Starfield Ship Builder: Unleashing the Ultimate Guide to Crafting the Finest Vessels

In Starfield, the ship-building system is both captivating and perplexing. Initially, it may seem unintuitive and cumbersome. However, once mastered, it opens up endless possibilities. Starfield prides itself on its boundless nature, and the Ship Builder perfectly embodies this philosophy.

This guide aims to provide players with a comprehensive understanding of the Ship Builder mechanic, along with helpful tips and tricks to create the optimal ships for various play styles. Whether one desires to become a notorious space pirate or embark on peaceful exploration, the path to the ideal ship can be discovered here.

How to Use the Ship Builder in Starfield

The Ship Builder system has often been portrayed in the pre-release press as more suitable for the late-game experience. However, this is not entirely accurate and new players are in luck. The Ship Builder system will actually be accessible to players as soon as they gain access to New Atlantis, which happens early on in Starfield's main story.

To access this feature, players simply need to visit a Ship Services Technician, who can be found at every major spaceport in the game. The first technician will be located in New Atlantis and will be clearly pointed out to players by Starfield, so they won't miss them.

Essential Tips for Building Ships:

Upon reaching the Ship Services Technician of choice, initiate a conversation with them. Then, opt for 'I'd like to view and modify my ships.' This action will redirect the player to the Ship Overview menu, offering the opportunity to upgrade a ship or delve into the intricacies of the more elaborate 'Ship Builder' system. In case the player possesses multiple ships, utilize the LB or RB buttons to locate the preferred option and proceed by pressing X to access the Ship Builder interface.

Upon initial entry into the Ship Builder, it is crucial to observe the following details:

and access its features.

Part Selection - displays the available parts that can be added to the ship.

It is crucial to familiarize yourself with these three information bars as they are key to effectively utilizing the Ship Builder and optimizing your build.

Error/Nominal Check - provides an overview of errors in the current build.

Cursor and Information Panel: By hovering the cursor over different sections of the ship, users can access detailed information about each module on the left side. This includes essential modules like Grav Drives and Reactors, displaying important details such as class, required skills, and base statistics for each item.

Basic Instructions for Ship Building:

When the player has grasped the fundamental features of the Ship Builder, they can proceed to ready themselves for their initial modifications. The Ship Builder can be perceived as a more advanced rendition of Starfield's ship upgrade system. Each module will boast a range of accessible choices, numerous of which will surpass the current version installed on the ship.

To initiate the construction of a ship from the beginning, the existing ship in the ship builder must be deleted. To accomplish this, first, press LB to highlight all elements, and then press X to delete them.

Next, select and relocate the desired section by pressing A.

Once removed, hover the cursor over open space, then press A to add a new item.

Press RB or LB to find the desired section.

Price will be displayed on the right side, while the necessary class and skills can be found in the information box on the left.

Choose the desired component, either return it to its original position or rearrange it as desired. Afterward, check for any unresolved errors that need to be addressed.

If the error box says 'Nominal', then the build is ready to be finalized.

Press B to exit the Ship Builder, confirm the costs of the build, then take the new ship for a flight.

How to Resolve Errors in Ship Builder

In the Ship Builder, errors are usually simple and easily fixable. However, there may be instances where resolving multi-step resolutions is necessary before proceeding. The most frequently encountered errors in this category are the following two:

More than one of a specific item.

Unattached Modules

This is a prime example of how both errors stem from the same issue. Typically, players forget to remove the original part they detached from the ship, but once this is rectified, both errors vanish.

Furthermore, there are numerous other errors, some of which are more advanced, that necessitate the player to approach the Ship Builder as if it were a puzzle. For instance, as the size of the ship increases, it will require more landing gears for safe landings and launches, and additional engines to remain airborne. When confronted with such an error cluster, it might be more advantageous to simply cancel the current order and commence anew. To achieve this, press B within the Ship Builder and then confirm when the text box appears.

How to Build Advanced Ships in Starfield

Players interested in building advanced ships will need to ensure they high rankings in the following two skills:

Piloting

Ship Design