Starfield, offers a unique blend of space exploration, character development, and intricate gameplay mechanics. At the heart of this experience lies the game’s skill system. Starfield skills are not just mere upgrades; they are essential tools that shape the way players interact with the vast universe, making them crucial for every aspiring space explorer.
Best Starfield Skills to Unlock First
1. Fitness (Physical Tree)
Exploration is a cornerstone of the Starfield experience. The Fitness skill becomes indispensable, especially when reaching its fourth rank, enhancing the player’s ability to traverse diverse terrains and environments.
2. Weight Lifting (Physical Tree)
With the universe filled with treasures, having ample inventory space is paramount. The Weight Lifting skill ensures players can carry more, making exploration and looting a breeze.
3. Weapon Skill of Choice (Combat Tree)
Starfield boasts a plethora of weapon types. Choosing and mastering a preferred weapon skill is essential for those intense space combats.
4. Commerce
In the vastness of space, Credits are the universal currency. The Commerce skill ensures players get the best deals, whether buying starships or trading goods.
5. Security (Tech Tree)
Locked doors and containers are common obstacles. With the Security skill, players can bypass these barriers, unveiling hidden treasures and secrets.
6. Scavenging
In a universe where resources are key, the Scavenging skill ensures players get the most out of every loot, from Credits to essential supplies.
7. Boost Pack Training (Tech Tree)
Navigating diverse terrains requires agility. The Boost Pack Training skill is vital, allowing players to use their boost packs efficiently, scaling heights and avoiding dangers.
8. Surveying (Science Tree)
Knowledge is power. The Surveying skill enhances the hand scanner, aiding players in gathering valuable data about planets and their resources.
9. Piloting (Tech Tree)
Space combat and interstellar travel are inevitable. The Piloting skill ensures players can maneuver their ships with precision, making space journeys smoother and combats more favorable.
10. Medicine (Science Tree)
Space is fraught with dangers. The Medicine skill enhances the efficiency of aid items, ensuring players stay in top shape during their adventures.
All Starfield Skills
| Name | Type | Tier | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballistics | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/ballistics/ | Combat | 1 | The Ballistic ability enhances your expertise with weapons that inflict physical harm. |
| Pistol Certification | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/pistol-certification/ | Combat | 1 | Pistols deal increased damage. |
| Shotgun Certification | Combat | 1 | Shotguns deal increased damage. | |
| Dueling | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/dueling/ | Combat | 1 | Melee weapons deal increased damage and you take less damage while wielding a melee weapon. |
| Lasers | Combat | 1 | Laser weapons deal increased damage. | |
| Demolitions | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/demolitions/ | Combat | 2 | Grenades show a trajectory arc and explosives are more effective. |
| Heavy Weapon Certification | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/heavy-weapon-certification/ | Combat | 2 | Heavy weapons deal increased damage. |
| Incapacitation | Combat | 2 | EM weapons deal increased damage. | |
| Particle Beams | Combat | 2 | Particle beam weapons deal increased damage. | |
| Rifle Certification | Combat | 2 | Rifles deal increased damage. | |
| Rapid Reloading | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/rapid-reloading/ | Combat | 3 | Reload specific weapons faster. |
| Sniper Certification | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/sniper-certification/ | Combat | 3 | Scoped weapons are steadier and deal increased damage. |
| Marksmanship | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/marksmanship/ | Combat | 3 | Increased crit hit chance with non-automatic weapons. |
| Targeting | Combat | 3 | Increased hip fire accuracy and range, while marking enemies that damage you. | |
| Armor Penetration | Combat | 4 | Attacks ignore a percentage of the target's armor. | |
| Crippling | Combat | 4 | Human enemies have an increased chance of being downed. | |
| Sharpshooting | Combat | 4 | Increased critical damage for hits with ranged weapons. | |
| Wellness | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/wellness/ | Physical | 1 | The Wellness ability boosts your health capacity, allowing you to withstand more damage before succumbing. |
| Weight Lifting | Physical | 1 | Enhances your overall load-bearing capacity. | |
| Stealth | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/stealth/ | Physical | 1 | Introduces a Stealth Meter and enhances your ability to remain undetected while using stealth in Starfield. |
| Fitness | Physical | 1 | Boosts the available oxygen supply. | |
