Close Menu
  • Gaming
    • Game Guides
    • Codes
    • Game News
    • Game Previews
    • Game Reviews
    • Game Features
    • Game Lists
    • Platforms
      • Nintendo
      • PC
      • PlayStation
      • Xbox
      • Mobile
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Movie Features
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV
    • Reality TV
    • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • More
    • Anime
    • Lists
    • Podcasts
    • Reviews
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
The Nerd Stash
  • Gaming
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Videos
The Nerd Stash
Home»Game Guides»Best Smuggler Build In Starfield

Best Smuggler Build In Starfield

From Aurora and firearms to stolen goods, Starfield has plenty of illicit cargo that needs transporting. It takes a special kind of criminal to move…

Patrick ArmstrongBy Patrick ArmstrongSeptember 11, 20235 Mins Read
A smuggler poses with their ship in Starfield
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Skip To...

  • Smuggler Build Playstyle
  • Background
  • Skills
  • Best Traits
  • Best Smuggler Build Weapons
This article is over 1 years old and may contain outdated information.

From Aurora and firearms to stolen goods, Starfield has plenty of illicit cargo that needs transporting. It takes a special kind of criminal to move those goods without getting caught or killed. That’s where the smuggler comes in. Thankfully, Bethesda has given players a lot of options for theorycrafting the perfect build. Whether you prefer to focus on piloting skills or close-range combat against the authorities, there’s a skillset to fit you. In many ways, the smuggler is more complex than the average build, with a lot of angles to cover. Here’s everything you need to know about putting together the best smuggler build inย Starfield.

Smuggler Build Playstyle

A smuggler rests atop their ship in Starfield
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Starfieldย is packed with great content, and one of the most satisfying activities is smuggling. Stuffing your ship’s storage bay with contraband, sneaking your cargo past the authorities, and shooting your way out if things go sideways is tough. You’ll need a diverse skill set, but above all else, you’ll need to adapt to ever-changing situations. Careful planning goes a long way. Plan your routes and know how much of a law enforcement presence you’ll be dealing with. If all else feels, fall back on your ship and your guns to get you out.

Grav Dash,ย Creators’ Peace,ย andย Anti-Gravity Fieldย are some of the best Powers for smugglers to use.ย Grav Dashย has offensive and defensive utility, allowing the smuggler to either close the distance on their enemies or beat a hasty retreat. Creators’ Peaceย saves the smuggler in some sticky situations by pacifying hostile enemies, giving the player a moment to think out their next move without getting shot at. When all else fails,ย Anti-Gravity Fieldย leaves its targets floating helplessly while the smuggler unloads with their shotgun.

Background

The Gangster Background from Starfield
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Theย Gangsterย is perhaps the best Background for the best smuggler build. Its main appeal isย Shotgun Certification.ย Like space pirates, smugglers often find themselves having shootouts in the cramped interiors of spaceships. The shotgun is an ideal weapon for these claustrophobic firefights.ย Theftย is also a natural fit. Smugglers may not always be thieves, but theft and smuggling go hand-in-hand.ย Boxingย is a bit of a wildcard and won’t be to every player’s taste, but it doesn’t hurt in an emergency.

Space Scoundrelย andย Long Haulerย are excellent alternative Backgrounds if the player doesn’t want to go theย Gangsterย route. The former Background offers a similar balance of combat and utility skills.ย Long Hauler,ย meanwhile, shifts the focus from the player to their ship. It’s largely a matter of taste whether the character or their ship should be the smuggler’s focus. These diverse Backgrounds you great options regardless of your preferences.

