Best Ships in Starfield (& How to Unlock Them)

Your ship is your best friend in Starfield. It will transport you across galaxies, store any loot you discover, house your companions, and, most importantly, keep you safe on your most daring space voyages. Because your ship will be with you through thick and thin, you don't want to cheap out on some mediocre piece of space junk. No, what you want are the best ships in Starfield.

But, before we go any further, it's worth noting that the best ships in Starfield come at a hefty cost. Yes, there are a handful of good ones that you can get for free, but you don't want to settle for good, even if it's free. What you need is nothing less than the best ships in the game. And the truth of the matter is that they will most likely cost you a lot of credits. Nonetheless, if there's one thing in Starfield worth paying top dollar for, it's the five ships we've got listed below.

5. Stronghold

The first ship that's worth taking a look at is the Stronghold. An all-around beast, there isn't one area the Stronghold doesn't excel in. So, if you prefer performance and functionality over style, the Stronghold is your best bet. With a shield stat of 1600 and a hull stat of 1047, it's safe to say that the Stronghold can withstand a beating. It can, however, be outfitted with weapons to dish one back.

On top of that, you're covered in the storage department with a capacity of 2360. Furthermore, can hold up to six crew members. There truly isn't one aspect of the Stronghold that is lacking. Its exorbitant price of 400,125 Credits clearly reflects this. So you'll have to save up for a long time before you can get your hands on this ship. However, it's entirely worth it as you're getting one of the best ships in Starfield.

How to Unlock: Can be purchased at Akila City for 400,125 credits.

4. Shieldbreaker

It will most likely be a while before you can get your hands on a ship like the Stronghold. At the same time, you might not want to spend that much money on a ship. Whatever the case, if you're looking to downsize without compromising on performance, check out the Shieldbreaker. It's almost like a smaller, more versatile version of the Stronghold, but a lot cheaper.

The Shieldbreaker can carry 2,280 tons of cargo and has a crew of five. Both are just a tad lower than the Stronghold. Furthermore, the Hull stat is 940, which is neck and neck with the Stronghold once more. The only downside is that the Shieldbreaker, ironically, doesn't have much of a shield itself with a stat of 610. However, where the Shieldbreaker counters the Stronghold is with its speed, maneuverability, and weapon customization.

Regardless, the Stronghold and Shieldbreaker are two strands of the same cloth, and you can choose whichever one best suits your playstyle. Either way, you're ending up with one of the best ships in Starfield.

How to Unlock: Can be purchased from the New Atlantis vendor for 279,425 credits.

3. Renegade

The Renegade is available in two models: the base model and the Renegade III. The base model will run you a little over 300,000, while the Renegade III will set you back around $450,000. In either case, you're covered because, while the Renegade III is the superior model, you can upgrade the base model.

Base model, the Renegade can hold up to six crew members and has a whopping cargo capacity of 3970. Its shield and hull aren't the best in the game, but the Renegade's offensive prowess makes it one of the best and most powerful ships in Starfield.

How to Unlock: There is no way to know for certain where the Renegade or Renegade III can be bought. It has been found in Paradiso, New Atlantis, Akila City, Cydonia, and Neon. So, you just have to try your luck until one of the vendors has it in stock.

2. Narwhal

Although it's on the expensive side, the Narwhal is hands down one of the best ships in Starfield. Despite being a smaller and more compact ship, the Narwhal can hold 7 Crew members and has a cargo capacity of 1760. Most impressive of all are its Shield and Hull stats, which are 995 and 2118, respectively – among the highest in the game. So, while the asking price of 455,400 may break your bank, you're buying one of the best ships money can buy.

How to Unlock: Can be purchased from Taiyo Astroengineering for 455,400 credits in Neon at the Ryujin Building.

1. Abyss Trekker

The Abyss Trekker may not have the cargo capacity of the other ships on this list, but it is not intended to be a freight ship. No, the Abyss Trekker has earned it's spot on this list purely because it is has the most firepower of all the ships in the game. As a result, you don't want to be riding in any other ship in the end game of Starfield than the Abyss Trekker. It can go toe-to-toe with the best ships in the game and come out unscathed. So, if you're going to be involved in a lot of interstellar battles, save up for the game's hardest-hitting ship, because it's worth it.

How to Unlock: Can be purchased from the Paradiso Shop for 365,525 credits (Price varies).

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other ships in Starfield you think are best? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!