How to Take Ships in Starfield: A Comprehensive Guide

Taking command of a spacecraft in Starfield is a thrilling experience, allowing you to expand your fleet and assert your dominance in the settled systems. But how exactly do you go about acquiring these powerful vessels? This guide will provide a detailed overview of the process, from disabling enemy ships to registering them as your own.

Core Mechanics of Ship Acquisition

The primary method for acquiring ships in Starfield involves a combination of combat and cunning. Here’s a breakdown of the core steps:

1. Unlock the Targeting Control Systems Skill: Before you can even dream of capturing a ship, you’ll need at least one rank in the Targeting Control Systems skill in the Tech skill tree. This critical skill allows you to target specific ship systems during combat, which is essential for disabling enemy vessels.
2. Disable the Engines: The next step is to engage your chosen target in battle. Your goal isn’t to obliterate the ship entirely, but rather to disable its engines. The most effective strategy typically involves first taking down the enemy shields with lasers and then focusing ballistic weapons on the engines. A crippled ship will float helplessly in space, ripe for the taking.
3. Dock and Board: Once the target ship’s engines are disabled, get within 500 meters. A prompt to dock will appear. Press the indicated key to initiate the docking sequence. Once connected, you’ll be able to board the enemy vessel.
4. Eliminate the Crew: Be prepared for a fight! Most boarded ships will be heavily defended by crew members. Eliminate all enemies within the ship to secure it for yourself. Be thorough, as some crew members may be hiding.
5. Piloting Skill Requirement: Some ships, particularly higher-class vessels, might require a certain level in the Piloting skill. Ensure that your Piloting skill is high enough to take control, or else you’ll be unable to pilot the newly captured spacecraft.
6. Claim Your Prize: Once the ship is clear of enemies, head to the pilot’s seat. Sitting in this seat makes the ship your own, and you can fly away. However, there’s one more important step before you can consider it legally yours.

Making It Legal: Registering Your Stolen Ship

Stealing a ship is one thing; owning it legally is another. Here’s how to register your newly acquired vessel:

1. Select the Stolen Ship: Open your ship menu. From the ship menu, select the ship you’ve just acquired.
2. Make it Your Home Ship: In the ship menu, select it as your home ship. This will trigger an option to register the ship, and you will have to pay a fee.
3. Pay the Fee: A registration fee will be required to complete the process, making the ship legally yours. This fee is typically smaller than the price you’d pay for the same ship at a ship dealership.

By completing these steps, you have successfully captured, boarded, and made a stolen ship your own!

Other Methods of Ship Acquisition

While disabling ships and boarding them is a common way to obtain ships, there are other ways, such as:

• Stealing Landed Ships: If you discover a ship that has landed on a planet, you may be able to enter the ship and steal it, provided you meet the required Piloting skill and the ship is not marked “inaccessible.”
• Free Ships from Quests: Throughout your adventure, you’ll encounter various quests that can reward you with free ships, including the Frontier, Razorleaf, Star Eagle, and more.
• Purchasing Ships: Visiting a ship dealer at various spaceports provides an avenue to buy brand-new ships, but they come at a higher price than registering a stolen ship.
• New Game Plus: A very unique and powerful ship, the Starborn Guardian, is rewarded by starting a New Game Plus playthrough after completing the main storyline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about taking ships in Starfield, addressing various aspects of the process:

1. Can I steal any ship I encounter?

Not every ship can be stolen. You need the Targeting Control Systems skill to disable ships in flight, and for any stolen ship, you must have the required level of the Piloting skill. Some ships, like those involved in specific questlines, may be flagged as “inaccessible” and cannot be commandeered.

2. What do I do with the ships I don’t want?

You can store your unwanted ships by making another ship your home ship. Alternatively, you can sell them. Visit a Ship Services Technician at any major settlement or spaceport to store or sell your ships.

3. How many ships can I own?

You can own a maximum of ten ships at any given time. When you reach this limit, you will need to sell one to acquire another.

4. What happens to my old ship when I get a new one?

Your old ship will be stored at your home port location or at the last port you interacted with. It won’t simply vanish or fly away. You can always return to it. When you steal a new ship, it does not matter what happened with your previous ship.

5. Can I customize the ships I steal?

Yes! Once you own a ship, you can visit any Ship Services Technician to modify and customize it to your liking. You can swap out parts, add new weapons, and alter the overall look.

6. Is there a penalty for stealing ships?

There isn’t any in-game penalty other than the price to register the stolen ship. However, it’s a pretty moral gray area if that matters to you.

7. What are the best ships to steal?

Some of the most sought-after ships to steal include the Stronghold, Shieldbreaker, Vanquisher, Narwhal, Abyss Trekker, Silent Runner, and Crimson Fleet Wraith. These are all high-class and powerful ships and are worth the effort to capture them.

8. Can I get free ships in Starfield?

Yes, you can! There are a number of free ships in Starfield, including The Frontier, the Razorleaf, the Star Eagle, the UC Prison Shuttle, the Wanderwell, and the Starborn Guardian.

9. Can I sell stolen ships?

Yes, absolutely! Once you register a stolen ship, you can sell it at a Ship Services Technician.

10. Where can I find Ship Services Technicians?

You can find Ship Services Technicians at most major spaceports and settlements, such as New Atlantis, Akila City, and Neon.

11. Can you scrap ships in Starfield?

Unfortunately, you cannot scrap ships for parts in Starfield. If you want to obtain a particular ship part, you must purchase it or steal it.

12. Can I use multiple ships at once?

No, you can only use one ship at a time as your home ship. The other ships will be stored, awaiting your return.

13. How do I get the Starborn Ship?

The Starborn Guardian ship can only be obtained by completing the main story of Starfield and then starting a New Game Plus. This ship is unique and quite powerful.

14. Can I steal a UC ship?

You may attempt to steal landed UC raptor ships, however they are often involved in missions and they are considered “inaccessible.” You can use console commands to override this if you are on PC, but otherwise you are unable to steal these ships.

15. How do I store and access cargo in my ships?

To access ship cargo, open the Character Menu, click on “Ship,” and then click the “Cargo Hold” button in the bottom-right corner. You can do this from anywhere, even if you aren’t near your ship.

Taking ships in Starfield is a core gameplay loop that offers progression and customization options. Understanding the mechanics of ship capture, registration, and management will allow you to build the fleet of your dreams and conquer the settled systems. This guide should provide all you need to take to the skies!