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What to Sell in Starfield: A Trader’s Guide to Riches Among the Stars

Space exploration is a profitable venture in Starfield, if you know how to play your cards right. Knowing what to jettison from your overloaded cargo hold and what to hold onto is crucial for building your empire among the stars. In general, you should sell extra weapons and armor, especially those you don’t plan on using or that are outclassed by your current gear. Also, offload apparel, books, survey slates, and most miscellaneous junk items. Focus on selling items that have a high credit-to-weight ratio to maximize your profits. Contraband can fetch a hefty price, but be prepared to evade security scans! Prioritize selling items that are plentiful and easily replaceable. Now, let’s dive deeper into the art of interstellar commerce!

The Golden Rules of Starfield Trading

Before you start dumping everything into the nearest vendor’s inventory, keep these fundamental principles in mind:

Weight is Money: Your ship’s cargo capacity is precious. Every unit of weight counts. Prioritize items with a high credit value per unit of weight.
Vendor Availability: Not all vendors are created equal. Certain vendors specialize in specific item types and offer better prices.
Faction Reputation: Building relationships with factions can unlock better prices and access to exclusive vendors.
Scanning is Key: Scan every planet and moon you visit. Survey data can be sold for a substantial profit.
Storage Management: Utilize your ship’s cargo hold and outpost storage to organize your inventory effectively.

Items to Prioritize Selling

Here’s a breakdown of items you should consider selling to bolster your credit reserves:

Extra Weapons and Armor

As mentioned before, this is the most obvious, but most lucrative, category. Weapons and armor you’ve outgrown or simply don’t use should be sold. Pay attention to their mods. Sometimes, selling a weapon stripped of its valuable mods and keeping the mods themselves is more profitable. Compare prices to determine the best approach.

Miscellaneous Junk (Most of It)

Junk accumulates quickly. While some junk items are needed for crafting, most are purely for selling. Sort your inventory and identify junk with a decent credit-to-weight ratio. Items like “Science Items and Desk Objects” are good examples. Vacuum Tape? Definitely sell it.

Apparel and Books

These often weigh little and can bring in a fair amount of credits, especially if they are unique or rare. Check their value against their weight.

Survey Slates

Completing planetary surveys is an excellent way to earn credits. Survey data can be sold for a significant sum, particularly to specific vendors like Vladimir Sall at The Eye.

Stolen Ships

While risky, acquiring and selling stolen ships is a great way to gain a substantial amount of credits. Be prepared to register these vessels before selling them!

Contraband

Contraband items fetch extremely high prices, but they come with the risk of getting caught by security scans. Smuggling is an art, and successfully selling contraband requires careful planning.

Where to Sell Your Goods

Choosing the right vendor can significantly impact your profits. Here are some of the best options:

Trade Authority: The go-to vendor for selling a wide variety of goods, including contraband and stolen items. They have a good amount of credits on hand to purchase items from you.
General Stores (e.g., Jemison Mercantile): Suitable for selling general goods like apparel, books, and some junk.
Weapon Shops: Ideal for selling weapons and ammunition.
Armor Shops: Perfect for selling armor and spacesuits.
Bars in Major Cities: Many bars have vendors who purchase goods. Explore these options.
Ship Services Technicians: For selling registered ships.

Items You Should Think Twice About Selling

Not everything is worth selling. Some items are more valuable for crafting, quest completion, or personal use.

Ammo: Ammunition weighs nothing, so there’s no reason to sell any ammo.
Digipicks: These are essential for opening locked containers and doors. Always keep a healthy supply on hand.
Healing Items: Med packs, trauma packs, and other healing items are crucial for survival.
Rare Resources: Resources like Aluminum, Iron, Tungsten, and Titanium are essential for crafting and outpost building. Avoid selling them unless you have a surplus.
Stat Boosting Items: Items that provide temporary stat boosts can be useful in combat or exploration.
Quest-Related Items: Items needed to advance or complete quests should never be sold until the quest is finished.
Favorite Legendary Items: Don’t sell any powerful legendary items you might want to use.