| Boxing | Physical | 1 | Attacks without weapons inflict more damage, and powerful strikes consume less oxygen. | |
| Energy Weapon Dissipation | Physical | 2 | Reduce energy damage received. | |
| Environmental Conditioning | Physical | 2 | Gain resistance to environment damage. | |
| Gymnastics | Physical | 2 | Adds combat slide ability and reduces fall damage. | |
| Nutrition | Physical | 2 | Food and drink become more effective. | |
| Pain Tolerance | Physical | 2 | Physical damage is reduced. | |
| Cellular Regeneration | Physical | 3 | Increases the chance of recovering from injuries naturally. | |
| Decontamination | Physical | 3 | Increases the chance of recovering from infections naturally. | |
| Martial Arts | Physical | 3 | Increases the chance to crit or disarm with a melee or unarmed attack. | |
| Concealment | Physical | 4 | Ranged sneak attacks and melee sneak attacks deal increased damage. | |
| Neurostrikes | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/neurostrikes/ | Physical | 4 | Chance to stun NPCs with unarmed attacks. |
| Rejuvenation | Physical | 4 | Regenerate health over time. | |
| Astrodynamics | Science | 1 | Increases grav jump range and reduces fuel cost of jump drives. | |
| Medicine | Science | 1 | Recovery items restore additional health faster. | |
| Research Methods | Science | 1 | Resources required for crafting and research are reduced. | |
| Surveying | Science | 1 | Increases zoom and scan distance of hand scanner. | |
| Geology | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/geology/ | Science | 1 | Get more inorganic resources from surface objects. |
| Botany | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/botany/ | Science | 2 | Get more organic resources from plants and additional scanner info on them. |
| Scanning | Science | 2 | Detect inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and get more info on ships. | |
| Spacesuit Design | Science | 2 | Research and craft improved spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods. | |
| Weapon Engineering | Science | 2 | Research and craft improved weapon mods. | |
| Zoology | Science | 2 | Get more organic resources from creatures and additional scanner info on them. | |
| Astrophysics | Science | 3 | Increased scanning range and chance to discover a trait. | |
| Chemistry | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/chemistry/ | Science | 3 | Research and craft improved chems. |
| Outpost Engineering | Science | 3 | Research and craft improved outpost modules. | |
| Aneutronic Fusion | Science | 4 | Ship reactors produce extra units of power. | |
| Planetary Habitation | Science | 4 | Build outposts on inhospitable planets and increase maximum number of outposts you can build. | |
| Special Projects | Science | 4 | Research experimental projects and craft unique manufactured components. | |
| Scavenging | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/scavenging/ | Social | 1 | Scavenging seems to be an ability that enhances the quantity of items you discover in containers, and at advanced skill levels, it might also boost the rarity of those items. |
| Gastronomy | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/gastronomy/ | Social | 1 | Research and craft additional food and drinks. |
| Persuasion | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/persuasion/ | Social | 1 | Increases the chance of success when persuading someone. |
| Commerce | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/commerce/ | Social | 1 | Buy for less and sell for more. |
| Theft | Social | 1 | Unlocks pickpocket ability and increases success. | |
| Deception | Social | 2 | Stronger ships will surrender to piracy demands and enemy contraband scans are less effective. | |
| Intimidation | Social | 2 | Force a target NPC to flee for a limited time. | |
| Isolation | Social | 2 | Increased weapon damage and damage resistance when you don't have a companion or crew. | |
| Negotiation | Social | 2 | Unlocks bribery option in speech challenges and reduces cost. | |
| Diplomacy | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/diplomacy/ | Social | 2 | Force a target NPC to stop fighting for a while. |
| Instigation | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/instigation/ | Social | 3 | Force a target NPC to attack their allies for a limited time. |
| Leadership | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/leadership/ | Social | 3 | Increases companion affinity, health, and carrying capacity. |
| Outpost Management | Social | 3 | Additional resources can be placed at outposts. | |
| Manipulation | Social | 4 | Force a target NPC to obey commands for a limited time. | |
| Ship Command | Social | 4 | Increase the maximum number of active crew members. | |
| Xenosociology | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/xenosociology/ | Social | 4 | The Xenosociology ability empowers the player to influence extraterrestrial beings, either by causing them to retreat or directing them to execute a particular action. |
