Can You Respec Your Traits in Starfield? The Definitive Guide

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The burning question on every Starfield player’s mind, especially after a few hours exploring the Settled Systems, is: “Can I change my traits?” The straightforward answer is: Officially, no, you cannot change your traits in Starfield after character creation through in-game mechanics alone. The traits you select at the beginning are designed to be permanent choices, influencing your gameplay experience throughout your entire playthrough. However, there are caveats and workarounds that we’ll explore in depth, including the use of console commands and understanding how traits function in New Game Plus (NG+).

Understanding Starfield’s Trait System

Before diving into the details of changing traits, it’s essential to grasp how they function within the game. During character creation, you can select up to three traits, each offering unique benefits and drawbacks. These traits impact various aspects of gameplay, from your character’s stats and skills to their interactions with the world and other characters.

Some traits provide straightforward bonuses, such as increased health or oxygen capacity, while others introduce more complex mechanics, like having parents you can visit or owing money to a loan shark. The key is that these choices are meant to be defining aspects of your character’s identity within the Starfield universe.

Why Are Traits Permanent?

The permanence of traits aligns with Bethesda’s design philosophy for Starfield, emphasizing the consequences of your decisions and the importance of role-playing. By making your initial choices impactful and irreversible, the game encourages you to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of each trait, fostering a sense of ownership over your character’s development.

The Limits of In-Game Trait Modification

While you can’t directly change your traits through in-game mechanics, there are a few ways to mitigate their effects or remove some of their associated elements:

• Removing Negative Aspects: Some traits, like the “Kid Stuff” trait, which gives you parents you can visit, can be partially managed. While you can’t get rid of your parents, you can benefit from the unique interactions and quests they provide, along with items. Other traits, like “Adoring Fan” allow you to dismiss them, or even assassinate them to stop them following you. This allows you to rid yourself of that negative aspects.
• Traits with Removable Elements: Several traits can have their negative elements removed within the game, such as removing the religious elements to some traits.

Console Commands: The Unofficial Workaround

For PC players, the use of console commands provides a way to bypass the intended permanence of traits. By opening the console (usually with the ~ key) and entering specific commands, you can add or remove traits from your character.

Important Note: Using console commands can disable achievements in Starfield. Be sure to save your game before using them.

How to Use Console Commands to Modify Traits

The basic commands for adding and removing traits are as follows:

• player.removeperk [Trait ID] – Removes a specific trait.
• player.addperk [Trait ID] – Adds a specific trait.

To use these commands, you need to know the Trait ID, which is a unique identifier for each trait in the game. You can find lists of these IDs online on various Starfield wikis and fan forums.

Example: To remove the “Introvert” trait, you would use the command: player.removeperk 00227ED9. To add the “Extrovert” trait, use: player.addperk 00227EDA

Disclaimer: Using console commands is considered cheating and may have unintended consequences on your game. Proceed with caution and save your game before making any changes.

New Game Plus (NG+): What Carries Over?

New Game Plus (NG+) in Starfield allows you to replay the game with certain elements from your previous playthrough intact. Here’s what you need to know about traits in NG+:

• Traits Carry Over: All traits that you have selected in your initial playthrough will carry over into NG+. This means that the traits you picked in character creation will remain with you in your new game.
• No New Trait Selection: You do not get a chance to reselect or change your traits when entering NG+. Your character’s traits are “set in stone.”
• Skills Carry Over Too: All unlocked skills and their leveling tallies carry over as well.

Choosing Traits Wisely: Key Considerations

Given the permanence of traits (unless using console commands), it’s crucial to choose them carefully during character creation. Here are some factors to consider:

• Your Playstyle: Are you a lone wolf or do you prefer to travel with companions? Do you favor combat, exploration, or diplomacy? Choose traits that complement your preferred style of gameplay.
• Long-Term Impact: Consider how the benefits and drawbacks of each trait will affect your experience throughout the entire game. Some traits that seem advantageous early on may become less useful later, and vice versa.
• Role-Playing Opportunities: Traits can add depth and complexity to your character, creating unique role-playing opportunities. Choose traits that resonate with the character you want to create.

