"Mantis" - a secret quest in Starfield, available at the beginning of the game. Its advantage is that upon completing the mission, you will be able to obtain the "Mantis" gear and a new spacecraft.

However, to complete the quest, you'll need to solve a non-obvious puzzle. So, in this guide, you'll learn how to start the "Mantis" quest, unravel all the mysteries, and reap a generous reward.

How to Start the "Mantis" Quest

To initiate the mission, you must reach the Nova Galactic Staryard station. You can do this while progressing through the Old Neighborhood mission or at any other time after completing this quest.

When you're at the Star Yard, carefully examine the bodies of astronauts. At one of them (randomly), an audio recording should appear – "Secret Outpost!".

Listen to the obtained note. Immediately after that, a task will appear in your list: visit the planet Denebola I-B (Denebola I-B) in the Denebola system. This is where the secret station is located.

Don't worry if you didn't find the audio recording on your first attempt. The "Mantis" quest can be challenging for newcomers, so it's advisable to reach at least level 20 to avoid serious obstacles during the mission.

Completing the "Mantis" Quest

Head to the specified coordinates and dock at the new marker – Secret Outpost.

Infiltrate the Hideout

Keep in mind that to travel to Denebola, you'll need to make several gravitational jumps – there's a high chance you'll encounter other quests if you're at the beginning of the game. You can choose to ignore them or postpone the "Mantis" quest for a while.

Upon landing, you'll encounter several hostile astronauts – be prepared for a battle. They have fairly high levels, ranging from 8 to 35. Proceed further into the Mantis Hideout, making sure to pick up notes from the bodies for more information.

From the notes you gather, you'll learn that Mantis is a rather unique superhero who administers justice through questionable and sometimes even cruel methods.

Talk to Livvy

As you progress, you'll encounter Livvy – one of the astronauts who will surrender during the fight, and you'll have the opportunity to talk to him.

You'll have several options that will determine his fate:

• Invite him along;
• Leave him alive and allow him to escape;
• Kill him.

Regardless of the chosen option, Livvy will tell you about the Mantis puzzle and provide some hints on how to solve it.

How to Solve the Mantis Puzzle

This puzzle isn't just a riddle; it's a full-fledged trial. It was created specifically for Mantis's son – Leon Vauclain. According to his mother's plan, if her son successfully completes the trial, he can become her successor and the next Mantis.

Proceed to the adjacent room, where you'll see tiles with letters arranged in multiple rows, resembling a sort of puzzle.

Option 1. Form the Correct Word

To solve the puzzle, you need to step on the letter tiles in a specific sequence, but which one – that's the big question that confuses players. If you make a mistake in the word, the main character will trigger the turrets placed on either side.

You will stumble upon the puzzle solution randomly while collecting notes in the Hideout. In one of them, Leon will mention that his mother always repeats the same phrase: "Sic semper tyrannis." This is a Latin proverb, literally translating to: "Thus always to tyrants," and it signifies the struggle against the abuse of power, i.e., tyranny.

"Tyrannis" is the word you need to enter. Follow the letters in the correct order from the beginning to the end of the room.

There are alternative ways to solve the puzzle.

Option 2. Disable the Turrets

If you've leveled up the Security skill to Master level, you can use a nearby computer to deactivate all the turrets, allowing you to proceed to the end of the room without stepping on the tiles.

The catch is that if you started the quest at the beginning of the game, you probably haven't had a chance to level up this skill significantly. This option is better suited for experienced players who encountered the mission later on.

Option 3. Destroy the Turrets

Ultimately, nothing prevents you from applying brute force. Take a powerful ranged weapon and try to shoot down all 4 turrets located on either side of the puzzle.

Rewards for Completing the Mission

After solving the puzzle, you can proceed further. You'll find yourself in a large Bat Cave, where final rewards await you. Along the way, you'll encounter hostile robots.

If you feel that you're struggling with the enemies, it's recommended to acquire some equipment first. Just follow the indicated marker, and you'll find it. The main advantage of the Mantis Suit is its high resistance to physical damage. The set includes an Incendiary Mantis Spacesuit, Incendiary Mantis Helmet, and Incendiary Mantis Pack.

At another marker, you'll encounter one of the best ships in Starfield – Razorleaf. It will be located at the landing pad, which you can reach by elevator. Once you board the ship, the mission will be successfully completed.

In conclusion, for completing this mission, you'll receive legendary equipment and a whole spacecraft, which will be especially valuable, and somewhat overpowered, for newcomers. The only challenge lies in the fairly strong mobs, but with the solution to the main puzzle, you've already figured that out. Additionally, for completing the mission, you'll receive 200 experience points (XP) and 2,000 credits.