It is vital to learn the mechanics of Starfield's space combat, as players will frequently find themselves encountering enemy space pirates while exploring. These battles can be tricky to deal with, especially if players haven't had any experience with space shooters before.
Knowing when to fight and when to run in Starfield is essential to surviving the perils of space. With the right skills, players can turn the tables, board enemy spacecrafts, loot everything the pirates have, and steal their ships . There are many mechanics to learn when it comes to winning space battles, and if players take note of the tips outlined in this guide, they will soon find themselves breezing through them.
Skills For Space Combat In Starfield
Before fighting in space, players should invest in some skills for space combat to make them more adept at fending off pirates and other enemies among the stars. There are several skills to unlock in Starfield to help with piloting a ship, but here are the best ones:
- Targeting Control Systems - Under the Tech tab, Targeting Control Systems should be the first skill players unlock for space combat. It allows players to lock on to enemies and target specific points of a ship, like the shields and the engines.
- Piloting - Piloting in Starfield is another unlockable skill under the Tech tab. It's essential for players who want to improve their maneuverability. Moreover, the skill tree allows players to unlock Class B and Class C ships.
- Ballistic Weapon Systems - Ballistics is also unlocked in the Tech tab and increases the damage of the ship's guns by 10%. Players can improve damage output by investing more skill points up to rank 4, which deals 50 percent more damage to individual systems.
- Shield Systems - After spending four points in Tech, players should invest at least one skill point in Shield Systems. At Rank 1, the player's shield capacity is increased by 20%. Players should watch their shield systems at all times; if it gets low, the best course of action is to retreat to a safe distance and repair the damage.
Targeting Individual Systems In Starfield's Space Combat
The Old Neighborhood is one of the earliest story missions in Starfield and requires the player to rescue Moara. As part of this mission, the player must target the enemy's weak points and board Moara's craft. When a space fight like this begins, the following steps can be used to target individual parts of an enemy ship:
- The hostile ship's name is in red. It indicates two health bars, the shield, and the craft's primary health. Select the target with the A button.
- Get close enough so the target lock gauge fills. With targeting locked on, press the X button to target individual systems on the ship with the LS button.
- If the enemy ship outmaneuvers the lock, players can try and get underneath, above, or behind them to lock on again.
- Players should aim for the enemy's shield if the intention is to destroy them or target the engines to board them and take the ship.
- Missiles can be used for accurate hits.
- If the enemy ship has taken enough damage, the player will be prompted to hold the X button to dock and board.
Escaping A Space Battle In Starfield
There will be occasions where some space fights can be too much to handle, and the player's ship will be surrounded. The best action in these scenarios is to flee and survive to fight another day. The following steps can be followed to escape space battles in Starfield:
- To escape, players must utilize the Grav Jump mechanic. However, to use it, they must ensure the GRV has enough points to jump to another system.
- Players can adjust their Power Subsystems but may need to reduce one to increase another.
- To select a subsystem, press the left or right d-pad buttons.
- Then, press up or down on the d-pad to allocate or reduce their power.
Space Combat Tips
- Adjust Power Systems to increase shield strength.
- Decrease Engine speed. It's better to focus on maneuvers.
- Allocate more power to lasers and missiles.
- Slow down in battle with the LS button and keep the enemy at the center of the target.
Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X/S.