Starfield: Tips and tricks Starfield guide, tips

This page has the best starting tips for Starfield. The guide addresses issues related to exploration, equipment, combat, maps or completing quests.

Last update: 31 August 2023

Before you start exploring the vast galaxy in Starfield, we suggest reading the following set of starting tips. They are various tips and tricks for players new to the game. You will learn useful things about, e.g. exploring the world, collecting loot, using skills, protecting yourself from mistakes, and piloting your spaceship.

• Use the Hand Scanner as often as possible
• Use pickpocketing
• Focus on the starting main quests to unlock various powers
• Explore new locations and planets to easily collect XP
• Improve and repair the basic ship Frontier
• Do not overburden the hero
• Choose the most helpful skills
• Save the game before every risky situation
• Do not fly with contraband into systems that scan the ship
• Look for signs, road signs, and uniquely named characters

Use the Hand Scanner as often as possible

1. The scanner is theoretically supposed to be used mainly for planet examination, but it is also useful during regular exploration. Travel with the scanner equipped - it doesn't use up energy. Put it away only for fights or other interactions (initiating a conversation, using lockpicks, etc.).
2. The scanner can highlight objects and characters. This makes finding potential loot or containers that you might want look into easier. You can also read the names next to the characters and find potential interlocutors faster.

Use pickpocketing

1. Stealing from NPCs is easier in Starfield than breaking locks. You only need to unlock at least 1 level of the Theft skill. Unlike lockpicking, you don't need any consumables.
2. Search for lone NPCs and crouch behind their backs. Steal items with the highest chances of success and make quick saves before each theft attempt. The obtained items are not marked as stolen and you do not have to worry about them being taken away. Pickpocketing will allow you to easily acquire, among other things, ammunition and credits. NPCs can also carry items such as keys.

Focus on the starting main quests to unlock various powers

1. The first main quest in Starfield is very long and involves reaching the Lodge in New Atlantis. From this moment on, you can fly a bit more freely around the galaxy, but we recommend focusing on the plot.
2. The main motivator to advance in the story is unlocking access to powers. They have different actions and work similarly to the shouts from Skyrim. Progressing in the plot will also allow you, among other things, to gain a lot of XP and acquire basic equipment, such as a Boost Pack.

Explore new locations and planets to easily collect XP

1. From the very beginning of the game, you should be looking for ways to accumulate experience - this is the only way to level up and receive skill points. A great way to gain XP is to discover new places. These can be locations on the surface of a given planet and those found in the galaxy. Upon arriving at a given system, approach all planets and moons - you will receive XP for discovering each of them once you are in orbit.
2. You can also receive a lot of experience points for completing quests or eliminating stronger opponents and ships. Do not be afraid to attack enemies at higher levels, but remember to be careful during such fights.

Improve and repair the basic ship Frontier

1. You will receive the first Frontier ship in the prologue - it has low base stats. We recommend purchasing upgrades by, for example, meeting with a technician at the landing site in New Atlantis. We particularly recommend upgrading the engine, reactor, and shields, although you may also want to consider installing better weapons.
2. Try to repair hull damage immediately so that you won't easily die in future space battles. You can do that with collected parts or by paying for repairs at mechanics in major ports.
3. Do not rush to buy new ships. They are very expensive - in the meantime, you should improve your piloting skills and additionally there is a chance of receiving more free ships e.g. from faction quests.

Do not overburden the hero

1. You can check the weight of all items in the equipment menu. Avoid situations where you exceed the carrying capacity, as this can significantly slow you down or, for example, make it difficult to use the fast travel option.
2. You should hand over unnecessary items to your companion, who has a separate inventory, or transfer them to your ship's cargo hold (especially if they are crafting materials). Unwanted loot should also be sold to merchants to earn some extra credits.

Choose the most helpful skills

The first 3 skills can be unlocked by setting the hero's Background in the character creator window, and all the following ones can be unlocked with skill points. You can also level up your skills by completing their challenges and spending additional points. Do that for the most useful skills.

We recommend unlocking at least 1 level for these skills as early as possible:

1. Security - this will allow breaking into containers and closed rooms.
2. Theft - you will be able to steal things like credits, ammunition and weapons from NPCs.
3. Persuasion - proper persuasion can, for example, help you avoid difficult confrontations or make it easier to complete a mission.
4. Ballistics - will increase damage from main weapons.
5. Boost Pack - it helps in, among other things, reaching high places or safely jump off roofs.
6. Sneak - it helps in stealing items and also allows for stealth attacks.

Save the game before every risky situation

In Starfield, you can use quick, manual, and auto saves. Save the game frequently and use different slots for manual saves in case of an unexpected situation. Saving can protect you from, among other things:

1. Getting caught when trying to steal or break in - You get a fine and you may lose all stolen items, pay a penalty, end up in jail, or provoke a fight.
2. Making a conversation end badly - This is especially important in conversations where persuasion can be used. If you fail, load the previous save and try again.
3. Bad choice in the quest - Some missions, for example, allow you to choose who to give the acquired quest items to. Check all the variants by using saves to choose the best one.

Do not fly with contraband into systems that scan the ship

1. Contraband refers to items considered illegal. In the selected inhabited systems, your ship gets scanned after performing a jump and arriving at the orbit. Detected contraband can get you arrested - you will lose the items and be punished.
2. At the beginning of the game, be careful and do not visit systems with scans if you have contraband on board. Later in the game, you can try to do a little bit of smuggling - you have to hide contraband from the scanner, for example by using a scan jammer or covering the ship's cargo.

Look for signs, road signs, and uniquely named characters

1. Unfortunately, Starfield has a poorly designed local map system. Shops and NPCs are not marked on the maps, only main locations like bases or specific districts of the city. This may be a significant problem in finding important locations. Look for store names and signposts - they can lead you to new places or those you are looking for.
2. Additionally, we recommend using a scanner to locate uniquely named NPCs (instead of generic names like citizen or soldier). There is a high chance that you will be able to talk with these characters to, for example, recruit them, trade with them, or receive quests.