What do Electromagnetic Weapons in Starfield Do? – EM Weapons Explained

There’s a universe of dangers awaiting you in Starfield, but you can even the odds if you arm yourself. You’ll find plenty of regular guns that rely on projectiles, including the Old Earth Hunting Rifle. There are also laser guns that shoot deadly beams of light. You’ll also encounter high-tech electromagnetic weapons, and it isn’t initially obvious how they work or what their use is.

This guide will explain how electromagnetic weapons work in Starfield, and how to make the most of them.

What are electromagnetic weapons?

Electromagnetic weapons are your non-lethal solution to combat. They temporarily incapacitate your foe, and what you do next is up to your creativity. You can pickpocket them, catch your breath, flee, hide, heal up, or get up close with a low-range weapon such as a shotgun. The guns are particularly effective when used against robot enemies.

Victims will eventually recover from the stun, provided you haven’t killed them already, so you better have a plan. Some players may find EM guns worthless when there are lethal rifles available. However, for players trying to be pacifists, EM guns are some of the best weapons in the game.

You can also kit out your spaceship with EM weapons. Use them on other spaceships and they’ll be disabled. This can be used for benevolent purposes if you want to make a quick escape, or it can be used for mischief if you want to steal a spaceship without damaging it.

To improve the effectiveness of your EM weapons, invest in the Incapacitate skill in the combat category. It’ll provide the following benefits:

• Rank 1 – EM weapons do 5% more damage
• Rank 2 – EM weapons do 10% more damage
• Rank 3 – EM weapons do 15% more damage
• Rank 4 – EM weapons have a 15% chance to deal 300 EM damage

Where to find electromagnetic weapons in Starfield

There aren’t too many electromagnetic weapons to find in the game. The best is the Novablast Disruptor, which is a sleek, silver rifle. It deals 100 EM damage, allowing it to easily incapacitate anything it strikes. You can improve it further by using its five mod slots. The Brawler’s Equinox is much weaker, dealing only 2 EM damage. Don’t neglect it though, because it has a higher firing rate.

Both the Novablast Disruptor and the Brawler’s Equinox are occasionally dropped by enemies, though it’s quite rare. Alternatively, you can purchase the Novablast Disruptor from Laredo Firearms in Akila City. If you don’t see it, you may need to level up a bit. The Brawler’s Equinox can be purchased from Apex Electronics in New Atlantis. You’ll have to complete the “A Shipment for Salinas” mission before it’ll be available.

Alternatively, you can mod one of your other guns to deal EM damage. This is done by finding the necessary materials (Adhesives, Beryllium, Cobalt, Isocentered Magnets, Polymer) and hitting up a workbench.

Although there are EM weapons available, it’s not quite possible to perform a full pacifist run in Starfield. Nevertheless, if you keep one on you, you’ll be able to end conflicts without spilling blood or destroying ships.