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Starfieldoffers players a great level of customization with the gear and weapons they equip their character with. Higher rarity gear will offer additional bonuses, further negating specific damage types, increasing carry capacity, or letting you turn invisible when crouching.
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Weapons can also be modified to have larger magazines, different sights, or just simply do more damage. All modifications on weapons and gear will require research before unlocking a modification, and both researching and modifying will require specific skills. Both of the upgrade stations and research stations can be foundall over the galaxy,with the most convenient ones being in the basement of the Lodge. These stations can also be crafted andused at outpostsand inapartments.
Updated On September 27th, 2023 By Joshua Leeds:Upgrading your gear can change both the appearances and stats of your gear. This article has been updated to give further information and links to help players fully understand how to optimize their gear through upgrades.
Researching Modifications
Before adding modifications to either weapons or gear, you’ll first need touse a research station. You’ll needsome points in the Weapon Engineering or Spacesuit Design skill when researching modsfor Weapons and Spacesuits. While mostly similar,defensive mods are designated to specific gear pieces, meaning a helmet mod can’t be placed on a spacesuit. Weapon mods will also be more specific to the type of weapon, as a pistol mod can’t fit on a rifle.
When interacting with a research station, select either the spacesuit or gun logo to pull up a list of mods. Each mod willrequire specific resources to complete the research, which isdone instantlyif you have the materials on hand. Thepercentage next to a project will indicate the total amount of resources put into the project,meaning you can start a project with a few resources andreturn later to finish itwith the rest.Researching a mod will not build onebut will give you the ability to build one at an upgrade station. To unlock new mods, upgrade yourWeapon Engineering or Spacesuit Design to get more research options.
Should you not have the materials, you canuse the “Track” button along the left side of the menu, which willadd an icon next to this item in menusshould you find it again while exploring. TheResearch Methods Skill will also help by requiring fewer resourcesto finish up a research project and should be invested in by those who research a lot of mods.
Upgrading Research Methods
Requirement
Can be purchased at any point
Craft 5 research projects
Craft 10 research projects
Craft 15 research projects
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Upgrading Weapons
Weapons can beupgraded at a Weapon Workbench.Select which weapon you would like to modify, and you’ll see a new screendisplaying that weapon’s stats and an image of the weapon. Select which part of the weapon you would like to modify to see all available mods. This screen willalso list mods you don’t have access to yet. Each modification done to a gun will need thecorresponding Weapon Engineering skill to be at a certain levelbefore crafting and equipping the mod.
If no skill level is listed, you can use resources to craft the mod and equip it on your weapon. When hovering over a mod, you’llsee the stats affected along the left side of the menuand how the selected mod will change the way the weapon looks. Weapons can be modified as much as you’d like, butsome mods are better than others. Toincrease your Weapon Engineering skill, simply continue to craft other mods for weaponsto get access to better mods in the future.
When upgrading a weapon, the modifications willchange both the stats and sometimes the appearance of the weapon.Depending on the type of weapon, some can get an increased magazine or new sight to look through. Weapon Workbenches canalso be used to equip anew skin on a weapon,if you have a skin for that weapon type, but thisnever changes the stats of the weapon.
Like researching, the menu along the right side of the screen will display what resources are required to craft a mod. Selecting to"Track" thosematerialswill add the magnifying glass icon next to the itemwherever else you find it.
Upgrading Weapon Engineering
Spend 4 skill points in the Science Skill tree.
Craft 5 weapon mods.
Craft 15 weapon mods.
Craft 30 weapon mods.
Related:Starfield: How To Track & Untrack Resources
Modifying Gear
Your spacesuits, helmets, and packs can be modified at a Spacesuit Workbench. These mods must also be researched first, and gear uses theSpacesuit Design skill to determine which mods can be created andequipped.Gear mods aren’t as straightforward, assome mods aren’t necessarily better.Each gear piece can be equipped with multiple mods, all of which willgive various effects or boost the resistance to certain damage types.
Other mods offer bonus effects that may be more useful than a damage resistance, so mix and match your mods often to make your gear perfect for what you need. Packs and Boost Packs can be modified toeither becomeBoost Packsor change the type of Boost Packthey are. There aremultiple kinds of Boost Packsthat use the thrusters in different ways, so try out each to find your favorite. Mods for gear also require resources and can be tracked with the same method previously mentioned.
Much like weapons, different mods can be equipped on Spacesuits, Boost Packs, and Helmets.Spacesuits and Helmets can have four mods equipped, while Boost Pack get two along with the ability to change the type of Boost Pack it is.The rarity of the gear you’re modifying won’t always effect these mods, and willonly be additional bonuses on your gear that all add up.
