Weapons

Weapons are hand-held devices used by humans in the Settled Systems (including the Spacefarer) to engage, damage, injure or kill enemy personnel or hostile aliens.

General Description[]

Weapons in Starfield are characterized by their class (pistols, rifles, shotguns, heavy weapons, melee weapons and explosives) and by the type of damage they deal. Damage can be physical, energy, electromagnetic, or a combination of those. Ballistic weapons and melee weapons deal physical damage. Lasers and energy heavy weapons deal energy damage. Particle Beams deal a combination of physical and energy damage. Weapons that deal physical or energy damage will kill a target once their health is reduced to 0. Weapons that deal electromagnetic damage (like the Novablast Disruptor) are nonlethal and can knock targets out without killing them.

Apart from regular weapons, which come in several qualities, influencing their base damage, there are also Unique weapons which sport a unique name, a predefined set of attachments and effects and, sometimes, a unique paint scheme or other design aspects. Unique weapons sold by traders have a fixed tier. Some unique weapons obtained from missions are leveled, although the tier is not indicated in the name, the characteristics, and price correspond to the higher tiers of the prototype weapon.

Weapon Tiers, Rarity, and Workbench Modifications[]

The tier and rarity of and modification on a weapon provide bonuses above the base level of a weapon's stats.

Tiers[]

Weapons in a higher tier have better damage output than weapons in a lower tier. For instance, the base level Solstice deals 10 energy damage, while the Calibrated Solstice deals 18 energy damage. Similarly, the base level Maelstrom deals 4 physical damage, while the Calibrated Maelstrom deals 8 physical damage. If the terms “calibrated”, “refined”, “advanced” do not appear in the name of the weapon, then the weapon is basic in terms of its tier. The four tiers of weapons are:

Basic (1st Tier)
Calibrated (2nd Tier): Small bonus to damage
Refined (3rd Tier): Medium bonus to damage
Advanced (4th Tier): Large bonus to damage

Unlike equipment, weapons do not have Superior tier. Some types of weapons (Eon, Rattler, Sidestar, Equinox) do not have an Advanced tier, the highest is Refined. Cutter, Arc Welder, Auto-Rivet is primarily a mining tool that can be used as a weapon, does not have tiers.

Melee weapons cannot be modified at the workbench and do not have tiers as such. However, it is tied to the character's level and more powerful varieties become available as the character's level increases.

Change in update 1.12.30 (June 2024)[]

In update 1.12.30, the melee weapon system was changed. New quality tiers and the ability to modify blades at the weapon workbench have been added. Quality variants:

1) Basic (no prefix)
2) Sharpened
3) Honed
4) Quantum-Edged.

The next tier appears on sale and enemies equal player level, approximately 10 levels higher than the previous one.

To modify melee weapons at the workbenches, you need to research Blade mods 1/2 and handle mods 1/2, the Weapon Engineering skill rank 1 is required.

Also added in this patch was the possibility to make ammunition on an industrial workbench; research requires only materials.

Rarity[]

Weapon rarity is indicated by the color of the weapon's name on the Inventory screen, and is also noted next to the weapon type. Uncommon weapons will have one or more rarity modifiers (listed below). Rarity modifiers are different from the workbench modifications that can be gained through crafting.

Weapon rarity and tier are separate. A higher tier common weapon will be more effective than a basic tier rare weapon in most circumstances. For instance, a Calibrated Maelstrom (a 2nd Tier Common weapon) deals 8 damage to all targets, while an Exterminator Maelstrom (a 1st Tier Rare weapon) deals 4 damage to most targets and 5.2 damage to aliens.

Common (Gray label): 0 rarity modifiers
Rare (Blue label): 1 rarity modifier
Epic (Purple label): 2 rarity modifiers
Legendary (Gold label): 3 rarity modifiers

Rarity Modifiers[]

Rarity Modifier	Effect
Anti-Personnel	10% damage against humans.
Bashing	Deals double damage when gun bashing.
Berserker	Does more damage the less armor one has.
Cornered	Damage increases as health decreases.
Demoralizing	Small chance to demoralize a target.
Disassembler	+20% damage against robots.
Explosive	Randomly switches to explosive rounds.
Extended Magazine	Doubles the base magazine capacity.
Exterminator	+30% damage against aliens.
Frenzy	Small chance to frenzy a target.
Furious	Each consecutive hit deals more damage.
Hitman	+15% damage while aiming.
Incendiary	Randomly deals Incendiary damage.
Instigating	Deals double damage to targets with full health.
Lacerate	Randomly applies a bleed effect to the target.
Med Theft	Chance that humans drop extra Med Packs on death.
Poison	Randomly deals poison damage and slows the target.
Radioactive	Randomly deals radioactive damage and demoralizes the target.
Rapid	+25% increase in attack speed.
Shattering	Break through even the strongest armor.
Space-Adept	+30% damage while in space, and -15% damage while on a planet.
Staggering	Small chance to stagger enemies.
Titanium Build	Premium build materials make this weapon light as a feather.

