Starfield Resource Gathering Locations

Starfield Resource Gathering Locations

Alright, space explorers! So you’ve jumped into the vast universe of Starfield, built your first ship, and maybe even tangled with a few space pirates. But now you’re realizing that to really make a name for yourself, and build awesome outposts and gear, you’re going to need some resources. And lots of them! Lucky for you, the galaxy is overflowing with minerals, plants, and other goodies just waiting to be collected. This guide will help you navigate the sometimes tricky world of resource gathering in Starfield and point you to some prime locations to start filling your cargo hold.

Understanding Resource Types in Starfield

Before we blast off to specific planets, let’s talk about the different types of resources you’ll come across. Starfield’s resource system is pretty detailed, with a variety of elements and organic materials to be found. These resources are mainly divided into two categories:

Inorganic Resources

These are your basic minerals and metals. Think stuff like iron, aluminum, copper, and more exotic materials like beryllium and tungsten. You’ll find these all over the place, usually in the form of rocks and mineral deposits on planet surfaces. These are crucial for crafting weapons, armor, ship parts, and building those fantastic outposts we all dream about.

• Iron (Fe): Very common, used in a lot of basic recipes.
• Aluminum (Al): Another common material, great for building.
• Copper (Cu): Needed for electronics and various ship components.
• Nickel (Ni): Used in more advanced crafting projects.
• Cobalt (Co): Useful in crafting stronger materials.
• Gold (Au): A precious metal, valuable for crafting and selling.
• Silver (Ag): Another valuable metal, often used with Gold.

Organic Resources

These resources are things you get from plants, animals, and other living things (or things that used to be living). You will mostly find these from creatures or plants or from the atmosphere. They’re important for crafting medicine, food, and some unique crafting items. Some organic resources can also have special effects, like boosting your health or improving your crafting abilities.

• Fiber: Obtained from plants, used in basic crafting.
• Nutrients: Essential for crafting food items.
• Adhesive: Often found from creatures or plants, used in crafting.
• Toxins: Used for making more advanced items.
• Sealant: Needed for outposts, often found from plants

There are many more specific resources which we will explore in the next section on how to find them, we will also explain more advanced and rare resources there.

How to Find Resources: A Guide for Budding Miners and Gatherers

Alright, now that we know what we’re looking for, let’s talk about how to actually find these resources. Starfield gives you a few different methods, so you can choose what suits your play style.

Surveying Planets

This is your best friend when you’re on the hunt for specific resources. When you land on a planet, bring out your scanner (press ‘F’ on PC, ‘LB’ on Xbox). Scan the area, and look for planet markers. When you scan a marker it will tell you information about that marker such as the name of it, the resources available there, if there are any other things to do, like locations, and what creatures or plants can be found in that area.

By scanning the planet before going there, you will see a full list of resources available on that planet. This is very important because different planets contain different resources, so choosing the correct planet is very important for specific resource farming.

Using the Cutter

Once you have surveyed a location, it’s time to get your hands dirty! Equip your cutter (it’s like a laser pickaxe). When you are on a planet walk around till you see a deposit of resources. Then aim at the resource, press the fire button and you will start mining that resource, when you have completely finished, the resource will disappear. It’s good to know that most of the resources you need are in the form of big rock deposits or from small plants around the area. When you find a deposit, keep blasting it until it breaks apart, and you have harvested all of it.

Some resources, especially organic ones, require a different touch. They are not rocks, and they are often gathered from plants and animals. So you will be required to interact with it for getting the resources, it’s usually a matter of pressing ‘E’ on PC, ‘A’ on Xbox when prompted. When you are done getting the resources, the plants will disappear or the animal will stop dropping resources.

Outpost Extractors

If you are serious about crafting and you want a more hands-off approach to resource gathering, then outposts are your best bet. Once you have established a good outpost location where there are multiple resources available, then start placing resource extractors on each resource deposit. These extractors will work automatically, and you will be able to check the extractors regularly to collect the resources. These resources will be added to your inventory or to the storage containers you set up in your outpost.

Buying Resources

If you need resources in a hurry, you can also buy them from vendors at major settlements or space stations. However, this is not the most cost-effective method in the long run, but sometimes if you need specific resources quickly this could be the only way. You will also see vendors often have very limited quantity so you can’t fully depend on vendors to get all the resources you need. So it is important to know planet resources and locations.

