Starfield Terran Armada DLC Guide: Incursions, Delta, and New Gear
The Terran Armada DLC launched alongside the PS5 version of Starfield on April 7, 2026. It costs $9.99 on its own if you bought the Standard Edition like I did, or comes included with the Premium Edition and the Premium Edition Upgrade.
This isn’t Shattered Space. Where Bethesda’s first expansion focused on a single new location, Va’Ruun’Kai, with a largely self-contained story, Terran Armada takes the opposite approach. It spreads across the Settled Systems with a new enemy faction, a new combat system, a robotic companion, new weapons, and a threat that doesn’t stay contained to one corner of the map. For better or worse, the Terran Armada wants to be everywhere, and the DLC is designed to make you feel that.
There’s also a lot more going on than the main questline. Incursions bring new combat encounters to familiar systems, the expansion adds new equipment and outpost construction missions, and there are additional characters and side stories to discover along the way.
But before you jump in, there are a few things worth knowing, particularly about the recommended level and how the Incursion system affects travel.
Here’s everything you need to know about Terran Armada, how to start the expansion, and what awaits you once you do.
What Is the Terran Armada?
The Terran Armada is a breakaway military faction made up of former Freestar Collective and United Colonies soldiers who disappeared from the Settled Systems during the Colony War. Now they’ve returned, claiming to be the true children of Earth and bringing an army of advanced combat robots and enough firepower to back up their ambitions.
Their goal is to unify the Settled Systems under a single authority, and they aren’t asking politely. The Armada deploys forces across star systems, attacks civilian targets, and uses technology capable of interfering with grav drives and preventing ships from simply jumping away.
They’re a legitimate threat rather than another faction hanging around one particular planet waiting for you to arrive.
The robotic army is the DLC’s most visible addition. You’ll spend plenty of time fighting machines throughout the storyline and during Incursions, so anyone expecting a completely different enemy type around every corner should temper those expectations. The expansion leans heavily into robotic combat, although it introduces enough new situations and equipment to keep things interesting.
The upside is that these encounters provide opportunities to collect valuable loot, including X-Tech, which becomes increasingly useful as you upgrade your weapons, equipment, and ship systems.
And unlike Shattered Space, where much of the expansion’s content was concentrated around one location, the Terran Armada’s presence can be felt across the wider galaxy.
How to Start the Terran Armada Questline
The introductory quest is called “Attack of the Terran Armada,” and it begins after you encounter an SSNN broadcast concerning a missing luxury cruise ship called the Opulence of the Stars.
You can encounter the broadcast through SSNN beacons in populated areas, including major settlements. You don’t have to wait until you’ve reached a particular point in the Freestar Collective storyline or completed the main quest.
The broadcast directs your attention toward the Nirvana system, where you’ll investigate the disappearance of the cruise ship and begin uncovering the threat posed by the Terran Armada.
The following quest, “Lost Luxury,” takes the investigation further and introduces some of the expansion’s most important characters.
There’s one important warning, though.
Nirvana is a Level 40 system, and the introductory Terran Armada content carries a recommended level of approximately 50 or higher.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the game prevents you from attempting it earlier, but I wouldn’t recommend charging into the expansion with a low-level character, the stock Frontier, and whatever weapons you happened to pick up during your first few hours.
You’re going to encounter dangerous enemies, including robotic opponents and hostile ships, so having a capable character and properly equipped vessel makes a substantial difference.
I’d recommend investing in some combat skills, bringing weapons that perform well against robotic enemies, and making sure your ship has respectable shields and firepower before beginning the storyline.
There’s no need to rush. The expansion will still be there when you’re ready.
Incursions: The New Combat System
Incursions are the centerpiece of Terran Armada, and they’re probably the feature that has the greatest impact on how Starfield feels outside the expansion’s main storyline.
An Incursion is a Terran Armada operation taking place somewhere in the Settled Systems. These events can involve hostile ships, ground forces, and objectives that require you to deal with the Armada’s presence before the threat is eliminated.
Some Incursions are connected to the main questline, while others are optional encounters that can appear as you continue exploring the galaxy.
You’ll see Incursion activity represented on the Starmap, allowing you to investigate areas where the Armada is operating.
The encounters vary in size and difficulty. Some are relatively small engagements, while others involve larger groups of enemies and more complicated objectives.