Workbench Modifications[]

Workbench modifications can be added to weapons through the crafting system. They are also frequently found on weapons looted by the Spacefarer. Many modifications increase some weapon stats at the cost of lowering other stats.

List of Basic Weapons by Class and Damage Type[]

Pistols[]

Ballistic Pistols[]

Name	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Eon	14.17	9.56	10	50	7.77mm Caseless	12	20	67.5 %	0.55	6	750
Kraken	7.5	5.22	3	150	6.5mm CT	25	20	69.6 %	1.00	6	748
Magshot	22.08	13.87	53	25	.43 MI Array	6	20	62.8 %	2.00	6	11380
Old Earth Pistol	31.27	20.92	28	67	.45 Caliber ACP	9	20	66.9 %	1.1	4	4350
Rattler	8.33	5.68	10	50	.27 Caliber	12	20	68.1 %	0.85	7	942
Razorback	10.20	6.84	51	12	7.5mm Whitehot	6	40	67.1 %	2.30	8	5300
Regulator	10.50	7.49	35	18	.43 Ultramag	8	20	71.3 %	0.70	7	4450
Sidestar	8.00	5.43	12	40	.27 Caliber	17	20	67.9 %	0.65	7	825
Urban Eagle	16.25	11.00	39	25	.43 Ultramag	7	20	67.7 %	1.75	7	4800
XM-2311	40.20	26.89	36	67	.45 Caliber ACP	9	20	66.9 %	1.1	5	8200

Laser Pistols[]

Name	Image	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Solstice		4.17	2.89	10	25	1.5kV LZR Cartridge	16	30	69.3 %	1.30	7	1960
Va'ruun Quickstrike				50	50	1.5kV LZR Cartridge	20	38	71.9 %	1.80	6	8386

Particle Beam Pistols[]

Name	Image	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Novalight		12.10 2.93 + 9.17	8.3 2.01 + 6.29	8 + 25	22	Light Particle Fuse	12	30	68.6 %	1.35	7	4620
Va'ruun Starshard		21.20 5.20 + 16.00	14.86 3.65 + 11.22	26 + 80	12	Light Particle Fuse	12	30	70.1 %	1	7	18250

Rifles[]

Ballistic Rifles[]

Name	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
AA-99	31.73	20.85	17	112	11mm Caseless	30	40	65.7 %	3.00	8	7865
Beowulf	30.00	20.73	36	50	7.77mm Caseless	30	40	69.1 %	2.80	8	4850
Drum Beat	21.33	13.99	8	160	11mm Caseless	60	39	65.6 %	4.30	7	4922
Grendel	8.50	5.63	3	170	7.77mm Caseless	50	20	66.2 %	2.65	8	1402
Hard Target	48.33	35.86	116	25	.50 Caliber Caseless	5	100	74.2 %	9.15	7	20510
Kodama	36.83	24.20	13	170	7.77mm Caseless	30	20	65.7 %	2.25	7	5632
Lawgiver	5.17	3.51	31	10	.50 Caliber Caseless	6	40	68.0 %	3.60	6	2395
Maelstrom	10.00	6.58	4	150	6.5mm CT	40	40	65.8 %	4.15	7	1210
Magpulse	20.12	11.79	71	17	6.5mm MI Array	20	40	58.6 %	3.70	5	13560
Magshear	50.00	32.75	10	300	.50 MI Array	75	40	65.5 %	3.90	5	17721
Magsniper	63.18	54.40	223	17	6.5mm MI Array	12	100	86.1 %	9.55	6	27790
Old Earth Assault Rifle	37.50	24.26	15	150	7.62×39mm	30	40	64.7 %	3.50	7	10582
Old Earth Hunting Rifle	20.00	17.36	30	40	9×39mm	20	100	86.8 %	3.15	3	5264
Tombstone	28.50	20.75	19	90	11mm Caseless	20	40	72.8 %	4.15	6	6150