Recommended Traits for Different Playstyles

Here are a few trait recommendations based on different playstyles:

• Lone Wolf Explorer:
  • Introvert: Less oxygen consumption when traveling alone.
  • Spaced: Increased health and oxygen in space, but decreased on planets.
  • Taskmaster: Your crew do more repairs at a cheaper rate, but may occasionally turn on you.
• Social Butterfly/Team Player:
  • Extrovert: Less oxygen consumption when traveling with companions.
  • Hero Worshipped: An annoying Adoring Fan follows you around, but provides gifts.
  • Empath: Performing actions that your companion dislike make you more effective in combat. However, if you perform actions that your companion likes, you are less effective in combat.
• Religious Character:
  • Raised Enlightened: Access to a special chest with items if you visit the Enlightened faction.
  • Raised Universal: Access to a special chest with items if you visit the Universal faction.
  • Serpent’s Embrace: Grav jumping provides a temporary health and oxygen boost, but failing to grav jump regularly causes a debuff.

FAQs About Starfield Traits

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Starfield traits:

1. Can you change your traits after starting the game?

   • No, not without using console commands.

2. Can you remove traits without console commands?

   • While some religious affiliations can be avoided or left, generally traits cannot be removed without console commands. The adoring fan can also be eliminated without console commands.

3. Do traits affect the main storyline?

   • Some traits can unlock unique dialogue options and interactions, which may subtly alter the storyline. However, the main story remains largely the same regardless of your traits.

4. What happens if I don’t choose any traits during character creation?

   • You can play the game without selecting any traits, but you’ll miss out on the unique benefits and drawbacks they provide.

5. Are some traits objectively better than others?

   • The “best” traits depend on your playstyle. Some traits are more universally useful, but others can be highly beneficial for specific builds or approaches.

6. Can I get new traits during the game?

   • No, you cannot acquire new traits after character creation, unless you use console commands.

7. Does difficulty level affect the impact of traits?

   • The difficulty level can indirectly affect the impact of traits, as certain traits may become more or less valuable depending on the challenges you face.

8. Do traits affect companion relationships?

   • Yes, traits can influence your interactions with companions, particularly those that align with certain values or beliefs.

9. Can I respec my skills in Starfield?

   • Yes, you can reset the skill tree in Starfield by completing the Into the Unknown mission and unlocking the ability to create and enter Unity. This will reset your character level and allow you to reallocate your skill points.

10. Do traits affect crafting or research?

    • No, traits do not directly affect crafting or research. However, they may influence your ability to gather resources or access certain crafting recipes.

11. Are there any hidden traits in Starfield?

    • There are no known hidden traits that can be acquired during gameplay.

12. Do traits affect the ending of the game?

    • Traits can influence your path to the ending and the specific outcomes you achieve, but they do not fundamentally alter the overall conclusion of the main storyline.

13. Can I mod traits in Starfield?

    • Yes, modding allows for much greater flexibility in changing traits. You can use the Starfield Creation Kit to either change the effect of the traits, or allow a respec option.

14. Is the “Dream Home” trait worth it?

    • The “Dream Home” trait is the best home available in Starfield, with two floors, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an outdoor deck. Most homes are like studio apartments.

15. Where can I learn more about game design principles that influence choices like these in Starfield?

    • You can find information about game design and the learning principles behind them by visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Conclusion: Embracing Your Choices (or Bending the Rules)

While Starfield’s trait system is designed to be permanent, the choice is ultimately yours. Whether you embrace the consequences of your initial decisions, leverage console commands to customize your experience, or start anew in NG+ with a different set of traits, the Settled Systems offer endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. Choose wisely, explore boldly, and may your journey through the stars be filled with wonder and excitement.