Star Citizen: Best Starting Locations (2024)

Star Citizen's unique planets give players the ability to explore and find new locations in the Stanton System. However, to begin the game players will need to choose a starting location where they will spawn at the start of each session. Out of the 4 options, each one has its own benefits and shortcoming, it's really down to the player as to which one they call home.

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Each planet in the system is owned by a large corporation; microTech, Crusader, ArcCorp, and Hurston Dynamics. This makes Stanton the business and industry center of the UEE territories. This makes every planet unique as they are governed by separate corporate bodies.

New Babbage - microTech

New Babbage is located on the edge of the System. With great shopping facilities, most of the player's basic needs are met in the common area located within the city. With a range of stores, players will find weapons, armor, modules, and mining equipment for their ship.

The main downside to New Babbage is its train/transport infrastructure system. When players land at the spaceport they will need to jump on a train to get to the commons and shops. The same can be said when spawning after dying, as the hospital/hotel area is again entirely separate from the shopping plaza. At the other locations, players will land directly in the shopping area making it far more convenient for them to purchase new equipment. Unfortunately, there is no shipyard here, meaning players will have to travel to a separate planet to invest in a new ship.

Because microTech is located on the edge of the system, traveling to other planets around the system can take a while. For most players, this is the main factor when choosing the starting location, however, if this doesn't seem like a massive issue New Babbage is a great place to settle.

Orison - Crusader

Crusader is the largest planet in the Stanton system and Orison is the main city found on this gas giant. Unlike other cities, this location is suspended within the atmosphere of the planet (making ground vehicles such as the HoverQuad obsolete) and seems to orbit the planet to stay aloft. The landing zone here is absolutely beautiful, especially at sunset or sunrise.

Players can find the Crusader showroom, almost as soon as they land making easy access to the purchase of new ships. The selection here is limited as it directly targets the sale of Crusader ships, but the roster available is still more than acceptable for players considering the purchase of a second ship.

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Players can also find a range of shops here, meaning players can easily kit out both the character and ship without traveling to a separate location. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks to Orison and more specifically Crusader as a planet.

As Crusader is a giant gas giant, the large atmosphere makes exit and entry to the planet an extremely long journey. Although this may not seem like a massive issue to some, after a few trips in and out of Orison, players will quickly realize how much of an impact this may have on gameplay. If players plan on staying out of the planet for long periods of time by utilizing the space station, they may not find this to be such an issue.

The final thing to consider when it comes to Orison as a spawn location is the presence of Grimhex, a pirate hotspot found very close to Crusader. This can mean an increase in PvP activity in this area. If this is something the player wants to avoid, they may want to look at one of the other locations in this guide.

Area 18 - ArcCorp

The spawn location in ArcCorp is directly adjacent to weapons, armor, and clothing stores making for a convenient setup when heading out on a long venture. The trading hub is also a short walk from here which is great for those partaking in this gameplay loop.

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The ship store here has some good options, as well as access to some of the best modules available in the game. For those looking to upgrade their ships, ArcCorp will likely be a hotspot. If this is something the player is interested in, they may want to consider Area 18 as a location to call home.

Some easy ways to make cash can be through the mining gameplay loop. A major hotspot for this can be found on Lyria and Wala which are both a short distance from the planet of ArcCorp.

The only major issue with ArcCorp is its confusing and maze-like nature. For new players, this may be a massive turnoff making Area 18 a location that isn't viable for the novice side of the community. However, after some time and practice, players can learn the intricacies of the infinite city and learn to love its tiny details and amazing endless skyline made possible by the game engine.

Lorville - Hurston

Hurston is the innermost planet found in the star system. This makes travel to other planets and locations quick and easy as soon as players exit the atmosphere of the planet. The dirty and industrial design gives Lorville a dystopian feel. Although this may seem like a negative factor against choosing Hurston, the atmosphere here is incredibly unique and can only be found at a few locations in the system. The moon of Aberdeen orbits the planet of Hurston, making travel back from the Klescher prison a quick trip.

Some players have found the shopping options here somewhat lackluster, but the basic needs are catered to. Lorville is considered an "anti-conflict" location that limits the sale of weapons and armor in the city. If players are looking to dive straight into the PvP or PvE that Star Citizen has to offer, they may want to take a pass on settling in Lorville.

However, Lorville is home to New Deal, the best place to purchase the best and most expensive ships straight from the Spaceport. Its location makes it very convenient for those that reside here, or even to the travelers here for a visit. This factor alone does make Lorville a particularly attractive spawn location.

At the end of the day, it's down to the player on where they think is best to settle and which place feels most like home.

Star Citizen is now available on PC.

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