Starfield is riddled with pivotal decision making that can change the interaction with several NPCs in the game. One of the major decisions in the Shattered Space DLC happens during the quest titled The Scaled CItadel. Near the end of the quest you will have to make a tough decision whether to Terminate Life Pod Support or release the Phantoms. Two choices with two different outcomes. In this guide we have covered everything you need to know about both of the decisions.
Choice # 1: Release The Phantoms
If you side with Anasko and release the phantoms from their deep slumber, they will raise hell on the Settled Systems. The objective will then change to reaching the Pinnacle of Scaled Citadel. Take some energy drinks because it is not going to be easy, the levels are filled with Phantoms and Zealots. You will have to kill a lot of them to go to the destination.
When you reach the Pinnacle, the game will throw you another decision-making opportunity. Here we will learn a lot about Anasko, the perfect utopian idea or value Anasko holds for the Va’ruun’kai doesn’t include us. Here we have to make a quick decision:
- Attack Anasko: Here you have to battle Anasko and power off his machine. You have to shoot four modulators (different locations) by pressing specific switches. Once all the modulators are destroyed, you will gain the option to leave the Scaled Citadel.
- Submit to Anasko: When you do submit to Anasko, the game will restart, putting you back at the last checkpoint. It is one of the optional game-ending scenes that doesn’t go anywhere, since the game restarts it makes the choice redundant to the overall storyline.
While submitting is an option but nothing goes from here, attacking Anasko is the only viable solution the game has to offer here. So it doesn’t matter if you decide to Submit to Anasko, you will have to repeat the whole section until you put Anasko to sleep. Now that we know what happens if we release all the Phantoms, let’s take a look at the other side of the coin.
Choice # 2: Terminate Life Pod Support
Now that we know what unfolds if we side with Anasko, terminating the Life Pod Support makes a whole lot of sense. Anasko will not be happy with your decision to see his plan fail by someone he trusts. You still have to chase Anasko to the Pinnacle to track him down and put him out of his misery.
But when you do get to the Pinnacle, you will only be left with one choice, attack Anasko and shut down the machine by pressing the switches. Basically you will be doing the same sequence of events as with the other decision. The option to submit under Anasko is gone from the selection.
Should you Terminate Life Pod Support or Release the Phantoms?
Choosing to Release the Phantoms will only delay the inevitability but the action and the storyline stay the same no matter the decision you make at the end. But to save time, we recommend that you choose to terminate the life pod support to see Anasko get mad. Why let him have all the fun of winning by helping him activate all the pods, instead it will feel better to make him disappointed seeing all of his work going down in vain.
Both decisions have a lot in common with minor differences. Here are the scenes that will play out even if you Terminate Life Pod Support or Release the Phantoms in Scattered Space.
- Zealots will breach the Citadel wall.
- You will have to head to Pinnacle.
- Phantoms will be hostile against you when you are making your way to the Pinnacle.
- Anasko will be the bad guy at the end. and you will have to kill him
The only difference between the two endings is the initial happiness in the face of Anasko if you release all the Phantoms out of their life pod.
Overall both decisions lead to a single conclusion, while releasing the phantoms might take a longer route to the conclusion, choosing to terminate Life Pod support will help you reach the same conclusion although through a faster route.
If you are early in the game and are wondering when this point will arrive in the main storyline, we have put a small note below on The Scaled Citadel quest, to the point where you reach this decision-making opportunity.
Starfield Shattered Space: The Scaled Citadel
The decision-making opportunity comes right after you replace the Vortex Interlock and leave the next room with Anasko. Here we see a decision from one mission interconnected with the decision on another. The choice of taking the interlock from the previous mission Exhuming the Past will impact here.
Here Anasko will reveal his plan to put House Va’ruun against the Settled System by activating the Phantom Soldiers. The Phantoms needed a new interlock to rise, fortunately, your installation of a brand new Vortex Interlock during the last objective kickstarted the dream of Anasko. Installing a new Interlock restored the power needed to activate all the Phantoms sleeping in their life pod.
Now comes the choice, of whether to go with Anasko’s reaction to his plan by activating the phantoms for him or terminate them and derail the entire master plan.