‘To play Starfield better, prioritize ship upgrades, explore thoroughly for resources, and actively engage with the skill system.’
So, you’re venturing into the vast expanse of space with Starfield, right? It’s a huge game, and knowing where to focus can significantly improve your experience. This isn’t just about getting by; it’s about thriving.
We’ve got a few pointers to make sure your journey is a smooth one.
Improving your gameplay in Starfield essential ways to play better can be achieved by making smart choices early. Focus on those things and see how the galaxy bends to your will.
Starfield Essential Ways to Play Better
So, you’ve jumped into the vast universe of Starfield, huh? It’s a pretty big place, with tons to see and do! Maybe you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, or maybe you’re just looking for tips to make your space journey even smoother. Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’re going to explore some key ways to get better at Starfield, from fighting bad guys to building amazing outposts.
Understanding Your Character: Skills and Backgrounds
Before you even take off, you get to pick your character’s background and choose starting skills. This is super important! Think of it like picking your superpower for the game. Your background gives you three starting skills, and these can really change how you play. For example, if you pick ‘Bounty Hunter,’ you’ll start with skills good for combat and getting paid. If you pick ‘Diplomat,’ you’ll be better at talking your way out of trouble.
Here’s a quick look at what makes picking the right background so helpful:
- Gives you a head start: The skills that come with your background jumpstart your development in key areas.
- Shapes your gameplay: If you enjoy sneaky characters, a background like ‘Cyber Runner’ is perfect, while ‘Combat Medic’ is good for those who like to heal while they fight.
- Helps with choices: Some skill checks in dialogs will become way easier depending on your background. So if you pick a background that has persuasion as starting skill then in dialog you can choose the persuasion option and most likely, you will succeed.
When choosing skills remember that the higher your skill level, the more benefits you get. Investing points into the skills which you use frequently will make you more efficient in those areas. For example, if you choose to level up the ‘ballistics’ skill you will increase the damage you do with ballistic guns and also reload them faster. So investing in skill points is crucial.
It’s wise to look at the full skill tree and think about the kind of character you want to play. Do you want to be a stealthy space pirate, a charismatic explorer, or a powerful soldier? Knowing your preferred playstyle can guide your skill choices, making your adventure much more enjoyable.
Combat Strategies: Fighting Smart, Not Just Hard
Space combat and gunfights are big parts of Starfield. Just running in and shooting won’t always work. Here are some smart ways to win fights:
Space Combat Tips
Space battles can be tricky, but with some practice, you’ll be soaring through the stars like a pro. Here are some pointers to keep you alive in space:
- Use Your Shields: Shields are your first line of defense. When they’re down, you’re much more vulnerable to damage. Be mindful of your shields and regenerate them whenever they are depleted.
- Target Enemy Engines and Weapons: Destroying the engines of enemy ships makes them easier to take down. Targeting their weapon systems can reduce the damage they deal to you. So always, prioritize to target these two sections in space battles.
- Maneuverability is Key: Use your thrusters to dodge enemy fire. You can move quickly in any direction and keep your enemy ships in front of you and always firing on your opponent ships.
- Upgrade Your Ship: As you progress, improve your ship’s shields, weapons, and engines. The better your ship, the easier the fights become. You can upgrade the different parts of the ship using credits at the ship services technicians in major cities.
On-Foot Combat Tactics
When you’re fighting on the ground, using cover is super important. Don’t just stand out in the open, you’ll get shot! Using the environment to your advantage is a big part of the game. Here are some tips:
- Take Cover: Hide behind walls, crates, and anything else that blocks bullets. Move from cover to cover to stay safe.
- Use Different Weapon Types: Some enemies are more vulnerable to certain types of damage. Experiment with different weapons, like lasers, ballistic guns, and melee weapons to see what works best.
- Use your scanner: Before engaging enemies, scan them. The scanner will show you the weaknesses of your enemies which will help you strategize.
- Don’t forget about grenades: Explosives can make a huge impact in a battle, use them wisely and it will make the fight easy for you.
Resource Management: Scavenging and Crafting Like a Pro
In Starfield, you’ll need to gather resources. They’re used for everything from upgrading your weapons to building outposts. You can find resources all over, by mining, looting enemies, and exploring planets. Efficient resource management is key to success.
How to Find Resources
Resources are everywhere in Starfield, you just need to know where to look:
- Planetary Mining: On planets, you will find different mineral deposits that you can mine. You will need to take out the cutter to mine the minerals.
- Looting Enemies and Containers: Enemies and chests in different locations can contain valuable resources. So always make sure to loot the enemies you kill and open all the chests you can find.
- Buying from Vendors: Sometimes, the easiest way to get certain resources is to buy them from vendors in the different cities.
Crafting Items
Once you have resources, you can use them to create useful items. Here’s how crafting works in Starfield:
- Workbenches: You need a workbench to create items. You can find them in cities and in your ship.
- Research: Use the research lab to research new crafting projects and unlock better gear.
- Crafting is essential: Crafting can make you the most powerful gear in the game and you can also craft many useful resources like medpacks or ammo.
Ship Building and Customization: Create Your Dream Spaceship
Your ship is your home in Starfield. You can customize it to fit your needs. From cargo space to weapon loadout, you have full control of how you want your ship to function. Building the perfect ship is crucial for long-term success and also to fight in space battles.
Ship Customization
Here are a few ways to customize your ship:
- Ship Parts: Change out ship parts to improve speed, damage, shields and cargo space.
