Research and crafting are optional activities in Starfield that allow you create a variety of items, from weapon improvements to medical aid items. The Special Projects skill gives you access to a wider array of research projects to take on.
There are a ton of skills in Starfield and your specific playstyle might prioritize certain skills while leaving others completely untouched. If you’re interested in late-game crafting and research, however, I recommend you start leveling the Special Projects skill. If you want to know exactly what this skill does or how to upgrade this skill tree, here’s what you need to know.
What is Special Projects in Starfield?
The Special Projects skill in Starfield gives you access to otherwise locked manufactured components at your workbench. These are components that you can build yourself instead of needing to find or purchase them in the Settled Systems. Manufactured components are integral to complete various work orders.
If you find yourself building a lot of outposts throughout Starfield or investing heavily into just a few, I would heavily recommend picking up the Special Projects skill. Below are all the rare and exotic manufactured components that you can craft with Special Projects:
Rare Manufactured Components
| Manufactured Components | Needed Resources |
| Drilling Rig | x3 Tungsten, x2 Lubricant, x1 Reactive Gauge |
| Molecular Sieve | x2 Membrane, x2 Ionic Liquids, x1 Mag Pressure Tank |
| Paramagnon Conductor | x3 Zero Wire, x1 Neodymium, x1 Gold |
| Positron Battery | x2 Antimony, x2 Vanadium, x1 Tau Grade Restrostat |
| Semimetal Wafer | x2 Antimony, x2 Gold, x1 Zero Wire |
| Supercooled Magnet | x3 Neodymium, x1 Isocentered Magnet, x1 Isotopic Coolant |
| Zero-G Gimbal | x2 Lubricant, x2 Tantalum, x1 Isocentered Magnet |
Exotic Manufactured Components
| Manufactured Components | Needed Resources |
| Control Rod | x3 Dysprosium, x1 Austenitic Manifold, x1 Isotpic Coolant |
| Microsecond Regulator | x4 Europium, x2 Lithium, x1 Supercooled Magnet, x1 Tau Grade Rheostat |
| Nuclear Fuel Rod | 3x Uranium, x2 Solvent, 1x Semimetal Wafer |
| Power Circuit | x4 Palladium, x2 Polymer, x1 Paramagnon Conductor, x1 Positron Batter |
| Sterile Nanotubes | x2 Vanadium, x2 Solvent, x1 Molecular Sieve |
How to upgrade Special Projects in Starfield
Like all other skills in Starfield, you need to both have excess Skill Points to spend and complete a specific task a designated number of times to upgrade your skill of choice. Given how this skill is all about crafting, you can access the higher tiers of Special Projects by crafting manufactured components.
| Tier Level | Task | Upgrade |
| Tier One | Invest 12 total Skill Points into the Science skill tree. | You can now research experimental projects at the Research Lab. |
| Tier Two | Craft ten common or uncommon manufactured components. | You can now craft rare manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. |
| Tier Three | Craft ten rare manufactured components. | You can now craft exotic manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. |
| Tier Four | Craft ten exotic manufactured components. | You can craft unique manufactured components and Outpost Extractors can produce extra resources. |
