Starfield:Skills

Skill up!

Skills provide a variety of benefits to your character. Your Background gives you three starting Novice skills. You gain a skill point every time you level up. There are 82 Skills, each with 4 Ranks, organized in 4 Tiers (novice, advanced, expert, master) across 5 Categories (physical, social, combat, science, tech), for a total of 328 skill ranks. Because you start with 3 skill ranks at level 1, you could unlock every skill rank by level 325, assuming you also complete all Skill Challenges.

While the first rank of each Skill has no Challenge, each subsequent rank requires completing a relevant challenge before a skill point can be spent to rank up. Progress towards the next rank is only tracked when the previous rank is unlocked. For example, killing enemies with Ballistic weapons will not count towards the Ballistics Rank 2 Challenge until Rank 1 is acquired.

Similarly, while Novice Tier skills are available at start, each higher tier requires 4 points spent in any lower tiers of the same category before unlocking. For example, Master Science skills are only available after 12 ranks of Novice, Advanced, and/or Expert are earned, in any combination; starting skills count towards this total.

Skill ranks can be visually differentiated based on the border of the skill. A darkened icon with a gray border means the skill is still locked. If the icon has a gray border and gray design it is Rank 0, a colored design means Rank 1. If the icon has two gray borders it is Rank 2. Finally Rank 3 and 4 have a gold border with one or two lines respectively.


Unlocking New MechanicsEdit

Several skills unlock entirely new mechanics and abilities instead of just providing a small stat boost. These include

  • Stealth -- The first tier provides a stealth meter, without which you will have no obvious indicator of how close you are to being detected while sneaking.
  • Theft -- The first tier gives you the ability to pickpocket. Beyond the more obvious benefits from the theft itself, you will not be able to do any quest objective that requires you to pickpocket without this, requiring you to do other, potentially less desirable options instead.
  • Intimidation -- Grants the intimidation ability to force enemies to flee.
  • Negotiation -- The first tier is required to unlock bribery options.
  • Manipulation -- Gives you the ability to command a targeted NPC.
  • Xenosociology -- Grants the ability to make hostile Fauna stop attacking, flee, attack for you, or follow your commands.
  • Gymnastics -- Grants the ability to combat slide.
  • Concealment -- Makes you incapable of setting off mines, allows you to run while sneaking with no extra chance of detection, gives you a chameleon-like cloak while still, and makes enemies lose track of you if you start sneaking.
  • Rejuvenation -- Grants you automatic health recovery.
  • Demolitions -- The first tier gives you a visible trajectory arc for thrown grenades.
  • Piloting -- Grants you access to ship thrusters for better maneuvering, and unlocks Class B and C ships.
  • Boost Pack Training -- First tier grants you the ability to use your boost pack.
  • Security -- Lets you access higher tier locks.
  • Targeting Control Systems -- Grants you access to the ship targeting function, without which damaging specific components is very difficult.
  • Engine Systems -- The highest tier causes all enemies to disengage from you whenever you boost.

Physical SkillsEdit

There are sixteen Physical Skills:

Skill Tier Skill Name
Novice
 
Boxing
 
Fitness
 
Stealth
 
Weight Lifting
 
Wellness
Advanced
 
Energy Weapon Dissipation
 
Environmental Conditioning
 
Gymnastics
 
Nutrition
 
Pain Tolerance
Expert
 
Cellular Regeneration
 
Decontamination
 
Martial Arts
Master
 
Concealment
 
Neurostrikes
 
Rejuvenation

Social SkillsEdit

There are sixteen Social Skills:

Skill Tier Skill Name
Novice
 
Commerce
 
Gastronomy
 
Persuasion
 
Scavenging
 
Theft
Advanced
 
Deception
 
Diplomacy
 
Intimidation
 
Negotiation
 
Isolation
Expert
 
Instigation
 
Leadership
 
Outpost Management
Master
 
Manipulation
 
Ship Command
 
Xenosociology

Combat SkillsEdit

There are seventeen Combat Skills:

Skill Tier Skill Name
Novice
 
Ballistics
 
Dueling
 
Lasers
 
Pistol Certification
 
Shotgun Certification
Advanced
 
Demolitions
 
Heavy Weapons Certification
 
Incapacitation
 
Particle Beams
 
Rifle Certification
Expert
 
Marksmanship
 
Rapid Reloading
 
Sniper Certification
 
Targeting
Master
 
Armor Penetration
 
Crippling
 
Sharpshooting

Science SkillsEdit

There are sixteen science skills:

Skill Tier Skill Name
Novice
 
Astrodynamics
 
Geology
 
Medicine
 
Research Methods
 
Surveying
Advanced
 
Botany
 
Scanning
 
Spacesuit Design
 
Weapon Engineering
 
Zoology
Expert
 
Astrophysics
 
Chemistry
 
Outpost Engineering
Master
 
Aneutronic Fusion
 
Planetary Habitation
 
Special Projects

Tech SkillsEdit

There are seventeen Tech Skills:

Skill Tier Skill Name
Novice
 
Ballistic Weapon Systems
 
Boost Pack Training
 
Piloting
 
Security
 
Targeting Control Systems
Advanced
 
Energy Weapon Systems
 
Engine Systems
 
Payloads
 
Shield Systems
Expert
 
Missile Weapon Systems
 
Particle Beam Weapon Systems
 
Robotics
 
Starship Design
 
Starship Engineering
Master
 
Automated Weapon Systems
 
Boost Assault Training
 
EM Weapon Systems

Cut SkillsEdit

  • Mindfulness, EM damage can wreak havoc on synaptic pathways, leading to unconsciousness, but it's possible for a trained mind to withstand those effects.
  • Textiles, Access to new materials, creative design, and advancements in manufacturing allow one to create clothing that is the pinnacle of both form and function.