Can You Make a Fleet in Starfield? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you can absolutely assemble a personal fleet of ships in Starfield, but with some significant caveats. While the game allows you to acquire and own multiple vessels, you cannot command them as a unified fleet in the way you might expect from a traditional space fleet management game. Instead, you personally pilot and manage each ship individually, with a hard cap of ten owned ships. So, while you can collect a variety of spacecraft, don’t expect to engage in large-scale, fleet-on-fleet battles where you orchestrate the actions of multiple AI-controlled vessels. The experience is more akin to having a personal collection of cars that you can switch between, each with its own unique purpose and capabilities.

Understanding Ship Ownership in Starfield

How Many Ships Can You Own?

As mentioned earlier, you can own a maximum of ten ships in Starfield. This limitation forces players to be selective and strategic in their ship acquisitions. You’ll need to consider which ships best suit your needs, playstyle, and ambitions within the game. Will you amass a collection of heavily armed warships? Or will you prioritize swift, agile vessels for exploration and trade? Perhaps you’ll aim for a balanced fleet, with a ship for every occasion? The choice is yours, but your options are capped at ten.

How Do You Acquire Ships?

There are several ways to add ships to your personal fleet:

• Buying Ships: The most straightforward method is purchasing ships from various vendors at ship services locations in major cities like New Atlantis, Akila, and Neon. Faction missions are a great way to accumulate the necessary credits. Be warned, though; the biggest ship upgrades come at a hefty cost.
• Stealing Ships: A riskier, but often more rewarding, method involves disabling and boarding enemy ships, then claiming them as your own. Be prepared for potential consequences if you get caught!
• Earning Ships as Rewards: Certain traits, missions, and other in-game activities can grant you free ships as rewards, including the Frontier at the game’s start and the Starborn Guardian in New Game Plus.
• Discovering Hidden Ships: Some ships can be found in unique locations throughout the Settled Systems. This adds to the exploration aspect of the game and rewards curious players.
• Faction-specific Ships: Joining factions like the Crimson Fleet might lead to acquiring specialized ships.

Switching Between Ships

To switch between your owned ships, you need to have more than one ship in your possession. You can visit any Ship Services Technician at a spaceport and select the option to manage your ships. From there, you can choose which vessel you’d like to designate as your home ship and fly into space.

Ship Battles and Limitations

No Fleet Command

Despite having a collection of vessels, you will not command a fleet in the traditional sense. You will always be piloting one ship at a time. This means you won’t be able to give commands to your other ships during space battles. You’ll be entirely responsible for your vessel’s position, weapons, and defense.

What About Large-Scale Battles?

You may encounter large-scale space battles involving numerous ships from different factions. These battles are dynamic and occur naturally, but you won’t be commanding your personal fleet within them. While you might see upwards of a dozen ships engaged in conflict, you will only be controlling one ship at a time in these encounters.

Can You Hire Crew to Help?

You can enhance your ship’s combat capabilities by recruiting and assigning crew members. However, these crew members serve only as support for your piloted ship. They’ll help with navigation, engineering, and offense but will not pilot other ships for you.

Choosing Your Ships Wisely

What are the Best Ships?

Several notable ships can enhance your gameplay experience:

• The Narwhal: Boasting an exceptionally high reactor level, this ship is a powerhouse.
• Silent Runner: Considered one of the best for defense, offering strong shields and a powerful grav drive.
• The Razorleaf: This ship is a solid all-around ship acquired during the main quest line.
• Starborn Guardian: While not stealable, it is a powerful New Game+ ship.
• The Crimson Fleet Wraith: A well-equipped ship associated with the Crimson Fleet.

Should you Buy or Steal?

Both buying and stealing have their advantages and drawbacks. Buying ships provides immediate access without any complications and allows you to get the best ships available. Stealing is more risky, but can be a quick way to get a variety of vessels. You will need to register a stolen ship before selling it and to avoid being attacked in friendly systems. It is generally recommended to buy a good quality ship early on to improve your overall game experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I steal Starborn Ships?

No, you cannot steal Starborn ships, although you can disable their engines. The option to dock or claim them simply isn’t available.

2. Can I join the Crimson Fleet?

Yes, you can join the Crimson Fleet by getting caught stealing, possessing contraband, or performing other illegal activities in UC space.

3. Can I sell stolen ships?

Yes, you can sell stolen ships after registering them with a Ship Services Technician.

4. What is the best way to get a free ship?

Completing certain missions, unlocking traits, and discovering unique locations can reward you with free ships. The Frontier, Starborn Guardian, and Wanderwell are examples.

5. How do I increase my crew capacity?

Increase your crew capacity by upgrading your ship with modules that increase your crew limit and by increasing your ‘Ship Command’ skill.

6. Can you romance characters in Starfield?

Yes, you can romance companions like Sarah Morgan, Andreja, Barrett, and Sam Coe. Romancing can unlock new quests and provide XP bonuses.

7. Can I get married in Starfield?

You can get married to certain companions, but you have to progress through their personal quests first. For example, you have to wait for prompts to speak with Sarah after completing “In Memoriam” to propose.

8. Can you divorce a spouse in Starfield?

Yes, you can divorce a spouse by speaking to them and choosing the dialogue option to end the marriage.

9. How many planets does Starfield have?

Starfield has over 1000 planets, but only about 10% of them have life on them.

10. Does Starfield have cities?

Yes, Starfield features four major cities: New Atlantis, Akila, Neon, and The Key.

11. What are the best free ships?

Notable free ships include the Starborn Guardian, Kepler R, The Datura, Star Eagle, and the Wanderwell.

12. Is it worth it to buy a ship?

Yes, buying a ship early on is one of the best quality of life improvements you can make in Starfield.

13. Can I go to Earth in Starfield?

Yes, you can visit Earth by traveling to the SOL star system, not too far from Alpha Centauri.

14. Should I side with the Crimson Fleet or UC?

Siding with the Crimson Fleet offers better financial rewards, loot, and ship upgrades.

15. Can you be a pirate in Starfield?

Yes, you can become a pirate by joining the Crimson Fleet faction. You can initially go undercover and decide whether you want to remain loyal.

Conclusion

While you won’t be commanding a fleet of ships in a traditional RTS style, Starfield’s ten-ship ownership limit still allows you to create a diverse collection of vessels, each with unique capabilities. Choose your ships wisely, explore the game world, and engage in dynamic space battles, but always remember that you’ll be at the helm of only one ship at a time. Your personal fleet is a reflection of your journey through the stars.