Starfield: How to use the Puddle Glitch at Shepherd’s General Store in Akila City

Get yourself a load of free items and credits.

The entrance to Akila City in Starfield
Screenshot by Dot Esports

As is the tradition with Bethesda titles, glitches have been abundant so far in Starfield. While the space exploration RPG isn’t nearly as buggy upon release as a game like Fallout 76, there are still some glitches spread out across the Settled Systems.

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Perhaps none are more lucrative for the player than the now-called Puddle Glitch, though. The Puddle Glitch was brought into the public eye by a Redditor. What they found has the ability to make a Starfield player accrue unlimited wealth.

While most players will abuse this glitch only a couple of times, it can be as lucrative as you want it to be, at least until the next update.

How to steal from Shepherd’s General Store using the Puddle Glitch

Shepherd's General Store in Akila City
Shepherd’s General Store. Screenshot by Dot Esports

The Puddle Glitch is essentially a way to steal the entire inventory of Shepherd’s General Store in Akila City. However, from a gameplay sense, you’re not actually stealing.

There is a puddle right outside the store that will show you the store’s current inventory, credits included. When you access the inventory, you can take everything you want and none of it will be considered stolen.

Think of it as you’re simply taking loot from a free container in Starfield.

This is supposedly a common tactic used all across Starfield; the devs apparently place a hidden chest outside of stores and other locations to hold its inventory, which is usually only accessible in a developer’s build of the game.

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You’re not supposed to be able to access this chest for obvious reasons, but it appears there was an oversight with Shepherd’s General Store.

To use the Puddle Glitch, follow the steps below:

  • Fly to Akila City and go to Shepherd’s General Store, which is located on the left as soon as you enter the city.
  • Locate the right puddle out in front of the store. It’s a smaller puddle that is just to the right of the front door if you’re facing the store from the street.
  • Crouch down in front of the puddle with your back turned to Shepherd’s General Store. Move your character’s pointer all around the puddle until you find the inventory menu that pops up.
  • The right spot to access the menu is just near the center of the puddle.
An inventory menu being shown on screen along with a puddle on the ground
The Puddle Glitch in full effect. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Once you find the spot with the inventory menu, you can take whatever you want. Anything from credits to resources to ammo to healing supplies, it’s all yours.

How to make money using the Puddle Glitch in Starfield

If you want to truly make it rich by using the Puddle Glitch, I recommend that you simply take every resource, weapon, spacesuit gear, and aid item from the Shepherd’s General Store inventory. You will also want to take the seller’s credits, as there are usually anywhere from 5,000-12,000 credits ripe for the taking.

Then, with your loaded inventory, head to the various shops around Akila City and sell off whatever you don’t want to keep. You can’t really go back into Shepherd’s to sell the inventory back, as you just took all of the credits the shop owner had to give you for the goods.

You can head to the Midtown Miners shop to sell any minerals and the Trade Authority kiosk for any other kind of resource or healing item. There are two weapons stores, Laredo Firearms and Rowland Arms, where you can sell any of the guns you looted.

With your stolen inventory sold, you can skip time in Starfield by going to a bed, waiting for 24 hours, and then going back to the puddle in front of Shepherd’s to see if the seller’s inventory has been refilled or not. If it has, then rinse and repeat the process above. If the puddle is empty, then you have to wait another day and try again.

It won’t be long before Bethesda patches this glitch out of the game entirely, so take advantage of it while you still can.

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.