Completing The Scaled Citadel in Starfield: A Guide to Shattered Space

<p>Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC culminates in its final main quest, The Scaled Citadel. Every choice you’ve made throughout the game converges in this pivotal quest.

Interactions with the three houses, taking down Phantoms, and the journeys from Dazra to various outposts all coalesce into this defining moment. In The Scaled Citadel, your decisions will shape the fate of not only the Va’ruun but also the entire Settled Systems in Starfield. Therefore, making the right choices is crucial.

This guide details all possible outcomes, including whether to release the Phantoms, which house is the optimal choice to lead the Va’ruun, and whether to initiate the Serpent Crusade.

How to End the Security Lockdown and Destroy the Modulator

Once you enter The Scaled Citadel, turn right and descend the stairs. To your left, you’ll find a door leading to the Research Level.

As you proceed through that door, you’ll receive the “End the security lockdown” objective. Pass by the glowing doors and open the yellow door to the right to locate the Security Control System. Attempting to click “Override Lockdown”will produce an error, indicating that you first need to destroy the Modulator.

Follow the quest marker until you locate a red and white door. Inside, there’s a lever you must pull to expose the blue modulator above. Before a protective shield encases the modulator, shoot it repeatedly until it’s destroyed. If you run out of time, simply repeat the process.

After destroying the modulator, interact with the computer behind you and try ending the security lockdown again. Then, follow the quest marker to reach the Reactor Level and replace the Vortex Interlock.

Should You Release the Phantoms or Terminate Pod Life Support?

to free or eliminate the Phantoms in Starfield — dexerto/Bethesda

Your decision to release the Phantoms or terminate Pod Life Support leads to the same result in The Scaled Citadel.

If you release the Phantoms, Anasko will be initially pleased, but the Zealots will still breach the Citadel, and you’ll be attacked by Phantoms en route to The Pinnacle. Upon arrival, you will confront Anasko again, with choices to attack or submit.
- If you submit, you kneel before Anasko, resulting in your character’s death. This outcome isn’t suitable, as Starfield will revert you to the last respawn point in hopes of a better choice next time.
- If you attack, you become Anasko’s enemy, triggering a new objective: overload the Vortex Gate and defeat him.

terminate Pod Life Support will cause Anasko to become immediately hostile, yet the end result remains unchanged; you’ll still confront the Zealots, deal with Phantoms, and ultimately take down Anasko.

How to Overload the Vortex Gate

defying Ansako in Shattered Space Overload the Module Starfield Shattered Space

To overload the Vortex Gate, first interact with the Modulator Containment Release to temporarily lower the shield safeguarding the Modulator. You’ll need to shoot the Modulator with everything at your disposal before the timer expires to destroy it. You must repeat this process four times for four different Modulators, so make note of each switch’s Modulator before pulling the lever.

Additionally, you have to defeat Anasko at least once. Like most Phantoms, he respawns upon death, but you only need to take him down once to fulfill the objective.

After destroying all four Modulators, the Vortex Gate will overload, allowing you to escape The Scaled Citadel.

Which House Should You Pick to Run the Va’ruun?

Starfield Shattered Space: House to run the Va'ruun — dexerto/Bethesda

Upon returning to Dazra, the Va’ruun lack a Speaker, and you must select which of the three houses will govern the planet: House Va’ric, House Veth’aal, or House Dul’kehf. You cannot name yourself as the Speaker or refuse to choose; you must select a house.

Your decision is entirely subjective and hinges on which house you deem most qualified to lead—or simply the one you prefer. By this stage, you should have completed one main quest for each house (including Conflict in Conviction, Zealous Overreach, and Exhuming the Past) and likely gathered some side quests that can help inform which house resonates with you the most.

Should You Start the Serpent Crusade?

Overload the Module Starfield Shattered Space — dexerto/Bethesda

The Serpent Crusade is a mission that began in 2240 aimed at exterminating all non-believers within the Settled Systems. This campaign extended for over two decades until Jinan Va’ruun’s demise, at which point his son advocated for peace. Now, the choice is yours: resume a crusade that is destined to erase every NPC you’ve encountered in the game.

If you opt not to initiate The Serpent Crusade, all Houses will reach a consensus, and the Va’ruun will remain in Va’ruun’kai. The High Council will depart, allowing you to enjoy your new home in Dazra.
If you opt to initiate The Serpent Crusade, all houses will also agree, but don’t anticipate any immediate consequences. You won’t witness The Serpent Crusade unfold, as Andreja explains the preparations take “a decade.”

That concludes the main storyline of Shattered Space. If you’re ready to dive into some side quests, consider starting with The Duel!

Source