Starfield Essential Guides For Early Game

Early game Starfield requires you to prioritize completing the main story quests to earn experience and acquire better gear, while also exploring planets and outposts for resources and crafting materials.

Jumping into the vast expanse of Starfield can feel overwhelming at first. Where should you go? What should you focus on? This guide will quickly point you in the right direction. Starfield essential guides for early game are crucial for a smooth start.

We’ll show you how to get the most out of your initial hours. Learn the best routes to level up and gather important resources. Following these tips will give you a good head start.

Starfield Essential Guides for Early Game

Stepping into the vast universe of Starfield can feel a bit overwhelming at first. There’s so much to see, so much to do, and so many places to explore! To help you get a good start, let’s talk about some key things you should focus on in the early hours of your adventure. Think of this as your beginner’s guide to becoming a space explorer!

Understanding Your Character and Skills

Before you even set foot on a planet, you’ll create your character. This is a big moment! You get to pick your background and traits. These choices aren’t just for looks; they affect how your character plays.

Backgrounds: Choosing Your Story

Your background is like your character’s past job or life experience. It gives you three starting skills. Think of them as areas where you’re already a little bit good at. Let’s look at a few examples:

Diplomat: Great for talking your way out of trouble, you’ll have skills in Persuasion, Commerce and Diplomacy. If you want to make friends easily and avoid fights, this could be for you.
Bounty Hunter: If you enjoy chasing down bad guys, this background gives you skills in Piloting, Targeting Control Systems, and Stealth.
Explorer: For players wanting to explore the unknown, this background gives you skills in Surveying, Geology and Lasers.

Picking a background that matches your play style is very helpful in the early game.

Traits: The Good and The Bad

Traits are special things about your character. Some are good, some are bad, and some are both! You can choose up to three traits at the start. Here’s a taste of what’s available:

Introvert: You’re better when traveling alone, but suffer a bit if you’re with companions. This is perfect for lone wolves.
Extrovert: The opposite of the Introvert trait, here you’re better when travelling with companions.
Alien DNA: You get better health and oxygen but use medical aid less efficiently.
Taskmaster: Crew members are better, but you earn less money.
Dream Home: You’ll get a cool house but will have a mortgage to pay.

Carefully read each trait before choosing! They will shape your gameplay experience.

Skills: Leveling Up Your Abilities

As you play, you’ll gain experience and level up. When you level up, you’ll get a skill point. You can use these points to make your character better at certain things. Here are some skills you should consider early on:

Boost Pack Training: This lets you fly around for short periods with your boost pack. This is very useful for exploration and getting out of sticky situations.
Piloting: Makes you better at flying your ship, and eventually it lets you use better ships!
Security: Allows you to pick locks. It is vital for getting into locked areas and finding valuable loot.
Wellness: Increases your total health.
Persuasion: Helps in talking to NPCs, often getting better outcomes.
Scanning: Allows you to get better data from scanning plants and planets, meaning more money in selling this.

Experiment with different skills to find what suits you best! Don’t worry too much about making a “perfect” build in the early game, as you can always respec your skills later in the game.

Navigating the Galaxy: Planets, Spaceports, and More

Starfield’s universe is huge. Getting around takes a bit of practice. Here’s a quick guide to traveling through space:

The Star Map: Your Guide to the Stars

The Star Map is your main tool for traveling. You use it to see all the different star systems, planets, and locations. To travel to a different planet, open the map, select where you want to go, and select travel.

Here are some things you’ll see on the Star Map:

Star Systems: These are groups of planets and moons orbiting a star.
Planets: These are where you’ll do most of your exploration and find various activities.
Spaceports: These are your landing points. They usually have a city or settlement attached to them.

Make sure to learn how to use the star map. It’s your best friend in the vast universe.

Landing and Takeoff: Making a Smooth Landing

When you arrive at a planet, you need to choose a landing spot. You can pick from pre-set locations like spaceports, or you can land anywhere on the planet’s surface. Be careful when choosing a landing spot on an unknown location, as you don’t know what enemies or resources you will find.

When it’s time to take off, your ship will automatically lift into space. You can then use the Star Map to travel elsewhere.

Fast Travel: Skipping the Long Journey

Fast travel is a quick and easy way to move between locations that you’ve already been to. When you open the Star Map, you can select known locations and fast travel directly to them. This is very helpful if you want to skip the flight time. Always keep this in mind to save you travel time.

Don’t worry about getting lost. The game helps you navigate and explore the planets as you start your adventure.

Combat: Guns, Stealth, and Tactics

You’re going to run into trouble, so knowing how to handle combat is key. Starfield gives you many options for fighting. Here’s a look at them:

Weapons: Finding the Right Firepower

There are many different types of weapons in Starfield. Here are a few of them:

Pistols: These are quick and good at close range. They don’t do a huge amount of damage but have a high firing rate and are good for most early engagements.
Rifles: They’re a good option for medium-range fights. These tend to pack more punch then pistols, and are a good go to option for all situations.
Shotguns: They are extremely powerful at close range. However, they are very slow firing and have low range, so ensure that you can close the gap before committing to a fight.
Heavy weapons: These do a large amount of damage, but are slower to use, and are typically found later on in the game.
Melee weapons: Great for stealth or close range fights, but are not a great option if you are dealing with ranged enemies.

