Greetings, intrepid Starfield explorer! Are you ready to dive deep into the heart of the United Colonies, confront existential threats, and perhaps even earn your citizenship in the most prestigious faction in the Settled Systems? Then you're in the right place! We're about to embark on a comprehensive journey through the UC Vanguard questline, detailing its length, challenges, and what you can expect from this captivating storyline.
Many players consider the UC Vanguard questline to be one of Starfield's most engaging and well-written faction stories, often feeling more like a main quest than a side one. So, buckle up, because understanding what lies ahead will help you make the most of your time in this epic space opera.
How Long is the UC Vanguard Questline? A Detailed Breakdown
The UC Vanguard questline in Starfield typically takes 5-8 hours to complete for the average player. This estimate can vary based on your playstyle, how much you explore, and how quickly you progress through dialogue and combat encounters. If you're someone who likes to take their time, soak in the lore, and meticulously loot every corner, you might find yourself closer to the 8-hour mark, or even beyond. Speedrunners, on the other hand, might shave that down considerably.
It's important to note that this is a self-contained storyline with a clear beginning and end, offering a significant chunk of content and a compelling narrative that delves into the history and threats facing the United Colonies.
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| How Long Is The Uc Vanguard Questline |
A Journey Through Nine Intense Missions
The UC Vanguard questline is comprised of nine main missions, each building upon the last to weave a cohesive and thrilling narrative. Let's break down each step of your path to becoming a true UC hero.
Step 1: Enlisting in the Elite - Supra Et Ultra
Ah, fresh recruit! Ready to prove your worth to the United Colonies? Your journey begins in the gleaming metropolis of New Atlantis, specifically at the MAST building.
Tip: Take a sip of water, then continue fresh.
- Objective: Speak with Commander John Tuala to express your interest in joining the UC Vanguard. He's looking for individuals with courage, discipline, and a willingness to face the unknown.
- Initial Hurdles: You'll need to undergo a registration process and, more importantly, a piloting simulation test. This isn't just a simple pass/fail; your performance here can influence your initial standing and even the time it takes to earn full UC citizenship (though the questline itself will accelerate this significantly). Aim for completing at least three waves, but pushing for all six will impress Commander Tuala greatly and net you better initial rewards.
- What to Expect: This introductory mission serves as a fantastic tutorial for space combat in Starfield, offering a safe environment to hone your skills against simulated enemies. Don't be afraid to try multiple times to get a perfect score!
Step 2: Your First Taste of Danger - Grunt Work
Having proven your basic aptitude, Commander Tuala sends you on your first probationary mission, and it's anything but grunt work in the traditional sense.
- Objective: Travel to Tau Ceti II to investigate a distress call and meet with Hadrian Sanon. This is where the true nature of the UC Vanguard's work begins to unfold.
- The Terrormorph Threat: You'll encounter your first Terrormorph in this mission. These alien creatures are a significant focus of the UC Vanguard questline, and you'll quickly learn they are no ordinary adversaries. Be prepared for intense ground combat!
- Rewards: Beyond credits and XP, you'll also receive your UC Vanguard Pilot Pack, Spacesuit, and Space Helmet, essential gear for your continued service.
Step 3: Unraveling a Mystery - Delivering Devils
The investigation into the Terrormorphs deepens, leading you to an unlikely contact.
- Objective: Track down and retrieve Dr. Percival Walker, an eccentric but brilliant scientist who holds crucial information about the Terrormorphs. This mission often involves a bit of detective work and navigating some tricky social situations.
- Location, Location, Location: You'll likely find yourself venturing to new and interesting locations as you follow the trail of Dr. Walker. Pay attention to environmental clues!
Step 4: A City Under Siege - Eyewitness
The Terrormorph threat escalates dramatically, bringing the danger right to the UC's doorstep.
- Objective: Defend New Atlantis from a full-blown Terrormorph invasion. This mission is a major turning point, highlighting the urgency and widespread nature of the alien menace.
- High-Stakes Combat: Prepare for intense ground combat against multiple Terrormorphs within the city. You'll be fighting alongside UC security forces, and strategic positioning will be key to your survival. This is where your combat skills from the simulation truly get tested.
Step 5: Forging Alliances - Friends Like These
With the immediate threat addressed, it's time to gather more information and secure critical support.
- Objective: Travel to various faction strongholds, including those of the Freestar Rangers and potentially even House Va'ruun, to acquire crucial data and archival codes related to the Terrormorphs.
- Diplomacy and Persuasion: This mission often involves a heavy dose of dialogue and persuasion checks. Having a good Social skill can be very beneficial here, allowing you to navigate conversations more effectively and potentially avoid unnecessary conflict.
Step 6: A Ghost from the Past - The Devils You Know
A shocking revelation brings you face-to-face with a figure thought long dead.
QuickTip: Reading carefully once is better than rushing twice.
