While blowing spaceships into tiny lumps of scrap in Starfield sure is for, there is a better, more profitable way to fight. By using the Ship Targeting Mode, you can take out their vital systems and then engage in some real space piracy by boarding them.
How to use Ship Targeting Mode in Starfield
The quick breakdown is as follows:
- Make sure you have at least one skill point in Targeting Control Systems.
- Get an enemy ship within the large round reticle on your HUD.
- Hit the prompted button to select a target.
- Blast away their shields.
- Wait for the lock to hit 100%.
- Hit the prompted button to Target Lock.
- Target the engines by moving the white bar left or right to that option.
- Open fire to take out the engines.
Ship Targeting Mode details
To use the Ship Targeting Mode, you will need to have invested at least one point into the Targeting Control Systems skill in the Tech skill tree. This will unlock the targeting mode, giving you access to the VATS-like system in Starfield that you can use during ship combat. After that, you can target any of the ship’s specific systems, from the different weapons to shields, engines, and grav drive.
The first step is to get an enemy ship lined up in the broad targeting circles when you are flying. An option will appear to Select Target, so hit the prompted button. After that, you’ll need to wait for a short time while the option to lock onto the target appears. While that is happening, feel free to blast down the enemy ship’s shields. We’ll need them out of the way to get at the engines properly.
When the shields are down, hit the prompted button to Target Lock, and then the game will slow down. You will see a display of six bars showing the various systems of the ship. Use the controller sticks or the arrow keys to switch between them. You will want the engines, as it is the most useful system to target. After that, let rip with something that can rip up the engines without doing too much damage and destroying the ship. I actually recommend ballistic weapons precisely for this task. Electromagnetic weapons are technically the best for it, but it’s hard to dedicate a slot solely to piracy when you need to kill so much stuff in the game.
Once the engines go down, you will be able to board the ship when you get within 500 meters of it, and the ship will be unable to maneuver away. Get on board, take out the crew, and the ship will be yours as long as you have the correcting Piloting skill to be able to fly it.
Should you max out the Targeting Control Systems skill?
For high-level ship combat on higher difficulty levels, this is a superb skill. The benefits to lock on time and damage output make it far easier to scuttle enemy ships, meaning you are reducing your own risk during combat significantly while still giving yourself the best chance at some piracy.
| Rank | Effect |
| 1 | Unlocks ship targeting functionality. |
| 2 | Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 15%. Target-locked ships fire at you 25% slower. |
| 3 | Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 30%. You have a 10% increased chance of critically hitting a target-locked ship. |
| 4 | Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 60%, Deal 20% increased system damage in targeting mode. |
If you are in the market for a ship that will more than hold its own in combat, check out the Overdesigned mission and get your hands on the Kepler R. The Abyss Trekker is another fantastic combat option if you don’t mind paying the bill for it.
