Starfield: How To Build An Outpost

One key feature in Starfield is building outposts. They allow you to create your own cozy home that you can always come back to after yet another tiring journey in space. First, you'll have to build your outpost, though, before you can snuggle up in it. Find out how to build an outpost in Starfield with this guide.

Most beautiful Starfield Outpost Thumbnail ever
Starfield: Building an Outpost is one of many things you can do during your adventures in space. | © Bethesda/EarlyGame

Trying to get the hang of the base-building system in Starfield to create an outpost can be a bit tricky, since the game never offers much guidance for this gameplay feature. While the help menu offers some assistance, in the end, you'll have to figure these things out on your own. That is, unless you use this helpful guide.

Setting up a basic outpost isn't too hard and also won't take too long. Once you connect it with your house, you should be all set to collect plenty of resources right at your doorstep. Your outpost in Starfield will grant you access to various rare resources and will eventually become your primary source of materials.

Like we said, building an outpost in Starfield is pretty easy, and we'll show you just how to do it, here!

Starfield: Build An Outpost

Starfield Build a Outpost
Starfield: One of many different possibilities of how your outpost could look like. | © Bethesda/EarlyGame

Technically, you're able to build your outpost right from the start after you delivered the artifact to Constellation at the beginning of the game. The only thing you need to do: Find a suitable location that's up to your taste and where you would feel right at home.

These are the conditions you need to meet before you're able to set up an outpost:

  • Need a planet without extreme weather conditions
  • There aren't any other neighboring outpost or settlements

Once you found your desired location, you just need to use your hand scanner, by pressing either LB and then the X button (Xbox) or the F and then the R key (PC). While doing it, you will be prompted with the option to set up your beacon outpost, and then you need to confirm it.

Starfield: Start With The Basics

Starfield Outpost
Starfield: Start with the basic needs of an outpost. | © Bethesda/EarlyGame

In most cases, it's wise to set your outpost on a planet where you either can get multiple rare materials at once, or in a solar system where multiple resources can be farmed throughout the different planets.

After you claimed the surrounding land as your own, you can check the available constructions and start placing a Power Source. Having an energy source is essential for other structures to function properly, so it's a good place to start.

Once you're familiar with the system, it's also good placing a Resource Extractor and a Transfer Container at your outpost and link it with your ship. This way, you can easily collect the resources you've just mined while you're on board.

To do that, you need to link the extractor with the container and while hovering the ship's cargo hold menu, you can either press LB (Xbox) or F (PC) to cycle between any linked Transfer Containers.

That's pretty much all there is to it. But if you're truly interested in building a complex outpost and dive further into the mechanic, these skills are the most useful for this endeavor:

  • Planetary Habitation (Science) – Lets you build outposts on planets with extreme weather conditions
  • Outpost Management (Science) – Additional cargo, robots and crew member can be assigned
  • Outpost Management (Social) – Research and construct different outpost modules
  • Research Methods (Science) – Lessen the need of required resources during research projects

One last thing: Don't forget to build turrets and a defense system. You never know when some pirates or hostile creatures raid your outpost while you're on your journey!

Ewelyn Derc

Ewelyn is a Content Creator at EarlyGame. She's mainly interested in everything that comes from Japan and has to do with JRPGs. But also Souls-like, Indies, Shooter, Rogue-likes, Otome, Visual Novel and more are in her field of expertise....