Mastering the Art of the Deal

To truly maximize your profits, consider these advanced trading tips:

Bartering: Some NPCs allow you to negotiate prices. Invest in skills that improve your bartering abilities.
Faction Loyalty: Gaining favor with factions can unlock better vendor prices.
Outpost Commerce: Setting up outposts with trade terminals can create automated trade routes and generate passive income.
Ship Upgrades: Invest in ship upgrades that increase your cargo capacity.
Scanning and Surveying: Always scan planets and moons to gather valuable survey data.
Weapon and Armor Mods: Sell mods individually if they are more valuable than the base weapon or armor.
Understand Rarity and Tier: The Tier (Calibrated->Refined->Advanced->Superior) is often more important than rarity when determining an item’s value.
Don’t be Afraid to Steal: If your character build can handle it, stealing can be a very lucrative way to obtain high value items, but make sure you know where to sell stolen items!

Starfield Selling FAQs

1. Should I sell legendary items in Starfield?

It depends. If you find a legendary weapon or armor that doesn’t suit your playstyle, selling it is an option. However, legendary items have unique properties and can be very powerful. Consider keeping them for alternative builds or selling them only when you are sure you don’t need them.

2. What is the best vendor in Starfield?

The Trade Authority is generally considered the best vendor due to its wide range of accepted items and availability in most major settlements. Bars in Major Cities can also be a good spot to visit.

3. What is the most valuable resource in Starfield?

While prices can fluctuate, resources like Aluminum, Iron, Tungsten, and Titanium are consistently valuable due to their widespread use in crafting and outpost building.

4. Where can I sell high-value items in Starfield?

Local general stores like Jemison Mercantile are great, but for high value, try the Trade Authority. For survey data, sell to Vladimir Sall.

5. Should I sell survey data in Starfield?

Yes! Selling survey data is a highly profitable activity. Complete planetary surveys and sell the data to Vladimir Sall at The Eye for a substantial reward.

6. What should I not sell in Starfield?

Don’t sell ammo, digipicks, healing items, rare resources, quest-related items, or your favorite legendary items.

7. Is weapon engineering worth it in Starfield?

Absolutely! Weapon engineering allows you to customize your weapons with powerful mods, significantly increasing their effectiveness. It’s essential for the late game.

8. How can I make money fast in Starfield?

Selling stolen items and contraband is a quick way to earn credits, but it comes with risks. Alternatively, focus on completing planetary surveys and selling the data.

9. Where can I sell stolen items in Starfield?

The Trade Authority is your best bet for selling stolen items and contraband without getting caught.

10. Is rarity important in Starfield?

Rarity affects the number of modifications an item can have, and Legendary items will often have 3 modifications. However, the tier (Calibrated->Refined->Advanced->Superior) matters more.

11. What should I do with extra gear in Starfield?

Sell unwanted weapons, spacesuits, boost packs, and misc. junk at any major city, settlement, or spaceport.

12. Is there a stash in Starfield?

Yes, you can use your ship’s cargo hold and storage containers at your outposts to store items.

13. Is Ember worth keeping in Starfield?

Quest-related items like Ember from the Top Secrets mission are worth keeping if you’re interested in the unique features they offer. Otherwise, they can be sold.

14. What is the best armor in Starfield?

There isn’t one “best” suit of armor, but the Bounty Hunter Spacesuit set is considered a good choice for its well-rounded stats.

15. What mineral sells for the most in Starfield?

While prices can fluctuate, Aluminum is generally the most valuable resource to harvest and sell early game due to its common use in crafting.

Conclusion

Becoming a successful trader in Starfield requires a combination of knowledge, strategy, and a willingness to explore the vastness of space. By following these guidelines, you can transform your interstellar adventures into a lucrative enterprise. Remember to constantly adapt your strategies based on the ever-changing market conditions and new discoveries. Happy trading!
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What should I sell in Starfield?