Starfield Companion Recruitment Guide: All Follower Locations

Your Cosmic Crew: The Ultimate Starfield Companion Recruitment Guide

Venturing into the vast, uncharted expanse of Starfield is a monumental undertaking, but it’s one you don’t have to face alone. The Settled Systems are filled with intriguing individuals, each with their own stories, skills, and moral compasses. Recruiting these companions is more than just a tactical advantage; it’s about building your own personal narrative, a shared journey through the stars. They’ll have your back in a firefight, provide crucial skill bonuses for your ship and outposts, and offer their unique perspectives on the universe.

This comprehensive guide is your one-stop resource for finding every potential follower, understanding their allegiances, and learning how to earn their loyalty. We’ll cover everything from the core Constellation members to the more specialized companions you can find in the far reaches of space.

The Heart of the Journey: Your Constellation Companions

Your journey with companions truly begins in New Atlantis, the bustling capital of the United Colonies. After the initial main story mission, "One Small Step," you'll be directed to the headquarters of Constellation, an organization dedicated to exploration and discovery. This is where you'll meet your first and most central group of potential crew members.

Sarah Morgan: The passionate and determined leader of Constellation. You’ll meet her almost immediately. Sarah is a former UC Navy officer with a strong moral compass and skills in Astrodynamics, Lasers, and Leadership. To recruit Sarah Morgan, simply progress through the main quest, "The Old Neighborhood." She will officially join your crew after its completion, becoming one of the first and most steadfast companions available. Her personal quest, "In Memoriam," is key to deepening your relationship with her.
Barrett: The charismatic, fun-loving, and resourceful member who sends you on your initial adventure. Barrett is an expert in Starship Engineering, Particle Beam Weapon Systems, and Gastronomy. After you deliver the first Artifact to Constellation, Barrett will typically be away. You'll reunite with him later during the main quest "The Empty Nest." Once that mission is concluded, you can officially ask him to join your crew. His personal quest, "Breach of Contract," reveals a more complex side to this jovial explorer.
Sam Coe: The rugged, space-cowboy descendant of a legendary explorer. Sam is a skilled pilot and a crackshot, with abilities in Piloting, Rifle Certification, and Payloads. You'll encounter Sam Coe during the main questline, specifically the mission "The Empty Nest," which takes you to Akila City in the Cheyenne system. After helping him resolve a family and civic matter in Akila, he will offer to join you, bringing his young daughter, Cora, and their unique family dynamic along for the ride. His companion quest, "Matters of the Hart," delves into his complicated family legacy.
Andreja: The mysterious and secretive member from the far reaches of the Settled Systems. Andreja is a master of stealth and combat, with skills in Stealth, Particle Beams, and Energy Weapon Systems. Her introduction comes a bit later in the main story, during the mission "Into the Unknown." She is often found at The Lodge after this point. Recruiting Andreja requires gaining her trust, which is primarily achieved by continuing the main quest and undertaking her personal quest, "Divided Loyalties," which uncovers the secrets of her past.

These four are considered the main companions with the most extensive story arcs and the ability to form deep relationships, including romance. They are your go-to crew for major story moments.

Expanding Your Roster: Other Recruitable Companions

Beyond the core four, Constellation has other members who, while not having the same depth of personal quests, are fully capable crew members you can assign to your ship or outposts.

Vasco: Your first true companion. Vasco is the utilitarian robot who greets you after you first land on Vectera. He is automatically assigned to your ship after you take off for the first time. While he doesn't engage in complex dialogue, Vasco is a formidable fighter in combat and comes with skills in Aneutronic Fusion (extending reactor power) and EM Weapon Systems. He's a reliable and low-maintenance addition to any ship's roster.
Walter Stroud: The wealthy financier of Constellation. While you meet him early on at The Lodge, he isn't a typical follower. However, after completing the main quest "All That Money Can Buy," which involves his company, Stroud-Eklund, you can often find him at The Lodge and, under the right conditions, recruit him for your ship. He brings Commerce and Leadership skills, making him useful for business ventures.
Vladimir Sall: The former pirate and now wise operations manager for Constellation at The Eye. Vlad is a central figure in the main quest, helping you locate Artifacts. After progressing sufficiently in the story and establishing a good rapport, it is possible to recruit him for your ship crew, where his skills in Astrodynamics and Outpost Engineering can be very beneficial.
Mateo: The spiritual and theological expert of Constellation. You meet him at The Lodge. While not a combatant, he can sometimes be recruited for your ship's crew later on, offering his unique perspective and skills.

