Starfield How To Get The Best Ship Upgrades

Starfield How to Get the Best Ship Upgrades

So, you’re soaring through the vast expanse of space in Starfield, and your ship is feeling a bit…basic? Don’t worry, every space explorer starts somewhere! Just like your character gets stronger, your ship can too. Upgrading your spacecraft is key to surviving tough battles, hauling more loot, and reaching new corners of the galaxy. Getting the best ship upgrades isn’t just about finding fancy parts; it’s about knowing where to look and how to make them work together. This guide will show you exactly how to get your hands on the best gear for your starship so you can become a true space ace.

Understanding Ship Upgrade Basics

Before diving into the specifics, let’s cover the fundamentals. In Starfield, ship upgrades aren’t about finding random loot; they’re about visiting specific locations and using credits to buy and install parts. It’s kind of like buying car parts, but for a spaceship! Here are the main things to consider:

• Ship Parts: Think of these as the building blocks of your upgraded ship. Engines make you go faster, weapons allow you to fight better, and shields keep you safe from laser fire. There are lots of different kinds of parts, each with its own special purpose and strengths.
• Ship Technician: These are the people who sell ship parts and do the actual work of fitting them to your ship. You’ll find them at major spaceports and settlements. They are your go to guys when you need new parts for your ship.
• Credits: The currency of the galaxy, you’ll need a lot of it to buy ship parts. Make sure you’re taking on missions, selling loot, and exploring the game world to earn more.
• Ship Building Skill: As you level up, you can invest skill points into the “Piloting,” “Starship Design,” and “Starship Engineering” skills in the Tech tree. These skills allow you to use better ship parts and customize your ship in exciting new ways.

Finding Ship Technicians and Shipyards

Your journey to an upgraded spacecraft begins by finding the right people and places. Ship Technicians are your lifeline. Each major spaceport has at least one, but not all of them offer the same parts. Exploring different locations is important to get the best selection of upgrades. Here are a few reliable spots to start:

New Atlantis

The capital of the United Colonies, located on Jemison in the Alpha Centauri system. You’ll find a reliable technician right at the main spaceport. She usually has a solid selection of standard ship parts, perfect for early game upgrades. Make sure to talk to her to see what she’s stocking.

Akila City

Located in the Cheyenne system, it’s the capital of the Freestar Collective. The ship technician here often stocks parts different from the New Atlantis vendor. Checking her inventory could provide access to some upgrades not available elsewhere.

Neon

A vibrant city found in the Volii system known for its unique atmosphere. The ship technician here may carry some specialized components and the vibe makes it fun to visit.

The Key

This is a more unique location, being a space station run by the Crimson Fleet, which is a pirate faction. This station is a little more dangerous to visit, but it is also possible to find some exclusive ship parts here that you won’t see anywhere else, but you’ll need to be careful doing business with them.

Other Locations

Keep your eyes open and continue exploring! Many smaller settlements and starbases scattered throughout the galaxy also have ship technicians, some may even have hidden, rare parts.

Essential Ship Upgrades and How to Get Them

Now, let’s talk about the most important upgrades that will really make your ship a force to be reckoned with. Not every ship part is created equal. Some are obviously better than others for certain jobs, here are a few areas you should start thinking about.

Engines

Engines determine how fast your ship travels, both in normal space and during combat. Better engines allow for faster travel times and more maneuverability in combat. Here is what to know about them:

• Types: There are different classes of engines (Class A, B, and C). Class A is standard for beginners, but you can use better engines as your pilot skill levels up.
• What to look for: Pay attention to the “speed” stat, of course, but also the “maneuverability” stat. A balance of both will help you both travel quickly and make tight turns in battles.
• Finding them: Good engine upgrades are often found at ship technicians at the major spaceports as well as some unique merchants on other outposts.

Weapons

Your weapons are how you protect yourself, and a ship with good firepower will have a much easier time surviving encounters with pirates and other enemies.

• Types: There are several types of weapons like lasers, ballistic cannons, and missiles. Each one has its own strengths and weakness against different enemy types.
• What to look for: Consider your play style and choose your weapons to suit it. Lasers are good for shields, while ballistic weapons are strong against hull. Missiles can deal a lot of damage.
• Finding them: Look for powerful weapons at ship technicians in major settlements and shipyards. Check them all to find a selection of different options to try out.

Shields

Shields provide an extra layer of defense against enemy fire. A ship without strong shields is easy prey.