- Weapons: Add new lasers, cannons, and other weapons to destroy your enemies in space.
- Painting: You can also paint your ship with different colors and add decals.
Building from Scratch
If you want, you can build a ship from the ground up. You’ll need to earn credits and buy different ship components from different vendors. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Shipbuilder: In different major cities, you can find the ship services technicians. You can access the shipbuilder from here and customize your ship or build a new ship from scratch.
- Ship Parts: Each part is going to effect the stats of your ship. Engine determines the speed, reactor determines the amount of power you can utilize for weapons and other important parts, shields determine your defense and so on.
- Experimentation: Try out different designs and see what works best for your play style.
Exploration and Planet Surveying: Getting the Most Out of Discovery
Starfield is full of planets just waiting to be explored. Exploring planets is not only about going around and looking at the environment, but it is also about scanning the flora and fauna. Doing this is important, and it will reward you with XP and resources.
Scanning and Surveying
Here are some important tips:
- Use your Scanner: Scan plants, animals, and minerals to get data and resources.
- Complete Surveys: Fully surveying a planet gives you a ton of experience and other rewards.
- Outposts: If you find a lot of the same resources in a particular location of a planet, you can consider building outposts and extract resources with automatic machines.
Tips for Exploration
Making exploration is easy if you follow this guidance:
- Go slow: Don’t rush. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. The environment is beautifully made and it’s fun to just take your time and observe it.
- Follow markers: When exploring, if you find any marker then definitely go there as these can contain valuable rewards.
- Pay Attention to your Scanner: If you see that your scanner is showing some unique resources, then investigate it further.
Outpost Building: Creating Your Space Base
Building outposts is a great way to gain resources automatically and also to have a personal base. It can be as big or as small as you like, depending on your style. You can create outposts anywhere on any planet. It’s up to you what you want to do with them.
How to Start an Outpost
- Find a Good Location: Look for places with lots of resources.
- Place a Beacon: Use the outpost beacon to create your base.
- Build Structures: Add resource extractors, storage containers, and living quarters.
Managing Your Outposts
Once you have a functioning base, you need to maintain it. Here’s how:
- Keep Everything Powered: Make sure your outposts have enough power. You can use solar panels or generators for power supply.
- Hire Crew Members: If you want someone to look after the base, then hire crew members for your base.
- Upgrade your outpost: You can always upgrade your outpost to increase the production and storage capacities.
Questing and Story Progression: How to Make the Most of It
Starfield has a huge story and many side quests. Here’s how to make the most of them:
Main Story Quests
The main story is a huge part of the game, and here are a few tips to keep in mind while progressing:
- Follow the Story: Pay attention to the main story, it will guide you to different parts of the universe.
- Talk to Characters: Conversations can uncover important information.
Side Quests
There are tons of side quests to complete and here is why you should consider doing them:
- More rewards: Side quests give you experience, credits, and items.
- Explore the Universe: Side quests allow you to visit new places.
- Improve skills: Some of the side quests will improve your skills, making them important.
Understanding Factions: Choosing Your Allies
There are many factions in Starfield, and each faction has a different goal. The way you interact with them changes the game. Picking factions is an important part of the game, because it can change the story.
Main Factions
Here are the main factions in Starfield:
- Constellation: The main faction involved in the main story line.
- United Colonies: A major power that maintains law and order in settled space.
- Freestar Collective: This is another major power which prioritizes the freedom and independence of its members.
- Ryujin Industries: A megacorporation known for its research and technological advancements.
- Crimson Fleet: This is a space pirate faction, so be careful when interacting with them.
How Factions Work
Here’s how factions work in Starfield:
- Your reputation: Your actions affect how the factions see you.
- Quest lines: Each faction has their own quests and stories, so picking a faction can be a fun choice.
- Choose carefully: Choose a faction that matches your play style.
Making the Most of Your Crew: Companions and Their Benefits
You’re not alone in Starfield! You can have companions join your crew, and each has their own special abilities. They can help you in combat, carry items, and even give you quests.
Finding Companions
- Main Questline: Some companions are part of the main quest and you will meet them through it.
- Side Quests: Some companions can be found by completing different side quests.
- Exploring: Some companions can also be found randomly throughout the universe by exploring.
Benefits of Companions
- Combat Support: Companions can help you in battle and sometimes, they can tank damage for you.
- Carry Items: Companions have their own inventory, and they can carry your loot for you.
- Unique Skills: Companions have different skills that can benefit you.
Tips for Beginners: Getting Started Right
If you’re new to Starfield, here are some simple tips to help you get started:
- Follow the Main Quest: The main quest line is a great place to start and it will show you the ropes.
- Explore: Don’t be afraid to explore. There are many new places to visit in Starfield.
- Experiment: Try out different skills, weapons, and playstyles.
- Don’t Rush: Take your time and enjoy the game. There are many things to explore, so don’t rush it.
By following these tips, you’ll be navigating the cosmos like a seasoned space explorer in no time. Starfield is a big game with lots to offer, so don’t be afraid to try new things and have fun!
Crucial Details YOU MUST KNOW Before Playing Starfield
Final Thoughts
Focus on exploration, craft items, and invest in key skills. These actions significantly improve your Starfield experience. Scavenging for resources is a must.
Prioritizing ship upgrades and outfitting your character also helps. Combat encounters become easier with better weapons and armor. Remember, careful planning goes far to victory.
Apply these points and you’ll notice major improvements. These Starfield essential ways to play better will enhance your time in the game. The game becomes more enjoyable.



