What Are the Best Ships in Starfield?

Summary

• While many of the ships for sale in
  Starfield
  may look cool, the best ships in the game are built from scratch in the ship builder.
• Many of the ships for sale in
  Starfield
  are better approached in the mid-to-late game, as the cost is prohibitively expensive in earlier sections.
• Select quests will provide players with free ships like the Razorleaf, which are great for new/early-game players.
• Players will get the Starborn Guardian for free in New Game Plus, which will upgrade with each new cycle.
• The Shattered Space DLC introduced a new range of Va’ruun ships, all of which are worth experimenting with.

Updated December 12, 2024, by Christopher Norman Worcester: Now that Shattered Space has been out and in the hands of Starfield players for a decent amount of time, it is worth revisiting many of the guides and lists that present the best items in the game. In this update, we’ll be looking at the best ships in Starfield, paying particular attention to the new ships that were added with Shattered Space. Along with the list, the accompanying video will also be updated to reflect the changes.

A huge portion of Starfield‘s playtime is spent inside a ship, so it makes sense that finding the perfect vessel would be high on most players’ list of things to do in the game. Luckily, Starfield features a massive variety of ships, many of which can be purchased at the game’s starports. And though it’s true that there is no real need to spend credits to get a good ship, the fact remains that many of the best must be bought.

Though, in many ways, the traits that make a great ship are somewhat subjective, there are certain aspects that remain universal across all playstyles. For example, it is nearly impossible to get through Starfield without entering combat with other ships. This means that any decent ship will have powerful weapons. This list will give players five examples of the absolute best ships that credits can buy.

It has been reported that there is no way to know for sure which ships each spaceport will have. The only locations given in this guide, and its accompanying video, will be when a ship is found in the same spaceport across multiple playthroughs.

5 Abyss Trekker

• Purchase at the spaceport in Paradiso, on Porrima II in the Porrima system.

When we first created our list of the best ships in Starfield, this beast of a ship was at the very top of our list. You’ll notice that its new location is significantly lower. There are several reasons for this, but the most important is this: purchased ships are just not really worth it. As you’ll see later, the best ships in the game are the ships you make yourself. The only time this is not true is very early in Starfield. Still, new players won’t be able to afford Abyss Trekker anyway, so it’s place on the list is deserved, not because it isn’t a good ship, but because there’s never really a good time to use it.

Found at the spaceport in Paradiso, the Abyss Trekker is a C-class monster that has an extremely powerful hull, which, along with its high-power shield, makes it practically unstoppable. It’s massive price tag will be a deterrent for just about everyone in the early stages of Starfield, but any player looking to make mince meat of the Crimson Fleet, Ecliptic, Va’ruun, or as many Spacers as they can find, will need to look no further than the Abyss Trekker.

For many players, Abyss Trekker’s most attractive feature will be the fact that it simply looks cool. This can be said of many ships available for sale in Starfield. However, if you want a truly great ship, simply save the credits and read on down the list.

4 Razorleaf

The Razorleaf is the best ship for early-to-mid-game players. Because it was designed for the in-world hero, the Mantis, it excels at early-game space combat. While it will not take you through the entire game, the simple fact that it is free should be reason enough for new players to pursue it. On top of this fact, the Razorleaf will be the first opportunity players have to get shielded cargo, which helps to protect Contraband from discovery.

Players looking for another free ship not found not long after the Razorleaf can pursue the Star Eagle. However, by the time you get that ship, you will likely have the opportunity to build your own. It is for this reason, and the simple fact that it is so dang cool, that the Razorleaf earns its spot on this list.

3 Starborn Guardian

• The Starborn Guardian is given freely at the start of Starfield‘s New Game Plus cycle. It is also possible to steal them when landed, but this does not always work. If you see a Guardian in the game world, try to walk up its wing to enter the ship, then sit in the pilot seat. Usually, you can’t even enter, but it has worked for us many times.

In some ways, the Starborn Guardian can be seen as more flash than substance. However, this does not mean the ship is not worth using. After completing your first playthrough, you will not bring any of the ships from your previous playthrough with you. This is built in to Starfield’s NG+ mechanic, which can get a bit tiring when you get past the novelty of it. Because of this, having a ship that is ready to go can be extremely helpful. And as you complete more and more cycles, the Guardian will get stronger.

With a Class A reactor and only two weapons, the Guardian is built for speed and maneuverability. It works very well as a dogfighter, especially if you are comfortable with the aerial combat mechanics. The ship looks cool, has unique weapons, and is an important part of the NG+ lore. For this reason, it earns its spot as the third-best ship in Starfield.

2 Va’ruun Ships (Hymn)

• Shattered Space brought with it a variety of new Va’ruun ships, which will replace the Crimson Fleet ships on this list. At the moment, the best Va’Ruun ship is the Hymn, but it is not easy to acquire. Because of this, we will include the new ships as a group with the Hymn.

The new Va’ruun ships that have been introduced in Shattered Space are each formidable in their own way. Among the community, the consensus is that the Va’ruun Hymn is the best in the category, but it can be extremely difficult to acquire. The only known way to get a Hymn is to disable and hijack it during combat, or to come across one that has landed and steal it.

The new Va’ruun ships that are featured in Shattered Space are far superior to the Crimson Fleet ships, which were very popular when Starfield was first released. You can find them for sale in both major cities featured in Shattered Space. We purchased our Va’ruun Revelation II at the Dazra spaceport. The Revelation, like the Hymn, is an agile fighter, and will serve as a great base for customization.

1 Custom Built Ship

• Introduce yourself to the Ship Builder as early as possible. You can take any ship in the game, enter Starfield‘s Ship Builder, and create a truly one-of-a-kind ship that far surpasses anything else in the game.

As mentioned earlier, when we first created this list, Starfield was brand new, and the depths of the ship building system had not yet been fully explored. Now, with the Shattered Space DLC behind us, it seems easy to say that the best ships in Starfield are the ships that you build yourself. The game is filled with star yards and Ship Services Technicians, each of which provides players with an ever-growing list of parts.

For many players, the ship building system provides not only the best ships in Starfield, it is the best part of the game, period. Once you reach the later stages of the game, and all the required skills have been mastered and unlocked, there is little doubt that the ships you’ll create will be nigh unstoppable. If you are looking for the best ship in Starfield, look no further than the staryards and technicians of the Settled Systems.

Make sure to broaden your horizons and visit those areas that may not have the best reputation. The parts for sale at the Red MIle on Porrima III and the Crimson Fleet station at Kryx will provide you with the tools you’ll need to sell and carry Contraband.