The best weapons in Starfield and how to get them

Starfield has many weapons, from readily available firearms that can be found all over the place to scarce, one-of-a-kind guns. In this article, we will run through both, as there is little point in detailing only hard-to-find weapons that you might never see.

The best weapons for new players

If you are wondering what to hold on to in your early hours in Starfield and what will be strong enough to carry you into the mid-game, these are your weapons. These should drop quite regularly from all manner of enemies and don’t involve anything other than following the main questline or doing side missions to get.

The Maelstrom

The Maelstrom is a highly versatile assault rifle, and almost any variation you can find will have reasonable stopping power. Depending on the mods, it can be a close-to-midrange death machine, spewing out bullets, or a silent sniper rifle that will two-shot enemies that match your level if you can hit them in the head. It would be best if you always had a couple of variants of the Maelstrom in your arsenal, as it will never disappoint you.

The Maelstrom can drop from Crimson Fleet and Ecliptic enemies pretty often.

The Lawgiver

I assume that in Starfield, the word Lawgiver translates to “exploder of heads” because this thing destroys things. The only downside is a small magazine, but the rate of fire is quite good for a weapon that hits this hard. Somewhere between a rifle and a slug shot, it has that nice lever-action feel that some games do so well. There is just something about sending a .50 Cal slug through the helmet of some Crimson Fleet chump.

The Lawgiver drops from Spacers, and can show up in chests, weapon lockers, and even safes.

The Grendel

I understand the desire to have some with more intrigue than one of the earliest weapons you get in the game, but variants of this thing can smash enemies up close. One of my favorites right now is a Corrosive Grendal that shreds enemy armor and makes quick work of tough-to-kill opponents.

The Grendel can drop from just about any faction in the game and is one of the most common weapons you will find in the opening hours.

The Kodama

Not only does the Kodama look the part, but it shreds enemies up close. The best SMG in the game by a distance, this thing will sit down, charging enemies before they can get close to you. It is surprisingly good at medium-range engagements but lacks too much kick, and keeping shots on target is easy.

In our playthrough, the Kodama started to show up when fighting Spacers from Level 12 onward.

The Drum Beat

The Drum Beat is a fantastic option for close and midrange engagements but uses a rarer ammo type than the Grendel. Using the 11mm instead of the more commonly found 7.77mm, you can break this one out for special occasions to shred enemies. Legendary variants can drop with the Elemental perk for a rotating chance to inflict the different elemental types on enemies, making it a fantastic option against all armor types.

Another weapon that seems to be tied to multiple factions, this one started to show up around level 12, much like the Kodama. I got my first drop from Ecliptic enemies.

The Combat Knife

Looking past the humble Combat Knife might be easy, but it has a trick up its sleeve. Fast attacks combined with a high chance to stagger enemies means you can stun-lock people pretty badly with this, whittling away their health while they have little recourse. Legendary variants can spawn with Rapid, giving even more attack speed.

Combat Knives will show up just anywhere, but I have found Legendary ones seem to drop often from small safes.

The Novalight

I was very pleasantly surprised by how hard this little guy slaps. It takes Light Fuse ammo, which is pretty easy to come by, packs a good punch when many handguns can be relatively weak, and holds up over good range. The iron sights are a bit naff, but that’s not enough to keep it off this list.

Drop from multiple factions after roughly level 10. It will also show up in weapon containers, safes, and weapon cases.

The Old Earth Shotgun

I don’t make the rules, but if I did, every game would have a pump-action shotgun. This absolute classic might as well have “Hicks” scrawled down the side of it. It takes 12 gauge shells, has a 6-round capacity, and will level most enemies in a couple of shots.

This drops a lot from Spacers in the mid-game, with a good chance or purple or even Legendary drops.

The best unique weapons in Starfield

Be warned, there are some spoilers ahead, as it is difficult to discuss these weapons without mentioning some potential story beats and locations.

The Elegance

This pistol can be purchased from Rowland Arms in Akila City. You will end up in the city as part of the main quest, and the store can be found on the main street, near the bank. This is a demon, a rapid-fire pistol that will delete any enemy.

Sir Livingstone’s Pistol

You will need the Kid Stuff trait to get your hands on this one, as it is given to you by your in-game Dad. This family heirloom does physical damage, has solid damage from the .45 caliber bullets it fires, and can be outfitted with up to four mods. It’s an excellent free weapon to get your hands on if you make the right trait choice at the start of the game.

