Starfield skills guide: every skill, upgrade, and how to build the best space cowboy

An RPG's skill selection can tell you a lot about the game world. In the case of Starfield skills, Bethesda gives you a blank slate. Other than your default starting position as a miner, you're free to spec out your character with any skills you want, and Starfield sure has a ton of them: 82, to be exact, divided into five broad categories that themselves have four "tiers" each.

I spent my first few hours with Starfield's skills, I was paralyzed by choice. Starfield's backgrounds give you a good starting point, complete with some lore about who you were before you decided to make a career as an RPG protagonist. But as you grow your character, you'll probably want to branch out a bit. It's tempting to pick upgrades based on the skills that are immediately available at Tier 1, but you may find that it's worth investing in a skill tree you're less interested in at first so you can get quicker access to the cooler skills available down the line. 

To make your character planning easier, and so you don't have to keep tabbing through Starfield's overwhelming skill trees, we've gathered every skill and upgrade here for your reference, as well as recommendations for the first five skills you should unlock in your playthrough.

Skill groups

Skill Groups

Starfield's skills are broken up into five groups: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech.

Some of those sound like they overlap, and you'd be right. Broadly speaking, skills break down into a few different disciplines. Physical skills and Combat skills are largely useful for on-foot combat—punching harder, shooting better, learning new maneuvers, and resisting damage from various weapon types.

Tech and Science are also cut from a similar cloth, the former of which is all about ship upgrades, weapon crafting, and lockpicking while the latter is all about outposts, gathering, and getting more out of your chems.

Social skills are kind of their own beast—this is where you'll find skills that improve speech checks, make you a better liar, more likable ship captain, a master pirate, or qualified to fly with bigger crews.

Best Starfield skills

The best Starfield skills to get immediately

• Boost Pack Training
• Stealth
• Targeting Control Systems
• Persuasion
• Security

Boost Pack Training
No matter what playstyle you're planning on adopting in Starfield, Boost Pack Training should probably be your first skill purchased. Unlocking Rank 1 enables a fundamental part of Starfield traversal: boosting. You can wear boost packs without having the skill, but you won't be able to actually use them to enhance your jumps.

Stealth
Similar to boost packs, putting a point into Stealth unlocks a fundamental part of sneaking: the stealth meter. It also makes you 20% harder to be seen, which you'll definitely need because level zero stealth is essentially useless.

Targeting Control Systems
Your best friend in space combat, Targeting Control Systems Rank 1 unlocks the ability to target specific systems on enemy ships (shields, engines, missiles, etc) by slowing down time VATS-style. Disabling a ship's engines is the only way to board it, so get this skill ASAP to unlock the full potential of space combat.

Persuasion
In Starfield, problems are usually solved one of three ways: kill something, pay it off, or convince it to go away with Persuasion checks. Having a sharp tongue is incredibly useful, but you're unlikely to pass any persuasion checks without at least one point invested in the skill, so get on that quick.

Security
A lot of the loot that's worth finding in Starfield is locked behind safes, vaults, and chests. You can unlock Novice locks by default, but we recommend investing at least one point in security to qualify for Advanced locks.

Starfield physical skills

Tier 1

Boxing

• Rank 1: Unarmed attacks do 25% more damage. 25% less O2 used when using a power attack.
• Rank 2: Unarmed attacks do 50% more damage. 50% less O2 used when using a power attack.
• Rank 3: Unarmed attacks do 75% more damage. While in a fight and unarmed, running consumes 30% less O2.
• Rank 4: Unarmed attacks do 100% more damage and have a chance to knock down opponents.

Fitness

• Rank 1: You have 10% more oxygen available.
• Rank 2: You have 20% more oxygen available.
• Rank 3: You have 30% more oxygen available.
• Rank 4: Sprinting and power attacks now use significantly less oxygen.

Stealth

• Rank 1: Adds a Stealth Meter. You are 25% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 5% sneak attack damage.
• Rank 2: Upgrades the Stealth Meter. You are 50% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 10% sneak attack damage.
• Rank 3: You are 75% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 15% sneak attack damage.
• Rank 4: You are 100% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 20% sneak attack damage. Doors you interact with while in stealth no longer alert enemies.