• Types: Different types of shields have different levels of protection and regeneration rates. The shield level of a ship will be very important when you get into a fight.
• What to look for: Look for high capacity shields and shields with a fast regeneration rate so they can quickly be ready to go again after they are damaged.
• Finding them: The best shields are often located at high-level ship technicians in major cities. They are worth paying for.

Reactors

Reactors are what give your ship its power. They allow you to use more powerful components, and having a good reactor is vital to making sure everything else is performing at its best.

• Types: There are different types, each with a different power output.
• What to look for: A higher power output means you can power more modules like shields and weapons.
• Finding them: Top-end reactors are found at high-level ship technicians. These will be some of the most expensive parts you will encounter, but very worth the price.

Grav Drives

These allow you to jump between star systems. You don’t necessarily need to spend a ton of resources here early on. However, better grav drives will let you travel greater distances per jump.

• Types: There are varying strengths with different levels of max jump distance.
• What to look for: Pick a drive with a high jump range that will let you get where you need to go.
• Finding them: Find good quality grav drives at the ship technician on Akila City, New Atlantis, or other major spaceports.

Cargo Holds

If you are someone who enjoys collecting loot in your travels, you are going to need a ship that can haul all that extra stuff. You can get different types of cargo holds to increase your ship’s carry capacity.

• Types: There are various sizes of cargo holds.
• What to look for: Get the largest capacity that fits with your ship’s design and power output.
• Finding them: Any ship technician should be able to provide decent cargo holds, but as you visit more remote locations you will be able to find more unique or specialized containers.

Ship Building Skills

Skills play a very important role in what ship parts you can use. If you want to get the absolute best upgrades available, you need to dedicate some points into your ship building skills. These can be found in the Tech tree, and include:

Piloting

This skill is very important for your ability to fly bigger and better ships, but it also has some additional benefits. The higher you go, the faster you can fly, and more damage you can deal.

• Rank 1: Unlocks basic ship thrusters.
• Rank 2: Unlocks boost ability, along with reduced ship weapon energy cost.
• Rank 3: You can fly Class B ships now, as well as gaining a speed boost.
• Rank 4: You can fly Class C ships, as well as increased damage with all ship weapons.

Starship Design

This skill unlocks the ability to build and use more advanced parts for your ship. If you plan to customize your ship, this is going to be one of your most important skills.

• Rank 1: Allows you to add new modules to your ship.
• Rank 2: Unlocks advanced engine parts.
• Rank 3: Unlocks advanced shield parts.
• Rank 4: Unlocks even more advanced ship parts.

Starship Engineering

This will help you maintain your ship so you can fight at your full potential. As you increase ranks, you will also take less damage when piloting your ship.

• Rank 1: Your ship automatically gets healed by a small amount of its total health when it is low.
• Rank 2: Ship weapon damage and repair rates increase.
• Rank 3: Your ships weapons and shields receive even greater bonuses to their stats.
• Rank 4: Your ship will now automatically regenerate health more frequently when damaged.

Tips for Finding the Best Upgrades

Upgrading your ship is a journey, so here are some additional tips for making the process easier:

• Explore different systems: Don’t just stick to one system. You will need to explore to find different shops and vendors.
• Talk to everyone: NPCs will sometimes give you clues about where to find special items and upgrades, so make sure to engage in conversation as much as possible.
• Save up credits: Ship parts can be expensive, especially the top-tier ones, so be sure to do quests, sell loot, and explore for as much extra cash as you can.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment: Try different combinations of parts to see what works best for you.

Modding Your Ship

Starfield offers some great customization options for your ships. If you want to make sure your ship is not only powerful, but is also exactly how you want it, you can take your ship to a technician to modify it.

Changing Parts

At a ship technician, you can change out all the different modules in your ship. You can try different weapons, or upgrade your grav drive, engines, reactor, or shields. If you want a new part of something, you can select the part and click ‘replace’. If you find a better option, you can replace it with something stronger.

Adding new modules

If you have purchased a new ship or if you want to create a completely new ship from the ground up, you can do that, too. If you have unlocked the proper skills, you can build out all the different parts of a ship and make something special to call your own.

Customization

Finally, you can customize the appearance of your ship. While these customization options will not give you a gameplay bonus, it is always great to have a ship that looks just the way you want it.

Getting the best ship upgrades in Starfield takes time, effort, and a little bit of space savvy. Keep exploring, keep collecting credits, and keep talking to the vendors you meet along the way. You’ll be tearing through space in a vessel that’s the envy of every other space traveler in no time.