How to Dominate the Skies: A Guide to Targeting Engines in Starfield

So, you want to cripple your enemies in the vast expanse of space? You’ve come to the right place. The key to victory in Starfield’s ship combat lies not just in blasting away at their hull, but in surgically disabling their vital systems. And chief among those systems? The engines. Here’s the breakdown of how to target engines in Starfield and turn the tide of battle.

The core mechanic is simple: you need to enter Targeting Mode, which is usually activated by pressing LB on your Xbox controller or the left Alt key on PC (check your control settings to confirm). Once in this mode, you’ll see a display highlighting different ship systems, including engines, shields, weapons, and grav drive. Use the directional pad or arrow keys to cycle through these systems until the engines are highlighted. Now, unleash your firepower!

Mastering Targeting Mode

Targeting engines is more than just pressing a button and firing. It’s about understanding the nuances of the system and exploiting your enemy’s weaknesses.

Understanding the Interface

When you enter Targeting Mode, you’ll see a wealth of information. Pay close attention to these elements:

• System Health Bars: Each system has its own health bar. Focus your fire on the engines until the bar is depleted.
• Power Allocation: Notice how much power the enemy is diverting to each system. Engines with full power will be harder to disable.
• Ship Class: Knowing your enemy’s ship class will give you insight into its weaknesses and the placement of its systems.

Choosing the Right Weapons

Not all weapons are created equal when it comes to disabling engines. Consider these factors:

• EM Weapons: Electromagnetic (EM) weapons are particularly effective at disabling systems, including engines, without necessarily destroying the entire ship. These are your best friends for capturing ships intact!
• Weapon Type: Ballistic weapons, lasers, and particle beams all have their strengths and weaknesses. Experiment to find what works best against different types of engines.
• Firing Rate: A rapid-firing weapon can quickly chew through an engine’s health bar, while a slower, more powerful weapon might deliver a single, devastating blow.

Tactical Considerations

Beyond the technical aspects, strategic thinking is crucial.

• Prioritize Targets: If an enemy ship is heavily armed, disable their weapons first. If they are trying to escape, cripple their engines.
• Flanking Maneuvers: Get behind your target to avoid their forward-facing defenses and target their engines from a vulnerable angle.
• Using Boost: Use your ship’s boost to quickly close the distance and unleash a barrage of fire on the targeted engines.

The Benefits of Crippling Engines

Why go to all this trouble to target engines specifically? The rewards are significant:

• Easy Boarding: Disabled engines make a ship an easy target for boarding. Capture valuable ships and resources!
• Strategic Advantage: Prevent enemies from escaping or maneuvering effectively, giving you a decisive edge in combat.
• Reduced Damage: A ship without engines is a sitting duck. You can focus on taking out other systems or even destroying the ship entirely without worrying about it fleeing.

Advanced Tactics for Engine Disablement

Ready to take your engine-targeting skills to the next level?

Skill Tree Synergies

Invest in skills that enhance your targeting and weapon proficiency. Relevant skills might include:

• Targeting Control Systems: Improves the effectiveness of Targeting Mode.
• Piloting: Unlocks advanced maneuvers for better positioning.
• Weapon Engineering: Enhances the damage and effectiveness of your chosen weapon type.

Ship Customization

Equip your ship with modules that specialize in disabling enemy systems.

• EM Weapons: As mentioned, essential for non-lethal engine disabling.
• High-Accuracy Weapon Systems: Ensure your shots hit their mark.
• Improved Targeting Computers: Enhance the range and accuracy of Targeting Mode.

Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses

Every ship has its weak points. Learn to identify them.

• Exposed Engine Components: Some ships have engines that are less armored than others.
• Power Routing: Observe how the enemy allocates power. If they are diverting power from engines to shields, take advantage of the weakened defenses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I unlock the ability to target specific ship systems in Starfield?

You need to invest skill points into the Targeting Control Systems skill in the Tech skill tree. Each rank in the skill will unlock higher levels of targeting capabilities.

2. Can I target engines on every ship in the game?

Yes, you can attempt to target engines on any ship. However, the difficulty of doing so will vary depending on the ship’s design, defenses, and the skills you have invested in targeting.

3. What happens when I disable an enemy’s engines?

The enemy ship will be significantly slowed down and unable to perform advanced maneuvers. This makes them an easy target for further attacks or boarding.

4. Are EM weapons the only way to effectively disable engines?

No, while EM weapons are highly effective, you can also disable engines with conventional weapons by focusing your fire on them until the health bar is depleted. However, this might result in more hull damage and potentially destroying the ship.

5. How can I repair my own ship’s engines if they get damaged?

You can repair your ship’s engines using ship parts. Access the ship menu and select “Repair.” Ensure you have enough ship parts in your inventory to fully repair the damage.

6. Does the difficulty setting affect how easy it is to target engines?

Yes, the difficulty setting can affect the accuracy of your targeting and the amount of damage you inflict on enemy systems, including engines.

7. Can I upgrade my targeting computer to improve its performance?

Yes, you can upgrade your ship’s targeting computer at a ship technician. Better targeting computers improve your accuracy and range in Targeting Mode.

8. Are there any crew skills that can improve my targeting abilities?

Yes, some crew members have skills that can enhance your ship’s systems, including targeting. Look for crew members with skills like “Targeting” or “Ballistics.”

9. How do I board a ship after disabling its engines?

Get close to the disabled ship and a prompt will appear to initiate the boarding sequence. You might need to disable their shields first. Be prepared for a firefight!

10. Is it possible to disable engines without entering Targeting Mode?

While you can damage engines by simply firing at them, it is much more efficient and effective to use Targeting Mode to focus your fire and quickly disable them.

11. Can the enemy repair their engines during combat?

Yes, enemy ships can sometimes repair their systems during combat, including engines. This is why it’s crucial to keep the pressure on and prevent them from making repairs.

12. Are there any specific types of ships that are more vulnerable to engine disabling?

Generally, smaller, more agile ships tend to have weaker engines and are more vulnerable to being disabled. Larger, heavily armored ships might require more concentrated fire to cripple their engines.

Mastering the art of targeting engines in Starfield is essential for dominating space battles and reaping the rewards of ship capture. By understanding the mechanics, choosing the right weapons, and employing smart tactics, you’ll become a formidable force in the Settled Systems. Now get out there and start disabling some engines!