Unveiling the Ultimate Gear: What’s the Best Equipment in Starfield?
Choosing the “best” equipment in Starfield isn’t a straightforward process. It heavily depends on your playstyle, character build, and current objective. There’s no single “god-tier” setup that trumps all others. However, we can identify some standout pieces and categories of gear that consistently perform exceptionally well and provide significant advantages. For general effectiveness and adaptability, consider these top-tier options:
- Weapon: Eternity’s Gate (Particle Beam Rifle): This legendary rifle packs incredible damage output, making it effective against almost all enemy types. Its particle beam nature bypasses some resistances, and its legendary effects amplify its power even further.
- Spacesuit: Starborn Spacesuit Venator: Acquired through the New Game Plus system, this suit boasts unmatched defensive stats across all damage types. Its built-in perks, such as increased carry weight and damage resistance, significantly enhance survivability and looting efficiency.
- Armor (Early to Mid-Game): Mantis Armor: Obtainable through a side quest, this armor offers solid early-game protection and a unique look. It also grants a significant boost to stealth, making it ideal for stealth-focused builds.
- Helmet: Old Earth Helmet: This helmet provides high physical damage resistance early in the game, and helps players stay alive.
- Tool: Cutter: This tool is useful for mining resources on different planets.
This is a starting point. Now, let’s dive deeper into various equipment categories and explore the factors that contribute to their effectiveness.
Deep Dive: Essential Equipment Categories in Starfield
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different equipment types is crucial for making informed decisions and optimizing your character’s performance.
Weapons: A Galaxy of Choices
Starfield offers a diverse arsenal of weapons, ranging from ballistic firearms to energy-based rifles and melee weapons.
- Ballistic Weapons: These weapons deal physical damage and are effective against enemies with low armor. Examples include the Magstorm (Microgun) for sheer firepower and the Beowulf (Assault Rifle) for versatility.
- Energy Weapons: These weapons deal energy damage and are particularly effective against robotic enemies and those with energy shields. The Eternity’s Gate (Particle Beam Rifle) is a prime example of a powerful energy weapon.
- Melee Weapons: Melee combat is viable in Starfield, especially with the right build. The Va’ruun Painblade (Knife) offers high base damage, while The Last Priest (Sword) delivers potent physical damage.
- Pistols: The Va’Ruun Starshard is a hard-hitting pistol that uses both ballistic and laser damage.
- Unique Weapons: Many unique variants of common weapons exist in the game with predetermined effects.
The “best” weapon ultimately depends on the situation. Having a variety of weapon types in your inventory allows you to adapt to different enemy types and combat scenarios. Always consider a weapon’s damage type, range, accuracy, and special effects when making your selection. The X-989 Microgun is effective for Terrormorphs because it does 30% extra damage to aliens.
Spacesuits, Helmets, and Boost Packs: Protecting and Enhancing Your Explorer
Spacesuits are essential for surviving the harsh environments of alien planets. They provide protection against environmental hazards, such as radiation, extreme temperatures, and toxic atmospheres.
- Defensive Stats: Spacesuits have three primary defensive stats: Physical, Energy, and EM resistance. The ideal balance depends on the types of enemies you typically encounter. The Starborn Spacesuit Venator excels in this category, offering high resistance across all three damage types.
- Environmental Resistance: Spacesuits also provide resistance to environmental hazards. Look for suits with high thermal, radiation, corrosive, and airborne resistance for maximum protection.
- Boost Packs: Boost packs allow you to jump higher and traverse difficult terrain more easily. They come in various types, including basic boost packs, balanced boost packs, and power boost packs. The best boost pack for you depends on your preferred movement style.
- Helmets: The Old Earth Helmet is one of the best helmets in Starfield, as it offers 74 physical resistance.
It is important to consider the unique stats, especially when navigating different planets.
Tools: Beyond Combat
While weapons are crucial for combat, tools play a vital role in exploration, resource gathering, and puzzle-solving.
- The Cutter: This tool is indispensable for mining resources. Its ability to break apart rocks and mineral nodes is essential for progressing through the campaign and crafting upgrades.
Optimizing Your Gear: Mods and Skills
Simply acquiring powerful gear isn’t enough. To truly maximize your effectiveness, you need to invest in weapon and spacesuit mods and skills.
- Weapon Mods: Weapon mods can significantly enhance a weapon’s damage output, accuracy, range, and other stats. Experiment with different mods to find the optimal configuration for your preferred weapons.
- Spacesuit Mods: Spacesuit mods can improve your carry capacity, environmental resistance, and other defensive stats.
- Skills: Investing in relevant skills, such as Weapon Engineering, Armor Penetration, and Spacesuit Design, will further enhance the effectiveness of your gear. Consider important skills such as Commerce, Theft, Negotiation, and Stealth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the best early-game weapon? The Cutter is useful for mining, and the Magstorm is a ballistic weapon that deals high damage output.
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Where can I find the Mantis Armor? The Mantis Armor is acquired by completing a special mission on the Denebola 1-B moon. The mission starts by finding a slate with the name “Secret Outpost” during the Old Neighborhood or Back to Vectera main missions.
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Is the Starborn Spacesuit worth getting? Absolutely. The Starborn Spacesuit Venator offers unparalleled defensive stats and perks, making it the best spacesuit in the game.
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Can I upgrade my spacesuit? Yes, you can upgrade your spacesuit by adding mods at a workbench. The Spacesuit Design skill unlocks more advanced mods.
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What is the best stealth armor? The Deepseeker spacesuit, helmet, and boost pack are great for Stealth Builds. You also can use the Concealment Skill.
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How do I increase my carry capacity? You can increase your carry capacity by equipping spacesuit mods that grant bonus carry weight or by investing in the Weight Lifting skill.
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What is the best melee weapon? The Va’ruun Painblade is the best knife in the game because it has the highest base damage of any Starfield melee weapon.
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Are there any unique spacesuits? Yes, there are several unique spacesuits in Starfield, each with its own unique stats and perks. The Mantis Armor is an example of a very popular unique space suit. The Incendiary Experimental Nishina spacesuit is also one of the best-looking ones.
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What makes the Cutter such a good tool? The Cutter is the best tool in Starfield because it can be used to damage foes and break apart rocks and mineral nodes.
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What should I do if I get a divorce? You can get a divorce by simply walking up to your spouse and talking to them. You have to choose the option that lets them know the marriage isn’t working out. You can still romance Sarah though, by waiting until you’re prompted to speak with her again after completing “In Memoriam”.
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What are the best feats in Starfield? Some of the best feats are Commerce, Theft, Negotiation, Wellness, Target Control Systems, Weight Lifting, Piloting, and Stealth.
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Is there a level cap in Starfield? No, Starfield features an infinite leveling system, so there is truly no limit to how high you can level up. The limit does not exist!
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Who are the best companions in Starfield? Some of the best companions are Sam Coe and Andreja.
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Where do I get the invisibility suit in Starfield? To achieve invisibility, players must reach Rank 3 in the Concealment Skill.
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What does it mean to have the Best Armor in Starfield? The best armor has Mark I Spacesuit, Gran-Gran’s Spacesuit, Mercury Spacesuit, Mantis Spacesuit, and Starborn Spacesuit.
Final Thoughts: Experiment and Adapt
Ultimately, the “best” equipment in Starfield is what works best for you. Experiment with different weapons, spacesuits, and mods to find a combination that complements your playstyle and allows you to thrive in the Settled Systems. Don’t be afraid to adapt your gear as you progress through the game and face new challenges. Remember to also check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more information on gaming topics.
The most important thing is to have fun and explore the vast and exciting world of Starfield!