Weight Lifting

• Rank 1: Increase total carrying capacity by 10 kilograms.
• Rank 2: Increase total carrying capacity by 25 kilograms.
• Rank 3: Increase total carrying capacity by 50 kilograms.
• Rank 4: Increase total carrying capacity by 100 kilograms. Gain 50% resistance to stagger.

Wellness

• Rank 1: Increase your maximum health by 10%.
• Rank 2: Increase your maximum health by 20%.
• Rank 3: Increase your maximum health by 30%.
• Rank 4: Increase your maximum health by 40%.

Tier 2

Energy Weapon Dissipation

• Rank 1: Energy damage is reduced by 5%.
• Rank 2: Energy damage is reduced by 10%.
• Rank 3: Energy damage is reduced by 15%.
• Rank 4: 25% chance to reflect energy damage back to an attacker when your health is below 50%.

Environmental Conditioning

• Rank 1: Gain 10 resistance to Airborne environmental damage.
• Rank 2: Gain 10 resistance to Thermal environmental damage.
• Rank 3: Gain 10 resistance to Corrosive and Radiation environmental damage.
• Rank 4: Reduced chance to gain afflictions from environmental damage sources.

Gymnastics

• Rank 1: Unlock the ability to combat slide. Take 15% less fall damage.
• Rank 2: Move faster in Zero-G. Take 20% less fall damage.
• Rank 3: Become more stable while firing in Zero-G. Take 30% less fall damage. Replenish some O2 after mantling.
• Rank 4: Increased jump height. Run faster after combat sliding or mantling.

Nutrition

• Rank 1: Food and drink are 10% more effective.
• Rank 2: Food and drink are 20% more effective.
• Rank 3: Food and drink are 30% more effective.
• Rank 4: Food and drink are 50% more effective.

Pain Tolerance

• Rank 1: Physical damage is reduced by 5%.
• Rank 2: Physical damage is reduced by 10%.
• Rank 3: Physical damage is reduced by 15%.
• Rank 4: 5% chance to ignore physical damage when your health is low.

Tier 3

Cellular Regeneration

• Rank 1: Slightly increased chance to recover from injuries naturally.
• Rank 2: Moderately increased chance to recover from injuries naturally.
• Rank 3: Noticeably increased chance to recover from injuries naturally.
• Rank 4: 20% chance of not gaining an injury when you otherwise would.

Decontamination

• Rank 1: Slightly increased chance to recover from infections naturally.
• Rank 2: Moderately increased chance to recover from infections naturally.
• Rank 3: Noticeably increased chance to recover from infections naturally.
• Rank 4: 20% chance of not gaining an infection when you otherwise would.

Martial Arts

• Rank 1: 15% increased chance to crit with a melee or unarmed attack.
• Rank 2: 15% chance to disarm an opponent with a melee or unarmed power attack.
• Rank 3: While unarmed or wielding a melee weapon, take 10% less damage.
• Rank 4: Reflect 50% damage back when blocking a melee or unarmed attack.

Tier 4

Concealment

• Rank 1: You no longer set off enemy mines. Ranged sneak attacks do 2.5x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 4X normal damage.
• Rank 2: Running while sneaking doesn't affect stealth. Ranged sneak attacks do 3x normal damage and you melee sneak attacks do 5x normal damage.
• Rank 3: You gain a Chameleon-like ability when completely still and sneaking. Ranged sneak attacks do 3.5x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 8x normal damage.
• Rank 4: Engaging stealth causes distant enemies to lose you. Ranged sneak attacks do 4x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 10x normal damage.

Neurostrikes

• Rank 1: 10% chance to stun an NPC with an unarmed attack.
• Rank 2: Unarmed attacks now do additional EM damage.
• Rank 3: 20% chance to stun an NPC with an unarmed attack.
• Rank 4: After stunning an enemy, you also knock down any enemies within close range.

Rejuvenation

• Rank 1: Slowly regenerate health outside combat.
• Rank 2: Regenerate health more quickly outside of combat.
• Rank 3: Regenerate health much faster outside of combat. You can now slowly regenerate health while in combat.
• Rank 4: Regenerate health even faster outside of combat. You can now regenerate health quickly while in combat.

