Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How does Starfield's skill system work, and what are the best skills to get early on? It's well-known that Bethesda RPGs tend to have massive and versatile skill trees that allow you to build your character however you like. But Starfield takes this to a whole new level. Not only are there 82 skills in total broken into 5 skill trees, but there are also 4 ranks per skill, giving you a huge amount of scope for customising your character's abilities and playstyle.
To put it simply, trying to decide which skills to choose when you first start the game can be quite a daunting task. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. We’re here to help you decide which of Starfield’s 82 skills are the very best to get in your first playthrough, along with explanations on how skill ranks work as well as how to unlock new skills and ranks. Not only that, but we’ll also be providing you with some additional skills to prioritise a few hours into your intergalactic adventure.
This guide was originally written for the Rock Paper Shotgun website by Ollie Toms. For more Starfield guides, make sure to check out our dedicated game hub - rockpapershotgun.com/games/starfield
🎥: Want more juicy video content? We discuss whether Starfield was worth the wait: youtu.be/3VQwOor34RQ
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🛒 Buy some RPS merch: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun
🐦: Follow Liam on Twitter: twitter.com/meevil
#starfield #RockPaperShotgun
How does Starfield's skill system work, and what are the best skills to get early on? It's well-known that Bethesda RPGs tend to have massive and versatile skill trees that allow you to build your character however you like. But Starfield takes this to a whole new level. Not only are there 82 skills in total broken into 5 skill trees, but there are also 4 ranks per skill, giving you a huge amount of scope for customising your character's abilities and playstyle.
To put it simply, trying to decide which skills to choose when you first start the game can be quite a daunting task. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. We’re here to help you decide which of Starfield’s 82 skills are the very best to get in your first playthrough, along with explanations on how skill ranks work as well as how to unlock new skills and ranks. Not only that, but we’ll also be providing you with some additional skills to prioritise a few hours into your intergalactic adventure.
This guide was originally written for the Rock Paper Shotgun website by Ollie Toms. For more Starfield guides, make sure to check out our dedicated game hub - rockpapershotgun.com/games/starfield
🎥: Want more juicy video content? We discuss whether Starfield was worth the wait: youtu.be/3VQwOor34RQ
🔴: Subscribe and ring that bell to never miss a video: youtube.com/rockpapershot?sub_confirmation=1
💬: Chat to Rock Paper Shotgun on Discord: discord.gg/rockpapershotgun
🍾: Support RPS by becoming a YouTube channel member: youtube.com/channel/UC5bKSAZBvV9AKlBJPG0Py-A/join
🛒 Buy some RPS merch: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/rockpapershotgun
🐦: Follow Liam on Twitter: twitter.com/meevil
#starfield #RockPaperShotgun