The rewards can make them worthwhile, particularly if you’re interested in collecting equipment, X-Tech, and other valuable materials.
But there’s a catch.
Incursions Can Interfere With Grav Jumping
One of the Armada’s more dangerous capabilities is its ability to interfere with grav drives.
When you’re within an affected Incursion area, you may find that ordinary grav jumping or fast travel is temporarily unavailable. Instead of simply opening the Starmap and escaping, you’ll need to deal with the threat or move beyond the area of interference.
This is where the Free Lanes update and Terran Armada complement one another.
Cruise Mode allows you to travel through space within a star system, and during an Incursion, that ability can become a tactical necessity rather than just another way to get from one destination to another.
If you’re outnumbered or your ship isn’t equipped to handle the encounter, creating distance and escaping the affected area may be a better decision than trying to destroy everything in sight.
Just remember that the restrictions apply to the area affected by the Incursion. They don’t necessarily mean the entire star system is permanently locked down.
How Difficult Are Incursions?
That depends on the encounter, your character level, and your ship.
A well-equipped combat vessel with strong shields and effective weapons will have a much easier time dealing with multiple Armada ships than a lightly upgraded exploration vessel.
For space combat, I’d recommend having a capable shield generator and weapons that can damage both shields and hull effectively. Particle beam weapons are particularly useful because they handle both without requiring you to constantly switch between specialized weapon groups.
For ground encounters, bring plenty of ammunition, healing supplies, and equipment suitable for fighting robotic enemies.
And don’t assume every Incursion needs to be completed immediately. If you encounter something that’s clearly beyond your current capabilities, there’s nothing wrong with leaving and returning after upgrading your equipment.
Can You Reduce Incursion Frequency?
Yes, and this is an important option for anyone who enjoys the Terran Armada storyline but doesn’t want the galaxy constantly interrupted by optional combat encounters.
Bethesda added gameplay settings that allow players to adjust the frequency of optional Incursions.
If you enjoy the additional danger, you can leave them at your preferred setting. If you’re trying to focus on exploration, ship building, or other quests, reducing their frequency can make the experience less intrusive.
It’s a welcome feature because not everyone wants Starfield to feel like an active war zone every time they leave a planet.
Delta: Your New Robot Companion
Delta is one of the most interesting additions to Terran Armada, particularly for players who enjoy traveling with companions but don’t always want someone questioning every morally questionable decision they make.
Bethesda’s design director Emil Pagliarulo described Delta as “not evil, but definitely not good,” which tells you quite a bit about the personality the developers were aiming for.
Delta is a combat robot created using Terran Armada technology, but its relationship with the organization is considerably more complicated than simply being another machine following orders.
You encounter Delta during “Lost Luxury,” aboard the Opulence of the Stars, and the robot becomes an important part of the expansion’s storyline.
What makes Delta appealing is that it doesn’t behave quite like Starfield’s more conventional companions. If you’re playing an aggressive bounty hunter, pirate, or character who doesn’t always choose the most honorable solution, Delta provides a different personality to have along for the ride.
And unlike a companion who constantly complains about your behavior, Delta is generally more comfortable operating in morally questionable territory.
How to Recruit Delta
Delta is introduced through the main Terran Armada storyline, so you don’t need to search the galaxy for a separate recruitment quest.
Progress through “Attack of the Terran Armada” and “Lost Luxury,” and you’ll encounter Delta as part of the narrative.
However, there’s an important distinction between Delta accompanying you during story missions and becoming available as a regular crew member.
Delta’s broader recruitment and crew assignment options become available through progression in the expansion, with normal crew availability associated with completing the main storyline.
So if Delta is traveling with you during a quest but doesn’t appear to function like an ordinary recruitable companion yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.
Continue progressing through the story.
Delta’s Upgrades and Achievements
Delta also has an upgrade system associated with the “Overclocked” trophy or achievement.
As you progress through the expansion, you’ll encounter opportunities connected to Delta’s capabilities and development.
There are also Delta-related achievements called “Greater Than” and “Less Than,” reflecting different aspects of the robot’s storyline.
If you’re interested in collecting every trophy or achievement, I’d recommend keeping a manual save before major decisions involving Delta. Some outcomes may depend on choices made during the storyline, and you don’t want to discover too late that you’ve locked yourself out of a particular result.
