Much like in any other modern RPG, the best skills to unlock first in Starfield will really depend on the player. Not only will they want to prioritize skills that suit their strengths and weaknesses, but also ones that line up with the kind of run that they're planning. That said, there are a handful of skills that are essential to just about every playthrough and every player, helping them to stand out among the crowd.
As the name might suggest, starting skills can be incredibly useful at the beginning of the game and become more effective as players start to complete challenges and unlock new ranks. Players will unlock three starting skills automatically when they choose their Background but will get a chance to unlock more not long after when they start to level up. As such, the best Starfield starting skills should be prioritized above all others.
1 Ballistics
Sometimes, players may find that they need a little extra firepower, at which point, a pistol just isn't going to cut it. In these instances, the Shotgun Certification skill can come in handy, but Ballistics is arguably a much better investment. This is because it can increase the effectiveness of multiple weapon types, including certain pistols and shotguns. As such, it's one of the best skills to get first in Starfield, as at Rank 4, it increases both the range and damage of Ballistic weapons by a massive 30%.
2 Boost Pack Training
Players will receive a Boost Pack from Sarah after delivering the artifact from the mine, but they won't actually be able to use it without the Boost Pack Training skill. As they'll have already leveled up a few times by this point in the game there's arguably no real advantage in choosing a Background with the skill attached to it, but it's an essential skill once players have the tools needed to put it to use.
3 Commerce
Credits can be hard to come by during the opening stages of Starfield, which is where the Commerce skill can really come in handy. It increases the rate at which merchants will buy the player's wares, while also making all items cheaper. Once fully maxed out, players can save a whopping 20% on their purchases and bring in 25% more Credits for everything that they sell. When it comes to making and saving money, Commerce is easily one of the best Starfield skills.
4 Persuasion
Why fight when there's a chance to talk one's way out of trouble? That seems to be the logic behind the Persuasion skill and it's hard to argue too much with it. The skill starts to come in handy very early on in Starfield, making it one of the best Starfield starting skills to unlock early. It's particularly useful for those with an aversion to combat, or players who are just not very good at it.
5 Piloting
Most of the best starting skills in Starfield simply enhance skills that players already have, but Piloting is one of the few exceptions that adds a brand-new ability. Unlocking it allows players to use their ship's thrusters, which can be a real game changer during combat, both when it comes to evading enemy missile locks and keeping enemy ships locked firmly in one's crosshairs.
6 Pistol Certification
Pistols are among the most common weapons in Starfield, making the Pistol Certification skill a bit of a must-have. Players will pick up their first pistol almost immediately after choosing their character's Background and will find themselves using it quite a bit during the opening stages of the game. Due to how easy pistols are to come by though, Pistol Certification can remain useful throughout the entirety of a playthrough.
7 Research Methods
Research and crafting are two mechanics that players really can't afford to sleep on, which makes Research Methods a very useful skill indeed. It makes it much easier to craft new items or complete research projects by reducing the number of resources that are required. Players needn't unlock the skill right away but should do so as soon as they set up their first outpost and delve into the world of crafting.
8 Scavenging
Bethesda games have always incentivized looting, and Starfield is no exception. Players will be able to find all kinds of great weapons by rummaging around while out in the field, but they'll also be able to get their hands on Credits, ammo, and other useful consumables like first aid supplies. The Scavenging skill increases the amount of these things that players will get from looting, making it one of the best skills in Starfield.
9 Security
The very best loot in Starfield tends to be hidden away in safes and lockboxes, so players will need to learn how to pick locks in order to get their hands on the goods. To get past the game's most complicated locks though, they'll also need to have unlocked the Security skill and upgraded it to its highest rank, so unlocking it early is definitely a good idea. Players are unlikely to run into too many Master level locks during the game's opening stages, but they can at least begin to tackle some of the skill's rank-up challenges.
10 Weight Lifting
For those who just can't help but loot every single item that's not nailed down to the ground, Weight Lifting is probably the best skill in Starfield. It increases the player's carry capacity by as much as one hundred kilograms, allowing them to avoid the dreaded encumbered status. Sure, it's possible to get around this by handing heavier items over to a companion or storing them on the ship or at an outpost, but why do that when one can simply unlock and upgrade the Weight Lifting skill for near-instantaneous gains?
Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.