The best weapons and guns in Starfield – and how to get them

Although there are many opportunities to negotiate your way out a potentially aggressive situation, Starfield, there are also lots of encounters where violence is the only answer, and for those you’ll need the The best weapon.

Contrary Starfield’s best ships — where you’ll need to rank up the Piloting skill before you can even use them — there are no prerequisite skills you need before you can use the The best weapon. But skills are still important. The Combat tree has many skills that can help you improve the efficiency of your weapons. Ballistics skill.

It’s worth bearing in mind that aside from the unique weapons listed here, most basic weapons can be improved by the additional of mods. You can also find pre-modded versions of basic weapons, many of which go toe to toe with the unique weapons we’ve listed here. But if you’re looking to track down a guaranteed reliable arsenal, here are the The best weaponry in Starfield.

Sir Livingstone’s Pistol

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Weapon Type: Pistol
You can get it here: Parents’ Gifts

This may appear to be an unusual choice for the first weapon on a list that includes only the very best in Starfield with perhaps the most basic pistol you’ve ever seen, but this is an excellent choice for anyone who picks the Kid Stuff traitThe game will start with a message telling you to invite your parents. After you’ve done a main mission or two — and once you’ve met your parents for the first time and told them you’re part of Constellation now — they will show up uninvited at The Lodge after Noel lets them in. You will be presented by your dad Sir Livingstone’s PistolI give it to you.

There’s nothing too special about this gun other than it being a very reliable sidearm that does a decent amount of damage while you’re still a fairly low level, mostly because it’s equipped with a compensator, large magazine, and high velocity ammo by default. It does use .45 caliber rounds, though, which aren’t the most frequent to stumble upon, so you may need to stock up at a vendor every now and then.

Magshot

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Weapon Type:Pistol
You can get it here:The Loot

By far the best basic pistol I’ve used in the game, the MagshotIt is basically a futuristic pistol that kills many enemies in one shot. This is a modern hand cannon that, instead of StarfieldMagshots are a great alternative to rifles, especially for those who don’t have many long-range guns.

Magshot is available in a special version called Trick Shot, which is acquired by looting a fallen mech during the United Colonies faction mission “War Relics. The Trickshot’s special perk there is that every fourth shot fires two bullets at once. If you can get the Trickshot, it’s definitely the best Magshot available, but any Magshot will be a worthy addition to your arsenal.

Experiment A-7

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Weapon Type: Shotgun
You can get it here: Pass a persuasion check during the main mission “Entangled”

It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Experiment A-7 shotgun is so good, it is a wonder how it’s so easy to acquire. Fairly late in the main story, you’ll play one of the most compelling missions in the entire game, “Entangled.” When you phase behind Ethan in his security office, you can ask him if he has any tools for dealing with the aliens. Pass a persuasion check and he will gift you Experiment A-7, the strongest shotgun I’ve had the pleasure of using.

It already includes six mods, such as a full automatic shotgun, reflex sight and tactical stock. This unique shotgun also features the Exterminator perk, which deals +30% damage against aliens — a no-brainer given the context you receive the weapon — but don’t let that fool you, as this shotgun is more than suitable to deal with human foes too.

Gallow’s Reach

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Weapon Type: Rifle
You can get it here: Loot from Captain Petrov’s vault on The Scow ship

There’s nothing better than a trusty AK-47. Gallow’s Reach is the unique version of the Old Earth Assault Rifle, which isn’t a bad weapon on its own, but the unique offering blows it out of the water. When you’re on The Scow during the main mission “No Sudden Moves,” you must get into Captain Petrov’s personal quarters. You can easily do this after you’ve stolen the artifact from Petrov and have shot him enough that he releases his guards. The Scow is yours to loot as you wish. Gallow’s Reach is in Captain Petrov’s room, in a locked safe.

What makes Gallow’s Reach so good is the Poison perk. It “randomly deals poison damage and slows the target,” making it the top choice when dealing with high level enemies that take more than just a couple of shots to go down. The gun also includes five additional mods such as armor-piercing ammunition, an ergonomic handle, and a retic sight.

The Last Priest

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Weapon Type: Melee
You can get it here: Complete the “Infinity’s End” side quest and carry out The Hunter’s orders

This can’t be a list of the best weapons without a melee option, so to that end, we have The Last Priest. This one isn’t available to everyone — you must side with The Hunter over The Emissary during “Unearthed,” which will give you the quest “Infinity’s End.” Without spoiling too much, The Hunter will ask you to do something. It’s either you or it isn’t. The Hunter will ask you to pass a Persuasion Check. If you don’t want to do the task, you can still do so but you need to convince him that you actually did it. The Last Priest will be your reward if you choose one of these options.

There’s not too much to say about The Last Priest other than the fact it has high damage and the Elemental perk, which does a lot of heavy lifting. Elemental “randomly deals corrosive, radiation, poison, and incendiary damage,” for a real cocktail of fun. Ideal for melee only players.

[Ed. note: Spoiler follow for Starfield.]

Eternity’s Gate

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks via Polygon

Weapon Type: The Particle Beam rifle
You can get it here: Defeat The Emissary at the end of ‘Revelation’

The best weapon is finally here. Eternity’s Gate. Again, this one requires siding with The Hunter in Unearthed, then when you eventually make it to the stand-off against The Emissary during the “Revelation” mission, you must defeat them. There is an option to end this peacefully by passing a persuasion check — which is the route I foolishly took the first time around — and doing so means you do not receive Eternity’s Gate, so bear that in mind.

Eternity’s Gate is a legendary particle beam rifle that has three perks and six mods, all of which combined make this a force to be reckoned with. Like the aforementioned Trickshot, the fourth shot of Eternity’s Gate fires two projectiles at once, it has volatile rounds that pack a bigger punch (though do have the chance to fail), and it does +10% damage against humans. It’s worth noting that siding with The Emissary and defeating The Hunter does offer a counterpart to Eternity’s Gate — a legendary laser rifle called Unmitigated Violence — but we found Eternity’s Gate to be slightly better.