Unlocking the Cosmos: Your Ultimate Guide to Starfield's Most Rewarding Side Quests
Every spacer knows the feeling. You're charting a course through the vast, silent expanse of the Settled Systems, the main storyline beckoning you forward. But then, a faint, desperate signal pings on your scanner. A settler in a dusty outpost has a problem. A corporate executive on Neon offers a shady deal. That's the magic of Starfield—the universe is brimming with stories waiting to be found, and more importantly, with loot that can fundamentally change your journey. While the core path of the Constellation is compelling, it's often the detours that yield the most incredible treasures.
This guide is your trusted companion, designed to help you prioritize your time among the stars. We're not just listing quests; we're highlighting the adventures that offer the most significant rewards for your effort. We're talking about unique weapons that become your signature tool, game-changing armor sets, rare ship components, and hefty stacks of Credits that let you buy your dream vessel. Forget wandering aimlessly. Let's dive into the side missions that are truly worth your while.
The Philosophy of the Profitable Detour
Before we get to the specific quests, let's talk strategy. A "reward" isn't just about the Credits you get upon completion. The true value of a Starfield side quest often lies in the journey itself. Here’s what to look for:
- Unique Gear: Named weapons and armor with fixed, powerful traits that you can't find anywhere else. These are often the crown jewels of a quest's reward.
- Substantial Credit Payouts: Some quests are simply lucrative, providing the capital you need for shipbuilding, outpost construction, or buying that fancy gear from a vendor.
- Skill Books and Magazines: These permanent stat boosts are invaluable. A quest that guarantees a specific skill magazine is often more rewarding than one that just gives you a random weapon.
- Ship Rewards: Earning an entire ship, especially a powerful, unique-class vessel, is one of the biggest power spikes you can get.
- Experience Points (XP): For leveling up and unlocking those crucial skills, some quests are simply fantastic XP farms.
With that in mind, let's set a course for the most profitable adventures in the Settled Systems.
The Must-Do Loot Quests
These are the quests that consistently deliver top-tier rewards, often becoming community favorites for their perfect blend of great storytelling and incredible loot.
1. Mantis' Lair: The Legacy of the Mantis
- How to Find It: Keep an eye out for a "Secret Outpost!" slate on the body of a Spacer. Reading it will start the quest, "Mantis."
- The Loot Breakdown: This is, without a doubt, one of the most legendary side quests for loot in the game. Upon successfully navigating the treacherous lair and solving its puzzles, you are rewarded with two phenomenal prizes.
- The Razorleaf Ship: This isn't just any ship. It's a unique vessel that strikes fear into the hearts of spacers and pirates. When you arrive in a system, enemy ships will sometimes recognize the Razorleaf and flee in terror, shouting lines like "It's the Mantis! We're all going to die!" This makes space travel significantly easier in the early to mid-game.
- The Mantis Spacesuit Set: A full set of legendary armor, including the helmet, pack, and suit. This gear is exceptionally powerful, especially if you acquire it early. It often comes with useful traits like Chameleon (for stealth) and increased damage resistance. This set can carry you for dozens of levels.
This quest is a perfect example of a high-risk, high-reward scenario that pays off immensely, providing both superior mobility and protection.
2. First to Fight, First to Die: The UC Vanguard Questline
While technically a faction questline, it functions as a series of elaborate and highly rewarding side missions. Joining the Vanguard in New Atlantis opens up a deep narrative, but the tangible rewards are just as compelling.
- How to Find It: Head to the MAST district in New Atlantis and enlist with the Vanguard.
- The Loot Breakdown: The rewards here are cumulative and substantial.
- Permanent Citizenship and Penthouse: Completing the questline grants you UC Citizenship and a luxurious, free apartment in New Atlantis—a great home base with storage and crafting.
- Substantial Credit Payouts: Each mission in the chain pays well, funding your other endeavors.
- Access to Unique Gear: The Vanguard has its own armory, and your standing with them allows you to purchase powerful, unique weapons and armor not available to the public.
- The XP: The combat-heavy nature of these missions provides a massive amount of XP, accelerating your leveling progress significantly. It's one of the best side quests for loot and experience combined.
3. Juno's Gambit: An Ethical Dilemma with a Robotic Payoff
This is a shorter, more self-contained quest, but its reward is utterly unique and can define a playstyle.
- How to Find It: Travel to the Procyon A system and look for a random encounter with a derelict ship called the "Juno."
- The Loot Breakdown: You'll find yourself in the middle of a tense situation involving the ship's AI, named Juno. The reward isn't a physical item but a choice with a powerful consequence.
- A Permanent AI Crew Member: Depending on your choices, you can gain Juno as a unique crew member for your ship. This AI provides powerful stat bonuses to your ship's systems, far surpassing many human crew members you can hire. For players focused on ship combat and efficiency, Juno is an irreplaceable asset.
This quest highlights that the best Starfield side mission rewards aren't always things you can hold; sometimes, they're companions that enhance your entire gameplay experience.
4. The Audition: Earning Your Stripes (and Gear) on Neon
Neon is a city of opportunity and danger, and the Ryujin Industries questline, starting with "The Audition," is a masterclass in stealth and corporate espionage. The rewards are perfectly tailored for a stealthy or manipulative character.
- How to Find It: Apply for a job at Ryujin Industries in Neon.
- The Loot Breakdown: The entire questline is a steady stream of great rewards.
- The Operative's Pack: Upon completion, you receive a full set of sleek, high-quality armor that is excellent for stealth builds.
- Manipulation Skill: You literally learn a new power—the Manipulation skill—which allows you to temporarily command an NPC to do your bidding. This is incredibly useful for both combat and stealth.
- Substantial Credits: Ryujin pays well for a job done discreetly.
For players looking for the best side quests for loot that complements a specific playstyle, the Ryujin Industries line is unbeatable for stealth enthusiasts.
Maximizing Your Haul: Tips for the Savvy Spacefarer
Knowing which quests to do is only half the battle. To truly maximize your Starfield side mission rewards, keep these tips in mind:
- Invest in Persuasion: A high Persuasion skill can often net you a larger credit bonus at the end of a quest. It's an investment that pays for itself over and over again.
- Scavenge Everything: During these quests, don't just beeline for the objective. Explore every nook and cranny. You'll find contraband, rare resources, and weapon crates that supplement the final reward.
- Check Your Quest Rewards Carefully: Sometimes, an NPC will offer you a choice of rewards. Take a moment to compare the stats of a weapon versus a lump sum of Credits. The weapon might be more valuable in the long run.
- Do Quests That Align With Your Build: If you're a sniper, prioritize quests that reward rifles. If you're a heavy weapons user, look for those. Getting a powerful, unique item that fits your build is better than a slightly more valuable item that doesn't.
The Settled Systems are a treasure chest waiting to be opened. By focusing on these high-yield adventures, you'll ensure that your journey is not only filled with incredible stories but also equipped with the finest gear the cosmos has to offer. So power up your grav drive, listen to those faint signals, and get ready to be handsomely rewarded. The greatest treasures aren't always at the end of the main path; they're hidden in the stories told along the way. Happy hunting, Captain.
