Starfield is all about exploring various planets and extracting valuable resources for your crafting activities. While you can gain these resources manually from any planet, it can be pretty time-consuming as you must focus on completing missions. Fortunately, you can automate the extractions by building functional outposts on various planets. The only problem is that there are over 1,000 unique planets and moons, and your outpost slots are pretty limited. So, knowing the best outpost locations can greatly ease things for you.
Furthermore, you must consider various factors and your reachability before investing so many resources in the project. In short, it is a matter of trial and error to choose the perfect planets for your bases. Therefore, this article covers the top 10 best outpost locations and their available resources so that you can skip the hassle.
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How to Choose an Outpost Location?
You can land your ship on almost any planet, take out the scanner, and plant the outpost beacon anywhere you like. However, you must consider certain factors before finalizing your settlement plans. Firstly, it takes a lot of building and crafting to create a functional outpost in Starfield. So, if it doesn’t function as you planned, well, you just wasted a couple of hours. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the best outpost locations in the game:
- Resources: The main purpose of outposts is to extract valuable resources from various planets. So, the best strategy is to scan the planet while you are in its orbit and only land if you find it resource-rich for your crafting needs.
- Atmosphere: Even though there are over a thousand planets in the game, only a handful of them are suitable for settlements. Furthermore, it takes a hell of a lot of resources to inhabit harsh atmospheres. Therefore, it would be best to test the planet’s atmosphere and surface temperature before setting out the outpost beacon.
- Nearest Settlement: Another crucial factor is the planet’s reachability. You don’t want to settle on a planet if your starship can’t Grav jump to it in one go. Moreover, you will need to travel to various vendors or wait for them to restock, making it crucial to settle near cities and towns.
- Flora and Fauna: Not all planets in Starfield are suitable for life. Moreover, even if a planet has some life forms, they won’t always be welcoming and may even attack you on sight. Therefore, it is important to scan the planet’s Flora and Fauna right after landing. Also, check the life for resources like adhesives and polymers for some extra gain.
- Check the Outpost Count: Another decisive factor is your current outpost count. Initially, you can only build 8 outposts and generate passive income. Afterward, you can upgrade the Planetary Habitation skill to increase your maximum outpost count. So, it is best to plan your outposts such that they generate various profitable minerals.
10 Best Outpost Locations in Starfield:
The prescribed way to find outpost locations is to visit various planets and scan them before setting out the beacon. However, with over a hundred solar systems and 1,000+ planets to explore, this trial-and-error method can consume hundreds of gameplay hours. So, here are the top 10 best outpost locations to set up your initial outposts:
Jemison: An Outpost on Earth
- Temperature: Moderate
- Atmosphere: Std O2
- Flora & Fauna: Abundant
- Resources:
- Water
- Argon
- Chlorine
- Lead
- Clorosilanes
Jemison is the closest thing to Earth in Starfield. It contains all the features to support human life, which is the reason why UC settled New Atlantis in it. Even though Jemison isn’t as resource-rich as some of the other planets in this list, it makes a perfect candidate for beginners.
Basically, you can use this planet to understand the outpost system and even create a safe haven not too far away from human settlements. Lastly, it is the safest location where you don’t need to worry about outpost safety. In short, if you are planning to buy a home in Starfield, why not invest the same effort in building your own city?
Zamka: Best Outpost for Resources
- Temperature: Frozen
- Atmosphere: Thin Methane
- Flora & Fauna: None
- Resources:
- Water
- Helium-3
- Iron
- Nickel
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Uranium
- Vanadium
Zamka is the moon of Olivas and is located in the same Alpha Centauri System as Jemison. However, unlike other planets of this system, it is completely barren, with no life forms in sight. So, why did we put it on this list? Well, this planet offers an abundant supply of rare and valuable resources that you won’t find anywhere else.
Considering the experience you gained from your first outpost, you won’t have any trouble setting up camp on this moon. Moreover, it offers Helium-3 in enough quantity to fuel this outpost and a couple of others. Lastly, Zamka is just a couple of jumps away from the nearest settlement, making it easy to stop by whenever you get a chance.
Andraphon:
- Temperature: Moderate
- Atmosphere: None
- Flora & Fauna: None
- Resources:
- Helium-3
- Aluminum
- Beryllium
- Europium
- Iron
Andraphon is located in a solar system not very far from New Atlantis. It is the moon of the planet Sumati but remains the perfect outpost to partner Jemison. This barren moon contains more resources than all of the settled ones combined. For instance, the Aluminum and Iron extracted from this moon will help build not only this outpost but a couple of others as well.
Similarly, you can extract the Helium-3 and use the cargo link to power your other outposts. In short, if you are looking for a place for your second or third outpost, Androphon is the perfect contestant for the job.
Kreet:
- Temperature: Temperate
- Atmosphere: Std O2
- Flora & Fauna: Marginal
- Resources:
- Water
- Helium-3
- Neon
- Argon
- Alkanes
- Lead
- Iron
- Silver
Kreet is the moon of Anselon planet in the Narion system. Even though you won’t find any settlements here, it is the only life-supporting rock in the entire system. Moreover, you will visit this moon as part of a side quest anyway, so why not establish your own base here? The benefit is that not only do you get to see some of the most exotic creatures in Starfield, but you also gain plenty of valuable resources.
The only problem is that you must acquire a powerful ship with enough fuel to support such Grav jumps. Once you fulfill this requirement, a treasure of endless precious resources will welcome you aboard.
