Common resources in Starfield are generally found by mining surface deposits on planets and moons, looting containers in various locations, and occasionally purchased from vendors in settlements.
Venturing into the vast expanse of Starfield, you’ll quickly realize the need for resources to craft, build, and survive. Knowing where to find common resources is crucial for any aspiring space explorer. This guide is designed to help you get started quickly, showing you the primary methods for gathering those essential items.
Understanding the basics of acquiring these materials will significantly impact your progress and enjoyment. So, let’s dive into the details of Starfield where to find common resources and set you on your way to becoming a skilled intergalactic crafter.
Starfield: Where to Find Common Resources
Alright, space explorers! You’ve jumped into the vast universe of Starfield, and you’re probably wondering where to get your hands on the stuff you need. Building outposts, crafting weapons, and upgrading your gear all require a steady supply of resources. Some of these materials are really common and thankfully, pretty easy to find once you know where to look. This section will be your guide to finding those essential common resources in Starfield, so you can keep your adventure going strong.
Understanding Resource Types
Before we dive into specific locations, let’s talk about the different types of resources you will encounter. Starfield uses a system of elements, organic materials, and manufactured components. Common resources generally fall into the “elements” category and are often found on the surfaces of planets and moons. These resources are essential for basic crafting and modifications, so keeping a supply is important.
Basic Elemental Resources
These are the building blocks of crafting in Starfield, appearing in the form of minerals, gases, and other geological materials. They include:
- Iron (Fe): One of the most fundamental resources used in various crafting recipes and base building.
- Aluminum (Al): Another widely used metal, useful for crafting modifications and structure creation.
- Copper (Cu): Essential for electronics and weapon modifications, frequently found on various planets.
- Nickel (Ni): Used in alloys and higher-tier modifications and found in various planetary crusts.
- Water (H2O): Vital for sustenance and various crafting recipes that often require organic materials.
- Helium-3 (He-3): Used for ship fuel and various advanced projects, often extracted from gas giants.
- Lead (Pb): Necessary for radiation shielding and found in various rocky planet locations.
- Argon (Ar): Primarily found as a gas on planets, used for various tech components and crafting.
Where to Look for Resources
Now comes the exciting part: finding those resources! Planets and moons in Starfield are generated with different resource deposits. The easiest way to find the locations is to explore the local systems around Jemison. Before you land, scan a planet from orbit. The planet view will show you what resources are present on that planet’s surface. Once you land, you’ll need to use your scanner (hit ‘F’ by default on PC, or the left bumper button on Xbox). While scanning, you will see the resource symbols on the ground. Look for these symbols to identify deposits. Each planet has a diverse spread of resources, and they appear as surface deposits you can interact with directly.
Planetary Surface Deposits
Most common resources are acquired directly from surface deposits. Here’s how it works:
- Scan the Planet: From orbit, check the planet’s resource profile. Make sure the resource you need is there.
- Land Your Ship: Choose a spot on the map of the planet that looks promising. Areas with different biomes often have different resources.
- Use Your Scanner: Activate your scanner using the designated key. This helps you find resource deposits in the area. Look for icons that correlate to the resources you need.
- Mine the Resources: Walk up to the resource and press the interaction key (typically ‘E’ on PC or ‘A’ on Xbox). Your character will automatically mine the resource. Keep in mind that this will cost you Oxygen.
Surface deposits are generally the easiest method of obtaining common resources. They will be marked with specific symbols when scanned, each corresponding to a unique material.
Specific Planets and Moons for Common Resources
While resources are spread throughout the Settled Systems, some locations are particularly good for specific resources. Let’s look at some notable locations, and they are often in the starting areas, making them easy to access.
Early Game Resource Hotspots
- Jemison (Alpha Centauri System): This is the planet where you start, and it’s a great starting point for resources like Iron and Aluminum. The areas around New Atlantis are good places to find these materials.
- Kreet (Narion System): A moon of Anselon in the Narion system, Kreet is a great location to gather Iron and Aluminum. It’s usually an early stop in the main storyline as well, so you’ll likely visit here anyway.
- Gagarin (Alpha Centauri System): Another planet in the starting system, you can find resources like Copper and Nickel here, which become useful for crafting weapon modifications early on.
- Vectera (Narion System): A moon orbiting Anselon, this rocky moon is usually the first location where you encounter mining outposts. The local resource deposits are rich in Iron, Aluminum and Lead.
- Montara (Cheyenne System): You can find some common resources such as Water (H2O), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), and Aluminum (Al), all these resources are necessary for crafting.
Tips for Resource Gathering
Here are a few tips to make your resource gathering trips as efficient as possible:
- Check Biomes: Different biomes on a planet often have different resource deposits. An arid desert might have a lot of iron, while a forest might be rich in organic materials. Check your planet map and look for a spot with multiple biomes in one area to maximize the resources you find in one trip.