For everyone else, I’d simply recommend paying attention to Delta’s dialogue and enjoying the character’s story rather than trying to optimize every decision around an achievement.
Delta is one of the expansion’s standout additions, and the character deserves more attention than simply treating it as another piece of combat equipment.
Roxanne Bourreau and the Other New Characters
Delta isn’t the only memorable character introduced through the expansion.
Roxanne Bourreau plays an important role in the Terran Armada storyline and is connected to Delta’s creation.
You’ll encounter her during the quest “Into the VOID,” which takes the story into Armada-controlled territory and reveals more about the organization’s activities.
Roxanne accompanies you during part of the questline and contributes to the story, but she shouldn’t be treated as a confirmed permanent recruitable crew member.
Some early guides suggested that Roxanne could eventually join your crew permanently, but subsequent player reports indicate that she remains at Anchorpoint Station after her role in the storyline rather than becoming available for normal crew assignment.
That makes her a temporary story companion rather than someone you should plan to add permanently to your ship.
What About Muria?
There’s another recruitable character worth mentioning, although she isn’t exclusive to Terran Armada.
Muria Siarkiewicz, the memorable GalBank applicant from New Atlantis, became recruitable with the free 2026 update.
If you remember her from the original game, you’ll probably understand why players were happy to see Bethesda give her a little more attention.
To recruit Muria, visit the GalBank lobby in New Atlantis and speak with her about her job interview. After allowing approximately five to six in-game hours to pass, return and speak with her again.
You can then offer her a position, with a reported recruitment cost of 15,000 credits.
The important thing to remember is that Muria doesn’t require the paid Terran Armada expansion. She’s part of the broader Free Lanes-era additions available to Starfield players.
New Weapons and Gear
Terran Armada introduces additional weapons and equipment that fit the expansion’s military theme.
The headline addition is the Multi-Gun Platform, or MGP, a modular heavy weapon system that feels more like something you’d expect from a conventional military arsenal than some of Starfield’s more exotic science-fiction equipment.
If you enjoy automatic weapons and the feeling of carrying around serious firepower, the MGP is one of the additions worth investigating.
The expansion also introduces new military-themed equipment, including gear inspired by NASA-style tactical designs.
Much of the visual style is grounded and utilitarian, with an emphasis on practical military equipment rather than elaborate futuristic designs.
That fits the Terran Armada’s identity as an organized military force rather than another loose collection of pirates or Spacers.
New Ship Equipment
There are also new ship customization opportunities associated with the 2026 updates.
Free Lanes introduced additional ship equipment schematics and the Ship Optimization Terminal, allowing players to improve their vessels using X-Tech.
Terran Armada’s ship encounters and Incursions provide opportunities to engage in combat and acquire valuable rewards, making the expansion a useful place to put those systems to work.
One particularly interesting Free Lanes addition is the stealth module, which allows ships to cloak while boosting.
For players who enjoy ship combat, being able to boost away under stealth and reposition adds another tactical option, particularly when fighting multiple enemies.
Just remember that not every ship-building feature introduced in April 2026 requires the paid expansion. Some are part of the free update, while Terran Armada provides additional content and encounters in which to use them.
The Pre-Built Outpost Cabin
For players who enjoy having a home base but don’t want to spend hours constructing one from scratch, Terran Armada adds a pre-built elevated cabin module.
You can place the cabin at an outpost and immediately have access to a furnished living space, complete with decorations and an interior you can customize afterward.
It’s a convenient option for anyone who wants a comfortable planetary retreat without spending an entire evening arranging individual furniture pieces.
The expansion also introduces additional decorative options, including faction-themed workbench appearances and small animal habitats.
These additions aren’t necessarily going to revolutionize the outpost system, but they help make bases feel more personal.
And if you’re like me, sometimes the appeal of building an outpost isn’t creating the most efficient industrial operation possible. Sometimes you just want a cabin on a quiet planet where you can relax between adventures.
Faction Outpost Construction Missions
Terran Armada also gives outpost building a new role through faction-related construction assignments.
The “This for That” trophy or achievement is connected to completing a faction outpost handover, but this isn’t a system where you can simply donate any existing outpost to whichever faction you prefer.
Instead, the mechanic is tied to specific missions that become available after progressing through the expansion’s main storyline.
