Best Starting Companions in Starfield

Starfield is a game that has you exploring every inch of the galaxy. But adventuring is so much better with companions at your side. Especially if they happen to offer a few specialties that make your own skills better. Here are the best starting companions in Starfield.

What Companions You Should Get Early in Starfield

I’ve been across the galaxy and accrued a crew of 30 companions so far. But not all of these space-faring friends are equal. Some are simply head and shoulders above the others and offer a range of skills and story missions.

Sarah Morgan

Sarah Morgan is the very first companion you unlock. And wouldn’t you know, it she’s one of the best in the game if you take things from a holistic view.

Sarah Morgan is a well-rounded companion that’s free and is excellent to have on your crew if you’re focused on getting to the far reaches of the galaxy with little fuss or if you’re gathering resources to improve your weapons and spacesuit. In terms of combat, she’s also an asset if you’ve found a laser weapon, though those aren’t particularly common in the early game.

She’s also one of the most fleshed-out characters, with her own unique companion quest and the option to romance.

2. Sam Coe, Andreja, Barrett

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best companions in the game are all members of The Constellation. I’ve pooled these choices here because they’re unlocked through the main mission quest. If you’re attempting to optimize your crew, I recommend getting about halfway through the main mission, so you have access to everyone.

If you prefer rifles, Sam Coe is an excellent option, and in several ways he’s the flipped version of Sarah. He’s also the second companion you’ll unlock in the main quest.

• ★★★★ Piloting – Increased ship turning rate and maneuverability.
• ★★★ Rifle Certification – Rifles do more damage.
• ★★ Payloads – Ship cargo holds have more capacity.
• ★ Geology – Get more common and uncommon inorganic resources from surface objects.

I’m biased, as I opted to marry Andreja, but she’s one of the best companions out there. Many missions can be solved with Stealth, and stealth attacks receive huge damage boosts. Likewise, Andrea is an excellent asset to have on the ship in a space dogfight.

• ★★★★ Stealth – Adds a stealth meter. You are more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do additional sneak attack damage.
• ★★★ Particle Beams – Ship particle beams do more damage, and Targeting mode cost is reduced.
• ★★ Energy Weapon Systems – Energy ship weapons have increased damage and cost less to use in Targeting mode.
• ★ Theft – Unlock the ability to pickpocket targets.

Barrett is easily one of the most charming in the game, though he’s unlocked the latest in the main mission quest. Still, it’s well worth the time investment to grab him.

• ★★★★ Starship Engineering – All ship systems repair faster.
• ★★★ Particle Beam Weapon Systems – Ship particle beams do more damage, and Targeting mode cost is reduced.
• ★★ Robotics – You deal more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot at a higher level than you to stop fighting for a limited time.
• ★ Gastronomy – You can craft specialty food and drinks and research additional recipes at a Research Lab.

For Snipers: Simeon Bankowski

If you prefer to kill things from a distance, Simeon Bankowski is the crewmember for you. Their entire build is optimized for long-distance combat, and you can find them almost immediately upon entering free exploration mode. The only issue? They’re quite expensive.

• ★★ Sniper Certification – Scoped weapons are steadier and have less sway.
• ★ Sharpshooting – Increase headshot critical damage with ranged weapons.
• ★ Marksmanship – Increased critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons.

To find Simeon Bankowski, go to The Viewport on Jemison. They’ll charge you 13,500 Credits and can’t be persuaded to lower their fee.

Related: How to Build an Outpost in Starfield

Staying Alive: Ezekiel

So, Simeon’s really expensive. But Ezekiel? He’s free. It’s possible you’ll need to answer his questions in a certain way to recruit him, however. If this is the case, select answers that imply you enjoy traveling.

That being said, Ezekiel’s built around survivability, both in and out of your ship, and making sure you always find a little extra money, which is great for keeping your ammo stocks high. He’s also just a great character.

• ★★ Energy Weapon Dissipation – Energy damage is reduced.
• ★ Scavenging – There’s a chance you’ll find extra credits when searching containers.
• ★ Shield Systems – Your ship has increased shield capacity.

Ezekiel can be found in Aggie’s in Akila City. He’s free to recruit, but it’s possible you’ll have to answer in a specific way. Choose options that imply you like to travel and enjoy being in space.

Pure Combat: Marika Boros

Marika is one companion you can get extremely early, as she’s found on Jemison. She’s also built to focus purely on combat. But she’s one of the most expensive companion options, if not the most expensive. Fortunately, you can persuade her to lower her price by half.

• ★★ Ballistics – Ballistic ship weapons have increased damage and cost less to use in Targeting mode.
• ★ Shotgun Certification – Rifles do more damage.
• ★ Particle Beam Weapon Systems – Ship particle beams do more damage, and Targeting mode cost is reduced.

Marika can be found in The Viewport in Jemison. She’ll charge you 18,000 Credits but can be persuaded to drop her price in half.

While these are the best companions in the game, there are still plenty more to choose from. Some are even significantly cheaper or are built around resource management if that’s something you’re interested in.