- Use Your Scanner Effectively: Scan often! Don’t rely on just a quick once over. As you move around, scan frequently to make sure you’re not missing any nearby resources.
- Look for Clusters: Sometimes resources will be grouped together. If you find one, look around. There’s a good chance there are more deposits nearby.
- Increase your Carry Weight: The more you can carry, the less trips you’ll need to make. Certain skills can increase your carry weight, making resource gathering much easier.
- Build Outposts: Eventually, you’ll want to make outposts on planets that are rich in resources you need. Outposts help you automatically gather resources, which saves time and effort.
- Explore the Planet’s Surface: It’s not always about pinpointing a deposit with your scanner. Exploring the terrain can reveal hidden resource clusters that do not appear on your scanner until you get close enough.
Advanced Resource Gathering Methods
As you progress, you’ll eventually gain access to more sophisticated resource-gathering methods. Here’s what you need to know:
Outpost Mining
Building outposts allows you to automate the resource-gathering process. Outposts are a big step forward, allowing for automatic extraction.
Here’s how you get started with that:
- Survey Planets: Begin by scanning planets for resource deposits. You can select the resource deposit from the planet overview when you are in the planet’s orbit and a landing spot will be marked. Land at the spot.
- Build Extractors: Once you have the resources, you need to build the appropriate extractors to gather the resources you want. For example, you’ll need a Mineral Extractor for minerals, and a Gas Extractor for gases. Make sure you have adequate power source or solar panel nearby.
- Set Up Storage: You will need to store all your collected resources. Create storage containers near your extractors to hold your resources.
- Link Outposts: When you start having multiple outposts, link the outposts using cargo links. This helps you streamline the movement of resources between outposts, making your supply chain more efficient.
With outposts established, you can periodically revisit them to collect a lot of resources, or let the outpost move the resources for you. This reduces how much time you spend manually mining resources.
Buying Resources
If you don’t feel like mining or building outposts, you can also buy common resources at various vendors throughout the galaxy. Vendors in major cities like New Atlantis and Akila City stock a wide variety of resources.
- Trade Authority Kiosks: These are the most common place to buy resources, so be sure to find the local Trade Authority kiosk in each major city.
- General Stores: Many general stores on planets sell resources as well.
- Other Vendors: You might find some unique vendors who specialize in selling very specific resources, but keep in mind, it will be more expensive.
Buying resources is a quicker, easier alternative to gathering them yourself, but it’s not the most economical option. Buying resources can be handy when you just need to restock on a particular item.
Why Common Resources Matter
Common resources form the backbone of all sorts of activities in Starfield. These basic materials are very useful in many different crafting recipes. Without a good supply of them, you won’t be able to do many things in the game. Here’s a breakdown of why they’re so important:
Crafting and Modifications
From weapon modifications to base building, common resources are a crucial part of the Starfield experience. You’ll need these to make:
- Weapon Mods: Improve your damage and add new features to your favorite weapons.
- Armor Mods: Enhance your armor and make you more resistant to damage.
- Outpost Construction: You’ll need resources like Iron and Aluminum to build all the different parts of an outpost.
- Consumables: Create meals and aid items that you need during exploration and battle.
Outpost Development
Outposts are essential for automating your resource collection and developing your bases. This helps you build:
- Storage Containers: Collect your mined resources.
- Extractors: Automate the process of gathering resources from surface deposits.
- Habitation Modules: Make more areas for your crew to live comfortably.
- Research Facilities: Make new tools and technologies using advanced resources.
Ship Customization
You’ll need various resources to improve your ship. Here is how they help:
- Ship Upgrades: Enhance your ship’s performance, weapons, and defensive capabilities.
- Module Creation: Build additional components for your ship.
- Repairing Damage: Keep your ship in top condition.
Organizing Your Resources
As you collect more and more resources, keeping them organized becomes important. Here are a few tips to stay organized:
- Use Storage Containers: These are great for storing all your resources at your outposts and on your ship.
- Label Containers: Make sure to label your storage boxes so you know what’s inside, and what your boxes contain.
- Develop a System: Have a system for sorting resources so you can easily find what you need when you need it.
Keeping your resources organized will save you time in the long run. This will let you spend less time searching through boxes and more time exploring the galaxy.
Finding common resources is a key part of the Starfield experience. By understanding where to look, how to scan, and how to use your scanner effectively, you can ensure that your character is prepared for whatever challenges the universe throws at them. With these resources at hand, you can craft, construct, and continue to experience everything that Starfield has to offer.
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Final Thoughts
Finding common resources in Starfield is quite straightforward once you know where to search. Planets with varied biomes usually offer multiple types of materials. Check surface deposits or scan wildlife for organic resources.
Don’t forget to visit vendors at major settlements; they often sell common elements you might need. Focusing on these methods provides reliable ways for gathering essential materials in your journey. Ultimately, understanding these basics helps you with Starfield where to find common resources easily.