After joining Constellation, visit your parents, something you gain access to with said perk. You can find your parents in the Residential District to acquire the pistol.

The Peacekeeper

You must complete the Groundpounder mission in the Altair system to get this one. Spend some time there, and you will get a distress call. Help the people out, see the task through to the end, and this hard-hitting assault rifle shall be yours.

Unmitigated Violence

This is obtained from the Hunter, a character you will encounter as you proceed through the game. You must side with the Emissary or go alone at the end of the Unearthed mission and then kill the Hunter when you confront him at The Buried Temple.

The Ashta Tamer

This is hidden away in a crate in the cave that you search during the Empty Nest quest at Akila. It’s a lot of fun, a heavy weapon that will make mincemeat of enemies up close.

Eternity’s Gate

The flip side of the above, the Eternity’s Gate can only be obtained if you side with the Hunter or go alone during the Unearthed mission and then choose to kill the Emissary at the Buried Temple instead.

The Fiscal Quarter

This is a unique Maelstrom that you can get from the main All That Money Can Buy quest. It’s a very solid weapon, easily best in class for the Maelstrom, thanks to the combination of the mods it comes with and the Shattering perk, which will make mincemeat of armor.

The Brute Force

The Brute Force can be obtained by completing The Red Mile for the first time. Has increased melee damage while bashing combined with a range of useful meds like Laser Sight, Muzzle Brake, Tactical Stock, Tactical Mag, and High Powered.

The Deadeye

The Deadeye is a reward for getting into the Freestar Collective as a Ranger. Once you finish up their faction quests, you will receive this pistol as part of your official equipment. It fires slow, but hits like a truck, and is just fantastic for hitting enemies right in the dome.

The Justifier

Just like the Deadeye, your Freestar Collective friends will give you this one after you have finished your quests and joined up fully with them. This is essentially the ultimate Lawgiver.

Best weapons for each class

Pistols

• Sir Livingstone’s Pistol
  • Mass: 1.8
  • Base Damage: 28
  • Fire Rate: 67
  • Range: 24
  • Accuracy: 69.20

As listed above, Sir Livingstone’s Pistol can only be achieved with the Kid Stuff perk. Once you have that perk and join Constellation, you must visit your parents to get the gun.

• Keelhauler
  • Mass: 3.5
  • Base Damage: 83
  • Fire Rate: 140
  • Range 24
  • Accuracy: 70.1

The Keelhauler can only be obtained as a reward for completing the Echoes of the Past Faction Quest in the Crimson Fleet Questline.

Rifles

• Beowulf
  • Mass: 2.80
  • Base Damage: 43
  • Fire Rate: 50
  • Range: 40
  • Accuracy: 69.1

Beowulf is found randomly in loot, containers, and NPCs, but those in the United Colonies faction commonly use it.

• Fiscal Quarter
  • Mass: 2.15
  • Base Damage: 5
  • Fire Rate: 180
  • Range: 40
  • Accuracy: 73.5

The Fiscal Quarter rifle is a reward for completing the story mission “All That Money Can Buy.”

Shotguns

• Breach
  • Mass: 7.3
  • Base Damage 119
  • Fire Rate: 10
  • Range: 20
  • Accuracy: 55.3

Beowulf is found randomly in loot, containers, and NPCs, but it is located in the Settled Systems and is manufactured by Allied Armaments.

• Big Bang
  • Mass: 7
  • Base Damage: 32 physical, 94 energy
  • Fire Rate: 14
  • Range: 20
  • Accuracy: 54.7

Big Bang is exclusive to particular vendors once the player has reached a certain level.

Heavy

• Heller’s Cutter
  • Mass: 4
  • Base Damage: 4
  • Fire Rate 76
  • Range: 3
  • Accuracy: 76.7

Heller’s Cutter is located inside a cutter box during the Back to Vectera quest.

• Magstrom
  • Mass: 12
  • Base Damage: 11
  • Fire Rate: 400
  • Range: 40
  • Accuracy: 50.5

Magstrom is found randomly in loot, containers, and NPCs, but it is located in the Settled Systems and has an unknown manufacturer.

Melee

• Wakizashi
  • Mass: 1.35
  • Base Damage: 49

Wakizashi is obtainable via purchase from the vendor, Hatchet, after joining the Ebbside Strikers in Neon.

• The Last Priest
  • Mass: 1.8
  • Base Damage: 85

The Last Priest is a possible reward for completing the Infinity’s End quest if you side with the Hunter during the Unearthed story quest.