Starfield Best Tips To Improve Your Gameplay

Starfield Best Tips to Improve Your Gameplay

Ready to become a space legend in Starfield? It’s a huge game with lots to see and do, and getting started can feel a bit overwhelming. Don’t worry, though! This guide will give you the best tips to make your journey through the stars a whole lot easier and more fun. We’ll cover everything from combat strategies to crafting, exploration, and even how to manage your ship like a pro. Let’s dive in and get you playing like a seasoned space explorer!

Early Game Essentials: Setting Yourself Up for Success

The beginning of Starfield is crucial for building a solid foundation. These are the things you should focus on in those first few hours to make the rest of your adventure smoother:

Character Creation Choices Matter

Your character’s background and traits have a real impact on how you play the game. Some backgrounds give you specific skills right from the start, which can be super helpful. For example, if you like talking your way out of trouble, a Diplomat background would be a good pick. If you’d rather shoot your way through it all, then a Bounty Hunter might be more your style. When choosing traits, think about your play style. Some traits give great benefits but come with downsides. For instance, the “Hero Worshipped” trait gives you a fan who shows up randomly but can be annoying. Take a moment to read what each background and trait offers, and pick ones that fit how you like to play.

Embrace the Main Quest (At First)

While it’s tempting to immediately go off exploring every planet, sticking with the main quest line in the early hours is beneficial. This will introduce you to important gameplay mechanics like ship combat, crafting, and character progression. Plus, the initial quests offer great rewards, like better weapons, armor, and even a free ship upgrade. Don’t get too lost in the vastness too early. Follow the story a little to gain an edge.

Loot EVERYTHING (and then sell it)

In Starfield, even the smallest objects can be useful. Grab every piece of junk, every food item, and every piece of gear you find. Much of it can be used for crafting, and the rest can be sold for credits, the game’s currency. At the beginning of the game, having a good flow of money is important to purchase better gear and ship upgrades. Don’t pass on items that might not seem super valuable right away.

Don’t Neglect Scanning

Scanning plants, animals, and even minerals on planets is not just for completionists. It’s an important source of experience and crafting resources. It’s also how you earn credits when you sell your findings at any of the trade kiosks in major cities. It also gives you a better understanding of each planet’s resources. Be sure to bring a scanner along on your adventure!

Mastering Combat in Starfield

Combat is a big part of Starfield, so it’s good to get the hang of it. Here are some ways to improve your shooting skills and survive even the toughest firefights:

Understand Your Weapons

Starfield has a lot of different weapons, and each one handles a bit differently. Experiment with various guns to find what you like. Some guns are better at close range, while others are ideal for sniping from afar. Look at the stats: damage, accuracy, range, rate of fire, etc. Knowing what your weapon is good at will help you use it better in battles. Also, consider the ammo type; some enemies are more vulnerable to certain types of damage, so carrying a varied loadout is ideal.

Use Cover and Movement

Going in guns blazing can be fun, but it’s not the best way to survive, especially on higher difficulties. Use cover to your advantage. Peek out to fire and then get back behind something solid to avoid taking damage. Movement is also key. Don’t stand still. Keep moving around the battlefield to make yourself a harder target to hit. This will help you stay alive in chaotic fights.

Don’t Forget Grenades and Mines

Grenades and mines are more important than you might think. They can help you deal with enemies that are bunched together or flush out foes hiding behind cover. They’re great for setting traps or getting the upper hand in a tight situation. Don’t hoard them; they’re meant to be used!

Boost Pack Proficiency

The boost pack isn’t just for getting to high places; it’s also a vital combat tool. Use it to quickly move around during battles, close the gap on ranged attackers, or even to get out of trouble in a hurry. Practice using it to navigate the battlefield. You’ll soon find it is invaluable during combat situations.

Don’t Forget Melee Attacks

While gunfights might be your go-to, don’t forget about melee attacks. Sometimes, you just run out of ammo, or you’re in a tight spot. Melee is a fast way to deal damage, and it is especially helpful against enemies with low health. Plus, it doesn’t require any ammo. Remember, sometimes a good old punch can solve a problem.

