Starfield Unearthed: side with the Hunter or the Emissary?
As you uncover the secrets of the Starborn and what Unity truly is, you’ll have a tough choice to make as Starfield’s main quest line reaches its final act. After discovering the truth of what happened to Earth in NASA’s old base, the two Starborn will present you with their opposing arguments of how to proceed and force you to choose.
We’ll break down each decision and what the consequences are so you can decide whether you should side with the Hunter or the Emissary. Note that this article will contain complete and detailed spoilers about Starfield’s ending.
Side with the Hunter – Starfield
Bethesda
While The Hunter may have murdered one of your friends in the High Price to Pay Starfield quest, he has a pragmatic view of how Unity should be used. He takes the “survival of the fittest” approach, where it should only be used by those who are strong enough to earn it by fighting for it.
Siding with the Hunter will let him join you as a companion for the game’s final quest as you fight off mercenaries, other Starborn, and eventually the Emissary themselves – although he will ask you to kill Keeper Aquilis first. However, it doesn’t change the game’s ending as you step into Unity.
Side with the Emissary – Starfield
Bethesda
The Emissary’s perspective may initially sound more reasonable, but it has its downsides. They believe that Unity needs a guardian, someone who can protect Unity and only allow those they deem worthy entry to it. While this is a less violent take, it does leave the universe’s most powerful artifact under a single person’s control – that never ends well.
Side with the Emissary and you won’t have to kill Aquilis, and it will instead be the Emissary who aids you in the final quest fighting off against the Starborn and the Hunter. Your ending won’t be any different though.
Side with neither – Starfield
Bethesda
Oh, so you’d like an option off the secret menu? Excellent choice.
If you’re sick of these strange beings telling you what to do, then you can just tell them both to shove it. They allow you to leave and let you know that they will be there to confront you when you come to collect the final artifact.
You will now have to do the final area with no help from Starborn. In fact, you will need to fight off both the Hunter and the Emissary’s ships at once before you can even land on the planet. They will also both stand against you at the end of the dungeon, but if you have high persuasion, you can talk them down from attacking you.
Unity will then be all yours to enter. It doesn’t affect the ending that you get, though.
Should you side with the Hunter or the Emissary? – Starfield
As far as the story goes, it doesn’t matter who you side with. The changes are fairly superficial and the ending of your game won’t be any different. If you’re looking for the greatest challenge then rejecting both Starborn is the way to go, and choosing this option will also please every companion.
Find out more about the game in our full Starfield walkthrough.
