Setting out into the expansive universe of Starfield can feel like an Odyssey of astronomical proportions. As you prepare to tackle Bethesda's grandest RPG to date, available on Game Pass, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, keep in mind these critical pieces of advice to ensure a smooth spacefaring experience.
Embrace Fluidity in Your Avatar’s Appearance
Initially, don't fret over your character's looks; there's ample opportunity for a makeover. Just head to an Enhance! shop, found in locations such as New Atlantis's commercial district, and for a modest fee of 500 credits, revamp your style whenever you fancy a change.
Save Progress Regularly and Diligently
The unpredictable nature of Starfield means you're always a step away from an unexpected encounter or mishap. Ditch's reliance on auto-saves and proactively creating manual saves to capture your progress provide a safety net for those moments when fortune turns sour.
Optimize Audio for Ideal Clarity
An ambitious score sets the mood in Starfield but can dominate dialogues. Tweak the settings, turning down the music and amplifying voice levels to ensure critical conversations aren't lost amidst the galactic symphony.
Scavenge for Supplies Post-Combat
After the initial skirmish, resist the rush to move on. Instead, search the defeated foes for valuable equipment like an assault rifle, and you may find other useful items to aid in your journey.
Assign a Companion as Your Inventory Custodian
As you accumulate items in your travels, your robotic ally Vasco, encountered early in the game, is more than just a source of dialogue. They can also carry your surplus inventory, making them an indispensable partner. Engage with Vasco or other companions to manage the sharing of your belongings.
Engage in Tactical Combat
Unlike Bethesda's prior RPGs, Starfield introduces a more engaging combat system. Positioning yourself near cover and aiming allows your character to engage targets with improved tactics, reminiscent of the dynamic combat from games introduced in the early 2010s.
Harness Non-traditional Weapons
The Cutter, a tool received early on, may seem intended solely for mining but proves surprisingly effective in combat. Use its cooldown feature and the ability to continuously disrupt foes at close range to conserve other, more traditional weaponry.
Adapt Your Gear to the Environment
Initially instructed to navigate menus for helmet and suit adjustments, this could imply constant attention to your gear regarding atmospheric conditions. However, there's a simpler method. Keep your suit and helmet equipped and set them to auto-hide via your inventory's options when in environments that don't necessitate their use, preventing any unnecessary fashion faux pas in social settings.
Elevate Your Persuasion Skills Early
To navigate conflicts smoothly and influence others effectively in Starfield, prioritize enhancing your persuasion capabilities. With increased persuasion prowess, you'll find that many confrontations can be resolved through words rather than combat, paving the way for a more controlled experience.
Guard Your Gear When Selling
Be mindful when selling your accumulated treasures. The game lacks verification steps during transactions, so approach the sell button with care to avoid accidentally parting with your equipped items.
Instantaneous Galactic Transit through Quest Menu
Bypass the convoluted star chart by using a shortcut for fast travel. If you're revisiting a previously explored mission location, utilize the "select course" feature from the quest menu to set off directly.
Persistent Scanning Pays Off
Maximize your helmet's sensor by continuous scanning, which highlights enemies and valuable items, assists in fauna surveying for bonus XP, and can rapidly pinpoint your ship for instant travel.
Health Recovery through Rest
Sleep not only fully restores your health but also grants a "well-rested" bonus, enhancing your XP acquisition rate.
Unlock Crafting Options via Research
Delve into the crafting system by conducting research to enhance weapons, armor, and culinary creations. Gathering fundamental materials like iron and fiber allows you to invent new modifications and craftables to elevate your equipment.
Precision in Lockpicking Matters
Exercise caution when engaged in lockpicking, as using the undo option still consumes a digipick, which is a scarce resource.
Utilize Ship Storage
Balance your companions' carrying capabilities with your ship's cargo hold, accessible via the ship's menu, providing ample space for your loot early in the game.
Quick Weapon and Health Item Access
The game may not immediately inform you, but setting weapons and medical supplies as favorites streamlines your access during combat, saving precious time and keeping cumbersome menus at bay.
Restorative Power of Beds
When navigating dangerous space structures, beds can be a lifesaver. Use them to recover health without using medical supplies. If enemies are nearby, take a moment to elude their detection before resting, or strategically rest between confrontations.
Navigate Contraband Cautiously
Contraband, highlighted with a yellow icon, is lucrative yet risky to transport, as you're subject to scans in certain territories. To minimize getting caught, consider installing a shielded cargo hold.
Boost Persuasion Temporarily
When an important NPC interaction arrives, bolster your persuasion temporarily by consuming items that enhance your charismatic skills.
Always Carry Performance-Enhancing Chems
Having a stash of Amps is invaluable for exploring, providing a temporary mobility boost in the absence of ground vehicles.
Upgrade Your Ship with a Simple Mission
Don't settle for the starter ship; embark on an easy questline to claim a superior vessel, one that comes with a notorious history of dealing with intergalactic marauders.
Watch Inventory Weight
To prevent overencumbrance, regularly review and sort your inventory by weight, particularly keeping an eye out for bulky but essential ship parts.
Engage with the Main Questline
While there's no rush to complete the primary story, progressing through it unlocks valuable assets and enriches the overall gameplay experience.
Optimize Low-Gravity Travel with Your Jetpack
Master the use of your jetpack or 'boostpack' to traverse low-gravity planets quickly, using well-timed boosts and allowing stamina to refill during lengthy flights.
Prioritize Lockpicking Skill Development
An early investment in digital lockpicking proficiency enables access to valuable loot and facilitates smoother quest progress.
Stock Up on Essential Supplies
Make it routine to purchase digipicks and medical kits every chance you get, ensuring you're well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
Expand Your Ship's Carrying Capacity
As your inventory grows, your ship's cargo space may become limited. Add more storage units at ship tech specialists easily and affordably, giving you plenty of room to store the treasures of the cosmos.
Arm yourself with these tips as you delve into Starfield's enigmatic and boundless realm and transform your odyssey among the stars into a tale of strategic triumphs and cosmic explorations.