Should You Give the Money to the Crimson Fleet in Starfield?
The core question of whether to hand over your hard-earned credits to the Crimson Fleet in Starfield is complex, but the short answer, based purely on a resource perspective, is usually yes. Choosing the path of the pirate and siding with the Crimson Fleet, despite the moral implications and potential companion disapproval, offers significant in-game advantages that typically outweigh the monetary “cost” of loyalty. While “giving them money” is not typically a direct in-game action, the benefits of the associated questline are substantial. Let’s delve into why aligning with the Crimson Fleet, with the implied financial commitment, is often the strategically superior choice.
Understanding the Crimson Fleet’s Allure
The Crimson Fleet, a notorious pirate faction, presents an enticing alternative to the more lawful paths in Starfield. While joining them does not mean you are actually handing over large amounts of your own money to the fleet directly, aligning with them opens up new opportunities, and by doing so, you will likely gain a substantial amount of credits throughout their questline.
The Benefits Outweigh the Moral Dilemma
Firstly, siding with the Crimson Fleet grants you access to The Key, their sprawling pirate base, a haven not available to those who remain loyal to the United Colonies (UC) Sysdef. The Key is a critical location for several reasons. Critically, it provides vendors who will purchase contraband, stolen goods, and regular items at good prices, and they will do so without scanning you. This removes the significant risk of being arrested when selling valuable but illicit goods.
Secondly, completing the Crimson Fleet questline rewards players with 250,000 credits. Moreover, if you choose to betray SysDef and side with the pirates, The Key will remain open to you and the vendors there, offering an ongoing resource. This is a major economic incentive.
The UC, while offering a free house, is less appealing than the flexibility and customization available through player-built outposts. More significantly, in the context of this decision, they offer no economic benefit comparable to the Crimson Fleet’s.
Strategic Advantage Beyond Money
Beyond the monetary and vendor advantages, siding with the Crimson Fleet also offers access to shielded cargo bays, which make smuggling contraband significantly easier. This is a game-changer for players looking to maximize profits from illicit activities. You will also find specialized ship parts at The Key, including the Crimson Wight and its variations, considered one of the best ships offered by the faction. This is another key benefit over siding with the UC, who offer no specific ship rewards within the mission.
Finally, while your companions might disapprove of your piratical pursuits, there are no lasting negative repercussions to joining all factions in Starfield, meaning you do not have to sacrifice other faction affiliations by siding with the fleet. The quests themselves are largely the same, the only thing that differs is the epilogue at the end.
Strategic Considerations
While the economic benefits of aligning with the Crimson Fleet are substantial, some strategic considerations remain.
Initial Infiltration
To join the Crimson Fleet, you initially have to agree to go undercover for UC Sysdef. However, you are free to betray your handlers and become truly loyal to the pirates. While your actions with one faction can occasionally affect another’s perception of you, this is not typically the case. You can ally with the Crimson Fleet and still complete quests for other major factions like the UC Vanguard and Freestar Rangers. The only thing you will lose by siding with the Fleet is access to the SysDef mission board.
The Moral Choice
The moral implications of siding with the Crimson Fleet are worth noting. However, the game does offer multiple choices. Betraying Delgado, for instance, does not have any substantial impact on progression or the storyline. Whether the player sees that as ‘better’ is a purely personal decision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Joining the Crimson Fleet Affect Other Factions?
No, generally not. You can join every major faction in Starfield within minutes of each other, with no penalties. Your actions for one faction typically won’t affect how others view you, unless directly related to specific choices.
2. Can You Join the Crimson Fleet Without Being a Spy?
Yes, while the initial introduction to the Crimson Fleet involves becoming an undercover spy for Sysdef, you can choose to betray your handlers and fully align with the pirates. You can also refuse to be a spy to begin with, and just serve time or pay fines.
3. What Are the Main Benefits of the Crimson Fleet?
The key benefits include access to The Key, vendors who buy contraband and stolen goods without scanning, shielded cargo bays, and a substantial 250,000 credit reward. There are also some unique ships associated with the Crimson Fleet that can be acquired and upgraded, such as the Crimson Wight.
4. Is The Key the Best Place to Sell Contraband?
Absolutely. The Key is specifically designed for trading illicit goods, offering high prices and a safe environment free from scans, without the need to rely on the random encounters.
5. How Much Money Do You Get Siding with the Crimson Fleet?
Siding with the Crimson Fleet nets you 250,000 credits.
6. What is the Best Ship in the Crimson Fleet?
The Crimson Wight, or its upgraded variations (II or III), found at The Key, is the best ship the Crimson Fleet offers.
7. Can You Betray Delgado and the Crimson Fleet?
Yes, you can betray Delgado. It does not have a substantial impact on the overall progression or storyline but adds depth to the player’s experience.
8. Is UC SysDef or Crimson Fleet Better?
The UC offers a “good” path, but the Crimson Fleet is the “smart” choice for economic benefits. Ultimately, the choice is up to your personal preference or your character’s moral alignment. Both factions offer largely the same questlines, with slightly different epilogues.
9. How Do You Deal with the Crimson Fleet Captain?
During an encounter with a Crimson Fleet Captain, you can either persuade him peacefully or kill him for additional loot. Killing is often recommended for the bonus loot.
10. How Many Missions Are in the Crimson Fleet Questline?
There are a total of eight missions in the Crimson Fleet questline.
11. What Ship Does the Crimson Fleet Give You?
The Crimson Fleet Ghost is a small, two-hab ship that is used within the faction but not necessarily given to the player for free.
12. Can You Become a Pirate in Starfield?
Yes, you can fully embrace the pirate life in Starfield by joining and siding with the Crimson Fleet. The game lets you switch from undercover operative to loyal pirate.
13. How Do You Get Crimson Fleet Armor?
You can acquire Crimson Fleet armor by defeating members of the fleet at abandoned facilities. The “legendary” variant of the armor can be “farmed” this way.
14. Is the Crimson Fleet Questline Worth It?
Absolutely. The Crimson Fleet questline offers some of the best side content in the game, featuring unique missions and compelling characters. It provides more depth than many of the other faction questlines.
15. Can You Be Crimson Fleet and Freestar Ranger?
Yes, you can be allied with the Crimson Fleet and still complete other faction questlines like those of the Freestar Rangers and the UC Vanguard, showing that your decisions in one faction don’t necessarily lock you out of other opportunities.
Conclusion
Ultimately, choosing to side with the Crimson Fleet in Starfield provides tangible and practical in-game advantages. While it is a choice that will require a certain moral flexibility, the benefits of the questline, especially the access to The Key and its economic advantages, as well as the 250,000 credits are hard to ignore. It is a decision that often proves strategically superior to siding with the more morally upright options. Whether or not to ‘give the money’ to the Crimson Fleet is ultimately not a single decision, but the resulting benefits of aligning yourself with them will likely net you more credits than you would if you were to reject them.