Starfield social skills

Tier 1

Commerce

• Rank 1: Buy for 5% less and sell for 10% more.
• Rank 2: Buy for 10% less and sell for 15% more.
• Rank 3: Buy for 15% less and sell for 20% more.
• Rank 4: Buy for 20% less and sell for 25% more.

Gastronomy

• Rank 1: You can craft specialty food and drinks, and research additional recipes at a Research Lab.
• Rank 2: You can research and craft gourmet food and drinks.
• Rank 3: You can research and craft food and drink delicacies.
• Rank 4: Crafting food and drinks occasionally doesn't use up resources. You can research and craft exotic recipes.

Persuasion

• Rank 1: 10% increased chance of success when persuading someone.
• Rank 2: 20% increased chance of success when persuading someone.
• Rank 3: 30% increased chance of success when persuading someone.
• Rank 4: 50% increased chance of success when persuading someone.

Scavenging

• Rank 1: There's a chance you'll find extra credits when searching containers.
• Rank 2: There's a chance you'll find extra ammo when searching containers.
• Rank 3: There's a chance you'll find extra aid items, like Med Packs or chems, when searching containers.
• Rank 4: Tracked resources will get highlighted when using the hand scanner.

Theft

• Rank 1: Unlock the ability to pickpocket targets.
• Rank 2: 10% greater chance to successfully pickpocket.
• Rank 3: 30% greater chance to successfully pickpocket.
• Rank 4: 50% greater chance to successfully pickpocket. Can now pickpocket holstered weapons.

Tier 2

Deception

• Rank 1: Ships 10% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 10% less effective.
• Rank 2: Ships 20% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 20% less effective.
• Rank 3: Ships 30% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 30% less effective.
• Rank 4: Ships 50% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 50% less effective.

Diplomacy

• Rank 1: You can force a target NPC at or below your level to stop fighting for a while.
• Rank 2: You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than you to stop fighting for a while.
• Rank 3: You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than you to stop fighting for a while.
• Rank 4: You can force target NPCs to permanently stop fighting (unless they're attacked again).

Intimidation

• Rank 1: You can force a target NPC at or below your level to flee for a limited time.
• Rank 2: You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than you to flee for a limited time.
• Rank 3: You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than you to flee for a limited time.
• Rank 4: Intimidated targets now flee for a substantial amount of time.

Isolation

• Rank 1: Do +10% weapon damage and gain 15 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew.
• Rank 2: Do +20% weapon damage and gain 30 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew.
• Rank 3: Do +30% weapon damage and gain 45 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew.
• Rank 4: Do +40% weapon damage and gain 60 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew.

Negotiation

• Rank 1: You now have access to Bribery in speech challenges.
• Rank 2: Reduces bribery cost by 25%.
• Rank 3: Reduces bribery cost by 50%.
• Rank 4: Occasionally, bribery won't cost any money.

Tier 3

Instigation

• Rank 1: You can force a target NPC at or below your level to attack their allies for a limited time.
• Rank 2: You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time.
• Rank 3: You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time.
• Rank 4: Enemies affected by instigation will attack their allies until they are dead.

Leadership

• Rank 1: Companions gain affinity 25% faster.
• Rank 2: Companions have 50 more health and 50kg more carrying capacity.
• Rank 3: Companions will occasionally heal you when you get low health.
• Rank 4: Doubles the bonuses of combat and Physical Crew Skills on companions. Companions have a chance to pick themselves up from a downed state.

Outpost Management

• Rank 1: Additional cargo links can be placed at outposts.
• Rank 2: Additional robots can be constructed at outposts.
• Rank 3: Additional crew can be assigned at outposts.
• Rank 4: Outpost extractors produce twice as fast.

Tier 4

Manipulation

• Rank 1: You can force a target NPC at or below your level to obey commands for a limited time.
• Rank 2: You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time.
• Rank 3: You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time.
• Rank 4: Manipulated targets now obey commands for a substantial amount of time.

Ship Command

• Rank 1: You can have up to four active crew members.
• Rank 2: You can have up to five active crew members.
• Rank 3: You can have up to six active crew members.
• Rank 4: You can have up to eight active crew members.