Specialists and Hires: The World-Beyond Constellation

Not every valuable companion is tied to Constellation. Throughout the Settled Systems, you can find unique characters with their own sets of skills and moral alignments. These are often found in major cities and can be recruited for a credit fee.

Marika Boros: You can find Marika in the Viewport Bar in New Atlantis. She's a former soldier with skills in Shotgun Certification and Ballistics. She's one of the earliest "hireable" companions you can recruit for a modest sum of credits.
Heller: If you return to the initial mining outpost on Vectera (the planet where you started the game), you may find Heller, your former co-worker, still there. He can be recruited for free and has skills in Outpost Engineering and Geology, making him an excellent choice for managing your planetary extractors.
Lin: Similarly, on Vectera, you can find Foreman Lin. She can also be recruited for free and comes with skills in Demolitions and Outpost Management.
Adoring Fan: For those who chose the "Hero Worshipped" trait during character creation, this incredibly enthusiastic (and slightly annoying) fan will randomly appear to shower you with praise and ask to join your crew. He is a free recruit and surprisingly comes with the Scavenging and Weight Lifting skills.
Sophia Grace: Located in the Astral Lounge in Neon, Sophia is a skilled security operative available for hire. She excels in Security and Shotgun Certification.
Omari Hassan: A skilled ship technician found in the Broken Spear bar in the Stretch area of Akila City. He can be hired and brings Robotics and Aneutronic Fusion skills to your ship.
Jessamine Griffin: This companion can be found in the Last Nova bar in the Key, the headquarters of the Crimson Fleet. She is a former smuggler with a cynical outlook and skills in Theft and Contraband. Recruiting her is a great option for players leaning into a more morally gray or criminal playstyle.

How to Recruit Companions and Manage Your Crew

The recruitment process is generally straightforward. For Constellation members, it's woven into the main quest. For hireable companions, simply walk up to them, engage in conversation, and choose the dialogue option to ask them to join your crew. This usually involves a one-time credit payment.

Once recruited, you can manage your crew from the Ship menu of your character screen:

Assign companions to your active ship; they will physically appear inside it.
Assign them to outposts you've built to provide skill bonuses to resource production.
Choose one companion to be your "active follower" who will accompany you on foot, carry your gear, and fight alongside you.

Building Bonds: Affinity and Companion Quests

Your actions have consequences. Companions, especially the core four, have an "affinity" system. They will like or dislike your choices based on their personality.

Sarah Morgan prefers diplomatic and heroic actions.
Barrett enjoys curiosity and humor but dislikes unnecessary cruelty.
Sam Coe values freedom and family but hates corruption and bureaucracy.
Andreja appreciates practicality and discretion but is wary of blind faith.

As you gain their affinity, new dialogue options will open up, allowing you to learn more about them. Eventually, you'll unlock their unique companion quest. Completing these quests is the key to maxing out their affinity, unlocking a powerful permanent bonus for your character, and, for the core four, opening the path to romance.

Your Cosmic Crew Awaits

From the halls of Constellation in New Atlantis to the smoky bars of Neon and Akila, a diverse and capable crew is waiting for a captain. Whether you seek a loyal friend, a ruthless mercenary, a brilliant scientist, or just a pack mule with a gun, Starfield offers a companion for every kind of explorer. Use this guide to find your perfect team, and remember – the greatest discoveries are always better when shared. Now, set a course, gather your crew, and leave your mark on the galaxy.