
Getting your first ship in Starfield is a core part of the game's freedom. Essentially, you acquire ships through four main methods: purchase, quest rewards, theft, and building. The most straightforward way for a new player is to simply follow the main questline, which rewards you with a capable starter ship early on.
The primary method is purchasing ships from vendors located at major spaceports like New Atlantis on Jemison or Akila City on Akila. You'll need a substantial amount of Credits. Another common method is earning ships as rewards for completing major faction quests or specific missions; these are often more powerful than early-game purchases. For the adventurous, you can attempt to commandeer ships by docking with them in space or finding them on planets, but this requires mastering the targeting control systems skill to disable engines. Finally, the ultimate end-game goal is building a custom ship from scratch at a ship services technician, which involves gathering massive resources and credits.
Here’s a comparison of some early-game acquisition methods:
| Method | Ship Name (Example) | Approximate Cost (Credits) | Key Advantage | Major Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Quest Reward | The Frontier | Free | Available immediately, introduces core mechanics | Basic stats, limited upgrade potential |
| Purchase (New Atlantis) | Rambler | ~ 40,000 | Slight upgrade over starter ship | Costs all early-game money, minor improvement |
| Faction Quest Reward | Star Eagle (Freestar Collective) | Free (upon quest completion) | Exceptional shield and weaponry for mid-game | Requires significant time investment in questline |
| Theft (Hostile Ship) | Va'ruun Hymn | Free (after registering) | Instant access to a different ship class | Requires combat/boarding skills, registration fee is high |
Before you can fly any ship you acquire, you must register it. This can be done instantly from your ship menu, but it costs a significant portion of the ship's value. Registration essentially makes the ship legally yours, allowing you to sell or modify it. Always factor the registration fee into your decision to steal a ship, as it can sometimes cost more than the ship is worth.

Save your credits at the beginning. The ship you get from the main story, the Frontier, is perfectly fine for the first dozen hours. Instead of blowing your hard-earned money on a minor upgrade, invest in better gear or ship parts. I found that by the time I had enough for a worthwhile ship, I was already getting a much better one for free by just helping out the Freestar Collective. Stealing ships is fun, but the registration fee is a killer.

Head to a major city's spaceport and talk to the Ship Services Technician. You can browse and buy ships directly from them. It's the safest and most straightforward legal method. Just be prepared for the price tags; decent ships cost a small fortune. I'd recommend getting a feel for the game with your starter ship first, so you know what kind of upgrades you actually want to pay for later.


