Starfield Where To Find Rare Resources

Starfield: Where to Find Rare Resources

Venturing across the vast expanse of Starfield means you’ll need more than just a trusty laser and a keen eye. You’ll need resources, and not just any resources, but the rare kind. These materials are essential for crafting the best gear, upgrading your ship, and building impressive outposts. Finding them can sometimes feel like looking for a needle in a very, very big haystack. But don’t worry, this guide will show you where to search and what to look for, helping you become a resource-finding master in Starfield!

Understanding Resource Rarities

In Starfield, not all resources are made equal. Some are very common and you’ll find them just about anywhere, while others are hidden away in specific locations. Knowing the difference is the first step in becoming a resource expert.
Resources generally fall into categories based on their rarity:

• Common Resources: These are materials you’ll find almost everywhere. Think Iron, Aluminum, and Copper. They’re great for basic crafting and building.
• Uncommon Resources: These are a bit harder to come by, but you’ll still stumble upon them often enough. Things like Nickel, Cobalt, and Fluorine fall into this category.
• Rare Resources: Now we’re talking! Rare resources are much more elusive and require you to explore specific places. You’ll need these to make advanced items. Examples include Tantalum, Vanadium, and Antimony.
• Exotic Resources: These are the crème de la crème of resources, extremely rare, and are crucial for the most powerful equipment and upgrades. They’re found in some of the most challenging environments and often require specific mining techniques. Look for resources like Iridium, Platinum, and Gold.

The rarity of a resource often goes hand-in-hand with its value, both for trading and for crafting.

Planetary Traits and Resource Abundance

Before you go jumping from star to star, it’s important to understand that planets and moons aren’t all the same. They each have unique traits that influence the resources they possess.
Here’s how planetary traits impact resource availability:

• Temperature: Extremely hot or cold planets can yield different resources than temperate worlds. Hot planets often contain valuable metals, while cold planets may contain unique gases and minerals.
• Atmosphere: The type of atmosphere a planet has affects the types of resources you might find. For example, planets with toxic atmospheres can have specialized geological deposits containing unique materials.
• Gravity: Higher-gravity planets can have heavier resources, while lower-gravity planets might have lighter, more gaseous ones.
• Biosphere: Planets with a rich biosphere (lots of plants and animals) might have more organic resources compared to dead or barren worlds.
• Geological Activity: Planets with active volcanoes or tectonic plates may have rare resources brought up from deep within the planet’s crust.
• Magnetic Field: Planets with strong magnetic fields might have specific kinds of minerals associated with it.

Looking at these planetary traits can give you a clue about what kind of materials you might find there, so always check your scanner information when approaching a new celestial body.

Scanning for Resources

Your scanner is your best friend when searching for resources. It’s not just for spotting alien creatures; it also reveals the geological makeup of planets and points out resource deposits. Here’s how to get the most out of your scanner:

How to use the Scanner

• Open the Scanner: Press the appropriate button or key (usually ‘F’ on PC or ‘LB’ on Xbox).
• Scan the Planet: When you’re in orbit around a planet, scan it to see a list of its available resources. This will give you a general idea of what to expect.
• Scan Specific Areas: Once landed, use your scanner to look around for specific resource deposits. They’ll be highlighted with icons on your scanner.
• Identify Veins: These are richer concentrations of resources. Approach them carefully and be ready to extract the resource.

Mining Techniques

Once you’ve located a rare resource, you’ll need the right tools and knowledge to get it. Starfield offers a variety of ways to extract materials:

Hand Mining

• Laser Cutter: This is your go-to tool for hand-mining. Equip it, aim at the resource deposit, and let the beam do its work. It’s effective for small deposits but may take time with larger veins.
• Carry Weight: Keep an eye on your carry weight when hand mining. You don’t want to be over-encumbered and have to move slowly.
• Enhancing Hand Mining: Certain skills like Geology will help you find more resources through hand mining.

Using Extractors and Outposts

Setting up outposts is the most efficient way to obtain resources. Once you locate a deposit, you can build an extractor to continuously gather materials for you.

