Starfield The Duel quest guide: All choices and consequences

While the main questline of Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC will take up most of your time, there are plenty of side quests for you to check out and give a go at. They’re not too tough to find, provided you’re looking for them.

One such quest is difficult to miss since you’ll almost certainly pass by where it is while completing the main questline. Here’s a full guide on The Duel quest in Starfield, including all choices and consequences.

How to complete the Starfield The Duel quest

The Duel quest can be found in front of the Mourning ship, the large ship at the center of the city of Dazra. Here, you’ll find two brothers caught up in an argument alongside their friend Danika caught in the middle. Upon speaking to them, you’ll learn the argument is over one of the two brothers, Borhal, at his last straw with his brother Amila. Amila has sold his mother’s urn with the ashes still inside to a trader. Amila says that he was drunk at the time, but his brother isn’t having it. He has challenged Amila to a duel.

Due to House Va’ruun rules, each duelist must have a second to help them prepare and ensure fairness. Danika will be Borhal’s second, while you get to be Amila’s. We did try denying being Amila’s second, but it simply asks that you go back later and accept anyway.

Follow Danika to prepare

With the two brothers declaring their desire to duel, you and Danika must now prepare. Follow her to The Keep, where the two of you discuss your roles as seconds in this duel. Danika will acquire whatever weapons and materials are needed for the duel, while she will have you speak with the brothers and see if there can be a peaceful resolution before the duel. She’ll mention that Borhal has chosen blades, through which you’re given the option to mention that Amila will almost certainly lose, given his normal state. This choice, however, has no bearing on the outcome.

Speak to Borhal and Amila

From here, you must speak to both Borhal and Amila to see if a peaceful resolution can be had. Speaking with Amila, he refuses to apologize no matter which dialogue options you choose. Borhal is the same, refusing the idea of any apology from Amila and being locked into wanting to kill him. After speaking to both, return to Danika.

Speak to Danika once again before the duel

Speak with Danika and tell her neither brother will call off the duel. She feels disappointed, but that doesn’t leave you out of options. Before the duel, the seconds must prepare ceremonial drinks, which the duelists must drink. Danika gives you some tranquilizer, which she asks you to slip into both drinks to prevent the brothers from fighting.

Prepare the ceremonial drinks

Just past Danika are the ceremonial drinks, where you’ll be given four separate choices. You can put the tranquilizer in Amila’s cup, in Borhal’s cup, in both cups, or neither. If you tranquilize either Amila or Borhal’s cup, the other brother will kill them, resulting in their victory. This is a good option if you believe one brother should kill the other for their crimes. If you tranquilize both cups, then both of them will be too weak to fight the other, and the duel will be called off. Tranquilizing neither of them results in the duel going forward, with Borhal besting Amila in combat due to his military background and combat experience.

If you didn’t tranquilize either brother or only tranquilize one, Danika will be very upset with you and storm off. Otherwise, you’ll speak with her afterward, and she’ll thank you for your help.

If one of the brothers wins the duel, you will receive 5000 Credits and 200 XP. If both brothers live, then you’ll receive 4000 Credits and 300 XP.