Xenosociology

• Rank 1: You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to stop fighting for a limited time.
• Rank 2: You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to flee for a limited time.
• Rank 3: You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time.
• Rank 4: You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time.

Starfield combat skills

Tier 1

Ballistics

• Rank 1: Ballistic weapons do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Ballistic weapons do 20% more damage.
• Rank 3: Ballistic weapons do 30% more damage.
• Rank 4: Ballistic weapons range is increased by 30%.

Dueling

• Rank 1: Melee weapons do 25% more damage. Take 10% less damage while wielding a melee weapon.
• Rank 2: Melee kills make you run 20% faster for 10 seconds.
• Rank 3: Melee weapons do 50% more damage. Take 15% less damage while wielding a melee weapon.
• Rank 4: Melee kills heal you for 10% of your health.

Lasers

• Rank 1: Laser weapons do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Laser weapons do 20% more damage.
• Rank 3: Laser weapons do 30% more damage.
• Rank 4: Laser weapons have a 5% chance to set a target on fire.

Pistol Certification

• Rank 1: Pistols do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Pistols do 25% more damage.
• Rank 3: Pistols do 50% more damage.
• Rank 4: Pistol kills grant +25% critical hit chance for 5 seconds.

Shotgun Certification

• Rank 1: Shotguns do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Shotguns do 20% more damage.
• Rank 3: Shotguns do 30% more damage.
• Rank 4: Shotgun kills grant a small chance to stun additional targets with shotguns for a limited time.

Tier 2

Demolitions

• Rank 1: Throwing grenades now shows a trajectory arc. Explosions have a 25% larger radius.
• Rank 2: Explosives do 25% more damage.
• Rank 3: Reduce damage taken from explosives by 25%.
• Rank 4: All previous bonuses are doubled.

Heavy Weapons Certification

• Rank 1: Heavy weapons do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Heavy weapons do 20% more damage.
• Rank 3: Heavy weapons do 30% more damage.
• Rank 4: Gain 25% Physical resistance while aiming down sights with a heavy weapon.

Incapacitation

• Rank 1: EM weapons do 5% more damage.
• Rank 2: EM weapons do 10% more damage.
• Rank 3: EM weapons do 15% more damage.
• Rank 4: EM weapons have a 15% chance to do 300% EM damage.

Particle Beams

• Rank 1: Particle beam weapons do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Particle beam weapons do 20% more damage.
• Rank 3: Particle beam weapons do 30% more damage.
• Rank 4: Particle beam weapons have +5% crit chance.

Rifle Certification

• Rank 1: Rifles do 10% more damage.
• Rank 2: Rifles do 20% more damage.
• Rank 3: Rifles do 30% more damage.
• Rank 4: Reload rifles 30% faster while you're standing still.

Tier 3

Marksmanship

• Rank 1: Increase critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons by 3%.
• Rank 2: Increase critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons by 8%.
• Rank 3: Increase critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons by 15%.
• Rank 4: Critical hits using a non-automatic ranged weapon without a scope do double damage and those with scopes knock down enemies on the next shot.

Rapid Reloading

• Rank 1: Reload Ballistic weapons 30% faster.
• Rank 2: Reload Energy and EM weapons 30% faster.
• Rank 3: Reload Particle Beam weapons 30% faster. 50% chance to avoid getting interrupted while reloading.
• Rank 4: Chance on hitting enemies to increase reload speed for all weapons by 50% for 15 seconds.

Sniper Certification

• Rank 1: Scoped weapons are steadier and have less sway.
• Rank 2: You can hold your breath longer with scoped weapons.
• Rank 3: Headshots while aiming with a scoped weapon have a +25% critical hit chance.
• Rank 4: Scoped weapons do 50% more damage while using the scope.

Targeting

• Rank 1: Increased accuracy and range when shooting without aiming. Marks up to one enemy within 25m that damages you.
• Rank 2: Notably increased accuracy and range when shooting without aiming. Marks up to two enemies within 50m that damages you.
• Rank 3: Greatly increased accuracy and range when shooting without aiming. Marks up to three enemies within 75m that damages you.
• Rank 4: 10% chance to disarm targets hit when shooting without aiming. Marks up to four enemies within 100m that damage you.