Don’t be afraid to try out all types of weapons. You might find something you enjoy using! Remember to upgrade your weapons at workbenches to increase their effectiveness.

Stealth: The Silent Approach

Sometimes, you don’t have to fight at all. Stealth lets you sneak around enemies without being seen. Here’s how to be sneaky:

Crouch: Press the crouch button to move quietly.
Use Cover: Hide behind objects to avoid being spotted.
Silencers: Weapons can have attachments that make them quieter. These are perfect for stealth runs.
Observe enemy patrol patterns: Plan your route to avoid getting seen.

Stealth is very useful for getting the jump on enemies, getting into locked areas, and avoiding fights altogether.

Tactics: Fighting Smart

Combat in Starfield isn’t just about shooting; it’s about fighting smart. Here are a few tactical tips:

Use Cover: Hide behind objects to avoid getting shot.
Aim for the Weak Spots: Some enemies have weak spots that take more damage.
Use Grenades and other Throwables: They can help you when dealing with groups of enemies.
Don’t Be Afraid to Retreat: Sometimes, it’s better to run away and try a different approach.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep exploring and learning to make you the best space warrior.

Managing Resources: Items, Inventory, and Trading

Collecting and managing items is a crucial part of Starfield. Here’s a simple guide to help you:

Looting: Gathering Supplies

You can find items all over the place: on defeated enemies, in containers, and just lying around. Be sure to search everything you find! Here’s what you’ll be looting:

Weapons: Always check if you can find a better weapon.
Armor: Will help protect you in combat.
Ammo: You’ll need lots of it.
Aid items: Such as med packs and food to restore your health.
Resources: These are used for crafting, upgrades and research.
Credits: Money that you can use for purchasing items from vendors.

Make sure to pick up everything you can. You can always sell what you don’t need for a profit!

Your Inventory: Keeping Track of Your Stuff

Your inventory is where all your items are stored. Be sure to check it regularly, and manage your loot effectively. Some items can be sold, some can be used for crafting or research.

It is also important to note that you can be over encumbered, so be careful not to carry too many items. You can increase your maximum carry weight by spending skill points in the “Weight Lifting” Skill.

Trading: Buying and Selling

Spaceports and settlements have vendors where you can buy and sell items. Here’s a quick guide to trading:

Sell Items: Go to a vendor, select the “Sell” tab, and choose what you want to sell.
Buy Items: Go to a vendor, select the “Buy” tab, and look for what you need.
Haggle: Sometimes you can try to haggle a better price, but ensure that you have invested in the correct skills.
Check Prices: Different vendors may have different prices. It is good to go to all vendors in an area to find the best deals.

Trading is a great way to get supplies and make some extra credits. Be sure to be a shrewd business man!

Understanding Your Ship

Your ship is your home, your transportation, and your fighting machine. There are multiple aspects to your ship, so let’s break it down.

Ship Piloting

Your ability to pilot your ship comes from the skill of the same name. Invest your skill points wisely to make sure that you can get the most out of your ship. Your piloting skill will dictate how well you can maneuver, the type of ship you can use, and any special abilities that your ship can use.

Ship Upgrading

At all spaceports, you can find a ship technician. The technician will allow you to view, upgrade or purchase new ships. You can customize your ship, install new weapons, shields, and improve its overall performance.

Here are some things you may want to upgrade:

Weapons: More fire power will help when fighting pirates in the vast emptiness of space.
Shields: This will help you stay alive for longer during space combat.
Engines: A better engine will let you get to your destination faster.
Cargo Hold: A better cargo hold will let you carry more items.

It’s vital that you know the purpose that you are trying to accomplish with your ship to get the most out of your investment in ship upgrades.

Ship Combat

Space combat is an essential part of Starfield. You’ll face pirates, mercenaries, and other ships in space. Here are a few quick tips for space battles:

Use Your Weapons Wisely: Switch between your weapons to deal with shields and hull integrity.
Manage Your Power: You can change the power output to your weapons, shield or engine. Switch between them as needed.
Use Your Boost: Boost to avoid enemy fire or to get behind them.
Target specific areas: You can take out an enemy’s engines, making them easier to destroy.

Ship combat is very challenging, but you will get better as you continue your adventure. Always try to learn from your mistakes!

Making the most of your early game experience

Here are some quick tips that you may find helpful when you are starting out.

Follow the Main Quest: The main quest line will introduce you to many game mechanics and is a great way to get your adventure going.
Explore Everything: Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path and look for hidden areas and resources.
Talk to Everyone: You never know when a friendly conversation will lead to a new quest or mission.
Don’t Worry Too Much About Mistakes: Starfield is about the experience, and there are many opportunities to learn and grow.
Take it Slow: Don’t try to rush through the game; take time to enjoy the different aspects of it.

By following these guides, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled space explorer. Take your time to enjoy the journey, and always be ready to learn something new. The universe is waiting for you!

The early game in Starfield is all about learning and experimenting. Don’t be afraid to try new things, make mistakes, and explore. The vastness of the universe is ready for you, so go out there and make your mark!

Starfield Guide: 15 Things You NEED To Do First

Final Thoughts

Focus on completing main quest early for quick skill points and ship access. Loot every container you see; resources are vital. Invest in scanning and persuasion skills to aid early exploration.

Remember to build outposts for resource gathering which will help later. These initial choices greatly improve your playthrough. These ‘Starfield essential guides for early game’ provide a good start.