Image: Attack of the Fanboy

Starfield Mantis Letter Puzzle Solution

J.R. Waugh

and

Noah Nelson

Published: Sep 19, 2023 11:26 am

Some quests in Starfield are just innately cooler than others. In what rapidly appears to be the game’s equivalent to becoming Batman, your mission in “Mantis” is to investigate the mysterious eponymous lair that’s guarded by a difficult letter puzzle.

Starfield Mantis Letter Puzzle Solution: What Word Do You Have to Spell?

The answer is Tyrannis for the Mantis letter puzzle in Starfield. You simply have to spell the word from start to finish by walking across the corresponding floor tiles. One misstep and you’re gunned down quickly by ceiling turrets. The clue to this is in an audio log left behind by Leon Volcain, repeating the phrase “Sic semper tyrannis.”

If you have a companion, I recommend telling them to stay put until you solve the puzzle. You don’t want them making a wrong move and ruining the puzzle for you. You can come back for them after you get through the puzzle.

Also, in my playthrough, I couldn’t find the answer so I ran as fast as I could. I was able to get to the other side, open the gate, and get to safety before I took too much damage from the turrets.

Step 1: “T” — Images: Attack of the Fanboy
Step 2: “Y”
Step 3: “R”
Step 4: “A”
Step 5: “N”
Step 6: “N”
Step 7: “I”
Step 8: “S”

Spell out tyrannis, fight off some robots, and you’ll find an awesome spacesuit, along with a matching helmet and pack, and even a new ship!

What Does Sic Semper Tyrannis Mean?

Sic semper tyrannis is Latin for “thus always to tyrants” tying into the obvious motivations for the alter ego and hidden arsenal. This plays into the vigilante persona alluded to with in-game background chatter, encountered potentially as soon as you start your playthrough. While the ship you get is a clear upgrade from the Frontier, the best rewards are the suit and base left behind.

Starfield-Mantis-Letter-Puzzle-Reward — Image: Attack of the Fanboy

Leon had planned to claim his inheritance so he could “party hard” but instead wound up discovering the space Batcave. What’s the craziest gift your parents have gotten you?

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Author

J.R. Waugh

J.R. is a Staff Writer with AOTF and has been covering gaming and entertainment in the industry since 2022. Along with a B.A. in History from the University of Cincinnati, he has studied at the University of Birmingham, UK, and part of his M.A. at the University of Waterloo. You'll find J.R. particularly at home writing about the hottest manga and anime. He is highly passionate about horror, strategy, and RPGs, and anything about Star Trek or LOTR. When not ranting about fan theories or writing guides, J.R. is streaming his favorite RPGs and other forgotten gems.

Author

Noah Nelson

From his early days of blog-style music, movie, and game reviews to working as the Esports Writer at Coastline Community College, Noah Nelson now works fulltime as a Staff Writer for Attack of the Fanboy and PC Invasion. He has been helping gamers everywhere with Destiny 2 god rolls, Warzone 2 DMZ missions, and collectibles in any indie game for over a year and a half. His Bachelor's Degree in English Rhetoric and Composition with a minor in Journalism from CSULB has shaped him to be a strong writer and editor. His fondest gaming memory is playing Sly Cooper 2 after begging his mom (for hours) to play it before his birthday and he still cries myself to sleep remembering the time he accidentally saved over his 99% completion save file in Kingdom Hearts 2.