In the vast and mysterious world of space exploration games like Starfield, missions involving the discovery and investigation of colonist remains add emotional weight and tension to the storyline. One such task, commonly referred to as the Find and Scan Colonist Bodies objective, challenges players to search a specific area, locate fallen colonists, and use their scanner to analyze the remains. While the task sounds straightforward, players often find themselves confused or lost due to vague map markers, dangerous surroundings, and a lack of clear guidance. Understanding how to efficiently find and scan colonist bodies on the map can save time, reduce frustration, and unlock crucial story elements or loot.
Understanding the Mission Context
Why You’re Scanning Colonist Bodies
This type of quest is usually part of a larger storyline involving missing or massacred colonists. Whether it’s due to pirate attacks, environmental collapse, or alien creatures, these missions bring players face to face with the darker realities of colonization in hostile galaxies. Scanning colonist bodies is not only necessary to complete objectives but also serves as a narrative device, revealing logs, histories, or evidence that builds the broader lore of the game world.
Players are typically sent by a faction or NPC who needs confirmation of what happened to a missing colony. Your goal is to track down every body in a designated area and use your scanner to gather data from each one. Sometimes, the information gathered can also be used to trigger follow-up missions or influence how certain characters view you in future interactions.
How to Find Colonist Bodies on the Map
Map Markers and Navigation
When the mission is active, a waypoint marker will usually appear on your map. However, this marker often covers a wide area and doesn’t pinpoint the exact location of each body. You’ll need to explore within this zone and rely on your tools and attention to detail.
- Open your map and zoom in on the quest marker area.
- Look for signs of settlements, crash sites, or large structures nearby.
- Use your scanner to sweep as you walk. Colonist bodies often emit a faint blue outline or glow when scanned.
- If you’re in a mountainous or cave-heavy region, check high ground and hidden recesses.
Remember that colonist bodies are rarely clustered. The developers often spread them out to encourage deeper exploration. Patience and methodical scanning are key to not missing any.
Environmental Clues
Even when map guidance is limited, environmental storytelling helps players locate colonist bodies. Look for:
- Abandoned tents or supply crates.
- Bloodstains, broken machinery, or damaged turrets.
- Signs of a struggle burn marks, collapsed structures, or alien footprints.
These details are often not just decoration they lead to story points and can guide you to the remains of the colonists. Bodies are usually close to objects of interest, suggesting they died while defending themselves or fleeing.
How to Scan Colonist Bodies
Using the Scanner Correctly
Your standard handheld scanner (depending on the game you’re playing) is the tool required to complete the task. Here’s a basic guide for successful scanning:
- Equip your scanner by pressing the appropriate hotkey or accessing your inventory.
- Aim it at the body until a prompt appears, such as Scan Colonist or Analyze.
- Wait for the progress bar or confirmation tone to indicate success.
- Repeat for each body found in the area.
Be sure to stand close enough and maintain your view on the target. If you’re too far or move your aim too quickly, the scan may not register.
Tracking Progress
Most missions involving scanning colonist bodies will include a counter, such as 3/5 bodies scanned. You can view this in your quest log or HUD. If you believe you’ve found all the bodies but the counter isn’t complete, double back and check less obvious areas like cliff edges or behind wreckage.
Typical Locations Where Colonist Bodies Are Found
Crash Sites
One of the most common settings for this type of mission is a crashed spaceship or freighter. Colonists are scattered around the wreck, with some possibly inside partially intact chambers. Don’t forget to check both exterior and interior areas, especially if you can access rooms with broken doors or stairs.
Outposts and Habitats
Destroyed outposts often contain bodies hidden under debris or inside collapsed buildings. Use levitate spells (if applicable) or physics-based tools to move objects and uncover hidden remains. Sometimes, environmental hazards like toxic gas or radiation fields may need to be navigated before you can safely scan a body.
Alien Territory
Colonists who fled into caves or alien-infested areas might have perished in more remote and dangerous locations. In such cases, be prepared for combat and use stealth or firepower to clear threats before scanning. These are often the hardest to find due to the labyrinthine structure of cave systems or creature nests.
Tips for Completing the Mission Efficiently
- Use the scanner constantly it can detect not just bodies but also loot and environmental clues.
- Upgrade your scanner if the game allows, to increase its range and precision.
- Check elevation bodies are sometimes on ledges, cliffs, or elevated platforms you may overlook.
- Pay attention to in-game audio. Moaning sounds, static, or voice logs can lead you to a nearby body.
- Be thorough. Even after the scanner pings, make sure the scan completes before moving on.
What Happens After Scanning All Colonist Bodies
Mission Wrap-Up
Once all bodies have been scanned, you’ll usually receive a confirmation message or updated quest objective. This could involve:
- Returning to the NPC who assigned the mission.
- Accessing a terminal or data hub to upload findings.
- Receiving loot, credits, or storyline progression.
In some storylines, scanning all colonist bodies may also trigger an ambush or uncover a hidden villain. Always remain alert after the final scan.
Emotional and Narrative Payoff
This quest type often has emotional weight, especially when you find logs or audio recordings left by the colonists. Reading or listening to their final moments humanizes the mission and makes the player feel like more than just a scavenger. It ties you into the world and gives weight to your actions.
Finding and scanning colonist bodies is a mission that blends exploration, mystery, and moral storytelling. Whether you’re navigating treacherous terrain, searching ruins, or uncovering the tragic fate of a colony, the process challenges your observation and investigative skills. By learning how to read the environment, use your tools wisely, and approach the task methodically, you can complete this objective with efficiency and respect for the story it tells. These missions are not just filler they reveal the dangers of colonization and the fragility of life in the cosmos, all while offering valuable rewards and immersive gameplay.