Ship Management and Space Combat

Your ship is more than just transportation; it’s a mobile base, a weapon, and a gateway to adventure. Getting good at ship management and combat will be key to your success in Starfield.

Understanding Ship Components

Your ship is made of different parts, and each part has its own function. The reactor powers your ship, the engines control your speed, and the weapons do the damage. When you get the chance, it’s a good idea to think about upgrading the ship. Better parts mean better combat capability. Keep an eye out for better parts you can find or buy to make your ship a formidable vessel.

The Importance of Crew Skills

Your crew is not just there for fun, they also affect your ship stats. Crew members with the right skills can improve your ship’s weapon damage, repair rate, and other stats. Make sure to assign your crew to ship duties that match their abilities. This boosts your performance in battles and makes your life easier on long journeys. Remember, a good crew can make or break a difficult situation.

Space Combat Maneuvers

Space battles can be tricky at first, but with a few tips, you’ll be dogfighting like a pro. Use your boost to make quick turns and avoid enemy fire. Try to stay behind enemy ships to keep them out of your line of fire. Use the throttle to adjust your speed. Sometimes, slowing down helps get the enemy in your sights. Practice makes perfect in space combat, so don’t be afraid to try new tactics.

Shields and Weapon Management

Managing your ship’s energy is crucial. You can direct power to your shields, weapons, or engines depending on your needs. If you’re taking a lot of damage, boost your shields. If you want to finish off an enemy fast, put more power into your weapons. Knowing how to manage your power distribution is a big part of winning a space battle. Also, keep an eye on your ship’s health. If it gets too low, try to find a safe spot to repair.

Ship Upgrades Are Essential

Don’t stick with your initial ship for too long; it’s important to upgrade or purchase better vessels as you progress. As you level up, you’ll gain access to better ship parts that drastically improve performance. Also, consider the storage space. A bigger ship can carry more resources, which means less trips back and forth to vendors and more adventures.

Crafting and Resource Management

Crafting is an important part of Starfield. Here’s how to make the most of it.

The Importance of Outposts

Outposts are like your own little space bases and they’re vital for resource collection and crafting. You can build them on planets to extract resources automatically. These resources are then used to craft gear, weapon mods, and even help upgrade your ship. Start building outposts early on to gain a steady supply of crafting materials.

Resource Gathering Efficiently

Don’t just gather the most common resources. Keep an eye out for rarer ones that are needed for higher-level crafting recipes. Having a variety of resources will make you less likely to get stuck while trying to craft important items. Always keep a good supply of basic resources like iron, aluminum, and nickel, since many recipes need them.

Research Projects

Before you can craft the best things, you need to do some research. Research projects will help you learn new crafting recipes. This involves gathering specific resources and using them at research tables in cities or your outposts. Always try to research new items to keep your gear updated and up to the task.

Crafting Bench Skills

Skills can influence crafting effectiveness. Skills that improve your crafting will help you make better gear. They might even save you some resources along the way. So, when you level up, always consider whether some of your skill points should be spent on crafting. Keep an eye out for weapon and armor mods that can improve your effectiveness in battles.

Managing Your Inventory

Your inventory can get cluttered quickly with all the resources, items and junk you collect. Good inventory management is key to making your life easier. Try to store resources in your ship’s cargo hold. This keeps your character from being overloaded. Consider selling any junk you don’t need and use your storage space wisely.

Exploration and Navigation

Starfield is all about exploring. Here’s how to make the most of your time among the stars.

Use the Starmap Wisely

The starmap is your navigation tool. Take time to learn how to use it properly. Look at different star systems and planets. Pay attention to the resources that are available on each planet. The starmap also displays which locations you’ve already visited. This is helpful when you’re trying to complete missions or revisit key locations. Use the starmap to plan your route and discover new places.

