Starfield – How To Board And Capture Ships

Engaging in ship boarding operations transforms space combat from simple destruction to strategic acquisition in Starfield. Rather than reducing enemy vessels to cosmic debris, you gain access to valuable resources, credits, and unique spacecraft that can be added to your fleet or sold for substantial profit.

The boarding process requires careful preparation and execution. You’ll need to master several key mechanics to successfully disable, board, and claim enemy ships while avoiding common mistakes that could leave you stranded or facing overwhelming opposition.

Core requirements for ship capture include:

Investing just one skill point in Targeting Control Systems activates the ship boarding functionality, opening up new strategic possibilities during space encounters.

Targeting Control System represents one of the most valuable combat skills available, primarily due to its boarding capabilities. While the skill tree extends to four progressive ranks, only the initial tier is mandatory for basic boarding operations. Higher ranks provide quality-of-life improvements including reduced target acquisition time and enhanced subsystem damage precision.

When engaging enemy vessels, switch to targeting mode once you’ve established weapon lock. Carefully aim for engine components while avoiding critical systems that could trigger reactor meltdowns. Successful engine disablement creates a temporary window for docking procedures before systems reboot or backup power activates.

Precision targeting of engine systems requires careful aim and timing to disable without destroying the entire vessel, preserving your potential prize.

Upon boarding, immediately assess the interior layout and enemy positions. Hostile crews typically consist of 3-8 combatants depending on ship size and faction. Utilize cover effectively and consider bringing specialized boarding weapons like shotguns or SMGs for close-quarters engagements.

Advanced pilots should note that Piloting skill restrictions apply to higher-class vessels. Attempting to commandeer Class B or C ships without the appropriate skill levels will prevent you from piloting the captured craft, though you can still loot its contents.

Complete elimination of all hostile personnel is mandatory before claiming ship ownership. Thoroughly clear all compartments including engineering bays, crew quarters, and cargo holds.

For optimal boarding efficiency, consider specializing in EM (Electromagnetic) weapon systems. These non-lethal alternatives can disable ship systems without causing permanent damage, significantly increasing successful capture rates. EM weapons temporarily shut down systems rather than destroying them, giving you more time to dock and board.

Avoid these common boarding mistakes: attempting captures while outnumbered by other hostile ships, failing to completely clear all compartments before claiming ownership, or neglecting to check piloting skill requirements before engaging higher-class vessels.

Time investment for boarding operations typically ranges from 2-5 minutes per capture depending on ship size and crew resistance. Larger capital ships may require 8-10 minutes for complete clearance and securement.

Strategic skill progression should prioritize Targeting Control Systems to rank 1, followed by Piloting to match your desired ship class capabilities. Consider investing in Security skill to access locked compartments containing additional loot during boarding actions.

Advanced players can maximize profits by targeting specific faction vessels known for valuable components or by capturing ships during specific in-game events when boarding opportunities increase. Understanding faction ship layouts can also give you tactical advantages during interior combat sequences.

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