Linnaeus IV-b:
- Temperature: Temperate
- Atmosphere: Thin Methane
- Flora & Fauna: None
- Resources:
- Water
- Helium-3
- Alkanes
- Beryllium
- Iron
- Aluminum
- Lead
- Ytterbium
Linnaeus IV-b is a bit of a controversial option for this list. It is the second moon of the planet Linnaeus IV and is located in the Linnaeus system. The beauty of this barren rock is that it offers some of the rarest resources right at your doorstep. Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about vicious beasts and overpowered spacers unless you visit near the endgame sequence.
You can find the Linnaeus solar system by going east from the Alpha Centauri System near Olympus. Once you land, you can pick virtually any site for your outpost, as the whole planet is jam-packed with precious minerals. You can use the Iron, Aluminum, and Ytterbium from this planet to create some of the best weapon and gear mods in the game. Lastly, the presence of He-3 ensures that you never run out of fuel to power your colonies. Oh, and if you don’t mind a frozen planet, Linnaeus III is also worth visiting.
Tau Ceti II:
- Temperature: Temperate
- Atmosphere: Thin O2
- Flora & Fauna: Marginal
- Resources:
- Water
- Argon
- Alkanes
- Iron
- Benzene
Until now, almost all planets and moons have either been barren or offered very little life. However, an outpost on Tau Ceti II will fulfill your organic resource requirements. This planet offers some of the rarest creatures and plants in Starfield. You can harvest them manually or even start your own small breeding project to extract nutrients, toxins, and structural components like adhesives.
Moreover, you will come across the Tau Ceti star system very early in your adventures. If your quests don’t take you to this planet, you can always join the UC Vanguard to explore this portion of the universe. Secondly, this planet is just a few blocks away from human settlements, so you can harvest your resources and fly back to the nearest vendor to make a profit. In short, if you are looking for a place to start your third or fourth outpost, this planet seems like the best choice.
Maheo II: Best Outpost for Helium-3
- Temperature: Frozen
- Atmosphere: Thin Nitrogen
- Flora & Fauna: None
- Resources:
- Water
- Helium-3
- Alkanes
- Lead
- Copper
- Tetrafluorides
- Iron
- Ytterbium.
No planet can match the value for money as Maheo II. It is the second planet in the Maheo system and is located right next to the Sol system. Even though it is completely frozen, you won’t regret building an outpost here early on in the game. If this outpost starts generating passive resources, you won’t need to find vendors to finish your other projects.
The only problem is that this planet is a bit hard to inhabit, especially for new players. Secondly, you can’t find all of these resources overlapping in one place. So, the best way is to scan the planet completely before setting out your outpost beacon. Lastly, you can always equip spacesuits with environmental resistance or use the best mods to conquer this resource-rich planet.
Eridani II: Best Outpost for Gold
- Temperature: Temperate
- Atmosphere: Std O2
- Flora & Fauna: Moderate
- Resources:
- Water
- Gold
- Chlorine
- Fluorine
- Cobalt
- Iron
- Copper
- Nickel
Eridani II is worthy of becoming the crown jewel in your outposts. This planet is located in the Eridani solar system in the lower left corner of your star map. Beware, players seem to feel at home on this planet because of its mesmerizing views, thriving Flora and Fauna, and abundance of rare resources.
Secondly, you won’t feel like going shopping for resources when you have a home outpost on this planet. Basically, you can find all everyday and rare resources right in one place. Moreover, you can also go hunting for aliens or try your luck at herbology, as Eridani II is home to 7 different species of both life forms. In short, if you don’t place an outpost here early on, you will probably regret it later.
Nesoi Outpost Location:
- Temperature: Temperate
- Atmosphere: Std O2
- Flora & Fauna: Moderate
- Resources:
- Water
- Carboxylic Acids
- Benzene
- Argon
- Iron
- Tantalum
- Iridium
- Uranium
Similar to Eridani II, Nesoi is yet another life-supporting planet located right in the center of the Olympus system. This planet offers everything from lush green forests to everyday crafting materials. Moreover, you can also find several gas vents and even some barren deserts should you wish for one.
In other words, this planet offers everything from Iron for your ventures to Iridium and Tantalum for your research projects. Furthermore, you can also harvest the local life forms to get important organic components like Sealants. However, make sure to search the planet completely if you land on a barren strip; otherwise, you will feel left out of this tropical paradise.
Freya III Outpost Location:
- Temperature: Temperate
- Atmosphere: Std O2
- Flora & Fauna: Moderate
- Resources:
- Water
- Argon
- Benzene
- Lead
- Copper
- Silver
- Chlorine
- Mercury
Copper and Silver are among the crucial materials for your early-game needs. However, they are pretty rare, especially when you are only looking at the settled zones. The good news is that Freya III offers both these elements in a single vein, so you can extract up to 4 resources if you choose the right spot for your outpost.
Freya III is the third planet in the Freya system located northeast of the Cheyenne system. So, you can extract your resources and sell them or even go shopping in Akila City without any problem. The only drawback is that the Fauna (animals) aren’t accustomed to seeing you around. So, it would be best to protect your camp with a few robots and turrets to repel these intruders. Other than that, Freya III is the perfect spot to set up your vacation outpost.
Conclusion:
Starfield offers several fun side activities to keep you occupied for several hours. Among them, building outposts is perhaps the most interesting system as it allows you to create a camp on any planet and establish infrastructure to mine its resources. So, it is also a highly rewarding task if you are up for it. The only problem is that you can only establish a limited amount of such outposts, and each one costs a lot. Therefore, this article provides the top 10 best outpost locations in Starfield to help you maximize your profits.
