All Skill Challenges: How do you upgrade skills in Starfield?

Unlike many modern RPGs, Starfield doesn’t feed you everything when it comes to character development. Instead, Bethesda gives you a blank slate and a wide array of skills and abilities to include in your character. Furthermore, once you acquire any Starfield skill, you must complete different challenges and earn skill points to upgrade your abilities.

There are 82 unique skills in the game, divided into five major categories. Furthermore, each skill has 4 ranks that you must achieve to boost your efficiency and unlock better powers. Still confused? Therefore, this article explains how to upgrade all skills in Starfield by completing their rank challenges.

How to Upgrade Skills in Starfield?

Skills in Starfield are divided into five major categories based on their functionality. For instance, skills like Pistol Certification and Sniper Certification belong to the Combat tree. Similarly, bodily skills like boxing, fitness, and pain tolerance are placed in the Physical tree. Fortunately, you can acquire as many skills as you please by investing your character ability points.

You will earn a point each time you gain a character level. However, upgrading already acquired skills is a completely different story. Instead of just dumping your excess points, you must complete certain challenges related to that particular skill. Once you complete a challenge, only then can you rank up that skill by investing your ability points.  

Rules for Skills Challenges:

• Challenges will only begin after you unlock the skill.
• The challenge progress will reset after every upgrade.
• Progress made before acquiring a skill won’t count.
• There are no challenges for rank 4 of every skill.
• You can’t roll back your progress in any challenge without loading the game to a previous save file.

All Skills Rank Challenges:

Here is a list of all skill rank challenges in Starfield. You must complete the task for each rank before you can proceed to the next upgrade and unlock special bonuses. Alternatively, you can check your current challenges and track your progress in each skill from the skill upgrade menu.

Physical Skills:

Novice or Tier 1:

• Boxing:
  • Rank 1: Kill 20 foes through unarmed attacks.
  
  
  • Rank 2: Kill 50 foes through unarmed attacks.
  • Rank 3: Kill 100 foes through unarmed attacks.
• Fitness:
  • Rank 1: Completely drain your Oxygen 20 times.
  • Rank 2: Completely drain your Oxygen 50 times.
  • Rank 3: Completely drain your Oxygen 100 times.
• Stealth:
  • Rank 1: Complete 10 Sneak Attacks.
  • Rank 2: Complete 20 Sneak Attacks.
  • Rank 3: Complete 40 Sneak Attacks.
• Weight Lifting:
  • Rank 1: Sprint for 1,000 meters with at least 75% of your maximum load capacity.
  • Rank 2: Sprint for 2,500 meters with at least 75% of your maximum load capacity.
  • Rank 3: Sprint for 5,000 meters with at least 75% of your maximum load capacity.
• Wellness:
  • Rank 1: Restore 200 HP.
  • Rank 2: Restore 500 HP.
  • Rank 3: Restore 1,000 HP.

Advanced or Tier 2:

• Environmental Conditioning:
  • Rank 1: Sustain 100 Environmental Damage.
  • Rank 2: Sustain 250 Environmental Damage.
  • Rank 3: Sustain 500 Environmental Damage.
• Energy Weapon Dissipation:
  • Rank 1: Sustain 150 Energy Damage.
  • Rank 2: Sustain 300 Energy Damage.
  • Rank 3: Sustain 750 Energy Damage.
• Pain Tolerance:
  • Rank 1: Sustain 250 Physical Damage.
  • Rank 2: Sustain 500 Physical Damage.
  • Rank 3: Sustain 1,000 Physical Damage.
• Gymnastics:
  • Rank 1: Sustain 100 Fall Damage.
  • Rank 2: Kill 5 enemies in zero gravity.
  • Rank 3: Kill 20 enemies in zero gravity.
• Nutrition:
  • Rank 1: Consume 10 food items or drinks.
  • Rank 2: Consume 30 food items or drinks.
  • Rank 3: Consume 75 food items or drinks.

Expert or Tier 3:

• Decontamination:
  • Rank 1: Recover from 5 infections.
  • Rank 2: Recover from 15 infections.
  • Rank 3: Recover from 30 infections.
• Cellular Regeneration:
  • Rank 1: Recover naturally from 5 injuries.
  • Rank 2: Recover naturally from 15 injuries.
  • Rank 3: Recover naturally from 30 injuries.
• Martial Arts:
  • Rank 1: Deal 250 damage with unarmed attacks.
  
  
  • Rank 2: Disarm 10 foes with melee or unarmed.
  • Rank 3: Disarm 30 foes with melee or unarmed.

