Best planets for Outposts in Starfield

You have an entire galaxy to choose from.

Our spaceship flying past a planet
Screenshot by Dot Esports

One of the first major milestones for players in Starfield is building their first Outpost. This allows you to start gathering your own passive resources and colonize a part of any planet you desire, paving the way to start research and crafting on a massive scale.

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Of course, with so many different planets to choose from, selecting a location for your Outpost is not an easy endeavor. In fact, it took me hours of searching to find a planet that I eventually wanted to settle on. While you can simply pick a random planet that you like the name of or one in a system that’s easily accessible, there’s a lot more that goes into selecting a planet to start an Outpost on.

If you’ve been traveling the Settled Systems for an Outpost-worthy planet but haven’t had any luck, allow me to assist you. I have compiled a list of what I believe to be the best planets to start an Outpost on in Starfield.

Where to build your first Outpost in Starfield

The best starting Outpost is a moon called Andraphon in the Narion system. This is due to the moon’s abundance of the basic resources and elements you need to create better structures for your future and more advanced Outposts. It also has decent environmental conditions, which affect how you will be able to power the Outpost.

The resources you want to prioritize first are Iron and Aluminum, which are required for creating stronger materials and Outpost development research projects. By making an Outpost on a planet or moon that has both Iron and Aluminum, you can set up an Extractor in a biome that has both of these elements available to mine.

The galaxy map of Andraphon, a small  rocky moon sandwiched between a planet and a sun.
The moon of Andraphon. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Specifically, Andraphon has Iron, Aluminum, Helium, and Beryllium, and there are certain spots on the planet where you can set up an Outpost to mine all four of the elements at the same time.

Ideally, you want to use this Outpost to gather enough materials and resources to create a more advanced Outpost somewhere else in the galaxy.

Best Outpost locations in Starfield

Given that there are so many planets in Starfield, it will be up to you to explore different systems and see if there are specific ones that have all of the elements you need.

Luckily, I have discovered a handful of planets and moons that are flush with elements and have great environmental conditions. If you build your Outpost in the right spot on these planets, you will have access to several different elements and even a great view of the planet’s landscape. These planets have far more resources than Andraphon, making them a perfect step up from your starter Outpost to one you can fully flesh out.

Linnaeus IV-b

The galaxy map of Linnaeus IV-b, a small moon full of different colors to show the distribution of different resources.
Linnaeus IV-b is full of resources. Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Available Resources
    • Water (H2O)
    • Helium-3 (He-3)
    • Aluminum (Al)
    • Iron (Fe)
    • Lead (Pb)
    • Beryllium (Be)
    • Ytterbium (Yb)
    • Alkanes (HnCn)

Our first planet is another moon, and it orbits the planet Linnaeus IV in the Linnaeus system. I recommend building a couple of Outposts on this moon so you can take full advantage of all the elements it has to offer.

If Linnaeus IV-b doesn’t have the elements you’re looking for, though, I suggest looking around at some of the other planets in the Linnaeus system. There are planets and moons in this system that support a much wider variety of elements, such as Nickel, Copper, Cobalt, Iridium, Platinum, and more.

Zamka

The galaxy map of Zamka, a small moon full of different colors including yellow, beige, and green, against the background of space.
The moon of Zamka. | Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Available Resources
    • Helium-3 (He-3)
    • Water (H2O)
    • Nickel (Ni)
    • Copper (Cu)
    • Iron (Fe)
    • Uranium (U)
    • Cobalt (Co)
    • Vanadium (V)

This is perhaps one of the more practical Outpost location options, as you don’t have to leave the starting system of Alpha Centauri to settle here. Zamka is a moon that orbits the planet Olivas, and you can visit here right from the start of Starfield.

Zamka has support for a whopping eight elements, making it a fantastic choice if you’re looking to fill up on resources quickly. It is a temperate planet with plenty of attractive landscapes for you to settle on.

Jemison

The galaxy map of Jemison, a planet with blue, grey, and green color patterns to indicate where the different resources are located.
That Chlorosilane is one of the resources I’m always in need of. Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Available Resources
    • Water (H2O)
    • Chlorine (Cl)
    • Chlorosilane (SiH3Cl)
    • Lead (Pb)
    • Argon (Ar)

Much like Zamka, Jemison is in the starting system of Alpha Centauri, and it is the planet that New Atlantis is on.

It may seem silly to create an Outpost on the game’s literal starting planet, but if, like me, you spend a lot of your time crafting weapon mods, aid items, and spacesuit mods, you’ll need lots of Argon and Chlorosilane. What better way to get bunches of the stuff than to have it right at the game’s starting line?

Pyrocyon III

The galaxy map of Pyrocyon III, a dark planet in front of a blue sun. Three icons showing landing zones appear on the planet's map.
I have established a Copper Outpost on Pyrocyon III. Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Available Resources
    • Copper (Cu)
    • Argon (Ar)
    • Fluorine (F)
    • Neon (Ne)
    • Tetrafluorides
    • Ionic Liquids

If you have made it far enough into the main story of Starfield, you will have already visited the planet of Pyrocyon III. While this is where a main quest takes place, it’s also a planet that is perfect for an Outpost. It has a decent climate, high oxygen levels, and the fauna there is at a relatively low level, should you encounter any wildlife.

What makes Pyrocyon III such a great Outpost location is its supply of rare elements and resources such as Neon and Fluorine. This is a perfect Outpost location if you already have a starter Outpost that produces elements such as Aluminum and Iron. You can use those resources to further your Outpost’s construction on Pyrocyon III.

Kreet

Resource map view of the moon Kreet in the Narion system in Starfield. Red, grey, and white cover the planet.
Kreet is one resource-heavy moon. Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Available Resources
    • Iron (Fe)
    • Lead (Pb)
    • Water (H2O)
    • Argon (Ar)
    • Helium-3 (He-3)
    • Silver (Ag)
    • Neon (Ne)
    • Alkanes

Located in the Narion System, Kreet is a small moon orbiting the planet Anselon. With a temperate climate and manageable wildlife, it’s a safe and resourceful place to set up an outpost.

The Narion System may not have any major settlements you can go to and from quickly, but the resources available on Kreet more than make up for the extra travel. An outpost can be set up rather quickly, and it can become a viable part of your network very soon.

Titan

The galaxy map of Titan, a small moon with teal and grey resource blotches.
Titan is a late-game Outpost location. Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Available Resources
    • Water (H20)
    • Lead (Pb)
    • Titanium (Ti)
    • Tungsten (W)

Our last Outpost location comes on a familiar moon. Located in the Sol system, Titan is a moon orbiting the planet Saturn. Titan is a terrific late-game Outpost location since you can only make an Outpost on the moon after acquiring the Planetary Habitation ability in the Science skill tree.

Moreover, Titan supports some of the more useful and sought-after elements in Starfield, including Titanium, Tungsten, and Lead. While you won’t get to settle on Titan for quite some time, it’s well worth the journey.


And that wraps up my picks for the best Outpost locations in Starfield. Hopefully, you found a solid location for your point in the game.

Author
Image of Joey Carr
Joey Carr
Joey Carr is a full-time writer for multiple esports and gaming websites. He has 6+ years of experience covering esports and traditional sporting events, including DreamHack Atlanta, Call of Duty Championships 2017, and Super Bowl 53.
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Cade Davie
Proud husband and cat dad, Cade has been writing about games for more than five years and playing them for almost three decades. While he'll happily play everything he can get his hands on, he's partial to games released by Airship Syndicate, FromSoftware, and Giant Squid.
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Scott Robertson
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.