Crafting in Starfield is one of the most intricate and rewarding systems in the game. Whether you’re enhancing weapons, modifying spacesuits, or building outposts, crafting plays a vital role in your journey across the galaxy. For new players, it may feel overwhelming at first—but with a little guidance, you’ll be creating advanced gear and systems in no time. This beginner’s guide breaks down everything you need to know to get started.

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Crafting Stations: Your Tools of the Trade

Inside the Constellation Lodge’s basement, you’ll find several essential crafting stations:

• Weapon Workbench – Modify and upgrade your firearms.
• Spacesuit Workbench – Tweak helmets and spacesuits for better stats.
• Industrial Workbench – For crafting materials and basic components.
• Pharmaceutical Lab – Brew healing items and buffs.
• Cooking Station – Craft food that grants temporary stat boosts.
• Research Lab – Unlock new crafting recipes and technologies.

Each station supports a different part of the crafting system, and you’ll often use them in tandem.

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How Crafting Works: Layers of Progression

Unlike basic crafting systems in other games, Starfield uses a layered system that includes:

1. Raw Materials – Gathered from planets and loot, including tungsten, titanium, and sealant.
2. Research Projects – Unlock recipes by completing research tasks at the lab.
3. Skill Requirements – Invest skill points in specific areas to unlock advanced crafting tiers.

This triad—materials, research, and skills—is the foundation of all crafting in the game.

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Example: Crafting a Suppressor

Here’s a full example to illustrate the crafting process:

1. At the Weapon Workbench, select a weapon and navigate to the muzzle slot.
   • To craft a suppressor, you’ll need:
     • Materials: Tungsten, polymer, tantalum
     • Research: Muzzle Mods 1
2. Visit the Research Lab to unlock Muzzle Mods 1.
   • Requirements: Titanium, tungsten, sealant
   • Prerequisite Skill: Weapon Engineering Rank 1
3. Unlock Weapon Engineering in the Science skill tree:
   • First, invest 4 points in Tier 1 Science skills like Geology or Research Methods
   • Then, unlock Weapon Engineering under Tier 2
4. Track required materials in your inventory screen for easier gathering while exploring.
5. Complete the research, and then return to the workbench to craft the suppressor.

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Skill Tree & Research Progression

Crafting success hinges on smart skill allocation:

• Tier 1 (Science): Start with general skills like Surveying, Research Methods, and Geology
• Tier 2+: Unlock more specialized skills like Weapon Engineering, Outpost Engineering, or Pharmaceutics
• Skill Ranks: Higher ranks within each skill unlock new crafting tiers and benefits. Some require completing related activities, not just spending points.

Plan your progression path early to align with your desired crafting focus.

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Beyond Weapons: Other Crafting Systems

Crafting in Starfield goes far beyond gear. Explore these additional avenues:

• Spacesuit Mods – Enhance resistances, weight, or mobility
• Outpost Engineering – Build mining and research hubs to farm materials automatically
• Chemistry/Pharmaceuticals – Create healing, combat, and exploration-enhancing items
• Cooking – Prepare food for temporary buffs and health regeneration

Each system has its own research branches, ingredients, and supporting skills.

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Beginner Crafting Tips

• ✅ Track Components: Use the material tracker to highlight required resources while exploring
• ✅ Explore Thoroughly: Materials are scattered across planets, caves, and enemy camps
• ✅ Focus Your Build: Pick one or two crafting areas to specialize in early
• ✅ Use the Lodge Stations: You don’t need to build your own crafting stations right away
• ✅ Check Vendor Inventories: Some materials and research items can be bought instead of found

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Why Crafting Matters in Starfield

Crafting isn’t just a side mechanic—it’s essential to thriving in Starfield’s universe. Whether you’re upgrading a rifle for stealth or building an automated outpost to supply rare minerals, crafting empowers you to tailor the game to your playstyle. It’s a system of long-term investment that rewards creativity and strategic planning.

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Ready to build your galactic legacy? Start with the basics, follow your interests, and soon you’ll be customizing everything from plasma rifles to planetary facilities.

Happy crafting—and see you among the stars. 🌌