Some people may find science to be boring, but ina game with such a heavy emphasis on space exploration, it was always going to play a pivotal role. As such, it should come as no surprise to learn that there is a Science skill tree inStarfield, nor that it is one of the most important skill trees in the game. It boasts plenty of must-have skills that will be essential for those hoping to engage with the game’s crafting and base-building components.
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The best Science skills inStarfieldtend to focus on making the player’s life easier, whether that be by helping them to track down hard-to-find resources or giving them the knowledge and know-how needed to upgrade all of their gear. It could perhaps be argued that all 16 Science skills inStarfieldare worth getting, but for those with limited skill points to spend, some can be a lot more useful than others.
Those looking for a list of every Science skill inStarfieldcan find onehere.

1Research Methods
Rank 1
Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 10%.
Rank 2
Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 20%.
Rank 3
Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 40%.
Rank 4
Sudden developments during research are twice as common. Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 60%.
Whether or not one opts to go downthe research and crafting routewill perhaps vary from player to player, but most will likely find themselves engaging with these systems sooner rather than later. Once they do, it’s a good idea to unlock the Research Methods skill as soon as possible, as this can greatly reduce the amount of resources required.

This can be particularly useful when dealing with rare resources that cannot be easily mined. Having to use fewer of these (or none at all in the event of a sudden development) can make a huge difference and is a big part of what makes this one of the best Science skills inStarfield. To upgrade the Research Methods skill, players will just need to craft unique food, drinks, drugs, and mods.
2Scanning
You can detect uncommon inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more information about ships in space.
You can detect rare inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more specific information about ships in space.

you’re able to detect exotic inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and gain better combat information on ships in space.
you may detect unique inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and gain a complete list of cargo on ships in space.

Scanning isn’t a particularly exciting skill, but it is one of the most useful. It allows players to scan planets and moons for rare resources, which will become important once players startbuilding outposts inStarfield. It’s also helpful for those who plan on becoming space pirates, as it can let them know exactly what’s onboard any ships that they encounter.
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To upgrade the Scanning skill, players will need to scan a certain number of moons and planets. Initially, they’ll only be able to do this by visiting said planets, but with the help of certain other skills, they’ll gain the ability to scan planets from further and further away, which can make increasing the rank of Scanning considerably easier.
3Astrophysics
you may scan the moons of your current planet. You have a 10% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
You can scan any planet or moon in this system. You have a 20% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
You can scan any planet or moon within 16 Light Years. You have a 30% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
You can scan any planet or moon within 30 Light Years. You have a 50% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
Starfield’s character Traits tend to be double-edged swords, but understanding the traits of a planet or moon can be incredibly useful. As such, having the ability to easily identify new Traits can be a godsend, as too can being able to scan planets or moons without actually having to visit them, particularly when looking for a rare or exotic element.
As is the case with Scanning, those wishing toupgrade the Astrophysics skillwill need to scan a certain number of unique planets and moons. However, as the range from which they’ll be able to do this increases together with the skill’s rank, this is one of those challenges that should get easier and easier the closer players get to mastering the skill.
4Planetary Habitation
You can build outposts on planets with extreme temperatures (Deep Freeze and Inferno). Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 4.
You can build outposts on planets with extreme pressure. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 8.
you’re able to build outposts on planets with toxic or corrosive atmospheres. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 12.
You can build outposts on planets with extreme gravity. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 16.
Finding a rare resource is one thing, but actually mining it can be quite another. Sure, if players only need a few pieces of ore then they can just hop off their ship and grab what they need, but anyone hoping to secure a steady supply is going to need to set up an outpost. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible without the Planetary Habitation skill.
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Being able to build outposts on any planet or moon is something of a must for those planning to dive deep intoStarfield’s endgame. Of course, players will need to fully upgrade the Planetary Habitation skill before they can do so, though this can be done fairly easily just by building a set number of habitable outposts on a variety of different planets.
5Weapon Engineering
You can craft improved weapon mods at a Weapon Workbench, and research additional weapon mods at a Research Lab.
you may research and craft superior weapon mods.
you may research and craft cutting-edge weapon mods.
You can research and craft master-level weapon mods.
Due to the way thatStarfield’s loot system works, players will find that they’re constantly finding better and better gear as they progress through the game’s main story. However, they’ll eventually start to find high-end gear, at which point they may want to start modding or upgrading it rather than just swapping it out for the next best thing.
In truth, there’s very little to choose from when it comes to the Weapon Engineering and Spacesuit design skills, so players will probably want to unlock both before all’s said and done. To reach max rank with the latter, players will need to craft a certain number of spacesuit, helmet, or pack mods, while to upgrade the Weapon Engineering skill, they’ll have to craft a set number of weapon mods.
Starfieldis available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.