Ship combat in Starfield is a thrilling and essential part of your journey through the galaxy. Whether you’re chasing XP, collecting rare loot, or commandeering enemy ships, mastering space combat will make you a force to be reckoned with. This guide covers everything from skill investments and system management to combat tactics and looting strategies.

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1. Why Ship Combat Matters

Ship combat offers several key rewards and gameplay benefits:

• Experience Points (XP): Earn XP by defeating enemies and completing ship-based encounters.
• Credits and Loot: Salvage destroyed ships for loot, sell captured ships, or dismantle them for high-value parts.
• Ship Customization: Acquire enemy ships to upgrade your own with new weapons, modules, or designs.

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2. Best Skills for Ship Combat

Tech Tree

• Weapon Systems: Enhance lasers, ballistics, plasma weapons, and missile efficiency.
• Shield Systems: Boost shield strength and regeneration rates.
• Payloads & Cargo: Expand cargo capacity to carry more loot from space battles.

Science Tree

• Grav Jump Range: Increases your jump distance between star systems. Not critical for combat but great for travel.

Social Tree

• Smuggling: Increases success when transporting contraband into high-security zones like Alpha Centauri and Neon.

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3. Ship Services Explained

You’ll find Ship Services vendors at major landing pads. They offer:

• Repairs: Repair your ship for around 1,000 credits or use onboard repair parts.
• Upgrades: Enhance ship systems—like engines, shields, or weapons—to suit your combat style.
• Purchasing Ships: Buy new, combat-optimized ships when ready to upgrade your fleet.

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4. Power Management During Combat

Efficient power allocation is the backbone of survival and success in dogfights. Use the power distribution panel(bottom-left of your HUD) to redirect energy where it’s needed most:

System	Role
Engines	Increases movement and evasive capabilities
Weapons	Boosts damage output for your equipped arsenal
Shields	Improves survivability and regeneration speed
Grav Drive	Enables fast travel—turn it off during combat to free up energy

Pro Tip: Before battle, divert power from the Grav Drive to weapons and shields for maximum efficiency.

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5. Ship Combat Tactics

Weapon Specialization

• Lasers/Plasma: Effective against enemy shields
• Ballistics/Missiles: Best for tearing through hull integrity

Maneuvering Tips

• Maintain medium speed to balance turning agility and forward thrust.
• Reduce speed to make tight turns, especially when dodging missiles.

Target Specific Systems

Use targeting mode to cripple enemy systems:

• Engines: Immobilize enemies, enabling boarding.
• Weapons: Reduce incoming damage.
• Shields: Prevent regeneration and soften defenses.

Power Allocation Strategy

• Maximize shields and primary weapons.
• Keep engine power high enough for dodging and repositioning.

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6. Capturing and Looting Ships

Disabling Enemy Ships

• Target engines to halt enemy movement.
• Board the ship after disabling and eliminate its crew.

Looting Ships

• Grab everything, including contraband and ship parts.
• Ensure you’ve leveled your Piloting skill to claim or fly the ship.

Registering and Using New Ships

• Head to a Ship Services terminal to register your captured ship.
• Registration fees scale with ship class and value.

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7. Handling Damage and Repairs

In-Combat Repairs

• Use Ship Parts from your cargo hold to repair damage during battle.
• Parts must be stored in your cargo, not your personal inventory.

Shield Management

• Avoid prolonged fire to allow your shields to recharge.
• Max out shield power whenever possible to extend survivability.

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8. Assigning Crew Members

Crew members bring powerful passive bonuses. Assign crew to:

• Boost weapon damage
• Enhance shield capacity
• Improve repair efficiency or gravitational jumps

Choose carefully based on your combat role and playstyle.

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Conclusion

Mastering ship combat in Starfield comes down to smart system management, thoughtful skill investments, and sharp tactical decision-making. Whether you’re disabling enemy ships for profit or blasting through pirate fleets, these strategies will help you rule the stars.

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💬 Want more?

If this guide helped, leave a comment or suggestion for the next topic—like ship building, advanced boarding strategies, or best ships to buy. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and stay tuned for more Starfield guides.

Safe travels, captain! 🪐