| Bargaining | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/bargaining/ | Social | Novice | |
| Piloting | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/piloting/ | Tech | 1 | You can use ship thrusters and pilot higher class ships. |
| Security | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/security/ | Tech | 1 | Attempt to hack higher level locks and bank auto attempts. |
| Boost Pack Training | Tech | 1 | You can use Starfield boost packs and they are more efficient. | |
| Ballistic Weapon Systems | Tech | 1 | Ballistic ship weapons deal increase damage and are more efficient. | |
| Targeting Control Systems | Tech | 1 | Unlock ship targeting function and make it more efficient. | |
| Payloads | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/payloads/ | Tech | 2 | Ship cargo holds have increased capacity. |
| Energy Weapon Systems | Tech | 2 | Energy ship weapons deal increase damage and are more efficient. | |
| Engine Systems | Tech | 2 | Ship's top speed increased and boosts last longer while cooling down faster. | |
| Shield Systems | Tech | 2 | Ship has increased shield capacity. | |
| Starship Design | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/starship-design/ | Tech | 3 | Allows installation of improved ship modules. |
| Missile Weapon Systems | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/missile-weapon-systems/ | Tech | 3 | Ship missile weapons deal increased damage and are more efficient. |
| Robotics | https://starfield.1337wiki.com/robotics/ | Tech | 3 | Deal increased damage to robots and turrets, and force a target robot to stop fighting for a limited time. |
| Particle Beam Weapon Systems | Tech | 3 | Ship particle beam weapons deal increased damage and are more efficient. | |
| Starship Engineering | Tech | 3 | Ship systems repair faster and are more resilient. | |
| Automated Weapon Systems | Tech | 4 | Automated ship weapons deal increased damage and are more efficient. | |
| Boost Assault Training | Tech | 4 | Can damage or knockdown enemies when using boost. | |
| EM Weapon Systems | Tech | 4 | EM ship weapons deal increased damage and are more efficient. |
Starfield’s Skill Trees and Ranks Explained
Starfield offers players a choice between five distinct skill trees:
- Physical: This tree focuses on the physical prowess and endurance of the character. Skills here might include strength, agility, and stamina.
- Social: Skills in this tree affect interactions with NPCs, including persuasion, bartering, and intimidation.
- Combat: As the name suggests, this tree enhances the player’s combat capabilities, from weapon proficiency to tactical maneuvers.
- Science: This tree is for the tech-savvy space explorers. Skills might involve spaceship mechanics, alien biology, or even advanced physics.
- Tech: Focusing on the use and modification of technology, this tree offers skills related to hacking, engineering, and robotics.
Understanding the Tier System
Each skill tree operates on a tier system. As players progress and earn skill points, they can allocate these points to move up in tiers. Each tier has specific point requirements, and advancing to a higher tier unlocks more potent skills and abilities.
Ranks within Starfield Skills
Beyond the tier system, each skill in Starfield has four ranks. Each rank represents a higher level of mastery in that particular skill. As players invest more points into a skill, they can unlock its subsequent ranks, each offering enhanced effects or additional benefits.
For instance, a rank one skill in hacking might allow players to access basic security systems, while a rank four skill could let them take control of advanced alien technologies.
How to Level Up in Starfield
In Starfield, gaining XP through gameplay allows you to obtain more skill points. To advance the Rank of your chosen skills, you must finish in-game challenges associated with them. These challenges, primarily centered around the skill’s usage, set specific milestones for you. After completing a challenge, you must allocate another skill point to elevate your Rank. Doing so unveils the subsequent challenge. To achieve the highest Rank 4 skill level, you’ll need to conquer three such challenges.
FAQs
What are the main skill trees in Starfield?
Starfield features five skill trees, including Physical, Social, Combat, Science, Tech, each offering unique abilities and enhancements.
How do players unlock and upgrade skills?
Players earn skill points as they progress, which can be used to unlock and upgrade skills within the various skill trees.
Are there any skills that are more important than others?
While all skills offer unique advantages, some like Fitness and Piloting might be more crucial depending on a player’s play style and objectives.
How do skills impact gameplay and character progression?
Skills shape the way players interact with the game world, influencing combat, exploration, trading, and more. They are essential for character growth and achieving success in Starfield.