Master or Tier 4:

• Neurostrikes:
  • Rank 1: Stun 10 foes with unarmed attacks.
  • Rank 2: Stun 30 foes with unarmed attacks.
  • Rank 3: Stun 75 foes with unarmed attacks.
• Rejuvenation:
  • Rank 1: Completely heal from 25% or lower HP 3 times.
  • Rank 2: Completely heal from 25% or lower HP 8 times.
  • Rank 3: Completely heal from 25% or lower HP 15 times.
• Concealment:
  • Rank 1: Complete 10 Sneak Attacks with unarmed or melee.
  • Rank 2: Complete 30 Sneak Attacks with unarmed or melee.
  • Rank 3: Complete 75 Sneak Attacks with unarmed or melee.

Combat Skills:

Novice or Tier 1:

• Ballistics:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any ballistic weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any ballistic weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any ballistic weapon.
• Dueling:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any melee weapon.
  
  
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any melee weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any melee weapon.
• Pistol Certification:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any pistol.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any pistol.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any pistol.
• Shotgun Certification:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any shotgun.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any shotgun.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any shotgun.
• Lasers:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any laser weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any laser weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any laser weapon.

Advanced or Tier 2:

• Rifle Certification:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any rifle.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any rifle.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any rifle.
• Heavy Weapon Certification:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any heavy weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any heavy weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any heavy weapon.
• Incapacitation:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 400 Electromagnetic (EM) damage to your enemies.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 1,000 Electromagnetic (EM) damage to your enemies.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 2,500 Electromagnetic (EM) damage to your enemies.
• Demolitions:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any explosives.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any explosives.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any explosives.
• Particle Beam:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any particle beam weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any particle beam weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any particle beam weapon.

Expert or Tier 3:

• Marksmanship:
  • Rank 1: Deal 10 critical hits with any ranged weapon.
  • Rank 2: Deal 30 critical hits with any ranged weapon.
  • Rank 3: Deal 75 critical hits with any ranged weapon.
• Rapid Reloading:
  • Rank 1: Reload 30 weapons with empty magazines.
  • Rank 2: Reload 75 weapons with empty magazines.
  • Rank 3: Reload 150 weapons with empty magazines.
• Sniper Certification:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 50 foes with any scoped weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 125 foes with any scoped weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 250 foes with any scoped weapon.
• Targeting:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 50 foes with no-scope with any ranged weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 125 foes with no-scope with any ranged weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 250 foes with no-scope with any ranged weapon.

Master or Tier 4:

• Crippling:
  • Rank 1: Inflict bleedout state on 20 enemies.
  • Rank 2: Inflict bleedout state on 50 enemies.
  • Rank 3: Inflict bleedout state on 100 enemies.
• Armor Penetration:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with any bolt action weapon.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with any bolt action weapon.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with any bolt action weapon.
• Sharpshooting:
  • Rank 1: Deal 50 critical hits with any ranged weapon.
  • Rank 2: Deal 125 critical hits with any ranged weapon.
  • Rank 3: Deal 250 critical hits with any ranged weapon.

Social Skills:

Novice or Tier 1:

• Commerce:
  • Rank 1: Trade (Buy/Sell) any 25 unique items.
  • Rank 2: Trade (Buy/Sell) any 75 unique items.
  • Rank 3: Trade (Buy/Sell) any 150 unique items.
• Persuasion:
  • Rank 1: Complete 3 persuasion checks.Rank 2: Complete 6 persuasion checks.
  • Rank 3: Complete 10 persuasion checks.
• Gastronomy:
  • Rank 1: Craft 5 food or drink items.
  • Rank 2: Craft 25 food or drink items.
  • Rank 3: Craft 50 food or drink items.
• Theft:
  • Rank 1: Pickpocket 5 NPCs.
  • Rank 2: Pickpocket 10 NPCs.
  • Rank 3: Pickpocket 20 NPCs.
• Scavenging:
  • Rank 1: Loot 25 containers.
  • Rank 2: Loot 75 containers.
  • Rank 3: Loot 150 containers.

Advanced or Tier 2:

• Diplomacy:
  • Rank 1: Use Diplomacy to influence 5 NPCs.
  • Rank 2: Use Diplomacy to influence 25 NPCs.
  • Rank 3: Use Diplomacy to influence 50 NPCs.
• Deception:
  • Rank 1: Influence 5 ships into surrendering.
  • Rank 2: Influence 10 ships into surrendering.
  • Rank 3: Influence 20 ships into surrendering.
• Negotiation:
  • Rank 1: Persuade 3 NPCs through bribery.
  • Rank 2: Persuade 5 NPCs through bribery.
  • Rank 3: Persuade 10 NPCs through bribery.
• Intimidation:
  • Rank 1: Intimidate 5 different NPCs.
  • Rank 2: Intimidate 25 different NPCs.
  • Rank 3: Intimidate 50 different NPCs.
• Isolation:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 20 foes with no companions under your command.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 50 foes with no companions under your command.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 100 foes with no companions under your command.