These include “Favors for Favors,” “Give and Take,” and “Quid Pro Quo.”
The missions direct you to designated locations where you’ll need to construct the requested infrastructure before completing the handover.
The basic requirements include an X-Tech Extractor, four defensive turrets, and sufficient power to operate the installation.
Once you’ve completed the necessary construction, you can finish the assignment and receive the associated rewards.
It’s a relatively straightforward way to give outpost construction a role in the broader storyline, even for players who haven’t spent much time experimenting with resource extraction or base building.
However, don’t expect the system to let you freely transfer your existing outposts to the UC Vanguard, Freestar Collective, or another faction in exchange for passive income or territorial protection.
These are specific construction missions rather than a general faction ownership system.
New Babylon: A New Side Story
New Babylon is another location associated with Terran Armada, and it’s connected to additional quests and achievements outside the main Incursion system.
Early information about the expansion left players wondering whether New Babylon was a city, planet, station, or something else entirely, but the location and its associated storyline have since been discovered.
To begin investigating the New Babylon content, look for Bernhard at Anchorpoint Station, near the bar.
The associated storyline involves New Babylon and a character named Caruso, with additional decisions and objectives to complete as you progress.
Two achievements connected to this content are “Master of Magnetism” and “Stay of Execution.”
Master of Magnetism involves using a magnet to destroy a particular robot for Ivica, while Stay of Execution is associated with another outcome in the storyline.
If you’re trying to collect every achievement, I’d recommend keeping a manual save before making major decisions during these quests, since certain outcomes may affect what you can accomplish afterward.
I won’t spoil the entire storyline here because it’s more enjoyable to discover the details yourself, but New Babylon is worth investigating once you’ve spent some time exploring Anchorpoint.
It’s another reason not to treat the station as merely a stop on the way to your next Terran Armada mission.
The Arbitrator Bounties
Terran Armada also includes content involving a character known as the Arbitrator.
The “Contract Killer” achievement requires you to eliminate ten targets for the Arbitrator, indicating a series of assassination assignments separate from the regular Trackers Alliance bounty hunting activities.
That’s an important distinction because players familiar with the Trackers Alliance might assume the achievement can be completed simply by accepting ordinary bounty board missions.
It can’t be treated as the same system.
The Arbitrator’s targets are tied to Terran Armada content, so you’ll need to pursue the relevant assignments rather than relying on standard Trackers Alliance contracts.
For players interested in combat-focused side activities, it’s another objective to work toward after progressing through the expansion.
And if you’re trying to complete every trophy or achievement, keep the ten-target requirement in mind rather than assuming a handful of ordinary bounty hunts will count.
Is Terran Armada Worth $9.99?
For players who already enjoy Starfield, I think Terran Armada offers a worthwhile amount of additional content for its $9.99 asking price.
It’s not trying to be another Shattered Space, and anyone expecting a massive new world filled with dozens of settlements and an entirely separate campaign should understand that going in.
Instead, Terran Armada expands the existing galaxy.
The Incursion system adds new encounters across familiar star systems, giving players additional reasons to engage in ship combat and planetary exploration. Delta provides a companion with a personality that feels different from the more conventional members of your crew, and the new weapons and military equipment fit the expansion’s identity.
There are also side activities, faction construction missions, and additional locations to investigate, making the expansion more than just a linear series of quests.
That said, the heavy emphasis on robotic enemies won’t appeal to everyone, and players who prefer peaceful exploration may find frequent Incursions more irritating than exciting. Fortunately, the ability to adjust optional Incursion frequency helps address that problem.
If you’re a PS5 player who purchased the Premium Edition, Terran Armada is already included, so there’s no additional purchase to worry about.
If you bought the Standard Edition like I did, the decision comes down to how much you enjoy Starfield’s combat, exploration, and ship customization systems.
Personally, I think ten dollars is a reasonable asking price for an expansion that gives you more reasons to keep exploring the Settled Systems.
Just don’t rush into Nirvana with a low-level character and an unmodified Frontier expecting an easy afternoon.
The Terran Armada isn’t going anywhere, and you’ll have a much better time taking on its forces when you’re properly prepared.
Agree, disagree, or think I got it completely wrong? Say so in the comments or over at our Vortex Effect forums.