Tier 4

Armor Penetration

• Rank 1: Attacks ignore 15% of a target's armor.
• Rank 2: Attacks ignore 30% of a target's armor.
• Rank 3: Attacks ignore 50% of a target's armor.
• Rank 4: Enemy armor is decreased by 25% for 6 seconds after a critical hit.

Crippling

• Rank 1: Human enemies have a 30% increased chance to enter a downed state after taking enough damage.
• Rank 2: Human enemies have a 50% increased chance to enter a downed state after taking enough damage.
• Rank 3: Human enemies now can enter a downed state earlier.
• Rank 4: Previous ranks now apply to all enemy types. You now do 100% more damage to downed enemies.

Sharpshooting

• Rank 1: Increase headshot critical damage by 50% with ranged weapons.
• Rank 2: Increase critical damage to legs by 50% with ranged weapons.
• Rank 3: Increase all critical damage to enemies by 50% with ranged weapons.
• Rank 4: Ranged critical hit kills increase your critical hit chance with all ranged weapons by 25% for 20 seconds.

Starfield science skills

Tier 1

Astrodynamics

• Rank 1: Increase grav jump range of jump drives by 15%.
• Rank 2: Reduced fuel cost of jump drives by 15%.
• Rank 3: Increased grav jump range and reduced fuel cost of jump drives by 30%. 
• Rank 4: Reduced fuel cost of jump drives by 50%. 

Geology

• Rank 1: Get more common and uncommon inorganic resources from surface objects.
• Rank 2: Get more rare inorganic resources from surface objects.
• Rank 3: Get more exotic inorganic resources from surface objects.
• Rank 4: Occasionally harvest additional rarer resources from surface objects.

Medicine

• Rank 1: Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 10% additional health 10% faster.
• Rank 2: Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 20% additional health 20% faster.
• Rank 3: Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 30% additional health 30% faster.
• Rank 4: Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 50% additional health 50% faster, and have a chance to cure an affliction.

Research 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%.

Surveying

• Rank 1: Adds an optional zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 20 meters.
• Rank 2: Adds an optional zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 30 meters.
• Rank 3: Adds an optional zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 40 meters.
• Rank 4: Adds an optional zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 50 meters.

Tier 2

Botany

• Rank 1: Get more common and uncommon organic resources from planets, learn additional info about them from the scanner, and allows some plants to be cultivated at your outposts.
• Rank 2: Get more rare organic resources from plants, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.
• Rank 3: Get more rare exotic organic resources from plants, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.
• Rank 4: Occasionally harvest additional rarer resources from plants, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.

Scanning

• Rank 1: You can detect uncommon inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more information about ships in space.
• Rank 2: You can detect rare inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more specific information about ships in space.
• Rank 3: You can detect exotic inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and gain better combat information on ships in space.
• Rank 4: You can detect unique inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and gain a complete list of cargo on ships in space.

Spacesuit Design

• Rank 1: You can craft improved spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods, and research additional mods at a Research Lab.
• Rank 2: You can research and craft superior spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods.
• Rank 3: You can research and craft cutting-edge spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods.
• Rank 4: Construction of spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods occasionally doesn't cost resources.

Weapon Engineering

• Rank 1: You can craft improved weapon mods at a Weapon Workbench, and research additional weapon mods at a Research Lab.
• Rank 2: You can research and craft superior weapon mods.
• Rank 3: You can research and craft cutting-edge weapon mods.
• Rank 4: You can research and craft master-level weapon mods.

Zoology

• Rank 1: Get more common organic resources from creatures and harvest from them without harming them, learn additional info about them from the scanner, and allows you to produce animal resources at your outposts.
• Rank 2: Get more uncommon organic resources from creatures, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.
• Rank 3: Get more rare organic resources from creatures, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.
• Rank 4: Occasionally harvest additional rarer resources from creatures, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.

Tier 3

Astrophysics

• Rank 1: You can scan the moons of your current planet. You have a 10% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
• Rank 2: You can scan any planet or moon in this system. You have a 20% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
• Rank 3: You can scan any planet or moon with 16 Light Years. You have a 30% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
• Rank 4: You can scan any planet or moon within 30 Light Years. You have a 50% chance to discover a trait when scanning.

