number of cargo links and robots at an outpost, but she also enables the assignment of more crew members to it.
- This makes outposts more efficient and expansive. Furthermore, her demolition skill provides a trajectory arc for grenades and expands the explosion range, proving her versatility.
- Combining these skills, Lin stands out as the prime crew member for comprehensive outpost management in Starfield.
How To Recruit
Meeting Lin is inevitable during the “Back to Vectera” mission. Upon interacting with her, she presents an offer to join your crew. By agreeing to her terms, you secure her unparalleled skills for outpost enhancements. Notably, recruitment is free, adding to her allure for aspiring space explorers.
- Buffs the range of your explosions.
- Essential for Outposts.
- No romance options.
2. Omari Hassan
- Why I Chose This: He is my go-to crew member when it comes to buffing the ship’s defenses. While you may think he’s a bit expensive, you can try using persuasion to bring his cost down.
| Faction | Freestar Collective |
|---|---|
| Shield Systems | Rank 3 |
| Starship Engineering | Rank 1 |
Omari Hassan, affiliated with the Freestar Collective, is a skilled crew member available for recruitment in Starfield, specializing in shield systems and starship engineering.
- Omari is essential for those valuing robust starship defense.
- His Shield Systems skill boosts your starship’s shield capacity by a significant 60%, while his Starship Engineering perk facilitates a 10% faster repair rate for all ship systems.
- These skills together make your spacecraft almost impenetrable, allowing players to navigate Starfield’s dangerous cosmos with added assurance.
How To Recruit
However, if players utilize a persuasion boost – perhaps by consuming a relevant food or beverage – they might persuade Omari to slash his price to 8,250 Credits, making this defensive maestro a more affordable asset.
- Buffs your ship’s shields.
- Ship’s system repair becomes faster.
- Only has 1 type of skill.
1. Amelia Earhart
- Why I Chose This: I adore Amelia Earheart because of her personality and lore. However, she’s also a great asset due to some amazing ship buffs and combat options.
| Skill | Rank |
|---|---|
| Piloting | Rank 2 |
| Rifle Certification | Rank 2 |
In Starfield, Amelia Earhart is a clone found on the planet Charybdis. With 400 years since her historical disappearance, this iteration of Amelia boasts skills in Piloting and Rifle Certification.
Amelia’s unique background, having a clone of a legendary aviator, makes her an exceptional choice for piloting assignments aboard your ship. Her level-two piloting skills ensure adept navigation and her rifle certification makes her handy in combat scenarios. Moreover, her iconic status brings a touch of celebrity novelty to the crew.
How To Recruit
To have Amelia join your crew, you’ll need to complete the “Operation Starseed” quest. After finishing this mission, head back to Crucible and engage with Amelia.
- Buffs rifle damage.
- Great personality.
- Buffs your ship’s speed.
- Only has 2 star skills.
Alternative Companions
Here are some alternative companions in Starfield that are worth mentioning. They might be useful for you.
- Barrett: His offensive and defensive contributions make him a solid option for a crew member.
- Sarah Morgan: She works wonderfully on both outposts and ships, and her skills make her a good option.
- Gideon Aker: This crewmate can enhance your ship’s firepower and combat capabilities.
- Sam Coe: He is one of the easiest crewmates to get, as he can be recruited at no cost after the completion of one of the main quests.
- Marika Boros: A companion with incredible combat-oriented skills.
What I Think
For me, the best companion has to be Amelia Earheart. However, take my opinion with a grain of salt because I might be biased. This is simply because her snarky comments and cheerful personality were thoroughly enjoyable.
In conclusion, venturing into Starfield becomes a masterful experience with the right crew. Companions like Omari Hassan enhance your ship’s defenses, while Amelia Earhart, a clone with a rich legacy, adds both piloting finesse and combat capabilities. Choosing such formidable allies ensures a stellar and memorable journey in the cosmos.
Before you depart, I strongly advise you to read: The Key in Starfield, In Memoriam Quest, Unpacking, and Target engines in Starfield guides.
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