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My Starfield tips and tricks will get you off to a flying start in this spacefaring adventure across the Settled Systems. There's a lot to learn here with combat, skills, exploration, dialogue, missions, and shipbuilding just some of the major parts of Starfield you'll want to master. There are lots of mechanics and various systems to understand and, for beginners, that can be quite overwhelming. Even as an old space pro you might struggle if you're coming back to the game after a while away. So these are the Starfield tips that we wish we knew before we started the game.
1. Scan all the time to find useful items
You'll use your scanner a lot as you explore planets to spot resources and identify creatures. However, it also highlights any nearby items you can pick up, or containers you can loot, in blue. This is incredibly useful when searching cluttered areas for things, or to find containers that may be partially out of sight. So pop your scanner on regularly when exploring to make sure you don't miss anything.
2. Use fast travel on planets to avoid long journeys
There are several ways to fast travel in Starfield that will save you time as you explore. While on planets switch to your scanner and then center it on an icon for any landmark you've already visited to fast travel to that location. For further distances, you can access the Starmap then expand the system you want to visit, before drilling down to the planet and setting the landing target to fast travel there. Just beware that if you have Contraband on your ship, or there's another reason your ship can't fly directly into your chosen system, then this option to set a landing target will not be available, which is also a good early warning method to stop you getting arrested by going somewhere you shouldn't.
3. Use the Transfer options to preview gear before taking it
You're going to be spending a lot of time looting items and, due to a limited carrying capacity, you want to make sure what you pick up is worth it. This is especially true for spacesuits and helmets which weight loads, so you don't want to load up with stuff you don't want. When you highlight a container or body to loot it, use the Transfer prompt to get look at the stats. You can also use the Compare to Equipped option to see if it's better than anything you already have.
4. Only pick up the resources you need
There's a mountain of materials, elements, and other resources you can harvest. But, if you grab everything all the time you'll regularly struggle with Starfield encumbrance. Instead, using the Starfield crafting and research menus, you can use the Track prompt at the bottom of the screen to place a small magnifying glass icon against resources you need. That way you'll instantly be able to see if you actually need anything when you examine it.
5. Digipicks and ammo are common if you loot regularly
You'll be getting through plenty of Digipicks to pick locks in Starfield and ammo as you fight. That means you can get through a lot of both, but don't worry too much as both are reasonably common if you just do a bit of exploring regularly. Have a snoop around a few random bases and you'll almost certainly find more things to stock up easily. For ammo, also make sure you're searching every Ammo Case you see and looting the contents.
6. Always use the Cargo Hold on yours, and enemy, ships
Towards the front of every ship, usually to the side and just behind the Pilot Seat, you'll find a panel letting you access the Cargo Hold. This Starfield ship storage is a great place to stash materials and resources you don't want to carry around, and the capacity is significant so you can cram plenty in there. Also be sure to check the Cargo Hold on any other ships you board. Not only might you find something good but, if you're stealing the ship, you want to check there's no hidden Contraband stashed in there that could get you arrested.
7. Avoid Contraband until you know what to do with it
Contraband can be exciting when you first discover it, due to its high value. However, you don't touch it or carry it with you until you know how to hide it and who to sell it to. If it gets detected at any point then you're going straight to space prison. You'll eventually discover how to do Starfield Contraband smuggling and get illegal items past security, but until you do either stash it – Outposts can be good for this – or just leave it be.
8. Distribute your Skill Points wisely as you level up
As you level up your character there are a whole host of Starfield skills you can spend points on, but it's worth thinking carefully about what to do. To start with, aim to unlock a broad range of skills to get you started and see what works for you. After that, completing challenges will unlock additional Ranks in the skills you've unlocked to further specialize in an area. So it's best to unlock all the things you might need first - like Stealth, Theft, Boost Pack Training, Piloting, and Targeting Control Systems, which all provide fresh abilities. And then think about specialising by leveling up the unlocked skills you like the most. You can get a head start with some Starfield backgrounds here, which will unlock three skills in character creation.
9. Remember to sleep for an XP boost
Finding a bed and sleeping in it restores your health but, more importantly, adds the Well Rested status effect which gives you a +10% XP gain for 24 minutes, which can significantly help you to level up. Get in the habit of sleeping every time you start playing if you can. If you're in a Starfield romance then the boost is even better and gives you a +15% XP gain, so sleep well and sleep often.
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