Top Resource Gathering Locations

Now for the real meat of this article! Here are some great planets to check out for specific resources. Keep in mind that the availability of resources can be affected by the level of the system that you are in, and the planet you are on. A good rule of thumb to remember is that resources in more higher-level systems are usually better and more valuable resources compared to low-level systems.

Early-Game Resource Hotspots

Kreet (Narion System)

This moon is very close to the beginning location in Starfield, so it is a perfect location to get your first resources. It has a variety of common minerals and is good for getting the basic resources you need for early crafting and outpost building. You will find Iron, Aluminium, and Water here. Kreet is also a good location for early experience gathering and for completing missions in the area.

Vectera (Narion System)

This planet in Narion system is also very good for getting some early resources like Iron, Aluminum, Beryllium and Water. There are also some plants and creatures that can be gathered in this planet. Vectera is also part of a key story mission, so you will be able to collect resources while doing story related activities there.

Aranae III (Aranae System)

If you are exploring the system Aranae, then Aranae III is a good planet for some easy gathering. This planet has Iron, Aluminum, Beryllium, and Copper which is perfect for your early-game resources. You will also be able to find some interesting flora and fauna here for getting some unique organic resources.

Mid-Game Resource Locations

Tau Ceti II (Tau Ceti System)

This planet has many unique resources which can be used for your mid-game crafting and outposts. You can find Iron, Aluminum, Nickel, Cobalt, and Tungsten here, which is an ideal combination for those advanced crafting recipes. Tau Ceti II is a good place to set up an outpost because of the abundance of resources.

Andraphon (Narion System)

This moon in the Narion system has Iron, Aluminum, and Vanadium. The presence of Vanadium makes this moon very interesting as it is a very useful element in creating more advanced items. This is a good location to establish outposts, as the resources are abundant.

Jemison (Alpha Centauri System)

You might think that you will only do story and mission here, but Jemison is also very useful for getting resources. Even though it’s a story related planet, and you will likely spend a lot of time here, it has some common resources. You can get Aluminum, Lead, and Chlorine in Jemison, this also is one of the main locations where you will establish your first outpost.

Late-Game and Rare Resource Spots

Decaran I (Decaran System)

If you are looking for rare resources, then Decaran I is your location. This planet has some unique resources which are not available in any other planet which makes it perfect for the endgame recipes. You will find Plutonium, Vanadium, and Antimony here, which are very important for advanced crafting and outpost builds. It’s recommended you go there when you have some good gears and are around mid to late game.

Huygen III (Huygens System)

This planet in the Huygens System contains a lot of rare resources. You can find Silver, Gold, and Platinum here, which are very important for high-end crafting, ship parts, and for getting rich. Huygen III can be challenging to travel to, due to its system being in the higher-level range, so make sure you are prepared when you go there.

Zeta Ophiuchi I (Zeta Ophiuchi System)

This planet is located in the high level system, Zeta Ophiuchi. Zeta Ophiuchi I is known for having a large collection of rare resources. You will find resources like Iridium, Palladium, and Tantalum here, which are essential for the best armor and weapons. This location is perfect for end-game players who are seeking the very best resources.

Tips for Efficient Resource Gathering

Okay, you’ve got the locations and the methods down. Here are some extra tips to make your resource runs even more productive:

• Upgrade Your Cutter: Visit any weapon merchant and purchase upgrades for your cutter. This will let you mine faster and more efficiently.
• Boost Your Carry Weight: It’s important to invest in skills that increase carry capacity, like Weight Lifting, so you can carry more resources before needing to unload.
• Ship Cargo: Make sure you have a ship with a large cargo hold. There are many upgrades available to your ship that you can use to increase storage.
• Bring a Companion: Certain companions have skills that boost resource gathering or reduce the weight of resources.
• Use the Local Map: The local map shows resource deposits. So, make sure to use it to spot areas that you have not explored yet.
• Set Up Cargo Links: Cargo Links will allow you to transport resources between multiple outposts automatically, it is very helpful in managing multiple outposts.

Resource gathering is a fundamental part of Starfield. So, learning the system well and making use of our tips will allow you to experience all that the game has to offer. So pack your cutter, fuel up your ship, and get ready to explore the vast universe of Starfield for the resources you will need. Happy gathering!