Starfield Walkthrough — Start to Endgame

Starfield is Bethesda's space RPG with over 1,000 explorable planets across 100+ star systems. The game's strongest elements are its ship-building system (where you can design custom vessels from modular parts), its faction questlines (Crimson Fleet pirates, UC Vanguard military, Freestar Rangers), and the New Game Plus system that's actually story-relevant rather than just a difficulty reset. Ground combat is competent with satisfying gunplay and a robust skill system. The Shattered Space expansion adds a handcrafted open world that addresses the procedural content concerns from launch.

This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.

Quick Progression Summary

Phase 1: Getting Started — New Atlantis

The capital city of the United Colonies and the game's largest handcrafted settlement. Contains Constellation's Lodge, UC Vanguard headquarters, the Commercial District, and the MAST government center. Most main quest and UC faction quests start here.

Level/Difficulty: All levels (main hub) Key Rewards: Constellation main quest, UC Vanguard questline, vendors, ship services

What to Do in New Atlantis

1. Learn shipbuilding. The ship builder lets you place individual modules (cockpits, habitats, cargo bays, engines, weapons, shields) in a 3D editor. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
2. Pick Gunslinger as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
3. The Mantis questline (triggered by finding the 'Secret Outpost!' note on a Spacer body) gives you the Razorleaf ship and Mantis spacesuit FOR FREE early in the game. It's the best early-game quest to complete.
4. Acquire your first equipment upgrade — Hard Target or whatever's available.
5. Clear all main content before moving on.

Phase 1 Checklist

• Understand shipbuilding fundamentals
• Gunslinger selected and functional
• New Atlantis main content cleared
• Ready for Akila City

Phase 2: Early Game — Akila City

Capital of the Freestar Collective with a frontier Western aesthetic. Contains the Freestar Rangers headquarters. The city is surrounded by walls protecting against Ashta (alien predators). Sam Coe's companion quest starts here.

Level/Difficulty: All levels Key Rewards: Freestar Rangers questline, Sam Coe companion quest, frontier vendors

What to Do in Akila City

1. Work on outpost system. Outposts are player-built bases on planet surfaces for resource extraction and crafting. This system becomes critical from here on.
2. Farm for Hard Target if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
3. Boost packs are essential — invest in Boost Pack Training early. The balanced boost pack provides sustained hover for combat repositioning and reaching elevated areas.
4. Complete all objectives before pushing to Neon.
5. Consider whether Stealth Build might suit your playstyle better than Gunslinger.

Phase 2 Checklist

• outpost system integrated into gameplay
• Hard Target acquired
• Akila City fully cleared
• Ready for Neon

Phase 3: Mid Game — Neon

A cyberpunk fishing-platform-turned-city known for producing Aurora (a legal-in-Neon-only drug). Neon's nightlife district has the game's best atmosphere. Contains Ryujin Industries corporate espionage questline — one of the best faction questlines in the game.

Level/Difficulty: All levels Key Rewards: Ryujin Industries questline, Aurora drug, unique vendors, neon nightlife atmosphere

What to Do in Neon

1. Master NG+ system. Completing the main quest triggers New Game Plus — but in Starfield, NG+ is narratively significant. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
2. Start working toward Magshear. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
3. Ship building unlocks massive combat potential. A custom Class C ship with 6 particle beam weapons, max shields, and a landing bay becomes an unstoppable warship.
4. This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
5. Start investing in research projects for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.

Phase 3 Checklist

• NG+ system mastered
• Magshear acquired or in progress
• Neon fully cleared
• Ready for The Lodge

Phase 4: Late Game — The Lodge

Constellation's headquarters in New Atlantis where the main quest artifact collection takes place. The Lodge serves as a home base with storage, workbenches, companion gathering, and quest givers. The main quest radiates outward from here.

Level/Difficulty: Main quest hub Key Rewards: Main quest progression, artifact display, companion conversations, storage

What to Do in The Lodge

1. Finalize your build. You should be running Stealth Build or Gunslinger with optimized gear.
2. Magshear should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
3. Persuasion checks use a minigame where you choose dialogue options worth 1-5 points toward a target. Auto-persuade (save/load) works, but investing in Persuasion skill adds bonus points to each attempt.
4. companion affinity optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
5. Farm this area for the resources needed to push into The Eye.

Phase 4 Checklist

• Build fully optimized
• Magshear upgraded to max
• The Lodge fully cleared
• Ready for The Eye

Phase 5: Endgame — The Eye

Constellation's orbital station where Vladimir tracks artifact signals. Visit regularly for new artifact location leads. The Eye provides a view of the planet below and serves as a secondary hub. Contains unique dialogue with Vladimir about the nature of the artifacts.

Level/Difficulty: Mid-late main quest Key Rewards: Artifact location leads, Vladimir dialogue, orbital observation

What to Do in The Eye

1. The Eye tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
2. NG+ is deliberately narratively significant — play through at least 3-5 NG+ cycles to see unique Starborn dialogue, universe variations, and the full scope of the story's themes about choice across infinite realities.
3. The endgame loop: run The Eye, optimize gear, push harder content.
4. Experiment with Science Explorer for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
5. This is where companion affinity mastery separates good players from great ones.

Phase 5 Checklist

• Endgame content on farm
• Best-in-slot gear acquired
• The Eye fully cleared
• Ready for challenge content

Common Progression Mistakes

• Ignoring ship building — the default ships are mediocre. Even basic ship customization (adding better weapons and shields) dramatically improves space combat survivability.
• Not completing the Mantis quest early — the free Razorleaf ship and legendary spacesuit are massive upgrades available within the first few hours.
• Skipping NG+ after the first completion — Starfield's NG+ isn't just difficulty scaling, it's a narrative mechanic with unique content that doesn't appear in the first playthrough.
• Hoarding resources instead of researching mods — weapon and spacesuit mods are significant power upgrades that improve every combat encounter.
• Fast-traveling everywhere and missing handcrafted content — some of the best encounters, hidden quests, and environmental storytelling require walking between locations on planet surfaces.

Key Tips for Smooth Progression

1. The Mantis questline (triggered by finding the 'Secret Outpost!' note on a Spacer body) gives you the Razorleaf ship and Mantis spacesuit FOR FREE early in the game. It's the best early-game quest to complete.
2. Boost packs are essential — invest in Boost Pack Training early. The balanced boost pack provides sustained hover for combat repositioning and reaching elevated areas.
3. Ship building unlocks massive combat potential. A custom Class C ship with 6 particle beam weapons, max shields, and a landing bay becomes an unstoppable warship.
4. Persuasion checks use a minigame where you choose dialogue options worth 1-5 points toward a target. Auto-persuade (save/load) works, but investing in Persuasion skill adds bonus points to each attempt.
5. NG+ is deliberately narratively significant — play through at least 3-5 NG+ cycles to see unique Starborn dialogue, universe variations, and the full scope of the story's themes about choice across infinite realities.

For detailed build optimization, see Starfield builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.