How to Fly Higher Class Ships in Starfield: A Comprehensive Guide

The allure of piloting a powerful, high-class vessel in Starfield is undeniable. Whether you dream of commanding a massive battleship or a sleek, advanced starfighter, understanding how to unlock these ships is crucial. The core mechanic is directly tied to your Piloting Skill, which acts as the gatekeeper to higher-tier ships. Simply put, to fly higher class ships in Starfield, you must rank up your Piloting skill. This skill is not just a passive boost; it is a required investment that unlocks new possibilities in your intergalactic journey. Let’s delve into the details of how you can achieve this and explore the related mechanics of ship acquisition and management.

Understanding the Piloting Skill

Skill Tree and Initial Investment

The Piloting skill is located on the first row of the Tech skill tree, making it immediately accessible for investment early in the game. This skill is not just about piloting; it also governs your ability to maneuver your ships more effectively, allowing for greater control in space combat. Therefore, upgrading it is beneficial even if you’re not immediately focused on acquiring larger vessels. While some companions may possess piloting skills, these do not directly contribute to your ability to pilot higher class ships. The player’s skill alone is the determining factor.

Ranking Up the Piloting Skill

Upgrading the Piloting skill is achieved through a combination of activities, primarily by destroying enemy ships. The progression is tiered, with each level requiring an increased number of ship destructions:

• Rank 1: Unlocked upon initial skill selection.
• Rank 2: Requires destroying 5 ships.
• Rank 3: Requires destroying 15 ships.
• Rank 4: Requires destroying 30 ships.
• Rank 4 (Mastery): Requires destroying 50 ships.

As you reach each rank, the game will reflect your upgraded piloting skills. This gradual progression encourages active space combat, but also allows you to experience and adapt to new combat challenges and vessel controls.

Expediting the Piloting Skill Level Up

The Piloting Simulator

The most efficient way to level up your Piloting skill is by using the Piloting Simulator. You can access the simulator by completing the Vanguard Exam, which is located in the Orientation Hall museum. Upon completing the exam, an elevator will lead you to the simulator room. The simulator has six tiers of increasing difficulty and provides a safe and effective environment to hone your skills while earning progress towards Piloting level. Each completed tier contributes significantly to your ship destruction count, making this the fastest way to level up.

Finding Enemy Ships

Beyond the simulator, you’ll naturally encounter hostile ships during the main story missions and side quests in Starfield. However, if you want to expedite the process, a good tactic is to jump between different star systems. By doing this, you are more likely to encounter random battles and hostile ships. This method may be less consistent than using the Piloting Simulator, but it can be done while you explore the vast universe of Starfield.

Beyond the Piloting Skill: Acquiring Higher Class Ships

Multiple Ships and Your Home Ship

While upgrading your Piloting skill allows you to command higher class ships, understanding how to acquire them is equally important. Starfield allows you to have a collection of up to ten ships, but you can only have one active Home Ship at any given time. This means that even if you have several advanced ships, you can only fly one at a time, which will be your ‘Home Ship’. Acquiring a new ship automatically makes it your new ‘Home Ship’, which replaces the previous one, with it just flying off.

Methods of Acquiring Ships

You can acquire new ships through multiple avenues:

• Purchasing: Ships can be bought from various spaceports across the game world. Different factions may have different ships on offer.
• Stealing: You can steal enemy ships once you have at least one rank in the Targeting Control Systems (Tech) skill. This allows you to target specific ship systems and disable them, making them easier to board and take over.
• Rewards: Completing certain missions and quest lines might grant you unique or powerful ships.
• Free Ships: Several free ships can be obtained through various activities, including the Frontier (your initial ship), the Razorleaf ( a reward for a particular quest), or the Starborn Guardian (only after starting a New Game+).

Understanding Ship Classes

Ships in Starfield are categorized into different classes, usually A, B, and C, with Class A being the simplest and Class C the most powerful and complex. Your Piloting Skill rank is what determines which class of ship you are able to pilot. Class C ships often require the maximum Piloting Skill rank to pilot, explaining why upgrading your piloting skill is vital for progressing through the ship classes.

Starborn Ships

One of the most unique ship classes in Starfield are the Starborn ships. However, these ships are only accessible after you begin a New Game Plus run. The Starborn ship can not be customized, but offers unique features and serves as a reward for engaging with the game’s deeper narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I fly any ship in Starfield if I have the Piloting skill maxed?

Yes, once you have the Piloting skill at Rank 4 (Mastery) you can pilot any ship in the game, provided you have acquired it.

2. How many ships can I own in Starfield?

You can own up to ten ships at any given time.

3. How do I make my old ship disappear?

Your previous Home Ship will simply fly away when you acquire a new one. There is no other way to make them disappear.

4. Is Piloting worth investing in early in the game?

Yes, the first two levels of Piloting are immediately useful for improved maneuverability, and later for flying bigger ships.

5. What happens if I reach the ship ownership limit?

You will receive a notification informing you that you have reached the maximum allowed number of ships, and that you need to sell one of them to acquire another.

6. Can I customize my ships?

Yes, you can customize your ships at ship services technicians found at most major settlements.

7. What are the best ships to steal in Starfield?

Some great stolen ships include the Stronghold, Shieldbreaker, Vanquisher, and Crimson Fleet Wraith.

8. What is the best free ship in Starfield?

The Starborn Guardian is considered the best free ship, but it is only accessible in New Game+. The Kepler R is a close second and can be obtained through missions.

9. How can I join the Crimson Fleet?

You can join the Crimson Fleet by getting caught stealing or doing illegal activities in UC space. You will then be approached to join them.

10. What ship can hold the most crew members?

Ships such as the Dragonfire II and Crimson Fleet Wight II can hold up to 7 crew members.

11. Can you fly between planets directly in Starfield?

Yes, it is possible to fly directly to another planet but this requires lots of time and patience. This is not the intended method for travel however.

12. What happens when I complete all tiers of the Piloting Simulator?

Upon completion of Tier Six, you will receive a reward of 20,000 credits and be recognized as being in the 99th percentile of applicants.

13. How do I quickly level up my character in Starfield?

Head to planets with the Abundant Fauna stat. These planets have a high number of powerful creatures that can be killed for lots of XP.

14. Can I build my own massive battleship in Starfield?

Yes, you can customize your ship to be as big as you like using multiple hab modules, and other structures.

15. Is there a way to romance companions in Starfield?

Yes, you can build relationships with companions, and eventually romance them, unlocking new quests and rewards.

In conclusion, flying higher class ships in Starfield is a goal attainable through strategic skill point investment, active gameplay and ship acquisition, making it a central part of the game’s progression. By mastering the Piloting skill and understanding the mechanics of ship management, you will be well-equipped to conquer the stars in the most powerful and impressive vessels the game has to offer.