How do you join the Crimson Fleet in Starfield? This band of space pirates is one of the handful of factions you can join, though doing so is not as straightforward as some of your other options. However, the Starfield Crimson Fleet faction offers not only a unique storyline, but also several unique gameplay features. So, here’s all you need to know about the Crimson Fleet in Starfield.
Often at odds with the Starfield UC Vanguard faction, the Crimson Fleet is one of the joinable Starfield factions, which we’ve done in our playthrough for our Starfield review. Though you can join more than one faction throughout the Starfield length, those with the desire to be a space pirate need look no further. With the intriguing story and unique gameplay activities that open up from joining factions, we wouldn’t be surprised to see many players place Starfield among the best RPG games of recent times.
How to join the Crimson Fleet in Starfield
You can join the Crimson Fleet in Starfield by completing the Deep Cover quest offered by the UC Vanguard which tasks you with infiltrating the faction. This is obtained by committing a crime in a United Colonies system and being arrested, or by joining the UC Vanguard faction.
Examples of crimes you can commit are stealing or assaulting NPCS in United Colonies’ systems and planets, such as New Jemison, and getting caught with Starfield contraband onboard your ship. Doing so will see you brought before the United Colonies SysDef with a proposition, either accept the offer and join the mission to infiltrate the Crimson Fleet, or refuse and risk going to jail. Bear in mind though, you’ll still have to pay off any fines if you go the route of committing crimes.
During the Deep Cover quest you will be sent to infiltrate the Crimson Fleet on behalf of the UC Vanguard, involving convincing Naeva to let you aboard The Key, an abandoned UC space station in the Kryx system. Similar to the multiple methods of starting the Deep Cover quest, your actions will dictate the outcome, letting you be a double-agent.
Nevertheless, if you do choose to join via the UC Vanguard, you will have to navigate through a potentially rocky relationship with the United Colonies. After all, this quest does task you with undermining the Crimson Fleet, though you can choose to side with them instead.
Naeva is the second-in-command of the Crimson Fleet and will introduce you to the pirate crew onboard The Key. In fact, you can find one of the Starfield magazine locations during this tour, so it’s worth taking a good look around as you join the Crimson Fleet.
Deep Cover
Deep Cover is a Crimson Fleet faction quest accessed through the UC Vanguard faction, tasking you with infiltrating the Crimson Fleet. While this is originally staged as an operation to take down the Fleet, you are able to side with the Crimson Fleet instead, offering a route to join the faction. Deep Cover can also be acquired through being arrested in a United Colonies system, so you don’t necessarily have to join the Vanguard, though you will still have to interact with them.
Burden of Proof
Burden of Proof is another Crimson Fleet faction quest set by the UC Vanguard faction. This quest involves finding and securing evidence pertaining to Crimson Fleet related illegal activities during your infiltration of the group.
Rook Meets King
Rook Meets King is a Crimson Fleet quest given to you by Naeva, second-in-command of the Fleet, as you attempt to infiltrate the group. As such, Rook Meets King is the first real experience with the faction and its beliefs, tasking you with tracking down Austin Rake to prove yourself to Naeva. While she expects you to kill Austin Rake, it’s possible to save Rake and convince Naeva you have killed him, thereby infiltrating the Crimson Fleet with less blood on your hands.
The Key
Completing the above quests will result in Naeva letting you aboard The Key, the home of the Crimson Fleet in the Kryx system. After a brief interaction between two pirates upon docking, you’ll then be given a full tour of The Key before meeting Delgado, the leader of the faction.
All Starfield Crimson Fleet quests
The Starfield Crimson Fleet quests and missions are:
- Deep Cover
- Rook Meets King
- Echoes of the Past
- Breaking the Bank
- The Best There Is
- Absolute Power
- Eye of the Storm
- Legacy’s End
The Crimson Fleet storyline is based around infiltrating the faction and getting close to its leader, Delgado. During this, you’ll go on several marauding themed quests alongside other members of the Fleet, such as Naeva. However, you’ll have to weigh up your commitment to both the Crimson Fleet and the UC Vanguard, as these faction stories are somewhat intertwined.
Starfield Crimson Fleet rewards
The Starfield Crimson Fleet faction rewards include:
- Crimson Fleet Mission Board
- Crimson Fleet Trade Authority vendor
- Access to The Key space station
- Keelhauler unique pistol
- Revenant unique rifle
- Credits
- XP
The most notable reward of the Crimson Fleet faction is the special Crimson Fleet Starfield Mission Board. This feature offers repeatable, radiant quests for the respective faction, and the Crimson Fleet version has unique mission types – Smuggling and Piracy. These repeatable missions give you the opportunity to perform short space pirate tasks to get small amounts of credits and XP. While these aren’t fully featured quests, these radiant quests provide a great opportunity to live out your space pirate fantasy.
With the Crimson Fleeting being a merry band of pirates, it makes sense that you also gain access to a special Trade Authority vendor. Since the Crimson Fleet won’t scan you for contraband when you board The Key, you’re free to sell stolen good and contraband aboard the space station. So, if you’re looking to became a space pirate, the Crimson Fleet is the way to go.
However, you will also be rewarded with the Keelhauler – one of the many Starfield unique weapons – upon completing the Echoes of the Past quest. Being the only way to acquire the Keelhauler, it’s certainly worth completing this quest to unlock, especially because it comes with some great perks. The effects of the Keelhauler are Staggering, Berserker, and Frenzy, making it a deadly weapon in close-quarter combat.
Likewise, you can also get the Revenant unique rifle, one of the best unique weapons in the game. The Revenant can be found on a desk at the end of the Crimson Fleet mission Eye of the Storm, located in the vault where you transfer data. Given its placement in the narrative, you will have to side with the Crimson Fleet to unlock the Revenant. This will also lock you out of the UC Vanguard equivalent, known as the Tempest.
Starfield Crimson Fleet lore
The Crimson Fleet is a band of pirates who will stop at nothing to take what is ‘theirs’, often putting them at odds with the United Colonies’ attempts to curb crime and violence in the system.
You will interact with the Crimson Fleet on several occasions in the main narrative, including towards the start. While they are frequently enemies blocking your path, joining the Crimson Fleet lets you side with them and benefit from their flair for thievery. It’s worth noting, though, that the Crimson Fleet is not a single, centralized organization. Instead, the Crimson Fleet is composed of several individual captains with their own crew, explaining why you can still encounter them as enemies.
Is it worth joining the Crimson Fleet in Starfield?
Yes, it is definitely worth joining the Crimson Fleet in Starfield given the great rewards up for grabs. What’s more, because you can join all factions at the same time, you won’t be locked out from other faction stories just because you chose the lawless pirates.
However, it’s worth at least considering which faction you would like to side with during the faction story, as you will have to make a choice between the UC Vanguard and the Crimson Fleet that will impact the narrative of the factions. Again, you won’t be locked out of either faction or the unique gameplay activities they provide, but it will change the end of the Crimson Fleet story.
Well, that’s all you need to know about the Starfield Crimson Fleet faction, such as how to join the Crimson Fleet and the rewards up for grabs. As you pillage countless starships under the banner of the Crimson Fleet, you’ll certainly run into trouble. As such, we’d recommend you find out all about Starfield ships and Starfield ship customization to avoid an untimely death. Paired with the best Starfield backgrounds and best Starfield skills, you’ll soon be the most feared pirate in the galaxy.
Still looking for more? While a good Starfield wiki can be a handy source of information, our new Starfield Database goes further, offering you daily news, searchable databanks, and even interactive tools.