What to research first in Starfield – Progression Guide

Very early on in Starfield, you’ll board your first ship and can immediately start researching things. Whoa hold on now, don’t get too excited! Here’s what to start researching first.

What does researching do in Starfield?

Beyond the skill system and the confines of your equipment, you can research specific mechanics and unlock them for your playthrough. Much of it involves more options for crafting, including new food, medicine, and gear. You’ll kick this process off on your ship through the Research Laboratory. Researching requires materials, so you can’t just go willy-nilly and unlock everything immediately.

If you’re so inclined, you can pick up the “Research Methods” skill early on after leveling up, which reduces the resources required to craft items and complete research projects by 10%.

When can you start researching things in Starfield? After the tutorial

After completing the initial mining cave tutorial, you’ll wake up, fend off some pirates, meet Barrett, and board your first ship. Inside of that very ship is where the first Research Laboratory is located. Interact with it to bring up the research menu.

A visual representation of the laboratory can be found in the image directly above.

What to research first in Starfield

So there are several options right away to research:

• Pharmacology
• Food and Drink
• Outpost Development,
• Equipment
• Weaponry

Provided that you have the materials, equipment, and weaponry are good first choices to dive into, especially at higher difficulties. Equipment advancements will allow you to craft helmet mods in the early game, while weaponry will let you build up weapon mods. Both research categories are fairly easy to find materials for early on, making them an enticing option.

Pharmacology and Food and Drink aren’t bad early shouts either, as performance enhancements and buffs are extremely useful and simple to craft. Just take Alien Boba Tea, which provides an XP boost when consumed! It’s one of the first things you can research at the laboratory through the Food and Drink category, under “Beverage Development 1.”