Laser Rifles[]

Name	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Equinox	10.83	7.61	13	50	3kV LZR Cartridge	20	50	70.2 %	3.20	7	2408
Orion	14.85	11.43	27	33	3kV LZR Cartridge	35	50	77 %	5.25	7	5227
Va'ruun Starlash			96	20	3kV LZR Cartridge	12	50	73.0 %	4.00	6	8750
Va'ruun Longfang			40	75	3kV LZR Cartridge	30	50	72.6 %	5.20	7	9600

Particle Beam Rifles[]

Name	Image	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Va'ruun Inflictor		62.92 15.83 + 47.08	44.04 11.08 + 32.96	38 + 113	25	Heavy Particle Fuse	20	50	70 %	3.75	6	22500

Electromagnetic Rifles[]

Name	Image	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Novablast Disruptor		33.33	23.40	100	20	Heavy Particle Fuse	5	20	70.2 %	2.70	5	5700

Shotguns[]

Ballistic Shotguns[]

Name	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Breach	16.50	9.12	99	10	15×25 CLL Shotgun Shell	7	20	55.3 %	7.30	8	6780
Coachman	40.73	15.64	52	47	Caseless Shotgun Shell	2	20	38.4 %	3.00	7	1650
Old Earth Shotgun	7.30	4.11	73	6	12G Shotgun Shell	6	20	56.3 %	3.60	5	2870
Pacifier	19.67	8.85	59	20	15×25 CLL Shotgun Shell	9	20	45.0 %	2.75	6	4590
Shotty	50.00	17.60	50	60	Caseless Shotgun Shell	12	20	35.2 %	2.95	8	7368

Particle Beam Shotguns[]

Name	Image	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Big Bang		29.4 7.467 + 21.933	16.08 4.08 + 12.00	32 + 94	14	Heavy Particle Fuse	8	20	54.7 %	7	7	12870

Heavy Weapons[]

Ballistic Heavy Weapons[]

Name	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Auto-Rivet	25.00	15.78	100	15	12.5mm ST Rivet	10	20	63.1 %	4.50	4	7640
Bridger	10.58	6.71	127	5	40mm XPL	4	40	63.4 %	5.50	6	8190
Magstorm	60.00	30.30	9	400	.50 MI Array	160	40	50.5 %	12.00	2	19129
Microgun	52.50	24.78	9	350	7.77mm Caseless	320	40	47.2 %	11.40	6	13519
Negotiator	28.00	18.76	140	12	40mm XPL	10	48	67.0 %	11.00	6	21200

Energy Heavy Weapons[]

Name	DPS (dmg * rate) / 60	Eff. DPS (DPS * Acc)	Base Damage	Fire Rate	Ammo Type	Mag Capacity	Range	Accuracy	Mass	Mod Slots	Value
Arc Welder	21.53	9.82	17	76	3kV LZR Cartridge	100	20	45.6 %	4.20	2	2450
Cutter	5.07	3.89	4	76	Internal Battery	100	3	76.7 %	4	0	475
Arc Might Plasma Cutter			18	75	3kV LZR Cartridge	100	20	45.6 %	5.30	5	3065
Va'ruun Penumbra			50 + 150	12	20mm Particle Rocket	8	40	71.2 %	10.00	6	21200
Va'ruun Starstorm			4 + 14	120	Heavy Particle Fuse	80	40	60.1 %	11.40	6	13519

Melee Weapons[]

Name	Base Damage	Mass	Value
Barrow Knife	22	0.34	1220
Combat Knife	16	0.36	505
Osmium Dagger	28	2.70	2395
Rescue Axe	17	1.40	650
Ripshank	12	0.40	365
Tanto	40	0.45	3075
UC Naval Cutlass	20	1.40	935
Va'ruun Painblade	62	1.80	11260
Va'ruun Schimaz	85	2.00	11260
Wakizashi	49	1.35	6140

Throwables and Explosives[]

Name	Base Damage	Mass	Value
Cryo Mine	1 + 35	0.40	575
Frag Grenade	101	0.20	350
Fragmentation Mine	101	0.30	415
Impact Grenade	101	0.20	450
Inferno Mine	1 + 35	0.40	510
Particle Grenade	61 + 60	0.40	575
Shrapnel Grenade	51	0.30	450
Stun Mine	1 + 58	0.40	605
Tesla Pylon	1 + 25	0.40	675
Toxic Gas Mine	1 + 20	0.40	575