How to Use Outposts in Starfield to Explore the Galaxy Faster

Starfield is a massive open-world sci-fi RPG that lets you create your own character and explore a vast galaxy with over a thousand planets. 

You can take on missions, customize your spaceship, engage in space combat, and discover the secrets of the universe. 

But how do you make the most of your interstellar adventure? One of the key features of Starfield is the ability to build and manage outposts on different planets. 

Outposts are independent bases that allow you to access various resources, facilities, and benefits that can enhance your gameplay experience. 

In this blog post, we will show you how to use outposts in Starfield to explore the galaxy faster and easier.

What are Outposts and Why are They Useful?

Outposts are structures that you can construct on a planet’s surface using your scanner and an outpost beacon. You can have up to 8 outposts active at once, but you can increase this limit by investing points into the Planetary Habitation skill tree. Outposts have several advantages that make them worth building, such as:

• Resource extraction: You can build extractors on resource deposits near your outpost to harvest materials such as metals, gases, crystals, and organic compounds. These resources can be used for crafting, upgrading, trading, or fueling your spaceship.

• Manufacturing: You can build fabricators at your outpost to produce various items such as weapons, armor, consumables, components, and more. You can also build refineries to convert raw materials into refined ones that have higher value and utility.

• Hydroponics: You can build hydroponics stations at your outpost to grow crops that provide food, medicine, or other benefits. Some crops can also be sold for a good profit or used as ingredients for crafting.

• Storage: You can build storage containers at your outpost to store your excess items and resources. You can access your storage from any outpost or from your spaceship.

• Crew management: You can build crew stations at your outpost to assign crew members or companions to work there. Crew members can provide various bonuses depending on their skills and traits, such as increasing resource production, improving outpost efficiency, or unlocking new options.

• Defense: You can build turrets and shields at your outpost to protect it from hostile forces or environmental hazards. You can also build an airlock and hab modules to create an indoor environment that is safe from extreme weather or radiation.

How to Build an Outpost in Starfield

Building an outpost in Starfield is not very difficult, but it does require some planning and preparation. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Choose a planet: The first step is to choose a planet where you want to build your outpost. You can scan planets from orbit using your spaceship’s navigation system to see their basic information, such as name, size, gravity, atmosphere, temperature, and resources. You can also see if there are any landing zones available on the planet. You should look for a planet that has the resources you need and does not have any extreme conditions that make it hard to build on. For example, if you want to build a helium-3 extractor, you should look for a planet that has helium-3 deposits and does not have high radiation levels.

2. Land on the planet: Once you have chosen a planet, you need to land on it using your spaceship. You can select a landing zone from orbit or manually fly down to the surface. Landing zones are marked locations that are safe and convenient for landing and taking off. They also have terminals where you can refuel, repair, or customize your spaceship.

3. Find a suitable location: After landing on the planet, you need to find a suitable location for your outpost. You can use your scanner to detect nearby resource deposits and other points of interest. You should look for a spot that has the resources you want and enough space for building structures. You should also avoid areas that are too close to enemies or hazards.

4. Place an outpost beacon: Once you have found a good spot for your outpost, you need to place an outpost beacon there using your scanner. The beacon will mark the boundaries of your outpost and allow you to enter build mode. Initially, you can only place one beacon per planet, but you can unlock more by investing points into the Planetary Expansion skill tree.

5. Build structures: After placing the beacon, you can start building structures within the boundaries of your outpost. You can switch between build mode and modify mode at any time using the back button on Xbox or the V key on PC. In build mode, you can construct a range of structures using materials from your inventory or storage. Some structures require power sources such as solar arrays, wind turbines, or fueled generators. You can also run wires between powered items to ensure specific structures are powered. In modify mode, you can move or delete objects, change their color, or clear obstacles. You can also enter a fly cam mode for a top-down view of your outpost.

6. Assign crew: Once you have built the structures you want, you can assign crew members or companions to work at your outpost. You need to build a crew station at your outpost to do this. Then, you can open your crew menu and select the crew member or companion you want to assign. You can see the available outposts and the free slots they have, and then choose the outpost to assign the crew member to. Crew members can provide various benefits depending on their skills and traits, such as increasing resource production, improving outpost efficiency, or unlocking new options.

How to Use Outposts in Starfield to Explore the Galaxy Faster

Now that you know how to build an outpost in Starfield, you might be wondering how to use it to explore the galaxy faster. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you:

• Use outposts as fast travel points: You can fast travel between any outposts or landing zones that you have discovered using your spaceship’s navigation system. This can save you a lot of time and fuel when traveling across the galaxy.

• Use outposts as refueling stations: You can use the resources from your outposts to refuel your spaceship or craft fuel cells. This can help you avoid running out of fuel in the middle of space or having to buy expensive fuel from vendors.

• Use outposts as trading hubs: You can use the items and resources from your outposts to trade with vendors or other factions. This can help you earn money, reputation, or favors that can help you progress in the game.

• Use outposts as crafting stations: You can use the fabricators and refineries at your outposts to craft various items that can improve your gameplay experience. For example, you can craft weapons, armor, consumables, components, and more that can help you in combat, exploration, or customization.

• Use outposts as research stations: You can use the hydroponics stations at your outposts to grow crops that can provide various benefits. For example, you can grow crops that provide food, medicine, or other effects that can help you survive in harsh environments or enhance your abilities.

• Use outposts as bases of operations: You can use the hab modules and storage containers at your outposts to create a comfortable and secure base of operations. You can store your excess items and resources, access your personal terminal, customize your appearance, rest and heal, or interact with your crew members or companions.

Conclusion

Outposts are one of the most important features of Starfield that can greatly enhance your gameplay experience. By building and managing outposts on different planets, you can access various resources, facilities, and benefits that can help you explore the galaxy faster and easier. Outposts also allow you to express your creativity and personality by designing and customizing your own bases. Whether you want to build a simple outpost for convenience or a complex outpost for efficiency, Starfield gives you the freedom and tools to do so.

We hope this blog post has helped you understand how to use outposts in Starfield to explore the galaxy faster. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. And if you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends who might be interested in Starfield. Thank you for reading!