Starfield - Which religion should you choose?

Similar to the Elder Scrolls series, religion also plays a role in Starfield, but this time with greater significance for your character and the narrative. Choosing a religion during character creation, or deciding not to follow one at all, will provide you with unique dialogue options and missions, and it will impact how factions perceive you.

You should carefully and thoroughly consider the religion you choose, as while you can remove the religious attribute of your character, you will not be able to adopt a new religion. Furthermore, the religions have slight gameplay alterations, with embracing the Serpent either significantly enhancing or potentially hindering your character's effectiveness in combat if you do not align with the gameplay style of the religion.

How Do I Pick A Religion In Starfield?

You can select your religion in the attributes selection menu during character creation. Once you have completed the introduction to the Argos Mining Adventure,

You can pick between three religions to follow:

• Raised Enlightened
• Raised Universal
• Serpent's Embrace

Choosing a religion occupies one attribute slot and cannot be combined with other religious attributes.

The Enlightened Religion Overview And Chest Location

The belief of the Enlightened is based more on the concept of atheism rather than the worship of a deity, but the religion follows humanitarian values and principles. They are based in the House of the Enlightened within the Wellspring of New Atlantis.

Raised Enlightened Perks

• Access to a chest within the House of the Enlightened found in The Wells of New Atlantis.
• Can select [Raised Enlightened] dialogue options and acquire unique missions that reflect their values.

You can also speak with Andy Singh inside the House of the Enlightened, a devoted follower of the Enlightened, and accept a short mission to help a local return home from the Well Medbay. You do not need to possess the "Enlightened" attribute to access this mission.

Where To Find The House Of Enlightened Chest

If you have the "Elevated Enlightened" attribute, you can plunder the chest inside the House of the Enlightened in New Atlantis.

To access the chest, use the elevator located between Terrabrew Coffee and Jemison Mercantile in the Spaceport District of New Atlantis and enter The Well. Here you will find the House of the Enlightened at the center of the atrium.

The sign can be seen when exiting the sidewalk from the elevator, but it is easy to overlook due to its worn-out appearance.

Pass by Andy Singh, enter the short corridor, and turn left. You will find the chest to the right of the blackboard.

The chest in the House of the Enlightened contains books on the philosophies and teachings of the religion, medical supplies, and the "Inclement Weather" outfit, a cool poncho that provides a +10 bonus to your health stat.

None of the items in the Chest of the Enlightened House are unique, as you can find the "Inclement Weather" outfit by plundering pirates.

How To Remove The Raised Enlightened Trait

You can remove the "Elevated Enlightened" trait from your character by speaking with Andy Singh, who can be found at the desk of the Enlightened House.

You cannot leave one religion to join another. Although there is a dialogue with Guardian Aquilius that says, "I feel that the Enlightened are on the right path," it does not lead to you joining the Enlightened.

The Universal Religion Overview And Chest Location

Followers of the Universal Religion believe that a God has gently guided humanity to develop a gravitational propulsion system, leading them to the stars.

You will find Guardian Aquilius in front of the Sanctum Universum, the place of worship for the followers in New Atlantis. He will ask you to read his book, which can be found on the pedestal inside the Sanctum Universum.

Raised Universal Perks

• Access to a chest within the Sanctum Universum.
• Can select [Raised Universal] dialogue options.

You can learn more about the Universal Religion by reading the volumes of "A Greater End" located in Guardian Aquilius' office at the Sanctum Universum.

Where To Find The Sanctum Universum Chest

The Chest of the Sanctum Universum is located inside the building of the Sanctum Universum in New Atlantis. To reach the Sanctum Universum, travel to the MAST Quarter and continue straight ahead from the NAT Transit Ramp.

The Sanctum Universum is adorned with a gilded exterior and can be seen from the Freestar Collective Embassy. The chest is located outside Guardian Aquilius' office.

How To Remove The Raised Universal Trait

You can remove the "Elevated Universality" trait by speaking with Guardian Aquilius at the Sanctum Universum and selecting the corresponding dialogue option.

• [Raised Universal] - “I know I was raised in the sanctum. But I’m not sure if I believe anymore”.

The Serpent’s Embrace Overview

The followers of "Serpent's Embrace" are fanatics who worship a deity called the Great Serpent. The followers worship the Great Serpent out of fear, as it is believed that one day it will return and devour the weak.

The followers of "Serpent's Embrace" believe that the Great Serpent becomes visible during gravitational propulsion jumps. Therefore, followers of the religion receive a statistics bonus of +25 to health and oxygen every time they jump to a new system in space.

The "Serpent's Embrace" are seen as a cult of fanatics and are associated with pirates and those of the Crimson Fleet. If you are playing an evil role, choosing the "Serpent's Embrace" is a good decision.

How To Remove The Serpent’s Embrace Religious Trait

The House of Va'ruun, the place of worship for the "Serpent's Embrace," is not located in New Atlantis, so you will only be able to encounter many followers later in the story.

The House of Va'ruun, the place of worship for the "Serpent's Embrace," is not located in New Atlantis, so you will only be able to encounter many followers later in the story.

• [Serpent’s Embrace] I’m having a crisis of faith. There’s not many people I can talk to about it.”

Which Religious Trait Is Best?

From a gameplay perspective, there are many reasons why you might choose one of the three religions. However, purely from a gameplay perspective, "Serpent's Embrace" is the best religious trait one can choose.

This is because you receive a quasi-permanent bonus to your health and oxygen values. Every time you use your gravitational propulsion to jump to a new system, you receive the "Serpent's Embrace" buff for five in-game hours. However, if you fail to jump within that time, you will receive a penalty to your health and oxygen values equivalent to the buff.

The traits "Elevated Universality" and "Elevated Enlightened" only provide starting items to give you an advantage.