Scanning Planets Completely

When you visit a new planet, scan everything you can. This will help you fill out your planet data and potentially find special resources or places. Scanning is a good way to learn what each planet has to offer. Complete scans are also necessary for survey missions and can earn you extra credits and experience.

Don’t Be Afraid to Explore

Venture off the beaten path. Many hidden gems and secrets are waiting to be found. You might stumble upon a hidden outpost, a unique creature, or even a mysterious location. Be curious and explore every nook and cranny. You never know what you might find when you step outside of the norm.

Fast Travel strategically

Fast travel makes traveling to places you’ve already been to fast. Use it to save time when you’re traveling between locations. Don’t use fast travel all the time, though. Exploring on foot is a great way to find extra resources and complete hidden missions, but don’t shy away from fast travel when you are in a hurry or want to save time.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

Watch out for environmental hazards while you explore. Some planets have dangerous weather, radiation, or creatures. Be aware of your surroundings and prepare for any challenges that may come your way. Always be ready to adapt to the circumstances.

Skills and Character Progression

Skills are how you improve your character in Starfield. Choosing the right ones is important for your style of play.

Choosing Skills Based on Playstyle

When you level up, carefully choose which skills to improve. If you like stealth, then skills that make you quieter and better with silenced weapons are good choices. If you like to craft, choose those kinds of skills. Also, some skills are very helpful to have, such as lockpicking, boost pack training, and more. Think about how you play the game, and choose skills that match that playstyle. Having skills that complement each other helps you become a powerful force in the game.

Don’t spread Skill Points Too Thin

It can be tempting to try a bit of every skill, but it’s more helpful to focus on the skills that matter most to you. A few high-level skills can often be more effective than many low-level skills. Focus on skills you use often and try to rank them up as high as possible.

Complete Challenges To Rank Skills

Once you unlock a skill, you need to do certain things to increase its rank. For example, if you have a weapon skill, you’ll need to use that weapon to level up the skill. Pay attention to the challenges you need to complete, and focus on doing them while you play. This will increase your skills efficiently.

Use Skill Magazines

Don’t forget to look out for skill magazines while exploring. These magazines grant temporary stat boosts. Look around for them in different locations; they help you to improve some of your stats for a while. The effects can be beneficial, especially when you’re in a tough situation.

Reconsider Your Choices

If you find you are not liking your current build, don’t worry. You can respec your character by visiting a certain location in the game. This allows you to reallocate your skill points. You do not need to worry about making a poor choice because you can always change it. You can always change your character build to fit your playstyle later on.

Tips for a Smoother Gameplay Experience

Here are some general tips that don’t fit into a specific category, but will help your overall enjoyment of the game.

Save Often

Starfield is a big game with a lot of things that can go wrong. If you get into a tough situation or make a wrong decision, you’ll be grateful that you saved your game recently. Remember to save before major battles, while exploring, or after making significant progress. Save often and you will thank yourself later.

Adjust the Difficulty

If you are struggling, don’t be afraid to lower the game’s difficulty. It’s more important that you enjoy the game. Also, you can raise the difficulty if the game is too easy. You can change the difficulty level in the settings at any time. Find a setting that is fun for you and don’t be afraid to adjust it.

Talk to Everyone

Talking to non-player characters (NPCs) is a great way to learn more about the game’s world, get new quests, and find hidden locations. Even a simple conversation can reveal new opportunities or helpful information. If you have time, talk to the NPCs. They are not just there as decorations.

Take Breaks

Starfield is a massive game, and it can be easy to get lost in it. It’s important to take breaks and not burn yourself out. Step away from the game for a little while and refresh your mind. You’ll come back ready to explore more when your mind is fresh.

Use the Photo Mode

Take advantage of the photo mode to capture your adventures. It’s a fun way to take beautiful pictures of your discoveries. The photo mode lets you pause the game and arrange a shot to save or share with others. Make memories of your adventures.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a space exploration pro. Have fun exploring and make your own legends in Starfield!