• Outpost Building: You will need the right skills to build an outpost, like Outpost Engineering and Planetary Habitation, which will help you construct more complex facilities.
• Choosing Outpost Locations: When creating an outpost look for locations with multiple resources, that will give you more options for your resource gathering.
• Extractors: There are different kinds of extractors in Starfield, like:
  • Solid Extractors: Used to mine minerals and metals.
  • Liquid Extractors: Used to extract liquids, such as water or chemicals.
  • Gas Extractors: Used to gather atmospheric gasses.
• Power and Storage: Be sure to provide enough power to the extractors and ample storage for the resources that are being mined.
• Crew and Logistics: If you want to be more efficient, you can assign crew members to man the outpost, or develop transport routes to move resources from one outpost to another.

Specific Rare Resources and Where to Find Them

Now that you understand the basics, let’s dive into some specific rare resources and locations to find them:

Tantalum

Tantalum is a valuable metal used in advanced tech and ship parts. It’s not super rare, but it’s not common either, and knowing where to look is important.

• Locations: Tantalum is commonly found on planets with rocky terrain and moderate temperatures.
• Best Places to Look: Search on planets within the Narion, Alpha Centauri, and Cheyenne systems. Specifically, look at planets like Andraphon and Sumati in the Narion system.
• Tips: Use your scanner to find the distinctive grey metallic deposits.

Vanadium

Vanadium is used in the making of advanced alloys for armor, weapons and other important gear.

• Locations: This resource is found on planets with high geological activity. Look for planets with volcanic activity.
• Best Places to Look: Planets and moons in the Olympus and Valo system are rich in Vanadium. For a more specific place look at the moon of Procyon 3.
• Tips: Vanadium deposits often appear as dark, metallic veins.

Antimony

Antimony is a crucial material for some of the most advanced shielding and other defensive tech.

• Locations: Antimony is often found on planets with extreme temperatures and is related to the planet’s core.
• Best Places to Look: Check out planets like Tau Ceti III and Decaran I in the Tau Ceti and Decaran Systems respectively.
• Tips: Look for deposits that appear crystal-like with a dull greyish color.

Iridium

Iridium is a very rare material that is used in crafting the top-tier weaponry and ship parts.

• Locations: Iridium is commonly found on planets with heavy bombardment activity and planets in close proximity to stars.
• Best Places to Look: This rare metal is found on the moons of the Schrodinger System, or the planets of the Serpentis and Kryx Systems. Specifically try planets like Nesoi or Ixyll.
• Tips: These veins shine with a bright, silvery metallic appearance.

Platinum

Platinum is another exceptionally rare resource used to make the most sophisticated equipment.

• Locations: Platinum is usually found on planets with high concentrations of minerals and in areas with frequent meteor impact.
• Best Places to Look: Search for it on planets like Akila, or the icy moons in the Lunara system.
• Tips: Platinum deposits often appear like small sparkling metallic veins.

Gold

Gold is one of the rarest metals in the game, not only is it used in crafting but also is an excellent trading resource.

• Locations: Gold is found on planets with active tectonic plates and volcanic activity.
• Best Places to Look: You might be able to find it in the volcanic regions of the planets in the Volii System.
• Tips: Gold veins have a bright yellow metallic shine.

Tips for Efficient Resource Hunting

Here are some extra tips to make your resource gathering faster and more effective:

• Level Up Skills: Invest in skills related to geology, surveying, and outpost engineering. These will drastically improve your ability to find and extract resources.
• Use Your Ship’s Scanner: Upgrade your ship’s scanner for extended range and better detection of resources while in orbit.
• Exploration Is Key: Don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path. Some of the best resource deposits are found in less-traveled systems.
• Trade Smart: If you’re having trouble finding a specific resource, check with vendors. They sometimes sell rare materials.
• Join Factions: Some factions may give access to exclusive resource-rich regions or supply chains.
• Keep Notes: Make notes of planets and moons that have resources you need to go back for later.

Finding rare resources in Starfield is an adventure in itself. It’s about exploration, knowledge, and patience. Keep using your scanner, explore every corner, and eventually, you’ll have everything you need to build amazing outposts, craft legendary gear, and become a true master of the stars.