Expert or Tier 3:

• Outpost Management:
  • Rank 1: Construct cargo links on 6 different outposts.
  • Rank 2: Build 8 robots at your outposts.
  • Rank 3: Build 10 crew stations in your outposts.
• Instigation:
  • Rank 1: Instigate 5 different NPCs.
  • Rank 2: Instigate 25 different NPCs.
  • Rank 3: Instigate 50 different NPCs.
• Leadership:
  • Rank 1: Sprint for 1,000 meters with an active companion.
  • Rank 2: Sprint for 2,500 meters with an active companion.
  • Rank 3: Sprint for 5,000 meters with an active companion.

Master or Tier 4:

• Xenosociology:
  • Rank 1: Use Pacify on 15 different aliens.
  • Rank 2: Use Flee on 15 different aliens.
  • Rank 3: Use Frenzy on 15 different aliens.
• Ship Command:
  • Rank 1: Board or destroy 5 ships with a capacity of 2 or more crew members.
  • Rank 2: Board or destroy 25 ships with a capacity of 4 or more crew members.
  • Rank 3: Board or destroy 50 ships with a capacity of 6 or more crew members.
• Manipulation:
  • Rank 1: Manipulate 5 different NPCs.
  • Rank 2: Manipulate 25 different NPCs.
  • Rank 3: Manipulate 50 different NPCs.

Science Skills:

Novice or Tier 1:

• Astrodynamics:
  • Rank 1: Complete 5 Grav Jumps.
  • Rank 2: Complete 15 Grav Jumps.
  • Rank 3: Complete 30 Grav Jumps.
• Medicine:
  • Rank 1: Heal wounds by using healing items 20 times.
  • Rank 2: Heal wounds by using healing items 50 times.
  • Rank 3: Heal wounds by using healing items 100 times.
• Geology:
  • Rank 1: Harvest 20 inorganic resources from different sources.
  • Rank 2: Harvest 50 inorganic resources from different sources.
  • Rank 3: Harvest 100 inorganic resources from different sources.
• Surveying:
  • Rank 1: Scan flora or fauna of 10 unique resources with your scanner.
  • Rank 2: Scan flora or fauna of 20 unique resources with your scanner.
  • Rank 3: Scan flora or fauna of 50 unique resources with your scanner.
• Research Methods:
  • Rank 1: Successfully craft 5 unique items: food, drinks, drugs, or weapon mods.
  • Rank 2: Successfully craft 10 unique items: food, drinks, drugs, or weapon mods.
  • Rank 3: Successfully craft 15 unique items: food, drinks, drugs, or weapon mods.

Advanced or Tier 2:

• Scanning:
  • Rank 1: Scan 5 moons or planets.
  • Rank 2: Scan 15 moons or planets.
  • Rank 3: Scan 30 moons or planets.
• Spacesuit Design:
  • Rank 1: Craft 5 helmets, spacesuits or pack mods.
  • Rank 2: Craft 15 helmets, spacesuits or pack mods.
  • Rank 3: Craft 30 helmets, spacesuits or pack mods.
• Botany:
  • Rank 1: Harvest 20 organic resources like adhesives from plants.
  • Rank 2: Harvest 50 organic resources from plants.
  • Rank 3: Harvest 100 organic resources from plants.
• Zoology:
  • Rank 1: Harvest 20 organic resources from creatures.
  • Rank 2: Harvest 50 organic resources from creatures.
  • Rank 3: Harvest 100 organic resources from creatures.
• Weapon Engineering:
  • Rank 1: Successfully craft 5 weapon mods.
  • Rank 2: Successfully craft 15 weapon mods.
  • Rank 3: Successfully craft 30 weapon mods.

Expert or Tier 3:

• Chemistry:
  • Rank 1: Craft 10 chemicals (chems).
  • Rank 2: Craft 25 chemicals (chems).
  • Rank 3: Craft 50 chemicals (chems).
• Astrophysics:
  • Rank 1: Scan 10 unique moons or planets.
  • Rank 2: Scan 25 unique moons or planets.
  • Rank 3: Scan 50 unique moons or planets.
• Outpost Engineering:
  • Rank 1: Construct 5 unique outpost modules.
  • Rank 2: Construct 25 unique outpost modules.
  • Rank 3: Construct 50 unique outpost modules.

