How to Steal Ships in Starfield?

Pirating can be a fun way to experience the vast black space in Starfield. Have you ever seen an enemy ship and wished that it was in your fleet? Well, we have good news for you: any ship in the game can be yours, but there’s a lot of work that comes before it. First, you must acquire the necessary skills to pilot high-rank ships. Next, you must cripple the ship, board it, and defeat all active crew members to steal ships. Lastly, you must register the ship as your own by paying a hefty sum to officially claim the ship and all of its cargo.

Furthermore, stealing ships and selling them isn’t really a profitable trade. However, you will always remain in the green as you can always sell contraband and other valuable items that you find. Therefore, this article explains everything about how to steal ships, board enemy ships, and much more to help you out.

How to Steal Ships in Starfield?

Stealing and pirating enemy ships are two different mechanisms. Stealing basically refers to boarding landed ships while exploring various planets and settlements. However, if you get caught in the act, you will get some serious bounty on your head.

So, it would be best to first clear out the surrounding area, activate the sneaking mode, and then attempt the theft when no one’s looking. Otherwise, if you get caught, you can see how to clear your bounty to reclaim your lost reputation.

Here’s how to steal landed ships in Starfield:

• Upgrade your Piloting skill from the Tech tree in Starfield skills. Make sure you have at least rank 3 or 4 to pilot Class B and C ships.
• Next, head to the ship’s main entrance and initiate the hacking process (you will need digipicks for it).
• If the ship’s lock is advanced or master, you must upgrade your security skills to enter that ship.
• Once inside the ship, sneak around and kill any crew members that you find.
• Finally, head to the captain’s cabin and sit on the pilot’s seat to fly away with the ship.

If you want to keep the ship in your fleet, head to the nearest ship technician and choose to see your ships. Next, select “register the ship” and pay the registration fee to claim the ship as your own. Moreover, if you fast-travel or Grav Jump, the stolen ship will become your Home Ship until you change it from the technician menu.

How to Board Enemy Ships in Starfield?

Stealing ships in Starfield is relatively easier, but there aren’t many grounded starships in the game. So, your best shot is to disable ships in space, board them, and fly away to the nearest ship technician to claim them as your own. However, pirating or boarding enemy ships requires patience, sound strategies, and some of the best Starfield skills.

Here’s how to steal starships and board enemy ships in Starfield:

• Upgrade your Piloting skills to rank 3 or 4 to fly higher-tier ships.
• Unlock and upgrade the Weapon Targeting System skill to target specific ship parts.
• Also, upgrade at least two ship weapons skills like Ballistic, Missiles, or EM Weapons to easily cripple enemy ships.
• Once you find a flying ship that you want to steal, attack it to initiate the dogfight.
• Next, destroy the ship’s shield by draining the secondary health bar (the blue one).
• Alternatively, you don’t need to disable the shield if you have any EM weapons installed (check the builder guide).
• Next, enter the targeting mode, aim at the ship’s engine(s), and keep attacking until they are completely destroyed.
• Finally, go behind the disabled ship and press R to dock and board the ship.

Now that you are inside the ship, enter stealth mode or use the most powerful weapons in your arsenal to kill any remaining crew members. Once the ship is cleared, head to the captain’s cabin and sit on the piloting seat to disengage from your original ship and fly away with the stolen one. Finally, you can head to any ship technician to view your fleet and register the stolen ship by paying the price.

Some Tips for Stealing Ships:

• You can’t board enemy ships while you are still in combat. So, you should destroy all nearby enemy ships and save the best one for the end.
• Higher FPS, better FOV, and graphical details are your best friends in dogfights so choose the best Starfield settings to improve your game.
• Disabled ships will still turn and attack you with their active weapon systems. So, it would be best to disable the ship only after you have cleared all remaining enemies.
• Grav Jumps and Fast-Traveling while piloting a stolen ship will change it to your Home Ship.
• Selling stolen ships isn’t really profitable, as the registration fee is almost equal to the ship’s original price.
• You will keep the stolen ship’s cargo and other valuable items from the captain’s cabin, but they count as contraband.
• Targeting the ship’s engine will also damage its hull, and the ship will be completely destroyed if the hull’s health drops to zero.
• Only attempt pirating enemy ships like Crimson Fleet, Spacers, Bounty Hunters, and enemy factions.
• Otherwise, attacking neutral or friendly ships will add bounty over your head, and you will lose affinity from your companion romance.

FAQs:

What happens to your own ship after you steal another?

Don’t worry; your main ship is still in your fleet even after you fly away in another stolen ship. You can always change your Home Ship at any Spaceport Technician, or you can just call the ship if you wish to take it for a ride. Also, all the cargo and valuable items stored in your original ship will automatically shift to your new Home Ship.

Can I sell stolen ships in Starfield?

Yes, you can sell stolen ships just like regular ones at any spaceport. However, you must register the stolen ship and pay the registration fee before you unlock the ship’s customization, upgrades, and selling options. Otherwise, you can only fly around in the stolen ship, but it will disappear after you reload the game. In other words, it is important to register stolen ships to officially add them to your fleet.

Do I get a bounty for flying stolen ships?

Even though piracy and theft are two different acts, they are both treated the same in Starfield. If you get caught while stealing a ship or if a guard patrol spots you flying around in an unregistered ship, they will attempt an arrest. Moreover, if you manage to kill or even attack any of the guards, you will get a hefty bounty on your head. Therefore, it is best to only steal the ships that you wish to register and include in your fleet.

Conclusion:

Stealing and pirating ships in Starfield isn’t really profitable, but it is the best way to unlock unique ships that you usually don’t find in stores. For example, the Ecliptic Claymore is among the best Starfield starships, but it is rarely available in the shops, even after you restock the vendors endlessly. Furthermore, you can fill up your fleet with pre-customized ships by stealing them. Therefore, this article explains how to steal ships and how to board enemy ships in Starfield to claim them as your own.