Chemistry

• Rank 1: You can create improved chems, and research additional chems at a Research Lab.
• Rank 2: You can research and create superior chems. 
• Rank 3: You can research and create cutting-edge chems.
• Rank 4: Crafting chems occasionally triples the amount crafted.

Outpost Engineering

• Rank 1: You can construct improved outpost modules, and research additional modules at a Research Lab.
• Rank 2: You can research and construct superior outpost modules.
• Rank 3: You can research and construct cutting-edge outpost modules.
• Rank 4: outpost modules now cost 50% fewer resources to build. 

Tier 4

Aneutronic Fusion

• Rank 1: Ship reactors produce 1 extra unit of power.
• Rank 2: Ship reactors produce 2 extra units of power.
• Rank 3: Ship reactors produce 3 extra units of power.
• Rank 4: Ship reactors produce 5 extra units of power.

Planetary Habitation

• Rank 1: You can build outposts on planets with extreme temperatures (Deep Freeze and Inferno). Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 4.
• Rank 2: You can build outposts on planets with extreme pressure. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 8. 
• Rank 3: You can build outposts on planets with toxic or corrosive atmospheres. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 12. 
• Rank 4: You can build outposts on planets with extreme gravity. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 16.

Special Projects

• Rank 1: You can research experimental projects at a Research Lab.
• Rank 2: You can craft rare manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench.
• Rank 3: You can craft exotic manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. 
• Rank 4: You can craft unique manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. Outpost extractors have a chance to produce additional resources. 

Starfield tech skills

Tier 1

Ballistic Weapon Systems

• Rank 1: Ballistic ship weapons have 10% increased damage and cost 20% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 2: Ballistic ship weapons have 20% increased damage and recharge 15% faster.
• Rank 3: Ballistic ship weapons have 30% increased damage and recharge 30% faster.
• Rank 4: Ballistic ship weapons do 50% more damage to individual systems.

Boost Pack Training

• Rank 1: You can now utilize boost packs.
• Rank 2: Using a boost pack expends less fuel.
• Rank 3: Boost pack fuel regenerates more quickly.
• Rank 4: Doubles previous bonuses.

Piloting

• Rank 1: You can now utilize ship thrusters.
• Rank 2: Increased ship turning rate and maneuverability.
• Rank 3: Unlock the ability to pilot Class B ships.
• Rank 4: Unlock the ability to pilot Class C ships.

Security

• Rank 1: You can attempt to hack Advanced locks, and 2 auto attempts can be banked.
• Rank 2: You can attempt to hack Expert locks, and 3 auto attempts can be banked. Rings now turn blue when the pick can be slotted.
• Rank 3: You can attempt to hack Master-level locks, and 4 auto attempts can be banked.
• Rank 4: Expend a digipick to eliminate keys that aren't required to solve the puzzle. 5 auto attempts can be banked.

Target Control Systems

• Rank 1: Unlocks ship targeting functionality.
• Rank 2: Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 15%. Target-locked ships fire at you 25% slower.
• Rank 3: Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 30%. You have a 10% increased chance of critically hitting a target-locked ship.
• Rank 4: Time to lock into enemy ships is reduced by 60%. Deal 20% increased damage in targeting mode.

Tier 2

Energy Weapon Systems

• Rank 1: Energy ship weapons have 10% increased damage and cost 15% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 2: Energy ship weapons have 20% increased damage and cost 30% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 3: Energy ship weapons have 30% increased damage and cost 45% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 4: Energy ship weapons recharge 30% faster.

Engine Systems

• Rank 1: You ship's top speed is increased by 10%
• Rank 2: Ship boosts last longer and the cooldown is shorter.
• Rank 3: Your ship's top speed is increased by 20%. 
• Rank 4: While boosting, all enemies disengage the player and can only reacquire them as a target after the player stops boosting.

Payloads

• Rank 1: Ship cargo holds have 10% more capacity.
• Rank 2: Ship cargo holds have 20% more capacity.
• Rank 3: Ship cargo holds have 30% more capacity.
• Rank 4: Ship cargo holds have 50% more capacity.