Master or Tier 4:

• Aneutronic Fusion:
  • Rank 1: Completely destroy 5 ships.
  • Rank 2: Completely destroy 25 ships.
  • Rank 3: Completely destroy 50 ships.
• Planetary Habitation:
  • Rank 1: Construct habitable outposts on 3 different planets.
  • Rank 2: Construct habitable outposts on 5 different planets.
  • Rank 3: Construct habitable outposts on 10 different planets.
• Special Projects:
  • Rank 1: Craft 10 common or uncommon manufactured items.
  • Rank 2: Craft 10 rare manufactured items.
  • Rank 3: Craft 10 exotic manufactured items.

Technology Skills:

Novice or Tier 1:

• Ballistic Weapons Systems:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 1,000 damage to enemy ships with any ballistic weapon.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 4,000 damage to enemy ships with any ballistic weapon.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 10,000 damage to enemy ships with any ballistic weapon.
• Boost Pack Training:
  • Rank 1: Use Boost Jump 10 times during combat.
  • Rank 2: Use Boost Jump 25 times during combat.
  • Rank 3: Use Boost Jump 50 times during combat.
• Piloting:
  • Rank 1: Completely destroy 5 ships with any weapon.
  • Rank 2: Completely destroy 15 ships with any weapon.
  • Rank 3: Completely destroy 30 ships with any weapon.
• Security:
  • Rank 1: Successfully pick 5 locks of any level.
  • Rank 2: Successfully pick 15 locks of any level.
  • Rank 3: Successfully pick 30 locks of any level.
• Targeting Control Systems:
  • Rank 1: Incapacitate 5 enemy ships in target mode.
  • Rank 2: Incapacitate 15 enemy ships in target mode.
  • Rank 3: Incapacitate 30 enemy ships in target mode.

Advanced or Tier 2:

• Energy Weapon Systems:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 1,000 damage to enemy ships with any energy weapon.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 4,000 damage to enemy ships with any energy weapon.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 10,000 damage to enemy ships with any energy weapon.
• Payloads:
  • Rank 1: Use the ship booster 5 times during combat.
  • Rank 2: Use the ship booster 25 times during combat.
  • Rank 3: Use the ship booster 50 times during combat.
• Engine Systems:
  • Rank 1: Grav jump 10 times with at least 75% of your maximum cargo capacity.
  • Rank 2: Grav jump 25 times with at least 75% of your maximum cargo capacity.
  • Rank 3: Grav jump 50 times with at least 75% of your maximum cargo capacity.
• Shield Systems:
  • Rank 1: Sustain 150 shield damage.
  • Rank 2: Sustain 350 shield damage.
  • Rank 3: Sustain 750 shield damage.

Expert or Tier 3:

• Starship Engineering:
  • Rank 1: Install 5 unique modules on your ships.
  • Rank 2: Install 15 unique modules on your ships.
  • Rank 3: Install 30 unique modules on your ships.
• Robotics:
  • Rank 1: Defeat 5 robots in battle.
  • Rank 2: Defeat 25 robots in battle.
  • Rank 3: Defeat 50 robots in battle.
• Missile Weapon Systems:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 1,000 damage to enemy ships with any missile weapon.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 4,000 damage to enemy ships with any missile weapon.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 10,000 damage to enemy ships with any missile weapon.
• Particle Beam Weapon Systems:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 1,000 damage to enemy ships with any particle beam weapon.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 4,000 damage to enemy ships with any particle beam weapon.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 10,000 damage to enemy ships with any particle beam weapon.
• Starship Design:
  • Rank 1: Install 5 unique modules on your ships.
  • Rank 2: Install 15 unique modules on your ships.
  • Rank 3: Install 30 unique modules on your ships.

Master or Tier 4:

• EM Weapon Systems:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 1,000 damage to enemy ships with any EM weapon.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 4,000 damage to enemy ships with any EM weapon.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 10,000 damage to enemy ships with any EM weapon.
• Boost Assault Training:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 200 damage to your foes with a boost pack.
  
  
  • Rank 2: Knockdown 20 foes with a boost pack.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 500 damage to your foes with a boost pack.
• Automated Weapon Systems:
  • Rank 1: Inflict 1,000 damage to enemy ships with any turret.
  • Rank 2: Inflict 4,000 damage to enemy ships with any turret.
  • Rank 3: Inflict 10,000 damage to enemy ships with any turret.

Conclusion:

Starfield follows Bethesda’s trend of confusing skill systems. You must level up the character to earn ability points. Once you have gathered enough points, you can invest them to unlock over 82 unique skills. Furthermore, you can also upgrade your favourite skills to increase their efficiency and unlock better movesets. However, first, you need to complete special assignments or challenges to unlock these upgrades. Therefore, this article enlists all skill challenges in Starfield to help you out.