There is no shortage of outlaws in the Settled Systems, and if you're looking to make a quick buck in Starfield, bounty hunting is a viable and lucrative option. Hunting wanted criminals is a great way to earn money, but gunning them down isn't always the best option. Capturing targets alive is required for some bounties, and that's going to be hard to do if your weapons are loaded with live ammunition.

Capturing bounties alive is a little confusing at first, and simply using the best weapons in Starfield isn't enough. However, once you know what to do, you'll soon find yourself swimming in loot and money. Here's how to catch bounty targets alive, as well as some tips on how to make the whole process easier and more profitable.

Starlash and Quickstrike in Weapon Containers in Starfield Shattered Space
Starfield: All New Weapons In Shattered Space

Here's a look at the new weapons in Starfield: Shattered Space, including their base stats and item ID codes.

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How To Catch Bounty Targets Alive In Starfield

A Novablast Disruptor EM gun in Starfield
Starfield Novablast Disruptor

If you want to knock somebody out without killing them, you need to use weapons that deal Electromagnetic damage (EM). There are some weapons that innately deal EM damage, though most other guns in the game can be modded to deal this damage type instead of their usual ones.

The Novablast Disruptor is a dedicated EM weapon designed specifically for knocking targets out. It deals 100 EM at base, and you can increase this value by leveling up the Incapacitation skill. You can buy one from Laredo Firearms in Akila City.

If you'd rather not shell out the money to buy a Disruptor, you can always unlock and use weapon mods in Starfield. The specific mods you need to get are:

Mod

Weapon Category

Materials

EM-Charged Shot

Ballistic
  • 3 Cobalt
  • 2 Polymer
  • 1 Isocentered Magnet

Electromagnetic Beams

Laser
  • 3 Beryllium
  • 2 Adhesive
  • 1 Isocentered Magnet

Weapons equipped with either of these mods will become non-lethal. Once you hit a target with an EM weapon, a separate stun meter will appear over your target's health bar. Keep hitting them with EM damage to fill this bar up and incapacitate them.

Incapacitated enemies cannot be looted, but they can still be pickpocketed. Additionally, once you turn in a live bounty, you can then kill your target without suffering any penalties.

Where To Get Bounty Missions

You can start hunting bounties in Starfield once you get access to Mission Boards. You can often find these in faction bases or inside bars. One such bar is The Viewport, which is located near the starport in Jemison.

Alternatively, you can speak with members of the Trackers Alliance agents and get jobs from them directly. They're usually clad in heavy armor and found in spaceport cities.

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Starfield
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10 /10
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Released
September 6, 2023
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
proprietary engine
Cross-Platform Play
no multiplayer
Cross Save
no
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
X|S Optimized
Yes
File Size Xbox Series
101 GB (September 2023)
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty