how does research work starfield

Starfield: How The Research Lab Works

You'll need to use the Research Lab in Starfield if you want to experiment with the game's flexible crafting systems. Here's the lowdown.

Quick Links

What does the research lab do, how to use the research lab, research progress overflow explained, how to improve research lab efficiency, unique research projects, where to find research labs.

The worlds of Starfield are extremely dangerous, and you’ll need to keep on top of your research at the Research Lab so you can upgrade your equipment and spacesuit. You never know when you might encounter the ruthless Crimson Fleet or hazardous planet surface conditions or, dare we say, have a run-in with a bloodthirsty Terrormorph.

Related: Starfield: How To Find Structural Materials

That’s why you should collect every resource and material you can find on your space-faring adventures so that you can fully utilize the Research Lab and learn new crafting schematics from outpost structures to weapon mods and everything in between.

Before you can craft an item, whether it be optics and lasers for your weapons or cooking up a meatloaf at a Cooking Station, you’ll need to unlock how to craft it in the Research Lab.

The Research Lab features five research categories:

• Pharmacology
• Food And Drink
• Outpost Development

Each category has a series of research projects. The available research projects are displayed on each Research Lab's main menu.

You must level up your skills to carry out higher-level projects. At the start of the game, you can research all level-one projects (as long as you have the resources available).

To complete a research project, you are required to deposit resources and materials into the Research Lab . Each item that is deposited will be consumed .

For example, if you wanted to learn how to cook Meatloaf, you would need to complete the Old Earth Cuisine level one project, requiring that you deposit the following items into the Research Lab:

Once you complete a project, you’ll then be able to craft each item at their corresponding crafting stations, in this case, the Meatloaf at the Cooking Station.

Advanced research projects will require more materials and deposits to unlock.

When you deposit resources into a project, you may make a “Sudden Development” in research , rewarding you with other bonus materials . Research Overflow can even complete a research project if you’re lucky.

Due to Research Overflow, It’s a good idea to deposit materials you carry a lot of since you could potentially use them to fill in materials you don’t have for the project.

Starfield wouldn’t be a Bethesda RPG without an extensive skill tree. There are a plethora of skills and certifications to unlock to improve your character's abilities and skills, and the Research Lab is no exception.

The Research Methods skill is a Novice Science skill that reduces the cost of required resources and the number of resources required to complete a research project.

The Research Methods skill has four ranks that increase the potency of the skill’s effect with each rank, but you must complete each rank’s challenge before you can purchase it with a skill point.

Not all research projects are automatically displayed in the Research Lab. Some projects are locked behind specific skills .

The Special Projects skill found under the Master Science skill tree will allow you to research experimental projects and craft rare, exotic, and unique items .

The Gastronomy skill found under the Novice Social skills tree allows you to cook and research unique food and drink recipes .

You'll want to carefully consider which character background you choose for your character since this could give you access to unique research projects quicker than usual.

Research Labs can be found all over the galaxy! In fact, you’ll never be far from a Research Lab since you'll have one aboard your ship . Furthermore, you'll find countless Research Labs in major settlements like the bustling city of New Atlantis and facilities that you find on remote planets.

The Constellation Lodge is a fantastic place to make a preliminary base since your room features a safe with infinite storage. As Walter Stroud states, the Lodge has every type of crafting station you could possibly need, including a Research Lab.

Next: Starfield: How To Make Credits Quickly

Starfield crafting and research guide: how to unlock and make new items

Advance the field of science so that you can make your guns shoot better.

The research lab

Research categories, how to research, research skills.

• Crafting guide

Crafting and research are key to your adventure in Starfield , and though they can be a little overwhelming, once you understand how it all works they're pretty simple systems. By doing research to unlock new items and mods, and then crafting them using resources collected out in space, you can gain a real edge over all the Spacers and other dangers in the game. 

To get started doing research in Starfield, the first step is to find a research lab. You'll find one of these little computer consoles in the spaceship you start with, but I find the best place to go is the Lodge in New Atlantis . You can fast travel there with ease, and there's a lovely setup for all your research and crafting needs in the basement. 

Alternatively, you might want to build yourself a little den of science at one of your outposts—check out our Starfield outpost guide for more info on that. 

Pharmacology

Learn how to make new drugs and medical supplies. Very useful if you love stacking buffs on yourself.

Food and Drink

Learn how to make meals that can restore health and provide other buffs. I've found this one the least useful, as there are usually better aid items to be found in Pharmacology—but then I do have Alien DNA which makes food less effective for me, so maybe it's just me…

Outpost Development

Learn how to make new buildings that can be placed at your outposts. Very useful if you intend to go big on building bases. Pick projects carefully depending on the kind of building you like to do—for example, some buildings are purely cosmetic, while others have specific useful functions.

Learn how to make new upgrade mods for your helmet, spacesuit, and boost pack. These are handy for increasing things like your oxygen and boost pack capabilities, but you'll find Weaponry has a bigger impact on what you can get away with in combat.

Comic deals, prizes and latest news

Sign up to get the best content of the week, and great gaming deals, as picked by the editors.

Learn how to make new upgrade mods for your guns. Easily the most important one, I've found—you'll find yourself in gunfights all the time, and mods will enable you not only to make your weapons more powerful, but also tweak them to your preferred playstyle with things like scopes and silencers.

Click through to one of these categories, and you'll discover a list of projects ready to be researched. Each covers multiple new items—Barrel Mods I under Weaponry, for example, unlocks new barrel mod options for all the different guns in the game. 

Starfield guide : Our hub of advice Starfield console commands : Every cheat you need Starfield mods : Space is your sandbox Starfield traits : The full list, with our top picks Starfield companions : All your recruitable crew Starfield romance options : Space dating

To research a project within a category, you just need to click on it and feed the relevant resources into it from your inventory. Helmet Mods 1, for example, requires three Tungsten, two Cosmetic, and three Polymer. Pay the cost, and the project is complete—you don't have to wait for it to finish or anything like that.

Sometimes you won't even have to pay the full cost. When you complete a particular resource requirement, there's a chance of receiving an "overflow" bonus, which automatically fills out some of the other resource requirements of the project for free. Using that Helmet Mods 1 example, if you handed over the three Tungsten, and got an overflow, it might give you the two Cosmetic for free. This means that even if you don't have all the resources you need to complete a project, as long as you have enough for one or two steps, it may be worth feeding them in anyway for a chance at not actually needing the bits you're missing after all. 

Past the initial set, most research projects are gated by your Starfield skills . Unfortunately, unlocking them isn't as easy as just dumping points in one science-based skill—each category of research demands a different category of skill, and progressing in them all can mean investing a lot of points, especially as you need to rank them up further to do more demanding projects.

The skills relevant to research are the following:

Chemistry (Science)

Determines what Pharmacology projects you can complete. It may take you a while to get this one—it requires eight points invested in Science skills before you can even start putting points in Chemistry. 

Gastronomy (Social)

Determines what Food & Drink projects you can complete. This is an easy one to get—it's available without any other investment in Social skills, and many backgrounds start with it already picked. It's annoying, however, that it isn't in the Science tree, because it means that points invested here aren't getting you any closer to other relevant research and crafting skills.

Outpost Engineering (Science)

Determines what Outpost Development projects you can complete. Like Chemistry, this one requires eight points in Science, so if building bases is your main focus in Starfield, my advice is to invest early and often in this skill category. 

Spacesuit Design (Science)

Determines what Equipment projects you can complete. Only four points in Science skills are needed to get to this one, so it's a good one to grab early on.

Weapon Engineering (Science)

Determines what Weaponry projects you can complete. Like Spacesuit Design, it's only four points deep in the Science tree—for the impact it'll have on combat, that makes it well worth taking. 

Research Methods (Science)

While this skill doesn't gate any of your research projects, it's still worth considering because it makes them cheaper. If you're struggling with finding enough resources for your projects, it's a good pick, but only if you're happy to rank it up to max ASAP—the early bonuses are quite small, but by rank four you're spending 60% less resources and getting overflow bonuses twice as often. 

The only other thing to note with these skills is that levelling up in Starfield isn't as simple as just assigning points—once you have your first rank in a skill, you have to complete a challenge to unlock the ability to advance to the next rank. In the case of these skills, however, that usually just means crafting a certain amount of items, so as long as you're actually making the stuff your research is unlocking, you should be able to keep up. Speaking of crafting…

Starfield crafting guide

Once you've researched some projects, it's time to turn theory into action and actually craft some of the goodies you've unlocked. Again, the perfect place to do this is the Lodge, because it has all the crafting stations ready for you in one room in the basement, and you can just fast travel there whenever you like. Some ships do have crafting stations—the starting ship has a Galley where you can make food, for example—but I'm yet to find one with the complete suite, and though you can build crafting stations at your outpost for a more home-made feel, it can (ironically) take a while to unlock them all and gather the resources needed to make them.

Speaking of outposts—though outpost buildings are made using resources, they're not actually crafted at a crafting station. You just plonk them down in build mode when you're managing your outpost. 

The crafting stations at your disposal include:

Cooking Station (or Galley)

Used to craft food and drink. One thing to be careful of at this station is that many meals use as their ingredients other items that can be eaten or drunk in their own right. An Alien Sandwich, for example, requires bread, but you can just eat bread on its own if you prefer, so make sure you're not cooking away anything you'd rather munch on raw. Or put on display at your outpost, I suppose.

Industrial Workbench

Used to turn raw resources like metals into more specific items such as wire and building frames, which can then be used for research projects, other crafting, or making outpost buildings. It can be a little confusing to know what you need from here—my advice is to only make stuff once you know exactly what you need, rather than filling your inventory with Adaptive Frames and then discovering you have no use for them.

Pharmaceutical Lab

Used to craft drugs and medical supplies, for keeping yourself in tip-top shape—or better than tip-top, if you indulge in performance-enhancers. 

Spacesuit Workbench

Used to craft and install mods for your spacesuit, helmet, and boost pack. Simply click on the relevant object, and you'll be taken to a list of different mod types that can be applied to it—from there, you can make and apply them.

Weapons Workbench

Used to craft and install mods for your guns. Just like spacesuit modding, all you need to do is click on a gun, pick a category for that gun (such as barrel, scope, or stock), and you'll be presented with the relevant options available for crafting. Keep in mind that different guns have different mod slots, and different mods that can be placed in those slots. Not every gun can have a laser sight, for example, and you can't change an Old Earth Hunting Rifle's stock.

Formerly the editor of PC Gamer magazine (and the dearly departed GamesMaster), Robin combines years of experience in games journalism with a lifelong love of PC gaming. First hypnotised by the light of the monitor as he muddled through Simon the Sorcerer on his uncle’s machine, he’s been a devotee ever since, devouring any RPG or strategy game to stumble into his path. Now he's channelling that devotion into filling this lovely website with features, news, reviews, and all of his hottest takes.

D&D's new rules will be available under a Creative Commons licence

My new favorite Elden Ring mod replaces Torrent, goats, deer, and boars with capybaras

Who can you invite to the Hades 2 hot tub?

Most Popular

• 2 Best ultrawide monitor for gaming in 2024: the expansive panels I recommend for PC gamers
• 3 Best wireless gaming keyboard in 2024
• 4 Best gaming laptops in 2024: I've had my pick of portable powerhouses and these are the best
• 5 Best gaming chairs in 2024: the seats I'd suggest for any gamer
• 2 Endgame Gear OP1 8K wired gaming mouse review
• 3 Gigabyte G6X (2024) review
• 4 Flexispot E7L adjustable standing desk review
• 5 Starforge Systems Navigator Pro review

Starfield: How the Research Lab Works

Learn to use Research Lab, Starfield's primary tool for unlocking item and equipment upgrades.

Crafting and upgrading items and equipment have been a staple of Bethesda games for years, and Starfield does not stray from this long tradition. In fact, these mechanics are so heavily engrained into Starfield 's gameplay loop, that a considerable amount of play time will likely be devoted to gathering the materials required to use them. Luckily for players, this is not a bad thing, as Starfield goes to great lengths to make the system incredibly enjoyable.

At the center of this system is the Research Lab, the first step on any path to crafting or upgrading in Starfield. Instead of simply having access to the many recipes available in the game, here the player must first research the specific area they are wanting to work in. Working in conjunction with the game's many skills, the Research Lab ensures that every project feels like it was earned.

Related: Starfield: How to Fast Travel

Where to Find Research Labs in Starfield

Research Labs are very common in the world of Starfield , and finding them will never pose a significant challenge, especially once the player knows what they are looking for. The first lab that appears in the game will be found in the basement of the Lodge, which is Constellation's home base. The player's first ship, the Frontier, will also feature a Research Lab in the crew cabin.

When players head out into the Settled Systems, they are likely to find Research Stations at many of the areas built up in any way. Civilian Outposts, Abandoned Factories, even enemy-heavy areas, will usually feature a Research Lab. The only limit on their use is during combat or conversation.

How to Use Research Labs in Starfield

Research Labs are the backbone of the crafting and upgrade system in Starfield, and they will be the first stop when players are looking to craft new items or mods. The Research Station is made up of the following five categories:

• Chems and health items
• Edible items that provide health and specific boosts
• Research upgrades for personal outposts
• Spacesuit, Pack, and Helemt Mods
• Weapon Mods

Each of the five categories will have a selection of projects that are available from the beginning of the game. For example, completing the Helmet Mods 1 project in the Equipment category will allow the player to craft all mods associated with that project at the Spacesuit Workbench.

Once a player has completed a Level 1 project, they will then start the process of accessing the next near, such as Helmet Mods 2. When players begin reaching the second tier and higher, Research Labs begin to work in conjunction with Starfield 's skill trees .

How Research and Skills Work Together in Starfield:

When the player tries to begin the Helmet Mods 2 research project, they will notice that a key requirement is the Spacesuit Design skill, from Starfield 's Science skill tree . This means that players will have to use a skill point, which are gained through experience points, to unlock that specific skill. Some higher tier projects will even require more than one skill.

This interaction between research and skill is found throughout the research project. Researching better food items will require the Gastronomy skill, and better health items will require the Chemistry skill. As a result, each new set of unlocks feels like it was truly earned, and forces the player to truly consider how each skill point should be spent.

Related: Starfield: Every Status Affliction (& How to Heal Them)

Materials and Sudden Development:

Each research project requires a certain 'recipe,' made up of various materials that the player will find in the world. Each material requirement will be clearly stated to the right of the corresponding project. When players begin to fill in these materials, there is the possibility of a 'Sudden Development' occurring. This mechanic randomly adds 'overflow' materials to the project, filling in some or all of a required material.

There are two chem items that players can use to influence both of these mechanics. Synapse Alpha lowers the material requirements of all research projects for 10 minutes. Neurajack does the same, but adds a 50% boost to the chances of a Sudden Development occurring during that same ten minutes.

Remember to store heavy materials in the Ship's cargo hold, as the Research Lab and crafting stations all draw from both personal inventory, and the cargo hold.

Starfield is available now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Long read: How TikTok's most intriguing geolocator makes a story out of a game

Where in the world is Josemonkey?

How Crafting and Research works in Starfield

Build skills.

If you’re going to head to the most distant reaches of Starfield’s universe to battle pirates, aliens, and goodness knows what else, you’re going to need some good tech. Then you’re going to want to modify that tech until it’s beautifully honed and looks good enough for NASA to hire you on the spot.

Starfield ’s extensive crafting and research systems are there to help you achieve that perfection. If you have the right Skills , access to a few crafting terminals, and a pile of resources, you’ll be able to improve your spacesuit, tune your weapons, build better outposts and even become a better cook.

How? Simply follow this guide to crafting and research in Starfield and become the craftiest astronaut this side of the milky way.

How crafting works in Starfield

How to unlock more crafting options in starfield.

To craft an item in Starfield you simply find the right Workbench, choose the item you want, and then pay the required resources to craft it.

There are five types of crafting workbench scattered across the universe. Luckily you won’t have to go hunting for them too hard, as you can find a room with all five - plus a Research Station - in a basement on New Atlantis.

To get there, head to New Atlantis and fast travel to the Lodge. Just before the doorway leading through to the library (the one with the cool spinning anti-grav rings), turn right, go through the doorway pictured above, and take the stairs down. There you will find the following…

• Spacesuit Workbench - Craft and apply mods to your spacesuits, helmets and packs.
• Weapon Workbench - Upgrade weapons by crafting and applying mods to barrel, laser, optic, muzzle, grip and stock, magazine and battery, internal, and skin slots.
• Cooking Station - Make food and drinks for your journey.
• Pharmaceutical Lab - Craft chems and aid items to fix Afflictions and give you buffs in the field.
• Industrial Workbench - Craft basic manufactured components for use in Outpost construction. To craft more advanced components you need to set up Resource Extractors at Outposts you have already built.

The crafting process is the same across all of these benches. When you highlight a crafting choice, a display on the right will list all of the components you need. If you have all of the components, you can craft the item right away.

If you don’t have all of the components, press the Track button to help you find them. Once components are tracked a blue magnifying glass icon will appear next to these materials in the field.

In the beginning you might not be able to craft anything particularly advanced. To open up Starfield’s crafting options you need to advance the right Skills to unlock new research projects and then complete those research projects at Research Labs . Once the new mods are researched, they will be available to craft at Workbenches.

You will find all of the Skills you need in the Science Skill Tree .

• Research Methods doesn’t unlock any new mods to research, but it does reduce the cost of research projects.
• Spacesuit Design lets you research more spacesuit, helmet and pack mods.
• Weapon Engineering unlocks new weapon mod research options.
• Chemistry unlocks new Chem research options.
• Outpost Engineering Lets you research new Outpost modules at the Research Lab.

Now it’s time to research those new crafting options ! You complete research projects at Research Lab terminals. Remember that some Aid items can help you to research more efficiently, so be sure to apply them to your character before you get started.

Once you have selected a research project you can contribute resources towards its completion bit by bit until all of the requirements are fulfilled. You can add resources to that project at any Research Lab you find, including the one on board your ship.

Every so often, Sudden Developments can occur. That may sound slightly alarming, but it’s a good thing. Sudden Developments reduce the amount of resources required for a project.

There are five Research categories to match the five types of Workbench you can find:

• Equipment lets you research new spacesuit, helmet and pack options.
• Weaponry includes new weapon mod research projects.
• Pharmacology covers new medical treatments and performance-enhancing chems.
• Food and Drink gives you more meal options.
• Outpost Development lets you research new Outpost modules.

Completing a research project can unlock further research options. Head to the Research Projects screen and look at the Research Tree to plan a route to the technology you really want.

That might sound like a lot of steps at first, but in practice it’s easy to do a quick lap of the terminals at the Lodge on New Atlantis, research a useful chem, craft a nice barrel for your space pistol, and then jet away to take on your next mission. We’re enjoying how many slots there are to tinker with on the game’s suits and weapons. What are your favourite mods?

Read this next

• Starfield's May patch adds 60fps target for Series X, land vehicles footage teased
• Starfield's Shattered Space expansion out in autumn, "city map stuff" due soon
• Bethesda remembers Starfield exists, promises more "soon"

Today's Strands hints and answers for Friday 10th May

Today's Wordle hint and answer on Friday 10th May for 1056

Today’s Connections hint and answer on 10th May for 334

How to beat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void in Elden Ring

GTA Online Weekly Update, May 9th 2024

GTA Online Podium Vehicle for this week, including how to use the Lucky Wheel

GTA Online Gun Van locations

How to beat Gael Tunnel Magma Wyrm in Elden Ring

Starfield crafting and research explained

From weapon mods to building and more - how researching and crafting stuff in Starfield works

With Starfield crafting and research, you can make lots of useful items and upgrades, from medicine and food to outpost equipment and space suit upgrades. Obviously, crafting requires lots of resources from the various planets and moons you visit on your space travels in Starfield , but crafting the best stuff also needs you to complete research projects and have some specific Science Skills unlocked.

Essentially, you need to provide materials at a research lab to complete these projects which unlock more crafting recipes and sometimes more projects. With enough research under your belt, you can build entire outposts, cook up gourmet meals, and equip a fully-kitted armory of weapons. The only thing the system doesn't cover is ship building, which is a purely vendor-lead process. I've been building things for hours, so let me explain everything I've learned about Starfield crafting and research.

Recent updates

The crafting and research systems in Starfield are quite complicated but this guide has up-to-date information on the systems as of November 14 when it was last updated.

How Starfield research projects work

Starfield research covers five categories each filled with lots of projects that govern items and mods you can unlock for crafting:

• Pharmacology: Unlocks chems, healing, and other aid items.
• Food and Drink: Unlocks more edible aid items.
• Outpost Development: Unlocks new and upgraded outpost components, such as fabricators, storage, and decorations.
• Equipment: Unlocks new Helmet, Spacesuit, and Pack mods.
• Weaponry: Unlocks new weapon mods.

Starfield backgrounds Starfield traits Starfield romances and relationships Where to find your Starfield parents Starfield First Contact

Each category features many individual research projects which, when completed, unlock new items for crafting. You'll complete a research project once you've deposited all the required items at a research lab. When adding materials to a research project, you don't need to add them all in one go either. You can add resources as and when you find them until you complete the project.

Once you've unlocked new items for crafting, you then need to visit the workbench relevant to the item's category. I've explained crafting in detail further down, but you can go to a pharmaceutical lab for any pharmacology projects, for example.

Everyone can research and craft a few basics, but some research projects also require that you upgrade certain Starfield skills to access higher level items - for example, unlocking and boosting the Chemistry skill is essential for advanced Pharmacology research projects.

You can also rank up the Research Methods skill to reduce the material requirements for projects, and at the highest rank it increases the likelihood of sudden developments, which give you extra project materials for free. Also note that lots of projects are locked behind other research projects, so completing one can unlock even more research too.

How Starfield crafting works 

Starfield crafting lets you build mods to improve your gear and create rare items that are otherwise difficult to find as you explore the Settled Systems. For example, you can craft rare, Starfield affliction -curing healing items, upgraded industrial extractors for Starfield outposts , or even new gun barrels or optics that will affect a weapon's accuracy, weight, and more.

Just like the material requirements for Research projects, crafting items is also all funded by the resources you can pick up as you explore. You can spend what you collect at a relevant crafting workbench to create what you want, so long as you've completed the relevant research project for it too:

• Cooking Stations: Cook food and drink aid items.
• Industrial Workbenches: Construct industrial parts and outpost equipment.
• Pharmaceutical labs: Craft chems, healing, and aid items.
• Spacesuit workbenches: Apply mods that boost stats and add perks to your space gear.
• Weapon workbenches: Install mods and attachments on your Starfield weapons to change and improve how they perform.
• Research labs: Supply materials to complete research projects that unlock more crafting recipes for all of the above workbench types.

You can find all of the above workbenches in the basement of the Lodge in New Atlantis, but you can find them elsewhere and can add them to your ships with the right modules.

To make research and crafting a little easier you can also track a recipe for a projects and craftable items which will then mark all the ingredients you need with a little magnifying glass when you find them out in the world. It's not a perfect system because it will mark all the ingredients involved, not just the ones you need. So if you have a few recipes tracked you will probably end up collecting far too much and hitting the Starfield encumbrance limit but it's better than nothing.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, Starfield ship customization is not involved with crafting as you can only improve your ship by buying parts from vendors. Although, like crafting, you will need to level up specific skills to access higher level options.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content . I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website. 

• Will Sawyer Guides Writer

I finally started playing as Baldur's Gate 3's most popular Origin character and I was not disappointed

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf reportedly set to release before April 2025, but you'll see the RPG's gameplay this summer

The 32 greatest movie sequels

Most Popular

• 2 Hades 2 review: "The roguelike DNA at the heart of this sequel remains as tight and cutthroat as its predecessor"
• 3 Sand Land review: "Feels inferior to what Akira Toriyama constructed years ago"
• 4 Stellar Blade review: "A good action-RPG that I enjoyed a lot despite several issues"
• 5 Manor Lords review: "Brimming with the potential to exceed its already broad horizons"
• 2 Tarot review: "A predictable and tame take on Final Destination"
• 3 Unfrosted review: "Jerry Seinfeld’s Netflix movie is a deliciously silly, spoofy tale"
• 4 The Idea of You review: "Anne Hathaway works overtime to give this rom-com even the appearance of substance"
• 5 The Fall Guy review: "A snappy, sharp, sexy screwball action romance"
• 2 Doctor Who episodes 1 & 2 review: Space Babies may divide the fans, but Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson make for an immediately winning new TARDIS team
• 3 Tales of the Empire review: "Mature, beautifully animated shorts that are worthy additions to the Star Wars canon"
• 4 X-Men '97 episode 8 review: "It's the beginning of the end for our beloved X-Men"
• 5 Dead Boy Detectives review: "Delightfully dark, deeply moving, and the perfect companion to The Sandman"

DualShockers

Starfield: research explained.

Your changes have been saved

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Starfield allows you to do research in order to increase the effectiveness of your items. Here's a guide on how to do this research.

Quick Links

What is research, where to find research stations, how do you research, what are experimental projects.

Research projects are pretty important within the world of Starfield . These projects will allow you to increase the number of Mods you can have on your spacesuits, weapons, and boost packs. They will also allow you to increase the effectiveness of items.

RELATED: Starfield: How To Recruit Crew Members Since research is an important part of the game, it is important to understand how it works. It isn't very easy to figure out how to do research from the beginning. Here is a guide to help you figure out research projects and the best ways to do them.

Updated by Erin Rice on September 20, 2023: This update includes details on Research and experimental research. It also adds some places to find Research Stations and the best projects to do.

Research will allow you to increase the usefulness of your items. You will have five main categories of research: Pharmacology, Food and Drink, Outpost Development, Equipment, and Weaponry. Pharmacology will focus on increasing the effectiveness of your aid items and allow you to learn to make certain items that can cure Status Effects and heal heath. Food and Drink will allow you to research different foods and drinks, so you can create more of them and increase their effectiveness. Outpost Development allows you to work on developing the many Outposts you will have in the universe. The Equipment research allows you to work on getting new Mods for equipment. Finally, the Weaponry section allows you to customize your weapons and add more Mods to them. While every single category is important, make sure you strategize which category you want to invest in first. If you find yourself using a lot of aid items, you may want to look into Pharmacology. If you want to do more damage, consider Weaponry.

RELATED: Starfield: How To Fix Sprain Status Effect

Research can be done at any Research Lab in the game. These labs can be found in your ship, around certain faction headquarters, in major cities, and in labs. You can also purchase apartments and build some Research Labs there. Once you find one, all you need to do is approach it and begin working. While they aren't as common as Weapon Workbenches or Spacesuit Workbenches, you should be able to find them fairly easily.

In order to research things, you will need to select a category and then which project you want to research. You will see that each project requires certain resources in order to complete them. Once you add the resources, the project will be finished. You can increase your research level, allowing you to do more projects. This can be done by slowly doing research or by picking a Background that is proficient in research (like the Professor). If you have a specific Research Project you would like to do, you can track it. This will keep a running tab of the items you need and how many you currently have. This is the perfect way to ensure that you are able to finish any project you need. There are several Research Projects that you should check out first. Medical Treatment, Old Earth Cuisine, Manufacture, Spacesuit Mods, Weapon Mods, and Helmet Mods are all great projects to invest in, especially starting out.

Experimental Projects are unlocked once you unlock higher Skill tiers. This experiments are another round of research projects. For example, you usually have four different rounds of research for each research project. However, when you unlock Experimental Projects, you are able to research these projects even further, creating even more powerful items to use.

NEXT: Starfield: How To Increase Ship Cargo Capacity

How to craft and research in Starfield

Written by 

Tarran Stockton

Published 

9th Sep 2023 16:56

It's vital for players to understand how the crafting and research process works in Starfield, as it unlocks lots of new possibilities for progression with weapon mods, gear upgrades, and more. 

As a role-playing game in a multitude of ways, you can expect all the typical ways to progress, ranging from levelling up and gaining the different skills in Starfield , to finding or crafting new gear to equip and improve your stats.

To maximise the usefulness of your gear with upgrades and mods, keep reading for a full breakdown of how crafting and research work in the Bethesda RPG. 

Crafting & research explained

Crafting and research are two sides of the same system in Starfield, with the former defining what you build, and the latter defining what you can build . 

In the game, you can craft weapon mods, space suit upgrades, medicine, food, and outpost structures. 

Some of these things can be crafted from the start of the game, but for other stuff, you will need to begin researching them at a Research Station to unlock the crafting recipes. There are five areas of research in Starfield:

• Food and Drink
• Outpost Development
• Pharmacology

For example, you can research the Helmet Mods One project in the Equipment category, which then unlocks new helmet mods that can be crafted at a Spacesuit Upgrade bench.

How to research

 To begin researching new projects, you will need to ensure you have the corresponding skill . Each category has a relevant skill that unlocks higher-tier projects. These are:

• Chemistry (Pharmacology)
• Astronomy (Food and Drink)
• Outpost Engineering (Outpost Development)
• Spacesuit Design (Equipment)
• Weapon Engineering (Weaponry)

To complete a research project, you will need to select it from a Research Station , and then input the listed ingredients . If all the ingredients are entered, the research project will then finish, and the new crafting recipes that you can use will then be available at the relevant station. 

How to craft in Starfield

Crafting in Starfield requires you to use the relevant station , so if you want to make a weapon mod, interact with a Weapon Workbench. 

Staying with the same example of a weapon, select the gun you want to modify and then choose a component such as the barrel. You can then pick a specific mod to install and see the required ingredients for the crafting recipe on the right side of the screen.

Crafting works essentially the same for everything else: Medicine or stims are made at a Pharmaceutical Lab, food is crafted at a Cooking Station, and spacesuit upgrades can be done at a Spacesuit Upgrade bench.

The only thing you can craft that doesn't require you to visit a specific station is outpost modules, as these are crafted when you enter the outpost menu when exploring a planet. 

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Get exclusive news, content, and discounts sent directly to your inbox

You've joined our newsletter. Thank you!

Sorry, there has been an issue in subscribing to the newsletter..

Now that you know how to craft and research, for more Starfield guides, stick with GGRecon. Alternatively, take a look at the best mods , how to pick up and throw items , earn credits fast , or how to recruit crew .

Established in 2019, we don’t just cover games - we live them. Our expert team is full of dedicated gamers, qualified journalists, and industry insiders who collectively boast decades of experience covering gaming and esports. This deep-rooted expertise allows us to provide authoritative and nuanced perspectives first-hand from a team who are playing, and researching every game covered on our website. 

Our foundation is built on a profound commitment to editorial independence, ensuring our content remains free from external influence and advertising pressures and is held to the highest level of editorial conduct, integrity, and quality. 

Every article on GGRecon comes from rigorous research, informed analysis, and a passion for gaming that resonates with our readers. We uphold these standards through a transparent editorial policy, accessible here , which governs our processes and maintains our accountability.

Starfield research laboratory explained – categories, projects, and how to unblock

Posted in Guides

Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

The Starfield research laboratory is somewhere you’ll be coming back to again and again during your playthrough. It’s the place to go to get yourself the newest tech, so as you progress through the game, you’ll want to make sure you’re paying the odd visit to stay ahead of the curve and rocking the latest gear.

Before heading off to explore any nearby Starfield planets , you should grab a few of your best Starfield weapons to put your laboratory research to good use. We also have plenty of useful advice for the early hours of the game in our Starfield tips and tricks beginner’s guide.

What is the Starfield research laboratory?

The Starfield research laboratory is a station where you can research new recipes, technology, and mods for weapons, spacesuits/helmets/packs, aid items, food and drink, and outposts.  At a research laboratory, you’ll find research projects that you can begin and complete over time by providing the required resources and items.

Once a research project is complete, you’ll be able to install the researched mods at a weapon, spacesuit, or industrial workbench, cook the researched recipe at a cooking station, or craft the researched aid items at a pharmaceutical lab, depending, of course, on the type of research.

You can have a research laboratory on your ship or at your outposts, giving you easy access whenever you need to start or complete a project. Additionally, there’s a research laboratory in the basement of The Lodge in New Atlantis and you’ll find more scattered across the Settled Systems in cities, inside buildings on planets, in space stations, and so on.

What Starfield research projects are there?

There are five categories of research projects that you can undertake at a research laboratory :

Pharmacology

Food and drink, outpost development.

Pharmacology research projects let you develop new aid items to heal your character or provide temporary buffs to stamina, oxygen, defence, persuasion, XP, and so on. Here’s what you can research under pharmacology at a research station:

• Performance Enhancement 1
• Performance Enhancement 2
• Medical Treatment 1
• Medical Treatment 2

Food and Drink research projects unlock new food and drink recipes that grant various temporary and health effects. Here’s what you can research under food and drink at a research station:

• Old Earth Cuisine 1
• Old Earth Cuisine 2
• Old Earth Cuisine 3
• Beverage Development 1
• Beverage Development 2
• Beverage Development 3

Outpost Development research projects are used to unlock new items and equipment for your outposts, letting you expand and increase the number of things you can do there. Here’s what you can research under outpost development at a research station:

• Manufacturing 1
• Manufacturing 2
• Resource Extraction 1
• Resource Extraction 2
• Decoration 1
• Decoration 2
• Horticulture 1
• Domestication 1
• Power Generation 1
• Outpost Defense 1

Equipment research projects unlock new mods for spacesuits , helmets, and boost packs . Here’s what you can research under equipment at a research station:

• Helmet Mods 1
• Helmet Mods 2
• Helmet Mods 3
• Spacesuit Mods 1
• Spacesuit Mods 2
• Spacesuit Mods 3
• Pack Mods 1
• Pack Mods 2
• Pack Mods 3

Weaponry research projects involve developing new weapon mods and attachments. Here’s what you can research under weaponry at a research station:

• Barrel Mods 1
• Barrel Mods 2
• Grip and Stock Mods 1
• Grip and Stock Mods 2
• Grip and Stock Mods 3
• Optic and Laser Mods 1
• Optic and Laser Mods 2
• Optic and Laser Mods 3
• Muzzle Mods 1
• Muzzle Mods 2
• Magazine and Battery Mods 1
• Internal Mods 1
• Receiver Mods 1

How to unlock blocked research projects

Fire up a research laboratory and you’ll likely see a few projects marked as blocked. To unlock a blocked project, you need to have unlocked the required skill or ranked up the skill sufficiently. Hovering over the project shows you what skill is needed under ‘Required Skills.’ For example, if you want to unlock the Old Earth Cuisine 3 research project, you need to have the Gastronomy 2 skill at Rank 2 or above.

If you want to know more about Starfield outposts , we have a guide for that. For more help on your interstellar travels, check out the Jemison Mercantile location , our Sabotage , Absolute Power , and Delivering Devils walkthroughs, a list of Starfield Akila shops and locations and Neon shops and locations , the best Starfield reactor , and the best choice for the First Contact side quest.

Starfield:Research Laboratory

The Research Laboratory provides a mechanism to expend materials to acquire new crafting recipes for consumables, outpost components, and equipment upgrades.

Most projects require completion of previous projects in the research tree before they can be started. Some projects also require the player to possess certain Skills . There is no limit to the number of in-progress projects, either within or across categories.

• 1.1 Sudden Developments
• 2 Pharmacology
• 3 Food and Drink
• 4 Outpost Development
• 5 Equipment

Mechanics & Game play [ edit ]

Interacting with a Research Lab opens the main Research menu, which displays the projects currently in progress for each category. Selecting one of the categories will open the projects list for that category, which displays all currently-visible projects. The current status of each project can be quickly assessed by the colored bar to the left of each entry:

• Solid green bar - project completed. There will also be a large "Completed" label to the right of the entry.
• Checkered green bar - project is in progress.
• Checkered yellow bar - project is in progress, and the player has materials in their inventory that can be contributed to the project.
• No bar - project is blocked or not started.

All level 1 projects for each category are visible by default, and have no skill requirements or prerequisites. Higher-level projects become visible as lower-level projects in the tree are finished, even if the player does not possess the skill needed to start the next project. For instance, the Performance Enhancement 2 project requires the Chemistry Rank 1 skill, and becomes visible after the player completes the Performance Enhancement 1 project even if the player does not possess Chemistry Rank 1. In these cases, the project is marked as Blocked in the Research Projects list, but the Required Skills, Required Materials, Research Tree, and Description for that project are still viewable. This allows players to plan their skill development and search for ingredients to craft items of interest.

Research projects are progressed by adding materials to the project. The numbers of required materials, and the amount of each material already added, are listed in the Research Materials window. The number of available materials in the player's inventory is also listed where applicable. When a player uses a Research Lab inside of or within range of their Home Ship, the inventory of the Home Ship is also considered.

Similar to the materials tracking system in Fallout 4, the materials required for each project can be tracked using the Track Project button. This will add magnifying glass icons to each material in the project's list, allowing the player to identify tracked items when they are encountered in the world.

Sudden Developments [ edit ]

When adding a material to a project, there is a small chance of triggering a Sudden Development, which adds a random number of missing materials to the project. These "Overflow" materials allow the research to progress faster, even for projects which require rare or difficult-to-find materials. The chance of triggering a Sudden Development can be increased by acquiring ranks in the Research Methods skill, by taking certain chems, and by wearing certain apparel. The chance of triggering a Sudden Development also seems to increase when adding many items to the project at once, e.g., adding 10 Titanium has a higher chance of triggering a Sudden Development than adding 3 Titanium (verification needed).

Pharmacology [ edit ]

Pharmacology projects provide new recipes for synthesizing enhanced drugs, medicines, and other medically-related consumables. It has at least 12 projects.

Food and Drink [ edit ]

Food and Drink projects provide new recipes for crafting foods and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. It has at least 16 projects.

Outpost Development [ edit ]

Outpost Development projects provide new recipes for crafting resource fabricators and extractors, furniture and decorations, power systems, flora and fauna management, outpost defenses, and other outpost-related items. It has at least 20 projects.

Equipment [ edit ]

Equipment projects provide new recipes for enhancements (mods) to Equipment, including Helmets, Spacesuits, and Packs. It has at least 9 projects.

Weaponry [ edit ]

Weaponry projects provide new recipes for enhancements (mods) to Weapons. It has at least 19 projects.

Navigation menu

Personal tools.

• Not logged in
• Contributions
• Create account

thisisignored

• Recent changes
• Random page
• All Content
• Community Portal
• Deltia's Gaming
• What links here
• Related changes
• Special pages
• Printable version
• Permanent link
• Page information
• Cite this page
• This page was last edited on 17 October 2023, at 12:47.
• Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike unless otherwise noted.
• Privacy Policy
• About Starfield Wiki
• Disclaimers
• Mobile view

• Dragon's Dogma 2
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Helldivers 2
• Stardew Valley
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

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,

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.”

Starfield Research Guide

The Research Laboratory in Starfield is how you will unlock blueprints, recipes, and other types of upgrades for your weapons , armor , outposts , consumables and more!

Our Starfield Research Guide will provide you with an overview of all the different areas of research you can manage projects in, what projects should be your priority, and how to unlock them.

What Research Categories are there in Starfield?

Research will be a necessity before you can craft additional, improved items. You will run these projects by interacting with the research module in your laboratory. And you can have a laboratory on your starhips and outposts so access is never too far away.

There are five main areas of research, which can have simultaneous projects being worked on at once. These are:

• Pharmacology
• Food and Drink
• Outpost Development

From the Research UI, you’ll be able to see the list of these five main categories. Additionally, it will list the number of available projects for each and what research projects are currently in progress.

While this is just speculation, it’s possible that while exploring in game you could collect not just crafting materials but also research projects! This could allow you to reverse-engineer some found alien tech you discover as part of the main story . Additionally, you could ‘borrow’ the design specifications of some new weapons mod from an intergalactic corporation you infiltrated for a quest .

Pharmacology Research

Pharmacology Research is based entirely around improving your character’s health and stamina. Additionally, certain projects will also help you discover new, more potent medical treatments.

Research projects such a ‘Performance Enhancement’ may hint at a different type of consumable – pharmaceuticals, or drugs. Drugs, both medical and recreational, will play a part in the Starfield story. Even companies such a Xenofresh Corporation , which founded the city of Neon , produce and distribute a psychotropic drug called Aurora.

Pharmaceuticals made in your lab will likely be of a more ‘performance enhancing’ type, improving your strength, speed, defense, or even carry capacity.

Food and Drink Research

Food and Drink Research is much more straightforward. Starfield will offer a variety of different recipes for meals and beverages, such as orange juice, steak, pitas, and even basic toast. These consumables are predominantly used for restoring health. The larger or more complicated the recipe, the more health eating or drinking it will restore.

You can boost your productivity in Food and Drink Research by selecting the Chef background during character creation . The Gastronomy skill you receive with this background gives you access to brand new ingredients. Additionally, you can also craft specialty food and drinks and research additional recipes at a Research Lab.

Equipment Research

Equipment Research is where you will run projects to upgrade and improve your armor . This will include spacesuits, helmets, and packs.

Spacesuit and helmet mods will likely improve the base defensive stats of a particular suit. However, you’ll find many suits are made for certain types of environments or protect better against certain types of damage. Consequently, spacesuit mods may diversify in the same way – boosting thermal protection for better hot environment protection.

Packs is short hand for the jet-packs or booster-packs your characters will wear on his or her back. Mods for these will likely improve boost power, letting rise higher into the atmosphere. Other mods might improve duration, restricting height, but letting you stay airborne for longer.

Choosing the right armor sets and complementary mods will be an important part of your character’s build .

Weaponry Research

Weaponry Research is obviously all about improving the efficiency and power of the weapons you wield. Although Starfield does have some melee weapons players can use in combat, the vast majority of combat will be driven by firearms. Therefore, most if not all of the weapon mods in the game are specifically for use with guns.

There are at least six different types of weapon mods:

• Receiver:  This mod changes the firing mechanism of your weapon, affecting its accuracy, range, and damage.
• Internal:  This mod changes the internal components of your weapon, affecting its fire rate, recoil, and weight.
• Optic:  This mod changes the scope or sight of your weapon, improving your accuracy and range.
• Magazine and Battery:  This mod changes the magazine or battery of your weapon, increasing its ammo capacity or firing rate.
• Muzzle:  This mod changes the muzzle of your weapon, adding a suppressor, compensator, or other attachment.
• Stock : while not shown directly, various weapons have included this as a mod which will likely help with recoil

Much like armor , choosing the right weapon and the mods to go with it will be a crucial part of your build . Different enemies will have different weaknesses, and you’ll want to be prepared for any type of encounter.

Outpost Development Research

Outpost Development Research is focused on projects which will improve your outpost’s efficiency and production.

The outposts in Starfield are clearly meant to serve larger functions than just your basic housing with decorations. Outposts will serve as safe bases and landing sites, along with providing additional resource production. There, your character, along with companions and crew can rest, repair and refuel before traveling out into space again.

Research projects for Outpost Development will likely increase resource production, lower power consumption, and unlock new structure modules for you to use in construction.

Looking for more about Starfield?

• Comprehensive Starfield Guides
• The Best Starfield Builds
• Starfield Ship Builder & Character Builder
• More Starfield…

Starfield launches exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6, 2023 . You can play it day one with Xbox Game Pass .

Thank you for reading our Starfield Research Guide! We’ll do more deep dives into Starfield and cover the game . Additionally, you can also watch Deltia streaming the game on Twitch .

You may also like:

Starfield: Best Cyberneticist Build

Starfield: Best Cyber Runner Build

Starfield: The Best 5 Builds You Should Use

Start typing and press enter to search.

• World of Warcraft
• Baldur's Gate
• League of Legends
• Counter-Strike
• Ethics Policy
• Ownership Policy
• Fact Checking Policy
• Corrections Policy
• Affiliate Policy

How to use the Research Station in Starfield

As you traverse each planet in Starfield , you’ll need to put all the resources you find to good use. This is where things like the Research Station can be useful. But if you’re new to using a Research Station and Starfield in general, it can take some time to get used to. There are countless elements to Starfield , and even after several playthroughs, you’ll likely find new things.

You’ll be able to use research tables from the get-go. These handy stations can help you research equipment and items that will help you produce things that otherwise would’ve cost a fortune to purchase.

Where to find a Research Station in Starfield

As you progress through the game, you’ll likely run into several Research Stations in a variety of locations. Once you’ve acquired your own home, you’ll be able to create your personal Research Station inside. 

This means you can use it whenever you so desire, as long as you can be bothered transporting yourself back and forth to wherever it is.

Fortunately, in the Frontier ship, you’ll be able to access a Research Station quickly. This is the ship you receive in the initial missions of your playthrough.

How to use a Research Station in Starfield

To use a Research Station, simply walk up to it and press your interaction key. By default on Xbox, it’s “A”. 

There are five separate categories that you can sift through depending on what resource you possess. Once you’ve begun Starfield , you won’t have many resources in your inventory, but as you progress, you’ll find you can research a ton of items.

You’ll be able to research items in these categories:

• Food and Drink
• Outpost Development
• Pharmacology

You won’t be able to research everything depending on your level. So if you’re trying to research an item to no avail, it’s likely because you aren’t ready yet, or you don’t have all the equipment necessary.

As soon as you’ve researched an item, the next step will be ready. This means if you have the items available already, you’ll be able to crack on. 

Research Methods

• Edit source
• View history

Progression and Strategy [ ]

Leveling Research can be a bit tricky, as finding all the materials needed to craft and research may be time consuming. This can be avoided if the player is willing to spend credits to acquire the crafting materials.

Research has a hard cap in how useful it is, because there is only so many things to craft and research in the game. Next, Research would have to be secondary to skills that actually give the player recipes to craft. In the late game, where the player typically has a healthy reserve of credits, the player may prefer simply buy items rather than craft them. Even if they decide to craft, some well-built mining outposts will mean the player will have tons of crafting materials, and the lower costs may not be that impactful. On the flip side, some of the later research projects and crafting recipes use some materials that may be expensive or difficult to find. Needing less of these challenging goods is useful. All things considered, the player will (usually) have better choices unless they are a very crafting-centric player.

References [ ]

• ↑ Bethesda Softworks
• 1 Starfield
• 2 House Va'ruun

• Patch Notes
• Hardware and Tech
• PC Invasion Staff

All workbench and research lab locations in Starfield

In Starfield, you can upgrade your weapons and armor, research new designs, and create necessary materials at workbenches and research labs. However, finding these places can be challenging. In this guide, I’ll help you easily find workbench and research lab locations in Starfield.

Best way to find workbenches and research labs in Starfield

The easiest way to find every workbench and research lab in Starfield is to go to the Lodge basement . In the basement of the Lodge, you’ll find every workbench and research lab in Starfield all in one place which makes getting work done a lot easier. Not only that, but in the same area is a storage container with infinite space , which is where I keep all my resources. That way, when I need resources at a workbench or research lab, I can grab them on the fly.

The second easiest way to access workbenches and research labs in Starfield is to go to ship builder and change your hab area . Every ship needs at least one hab (habitat module), and you can change these areas to include workbenches and research labs.

Related: How to use the ship builder in Starfield

To do so, go to a ship technician in any major town and enter ship builder. Now, click the hab module on your ship, press edit, and then cycle through the variants . You’ll see the name of the hab on the top left of your screen in the light blue section just below the reactor letter and power bar.

Screenshot: PC Invasion

The two habs I recommend having on your ship are Workshop Hab and Science Hab . These two habs feature every workbench and research station in Starfield, so you can do all your research and upgrades (like adding a suppressor to your weapon ) from your ship. Here is what every hab gets you in Starfield :

• All-in-One Hab  – Navigation Console, Bed, Gallery, Passenger Seats
• Captain’s Quarters  – Bed, Gallery, Storage Crate
• Workshop Hab  – Weapon Workbench, Spacesuit Workbench, Industrial Workbench
• Science Hab  – Pharmaceutical Lab, Research Lab, Gallery
• Infirmary Hab  – Pharmaceutical Lab, Research Lab
• Armory Hab  – Weapon Storage and Display

Where to find workbenches and research labs in Starfield

If you don’t want to install those habs onto your ship (or don’t have the credits or room to do it just yet), then you can find all workbenches and research labs out on different planets . The best place to find an Industrial Workbench is in the ship technician office on Akila City. You can likely find more Industrial Workbenches in other cities. Just look for construction areas.

You can find a Weapon Workbench in any weapon shop in any major town. Although they are more rare, Spacesuit Workbenches can be found in clothing and armor shops in any major town. Pharmaceutical Labs and Research Labs can generally be found in the medical centers in every city.

Though cities can be hard to navigate, once you know your way around, you can easily find the location of workbenches and research labs. If you need help finding all the major cities in Starfield , check out our guide.

Starfield  is available on  Steam  and the  Microsoft Store .

Starfield Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

• Main Quests
• Side Quests
• Beginner's Guide
• New Game Plus
• Science Skills

Research Methods Skill Rank Up Guide

☆ Game8's Fallout 4 Wiki ☆ ★ Best Guides: Best Weapons | Best Skills ☆ All Ship Parts and Ship Part Level Unlocks ★ Advanced Outpost Guide ☆ Maps: New Atlantis | Cydonia | Akila City | Neon ★ Ship Designs : Rocinante | TARDIS | Millennium Falcon

Research Methods is a Novice Science skill that reduces the required crafting resources and speeds up the completion of research projects in Starfield. Read on to learn the effects of the Research Methods skill, how to unlock and rank up the Research Methods skill, and the backgrounds that know it.

List of Contents

• How to Unlock and Overview
• How to Rank Up
• Related Guides

Research Methods How to Unlock and Overview

Research methods skill overview, how to unlock research methods, spend a skill point to unlock skill.

As Research Methods is a Novice skill, it can be learned without having to spend skill points on other skills in the Science skill tree. You just need to spend a skill point on Research Methods to learn it.

Backgrounds with the Research Methods Skill

The Research Methods skill is automatically learned by the following backgrounds:

List of All Backgrounds

How to Rank Up Research Methods Skill

All rank challenges and effects, craft different items to complete the challenge.

This does not refer to any rarity of items such as Unique Weapons or Unique Armors , or the unique components you can craft in the Industrial Workbench .

Where to Craft Different Items

Starfield related guides.

• List of All Skills

Skills Guide

All skill trees, list of science skills.

We at Game8 thank you for your support.

In order for us to make the best articles possible, share your corrections, opinions, and thoughts about 「Research Methods Skill Rank Up Guide | Starfield」 with us!

When reporting a problem, please be as specific as possible in providing details such as what conditions the problem occurred under and what kind of effects it had.

Do you want to send this information?

Walkthrough Menu

• Starfield Wiki Top
• List of All Main Quests
• One Small Step
• The Old Neighborhood
• The Empty Nest
• Back to Vectera
• Into the Unknown
• All That Money Can Buy
• Further Into the Unknown
• Short Sighted
• No Sudden Moves
• High Price to Pay
• In Their Footsteps
• Final Glimpses
• Missed Beyond Measure
• One Giant Leap
• Among the Stars
• Foreknowledge

Joinable Factions

• List of All Factions
• Constellation
• Crimson Fleet
• UC Vanguard
• Freestar Collective
• Ryujin industries
• Best Faction to Join
• House Va'ruun
• Sanctum Universum
• Enlightened
• List of All Side Quests

All Side Quests

• In Memoriam
• Divided Loyalties
• A Tree Grows in New Atlantis
• Left Behind
• Alternating Currents
• Beautiful Secrets
• Tapping the Grid
• Out on a Limb
• Distilling Confidence
• Missed the Mark
• Missed Connections
• First Contact
• A Break at Dawn
• Search and Seizure
• Defensive Measures
• Groundpounder
• False Positives
• Red Tape Blues
• Red Tape Runaround
• Red Tape Reclamation
• Juno's Gambit
• Failure to Communicate
• Overdesigned
• Saburo's Solution
• Tourists Go Home
• Lost and Found
• Operation Starseed
• Secret Lives
• Power From Beyond
• Charity of the Wolf
• The Audition
• Media Sponge
• Fishy Business
• Last Will and Testament
• Managing Assets
• Supply Line
• Breach of Contract
• Heart of Mars
• Late Bloomer
• Display of Power
• Two Tales Two Cities
• Mob Mentality
• The Showdown
• Special Sauce
• Burden of Proof
• Rough Landings
• Space Frog From Outer Space
• Special Delivery
• Due in Full
• Taste of Home
• Pirate Activity
• Preventive Action
• Primary Sources
• Apex Predator
• A Light in the Darkness
• All For One
• The Kindness of Strangers
• Start-up Stopped
• Infinity's End
• The Great Laredo Caper
• Dirty Laundry
• Suspicious Activities
• Starsap Tours
• Captain's Bounty
• Gem Jealousy
• The Akila Run
• Freight Fright
• Spreading the News
• Top of the L.I.S.T.
• Matters of the Hart
• Re-Re-Application
• Unjustified
• Winning Hearts and Minds
• Proper Tea Theft
• Liquid Assets
• An Invitation
• A Shipment for Salinas
• Olive Branch
• UC Wants You!
• Worlds Apart
• Terror Brew
• A Parting Gift
• Reliable Care
• Refurbished Goods
• The Bounty That Got Away
• Companion's Belongings
• Last Resort
• Debt Forgiveness
• Drinks on the House
• Family Reunion
• Wanted Guest
• Escape from the Endless Voyage
• Fueling Greatness
• My North Star
• One Riot, One Ranger
• Drydock Blues

Other Side Quest Guides

• Best Side Quests

Mission Board

• Mission Board Quests
• How to Accept Bounty Missions

Tips and Tricks

• Beginner's Guide to Starfield

Starter Guides

• All UI and Menu Icons Explained
• Periodic Table Explained
• All Stats Explained
• Reputation System Explained
• All Religions Explained
• Level Scaling Explained
• How to Remove Bounties
• Digipick Guide
• Persuasion Guide
• Stealing Guide
• Durability Guide
• All Crimes You Can Commit
• Zero G Effects Explained
• How to Cure Infections
• Space Piracy Explained
• What to Do First
• Oxygen System Explained
• Environmental Damage Guide
• How to Avoid Getting Encumbered
• How to Cure All Status Afflictions
• How to Cure Broken Bones
• How to Cure Burns
• How to Cure Addiction
• All Damage Types Explained
• Crew Explained
• Red and Yellow Item Icons Explained
• How to Use the Quest Marker
• Health Bar Explained
• Weapon Tiers and Rarity Explained

Combat Guides

• Combat Tips
• Aiming Guide
• How to Stealth Kill Enemies
• How to Throw Grenades
• How to Block Attacks
• How to Mantle and Climb Ledges
• How to Remove Weapon Mods
• How to Combat Slide
• Critical Hit Chance and Rate Guide
• How to Stun and Stagger Enemies
• How to Disarm Enemies
• How to Detect and Disarm Landmines

Ship Guides

• Space Battles Combat Guide
• How to Increase Jump Range
• Ship Customization Guide
• How to Get Fuel
• How to Dock Your Ship
• How to Upgrade Ship
• How to Target a Ship's Engine
• How to Get Shielded Cargo Holds
• How to Power Up the Grav Drive
• How to Fix Unattached Modules
• How to Repair Ships
• How to Get and Fire Turrets
• How to Sell Ships
• How to Hijack Ships
• How to Rename Ships
• How to Change Home Ships
• What is GRV?
• Missing Weapon Assignment Error
• Ship Classes Explained

Farming Guides

• How to Level Up Fast
• How to Farm Credits
• How to Farm Legendary Weapons
• How to Get More Digipicks
• Infinite Money Glitch
• Infinite Weapons Exploit

General Tips and Tricks

• All Missables Guide
• All Names Companions Can Say
• Best Settings for PC and Console
• Character Creation Options
• All Romance Options
• Where to Sell Items
• All Planetary Traits
• Difficulty Differences
• Where to Store Items
• Crafting Guide: How to Craft
• Companion Affinity Guide
• How to Access Computers
• How to Pay Off Mortgage and Bank Loans
• Industrial Workbench Locations
• Weapon Workbench Locations
• How to Install Mods
• Spacesuit Workbench Locations
• How to Get Free Ships
• Endings Guide
• Nova Galactic Staryard Skip
• How to Restock Vendors
• Keybinds for PC and Xbox
• Best Mods List
• List of All Unlockables
• List of Easter Eggs and Secrets
• How to Show Damage Numbers
• Language Options and How to Change Language
• List of Exploits
• How to Turn on the Flashlight
• List of Error Prompts
• List of All Random Encounters
• New Game Plus Explained
• All Universe Variations Explained
• Where to Find Cooking Stations
• Where to Find Pharmaceutical Labs
• Rescue Barrett Skip
• How to Speedrun New Game Plus

Quest Objective Guides

• Vanguard Simulation Guide

Equipment Guides

• Hunter Armor and Weapon Location
• Emissary Armor and Weapon Location

Exploration Guides

• How to Get Cold Resistance
• How to Get Radiation Resistance
• How to Get 100% Survey Score
• How to Mine Faster
• What to Do on Gas Giant Planets
• How to Go to the Ocean Biome
• All Unexplored Ecological Features and How to Scan

Location Guides

• Sanctum Universum Location
• Locked Door in the Well
• How to Access the Dev Room
• Almagest Casino Jackpot Location
• How to Hide Spacesuit and Helmet
• How to Change Background
• How to Change FOV
• How to Fast Travel
• What Happens When You Die?
• How to Remove Traits
• How to Wait and Skip Time
• How to Skip Dialogue and Cutscenes
• How to Holster Your Weapon
• How to Scrap Junk
• Can You Change Crosshairs?
• How to Increase Health
• How to Use Photo Mode
• How to Intimidate People
• How to Use Jetpack
• Can You Kill NPCs?
• How to Avoid Jail
• Are Mechs Usable?
• What is the Max Level?
• Can You Get Pets?
• How Does Free Roam Work?
• Is There Underwater Exploration?
• Are There Land or Water Vehicles?
• Is There Fishing?
• Are There Black Holes?
• Are There Cybernetic Enhancements?
• Can You Build a Fleet?
• How to Pickpocket Successfully
• How to Sneak And Avoid Detection
• How to Increase Carrying Capacity
• Is There Fall Damage?
• How to Increase Jump Height
• Can You Adopt Kids?
• How to Use the Hand Scanner
• How to Bribe NPCs
• Cannot Play Early Access Fix
• Can You Change Pronouns?
• How to Change POV
• How to Turn Off XP Pop Up
• Should You Do the Main Quest?
• How to Claim Pre-Order Bonuses
• How to Access Ship Storage
• How to Use Quick Slots and Switch Weapons
• Is there a Survival Mode?
• Unlock Master Lock in The Lodge
• Change Companions and Crew
• How to Change Your Name
• Which First Follower to Choose
• How to Display FPS Counter
• What to Do If You Get Stuck
• What to Buy First
• Where to Sell Survey Data
• Cannot Fast Travel Fix Guide
• Can You Dismantle Weapons?
• How to Save
• How to Remove Stolen Label on Items
• Can You Craft Ammo?
• Can You Add More Saves?
• How to Put Out Fires
• How Does Procedural Generation Work
• Are There Radio Stations?
• How Do Tiles Work?
• How to Reenable Achievements
• Can You Steal the Fortuna?
• Best Builds
• Beast Hunter Build
• Bouncer Build
• Bounty Hunter Build
• Combat Medic Build
• Cyber Runner Build
• Cyberneticist Build
• Diplomat Build
• Explorer Build
• File Not Found Build
• Gangster Build
• Homesteader Build
• Industrialist Build
• Long Hauler Build
• Pilgrim Build
• Professor Build
• Ronin Build
• Sculptor Build
• Soldier Build
• Space Scoundrel Build
• Xenobiologist Build
• Stealth Sniper Build
• Space Pirate Build
• Space Cowboy Build
• Unarmed Build
• Pacifist Build

Best Weapons

• Best Weapons: Weapon Tier List
• Best Weapon Combinations
• Best Weapon Modifiers
• Best Melee Weapons
• Best Shotguns
• Best Rifles
• Best Scoped Weapons
• Best Pistols
• Best Laser Weapons
• Best Laser Rifles
• Best Particle Beam Weapons
• Best Heavy Weapons
• Best Skills
• Physical Skills
• Social Skills
• Combat Skills
• Tech Skills
• List of All Traits
• Best Traits
• Freestar Collective Settler
• Hero Worshipped
• Neon Street Rat
• Raised Enlightened
• Raised Universal
• Serpent's Embrace
• Terra Firma
• United Colonies Native

Starborn Powers

• List of All Starborn Powers
• Best Starborn Powers
• Alien Reanimation
• Anti-Gravity Field
• Create Vacuum
• Creators' Peace
• Elemental Pull
• Eternal Harvest
• Gravity Wave
• Gravity Well
• Inner Demon
• Life Forced
• Parallel Self
• Particle Beam
• Personal Atmosphere
• Phased Time
• Precognition
• Reactive Shield
• Sense Star Stuff
• Solar Flare
• Sunless Space
• List of All Companions
• Best Companions
• Sarah Morgan
• Marika Boros
• Adoring Fan
• Simeon Bankowski
• Gideon Aker
• Moara Otero
• Andromeda Kepler
• Omari Hassan
• Rafael Aguerro
• Rosie Tannehill
• Mickey Caviar
• Jessamine Griffin
• Sophia Grace
• Dani Garcia
• Walter Stroud
• Matteo Khatri
• Vladimir Sall
• Amelia Earhart
• Lyle Brewer
• Betty Howser
• Erick Von Price
• Mathis Castillo
• Major Hadrian Sanon
• Autumn MacMillan
• Alternate Self
• List of All Planets

Star Systems

• List of All Star Systems

Cities and POIs

All cities and pois.

• All Cities and Points of Interests
• New Atlantis
• New Homestead

Points Of Interest

• Deimos Staryard
• Nova Galactic Staryard
• Starstation UCN-48
• The Colander
• Starstation RE-939
• Vulture's Roost
• Deimos Armored Transport
• ECS Constant
• Eleos Retreat
• The Clinic Space Station
• List of All Shops and Space Ports
• List of All Bars
• Trade Authority
• Jemison Mercantile
• The Dream House
• The Well Apartment
• Mercury Tower Penthouse
• The Stretch Apartment
• Core Residence
• List of All Weapons
• All Unique Weapons
• All EM (Non-Lethal) Weapons
• All Pistols
• All Shotguns
• All Heavy Weapons
• All Melee Weapons
• All Ballistic Weapons
• All Ballistic Rifles
• All Ballistic Pistols
• All Laser Weapons
• All Laser Rifles
• All Laser Pistols
• All Particle Beam Weapons
• All Particle Beam Rifles
• All Particle Beam Pistols
• All Old Earth Weapons

Weapon Mods

• List of All Weapon Mods
• Grips & Stocks
• Magazines & Batteries
• List of All Armor and Gear
• All Unique Armor
• All Helmets
• All Spacesuits
• All Apparel
• All Armor Sets
• Best Armor Sets
• How to Get All Starborn Armors
• List of All Armor Mods
• Helmet Mods
• Spacesuit Mods

Resources and Materials

• List of All Resources
• List of All Ships
• Legendary Ships

Ship Designs

• Best Ship Designs
• Event Horizon
• Millennium Falcon
• Star Destroyer
• List of All Ship Parts
• Best Ship Parts
• All Ship Part Level Unlocks
• Cargo Holds
• Grav Drives
• Landing Bays
• Ship Weapons
• Landing Gears
• Shield Generators

Ship Manufacturers

• List of All Ship Manufacturers
• Collectibles
• Skill Magazines
• All CombaTech Catalogs
• All Constellation Guides
• All Cyber Runner's Ciphers
• All Freestar Captain's Logs
• All GRUNT Issues
• All Gunslinger's Guides
• All Kryx's Journal Entries
• All Mining Monthly Issues
• All Neon Nights
• All New Atlantians
• All Nova Galactic Manuals
• All Peak Performances
• All Solomon's Adventures
• All Tracker's Primers
• All UC Defense Manuals
• All Vanguard Space Tactics
• All Va'ruun Scriptures
• Quantum Essences
• Snow Globes
• Dragonstar Force Books
• Dialogue Choices and Consequences
• Should You Have Sarah Morgan Be Your Follower?
• Should You Kill Brogan?
• Should You Defend the Lodge or Go to The Eye?
• Should You Give Evidence to Louisa or Zoe?
• How to Persuade Emilio Hadek
• Should You Kill Petrov?
• Should You Kill Austin Rake?
• What is the Vanguard Motto?
• Should You Accept Maldonaldo's Offer?
• Should Betray Delgado?
• Should You Skip the Final Boss Fight?
• Should You Walk into the Light at the Unity?
• Should You Destroy Governor Hurst's Ship?
• Should You Side with Mathis and Kill Delgado?
• Should You Kill Tomisar?
• Should You Kill Marco Graziani?
• Should You Kill Shaw?
• Should You Kill Maya?
• Should You Kill Matsura?
• Should You Kill Ron Hope?
• Should You Kill Livvey?
• Should You Betray Huan?
• Should You Kill Tomo?
• Should You Give Naeva the ES Award?
• Should You Turn In Vae Victis?
• Should You Kill Imogene?
• Should You Kill Larry Dumbrosky?
• Should You Buy a Grav Drive or Take the Settlement Deal?
• Should You Kill Rusty?

Research Projects

• List of All Research Projects
• Pharmacology
• Food and Drink
• Outpost Development

Backgrounds

• List of Backgrounds
• Best Backgrounds Tier List
• List of All Items
• Food and Aid
• All Outpost Modules and How to Build
• Best Outpost Locations

Outpost Building FAQs

• All Outpost Extractors
• All Outpost Power Modules
• All Outpost Structures
• All Outpost Storage
• All Outpost Furniture
• All Outpost Robots
• All Outpost Decorations
• All Outpost Defenses
• All Outpost Displays
• All Outpost Miscellaneous Modules
• All Outpost Crafting Modules
• How to Delete Outposts
• How to Add Doors to Outpost Habs
• How to Delete Outpost Links
• Transfer Container Storage Guide
• How to Raise Flora
• How to Domesticate Fauna
• How to Craft a Greenhouse
• Animal Husbandry Facility Guide
• Best Houses and How to Get All Houses
• List of All Enemies
• List of All Flora and Plants
• List of All Fauna and Alien Creatures

Achievements

• List of All Achievements
• All Puzzle Solutions
• Mantis Puzzle Solution
• Glyph Puzzle Solution
• Generator Power Puzzle Solution
• Temple Eta Puzzle

Console Commands

• Console Commands List
• All Item IDs
• Weapon Item IDs
• Armor Item IDs
• Mod Item IDs
• Ammo Item IDs
• Background IDs
• Faction IDs
• Resource and Material Item IDs
• Unique and Legendary Weapon IDs
• Unique and Legendary Armor IDs
• Weapon Modifier IDs
• Armor Modifier IDs
• Aid Item IDs
• Food Item IDs
• Location IDs
• Skill Magazine IDs
• Starborn Power IDs
• Apparel IDs
• Armor and Weapon Quality Level IDs
• NoClip Command
• Increase Carry Weight Console Command

Bugs and Errors

• All Bugs, Glitches, and Known Issues
• Low FPS Performance Issue
• Failed to Create Save Game Error
• Headless Character Bug
• Puddle Glitch Explained

News and Updates

Updates and patch notes.

• Patch Notes and Updates
• Day One Patch
• Update 1.7.29 Patch Notes
• Update 1.7.33 Patch Notes
• Update 1.7.36 Patch Notes
• Latest News
• Preload Guide
• Release Time and Countdown
• Early Access Date and Times
• PC System Requirements
• Available Platforms
• Upcoming DLC
• Pre-Order Bonus Guide
• Xbox Game Pass
• Plot Summary and Lore Explained
• How Long to Beat
• How to Get Controller and Headset
• Is There Multiplayer?
• All Available Editions
• Accessibility Features
• File Download Size
• Keyboard and Mouse Support
• Age Rating and Parental Guide
• Trailers and Gameplay Videos
• Cast and List of Voice Actors
• Joystick or HOTAS Support
• Is Starfield an MMO?
• Is Starfield Compatible on Steam Deck?
• Game Pass Release Time

Other Bethesda Wikis

• 1 Eridani IV-b Planet Location and...
• 2 No Sudden Moves Walkthrough and ...
• 3 How to Get Amun-7 Engine
• 4 Delgado's Outfit - How to Get an...
• 5 Defensive Measures Rewards and H...
• We could not find the message board you were looking for.

Gaming News

Nintendo Removes Twitter (X) Integration, Joining PS5 and...

Persona 5: The Phantom X Global Release Being Considered ...

Animal Well Review

Hades 2 Early Access Apparently Already Has More Content ...

More Gaming News

Popular Games

Genshin Impact Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Honkai: Star Rail Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

FF7 Rebirth Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Stellar Blade Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Persona 3 Reload Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Palworld Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Pokemon UNITE Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Recommended Games

Elden Ring Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

FF7 Remake Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

New Pokemon Snap Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

All rights reserved

© 2023 Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. Trademarks belong to their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game. The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department. We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.

• Popular Articles

Search Results

Research methods | starfield wiki.

• Create new page
• Recent Changes
• Permissions
• Edit Open Graph
• Clear page cache
• Clear comments cache
• File Manager
• Page Manager
• Wiki Templates
• Comments Approval
• Wiki Settings
• Wiki Manager

Research Methods is a Science Skill  in Starfield .  Research Methods  is a science skill that streamlines your crafting and research processes, reducing resource costs and potentially leading to unexpected breakthroughs.

Starfield Research Methods Information

• By skillfully employing both new and time tested methods, a researcher may complete projects faster, and even gain unexpected insights.
• Research Methods is a Tier 1 Science Skill  in Starfield

Research Methods Ranks Progression in Starfield

Research Methods  has 4 Ranks that players can unlock. Each Rank introduces a unique effect, offering a diverse range of benefits. To progress to the next Rank, players must complete a challenge specific to that Rank. Only after completing the challenge can you invest another point in the Skill

Builds that use Research Methods in Starfield

Research Methods is used in the following Builds :

Starfield Research Methods Notes & Tips

• Skill ID: 002C555C
• Starfield  Research Methods notes and tips go here.

• Recent Changes +
• File Manager +
• Page Manager +
• Create Wiki +
• ⇈ Back to top ⇈