Full pacifist guide

Full pacifist guide — yes, you can complete CONTRABAND without killing anyone. This guide explains how. It is harder than a normal run but emotionally rewarding.

The constraint

A pacifist run kills zero NPCs. You are still allowed to disable ships, run from combat, and use non-lethal options where they exist. The game tracks your kill count internally and unlocks a specific achievement when you finish with zero.

Required build

Your build should focus on shields, agility, and economy — not damage. The Pacifist Build (linked below) is optimized for surviving forced encounters without dealing damage. Some weapons have non-lethal modes; learn which ones.

Encounters that look mandatory

Several boss encounters appear to require killing the boss. They do not. Each has an alternative resolution — sometimes a dialogue option, sometimes an environmental solution. Look for it.

Faction reputation in pacifism

Some factions reward kills. Others reward sparing. A pacifist run skews you toward the latter. Plan your faction alignment around this.

Difficulty curve

The first two chapters are the hardest because you have not yet built the systems that make pacifism viable. Once you have a mid-tier shield ship and the right crew, the run becomes manageable.

Endings available

Two of the four main endings are reachable on a pacifist run. The other two require kills. Plan your route knowing this.