Shield Systems

• Rank 1: Your ship has 20% increased shield capacity.
• Rank 2: Your ship has 40% increased shield capacity.
• Rank 3: Your ship has 60% increased shield capacity.
• Rank 4: Your shields will occasionally resist 100% of all damage received.

Tier 3

Missile Weapon Systems

• Rank 1: Ship missile weapons do 10% more damage, and their Target Mode cost is reduced by 20%.
• Rank 2: Ship missile weapons do 20% more damage, and their Target Mode cost is reduced by 40%.
• Rank 3: Ship missile weapons do 30% more damage, and their Target Mode cost is reduced by 60%.
• Rank 4: Ship missiles have 20% increased range, travel speed, and reload speed.

Particle Beam Systems

• Rank 1: Ship particle beam weapons do 10% more damage, and Target Mode cost reduced by 10%.
• Rank 2: Ship particle beam weapons do 20% more damage, and Target Mode cost reduced by 20%.
• Rank 3: Ship particle beam weapons do 30% more damage, and Target Mode cost reduced by 30%.
• Rank 4: Increased critical hit chance with ship particle beam weapons.

Robotics

• Rank 1: You deal 10% more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to stop fighting for a limited time.
• Rank 2: You deal 20% more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to flee for a limited time.
• Rank 3: You deal 30% more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time.
• Rank 4: You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time.

Starship Design

• Rank 1: Allows the installation of improved ship modules.
• Rank 2: Allows the installation of superior ship modules.
• Rank 3: Allows the installation of cutting-edge ship modules.
• Rank 4: Allows the installation of experimental ship modules.

Starship Engineering

• Rank 1: All ship systems repair 10% faster.
• Rank 2: Ship systems have 25% increased damage mitigation.
• Rank 3: All ship systems repair 25% faster.
• Rank 4: Occasionally, repairing one block of a system will repair the entire system.

Tier 4

Automated Weapon Systems

• Rank 1: Automated ship weapons do 10% more damage and reduce all Targeting Mode costs by 20%.
• Rank 2: Automated ship weapons do 20% more damage and reduce all Targeting Mode costs by 30%. Your ship takes 20% less damage while in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 3: Automated ship weapons do 30% more damage and reduce all Targeting Mode costs by 40%. Increases crit chance against targeted sub-systems by 20%.
• Rank 4: Ship turret weapons recharge 40% faster and do 20% more damage to targeted subsystems.

Boost Assault Training

• Rank 1: Nearby enemies take damage when you boost and have a chance to catch on fire.
• Rank 2: Chance to knockdown nearby enemies when you boost.
• Rank 3: Aiming down sights while boosting will let you hover in place. Fuel is still expended until empty.
• Rank 4: While hovering, time slows down and the world moves 70% slower around you.

EM Weapon Systems

• Rank 1: EM ship weapons have 10% increased damage and cost 15% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 2: EM ship weapons have 20% increased damage and cost 30% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 3: EM ship weapons have 30% increased damage and cost 45% less to use in Targeting Mode.
• Rank 4: EM ship weapons have a small chance of instantly disabling enemy engines.

Ranking up skills in Starfield

Ranking up skills in Starfield works a bit different than you might be used to in past Bethesda games. Upgrading any learned skill to the next "rank" costs only one skill point, but you have to complete a challenge before that rank is made available. Rank-up challenges are different for every skill, and you can't see what they are until you've unlocked the previous rank (hence why I don't have a complete list of them to share with you, as I've yet to get all 82 skills.)

The challenges do follow patterns, though—generally speaking, simply using the relevant skill will contribute to completing the challenge. Upgrading to Ballistics Rank 2, for instance, requires killing 20 enemies with ballistic weapons. You'll find nearly identical challenges for other weapon type skills, like lasers, particle beams, and rifles. Upgrading my gastronomy skill required crafting five food recipes, Speech required passing five speech checks, and Security required successfully picking five locks. You get the idea.

Skills within a category are also divided into trees with four tiers each. You have to invest four points in your current tier before the next batch of skills unlock. Tiers 1 and 2 have upgrades of the tree, usually consisting of incremental stat upgrades. Tiers 3 and 4 are where the juicier abilities unlock.