Persuasion is a skill mechanic that lets you Persuade an NPC to do your bidding in Starfield. This is how you open additional choices.
Persuasion represents a valuable skill within the world of Starfield, enabling you to sway individuals and steer dialogues toward outcomes that align with your intentions. However, it’s worth noting that this ability may not always be accessible, as it hinges on your capacity to successfully pass specific speech checks.
For instance, the Persuasion skill empowers you to secure sensitive information, unveil new missions, procure rare rewards, extricate yourself from precarious situations, and more.
Dialogues that present Persuasion as an option are typically labeled with the tag “persuade,” making it readily apparent when this avenue is available.
Mastering the art of Persuasion is a multifaceted endeavor that necessitates practice and adaptation. In this guide, we will delve into how you can unlock Persuasion in Starfield and explore the intricate nuances of effective conversation that enhance your odds of success.
How to unlock Persuasion in Starfield
In Starfield, unlocking the Persuasion skill is possible through two distinct methods. The first method involves a straightforward choice during character creation, where you select a Background that includes Persuasion in its Skill Set.
Backgrounds that provide access to this skill include Industrialist, Sculptor, Space Scoundrel, and Diplomat. Choosing any of these Backgrounds automatically grants you the Persuasion skill from the outset.
However, if you did not opt for one of these Backgrounds during character creation, there’s no need to worry. You can still obtain the Persuasion skill by unlocking it within the Skill Tree under the “Social Skills” category. However, this requires upgrading your character and earning Skill Points first.
How Persuasion checks work in Starfield
To utilize Persuasion in Starfield, you must initially engage in dialogues featuring the “persuade” prompt. Opting for this choice will unveil a new menu of responses from which you can select.
It’s important to note that the distinction between right and wrong answers can be context-specific, and the outcome depends entirely on the particular situation. If you’re uncertain about your choice, consider saving the game before the conversation begins, allowing you to reload if the outcome proves unfavorable.
Within the responses menu, options are color-coded and accompanied by a numeric value. The color signifies the difficulty level of your choice: Green indicates an easy option, Yellow denotes medium difficulty, and Red signifies the most challenging choice.
These color codes also reflect the probability of your choice succeeding, with easier options typically possessing a higher likelihood of success. The numeric value represents the points you’ll receive for each option, with more points awarded for tackling tougher challenges.
Points play a pivotal role because selecting the correct choice will contribute to your Persuasion Bar, located at the bottom left of the menu.
Each accurate response contributes to filling the bar, and a fully filled Persuasion Bar signifies a successful conversation outcome. It also indicates the number of points you’ve accumulated and the additional points required for victory. Falling short on points results in failure.
Adjacent to the Persuasion Bar, there’s another number that represents Turns, signifying the opportunities you have to earn points.
Making an incorrect choice decreases your Turns by 1, but conversely, choosing correctly can grant you an additional opportunity.
It’s essential to note that reaching zero (0) Turns without successfully filling the Persuasion Bar leads to failure.
How to use Auto-Persuade
At the bottom right of the Persuasion response options in Starfield, you’ll encounter the Auto-Persuade feature. This is a rechargeable ability that accumulates energy through successful choices while you engage in persuasion. Typically, around 6 correct selections will fully charge it.
When Auto-Persuade reaches full charge, you can activate it to promptly replenish the Persuasion Bar, significantly reducing the time and effort required otherwise. In some cases, it can even lead to an instant victory if you’re just a few points away from success. However, it’s worth noting that using Auto-Persuade will reset its charge to zero, necessitating a recharge to utilize it again.
How to get a Critical Success
While choosing from Persuasion responses in Starfield, choosing the correct choice will lead to a successful outcome.
Once in a while, you will encounter a choice that will do the trick leading to a guaranteed win. This event is known as “Critical Success” which will basically max out the Persuasion Bar completely, winning you the challenge.
How to increase your Persuasion chances in Starfield
Succeeding in Persuasion in Starfield demands a blend of luck and skill, but there are ways to tip the odds in your favor. To enhance your Persuasion abilities, you have several options to choose from, depending on your preferences.
For a more enduring improvement, invest Skill Points in elevating the Persuasion Skill within the Social Skills Tree. Each rank upgrade enhances your chances by 10%, and with maximum upgrades, you can boost your success rate by 50%. Climbing the ranks also entails conquering the Rank Challenges specific to Persuasion.
Temporary items can also bolster your Persuasion prowess. Hippolyta, for instance, offers a 20% increase in Persuasion Chance for the next 5 minutes, while its upgraded version, Paramour, extends the duration to 10 minutes with a 25% boost.
Additionally, items like Sparkling Wine, Pinot Noir, Velocity, and Supernova can provide slight enhancements to your odds.
Certain Outfits can grant elevated Persuasion Chances, such as the Neocity Cropwear outfit in Starfield, which provides a 5% increase when worn. Business attire options like the Fitted Business Suit, Fashionable Suit, and Corpo Sleek Suit also offer this ability.
Furthermore, specific Traits and Skills will impact your Persuasion dialogues in Starfield. Skills like Manipulation and Intimidation can open up new avenues, while Negotiation enables you to navigate challenging situations through bribery.