- Objective: Meet with the mysterious Vae Victis, a controversial and highly intelligent figure with a surprising connection to the Terrormorph crisis. You'll also track down his associate, Reginald Orlase.
- Moral Ambiguity: This mission introduces significant moral dilemmas and sets the stage for a compelling narrative arc that challenges your perception of justice and authority within the United Colonies.
Step 7: Recovering Critical Research - War Relics
The path to understanding and combating the Terrormorphs leads to a perilous recovery operation.
- Objective: Follow Vae Victis's leads to track down Hadrian's research team and recover their vital findings from a dangerous location.
- Exploration and Combat: Expect a mix of exploration through hazardous environments and combat encounters as you secure the research.
Step 8: The Heart of the Threat - Hostile Intelligence
The final pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, leading you to the source of the Terrormorph outbreak.
- Objective: Journey to Londinion to acquire Aceles samples, which are crucial for developing a countermeasure against the Terrormorphs. This mission involves some of the most intense and challenging Terrormorph encounters in the entire questline.
- Unveiling the Truth: You'll uncover the terrifying truth about the Terrormorph life cycle and their origins, revealing the true scope of the threat.
Step 9: A Legacy Forged - A Legacy Forged
The culmination of your efforts, where major decisions will shape the future of the Settled Systems.
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- Objective: Return to New Atlantis and present your findings to the UC leadership. You will then be faced with a critical choice regarding the fate of Vae Victis and the ultimate strategy for dealing with the Terrormorph menace.
- Consequences and Rewards: Your decisions in this final mission will have significant narrative consequences. Upon completion, you'll receive substantial credits and XP, and most notably, Class One UC Citizenship and a New Atlantis Penthouse – a truly valuable reward for your service!
The Importance of the UC Vanguard Questline
Beyond its engaging storyline and satisfying combat, the UC Vanguard questline is crucial for several reasons:
- World-Building: It significantly expands upon the lore and history of the United Colonies, providing a deeper understanding of their politics, military, and the ongoing threats they face.
- Faction Introduction: For many players, this is one of the first faction questlines they encounter, and it serves as an excellent introduction to Starfield's diverse factions and their unique identities.
- Meaningful Rewards: The rewards, especially the UC Citizenship and the penthouse, are incredibly useful and provide a tangible sense of progression and accomplishment.
- Terrormorph Lore: If you're interested in the ecological and biological threats of Starfield, this questline provides the most in-depth look at the terrifying Terrormorphs.
So, while the UC Vanguard questline might take you a good 5-8 hours to complete, every moment is packed with intrigue, action, and important narrative developments. It's a journey well worth taking in the vastness of Starfield.
Tip: Reading with intent makes content stick.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to start the UC Vanguard questline?
To begin the UC Vanguard questline, head to the MAST building in New Atlantis (Jemison, Alpha Centauri System) and speak with Commander John Tuala in the lobby. He'll guide you through the initial registration and orientation.
How to pass the UC Vanguard piloting exam?
To pass the piloting exam, you need to defeat at least three waves of simulated enemy ships. Focus on boosting to evade missiles, reducing speed for tight turns, and utilizing asteroids for cover. You can retry as many times as needed to get a higher score.
How to become a UC Citizen quickly?
Completing the UC Vanguard questline is the fastest way to earn Class One UC Citizenship. Your performance in the initial piloting exam can reduce the in-game time it takes to earn citizenship, but completing the full questline makes you a citizen immediately upon its conclusion.
How to get the New Atlantis Penthouse?
The New Atlantis Penthouse is a direct reward for completing the entire UC Vanguard questline, specifically after the final mission "A Legacy Forged."
How to deal with Terrormorphs effectively?
Terrormorphs are tough! Focus on critical hits, use weapons with high damage output, and exploit any elemental weaknesses. Using your boost to create distance and utilizing environmental cover can also be highly effective.
QuickTip: Pay attention to first and last sentences.
How to make money during the UC Vanguard questline?
Each mission in the UC Vanguard questline provides a significant amount of credits as a reward. Additionally, looting defeated enemies and exploring environments during missions can yield valuable items to sell.
How to unlock more faction questlines in Starfield?
Many faction questlines in Starfield are unlocked simply by encountering NPCs or visiting specific locations. For example, the Freestar Rangers questline can be started in Akila City, and the Ryujin Industries questline in Neon.
How to re-spec your skills for the UC Vanguard questline?
While there's no direct "re-spec" button, you can continue to earn skill points by leveling up and invest them in skills that benefit the UC Vanguard questline, such as combat skills (Pistol Certification, Rifle Certification), Social skills (Persuasion), and Piloting.
How to find all UC Vanguard missions?
The UC Vanguard questline follows a linear progression. After completing one mission, the next will typically be given to you by the relevant NPC. You can always check your mission log for your current objective.
How to replay the UC Vanguard questline?
To replay the UC Vanguard questline, you would need to start a new game (or a New Game+ playthrough) in Starfield. Faction questlines are not repeatable within a single playthrough once completed.
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