Skills

Starfield piloting skill tree
Image Source: Bethesda Game Studios via The Nerd Stash

The best smuggler build focuses on ship skills but doesn’t neglect the character’s ground combat abilities. Smuggling is more complicated than simply bringing something from Point A to Point B, and the diversity of this skill list reflects that.ย Here are the most important skills for a smuggler:

  • Commerceย (Social)
  • Deceptionย (Social)
  • Shotgun Certificationย (Combat)
  • Astrodynamicsย (Science)
  • Pilotingย (Tech)
  • Payloadsย (Tech)
  • Engine Systemsย (Tech)
  • Shield Systemsย (Tech)
  • Starship Engineeringย (Tech)
  • Targeting Control Systemsย (Tech)

These skills increase the player’s profits, reduce the likelihood of their contraband being discovered during searches, and make your ship much harder to take down. Increased speed and better shields are great, but the ability to haul more cargo is even better. After all, a smuggler is only worth as much as they can haul. With several points inย Payloads,ย that’s quite a bit indeed.

Best Traits

The Spaced Trait from Bethesda's new sci-fi title
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Spaced, Taskmaster, andย Neon Street Ratย all work great for the best smuggler build.ย Spacedย increases the player’s health and oxygen in space. Given how much time the player will spend between the stars, that’s a good deal.ย Taskmaster,ย meanwhile, doubles the cost of hiring crewmembers but causes damaged ship systems to occasionally repair themselves. The smuggler’s spaceship is their most precious possession, so anything that keeps it in good health is a must.

Neon Street Ratย is mostly for roleplay purposes. Players who get deep enough into the story to understand what Neon is all about will appreciate having this Trait for their smuggler. In addition to some solid roleplay options,ย Neon Street Ratย also increases the rewards for missions on Neon. Smugglers never complain about bigger profits, making this Trait’s downside well worth it.

Best Smuggler Build Weapons

A modified Shotty from Bethesda's sci-fi epic
Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Since this build uses theย Shotgun Certificationย skill, it’s going to need a good shotgun. There are a few good options, even early in the game, but theย Shottyย is one of the best. What it sacrifices in Physical Damage it makes up for with its incredible Fire Rate. Even tanky enemies don’t last long in the face of a semi-automatic shotgun. If you can find a Skip Shot variation, even better: every fourth shot will fire two projectiles at once, increasing this weapon’s already high DPS even further. Late-game shotguns are great, but the Shottyย will hold up just fine, especially with mods, so there’s no real need to ditch it unless you feel like it.

Starfield is available now for PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Related Topics
Guide Starfield
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email
Patrick Armstrong
  • Website

Artist and writer with a lifelong love of video games. Their favorite games include Dead by Daylight, Meet Your Maker, and Project Zomboid.

SUGGESTED READS

Destiny 2 Weapon and Armor Tiers
Game Guides

How Do Weapon and Gear Tiers Work in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Exotic Items
Game Guides

All Exotics in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Power Level 200
Game Guides

How To Reach Power Level 200 Fast in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate World Tier Changes
Game News

Bungie Responds to Community Criticism by Peeling Back Some Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Secrets

Destiny 2 Weekly Reset Guide: Challenges, Rotations, & Rewards (June 28-May 2)
Game Guides

Destiny 2 Weekly Reset Guide: Challenges, Rotations, & Rewards (July 1 – July 7)

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Expansion Launch Trailer
Game Features

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Just Gave Us a Remedy-like Launch Trailer

Trending
Texas Man records a package thief stealing boxes off the porch

Texas Man Comes up With โ€˜Epicโ€™ Idea To Get Revenge on Porch Pirates: โ€˜This Is Genius’

Florida bride has special moment with two fathers at wedding

Florida Bride’s Father Shocks Guests At Wedding When He Sees Her Stepdad In Crowd: ‘Cries In Daddy Issues’

A picture of the Texas police impersonator.

Texas Police Impersonator Ambushes Couple and Ends Up Crawling For His Life: โ€˜He Literally Turned Into a Wormโ€™

MAGA Supporter With a Megaphone Harasses Safeway Protestors in Colorado

MAGA Supporter With a Megaphone Harasses Safeway Protestors in Colorado: ‘Couldn’t Even Make the Cut for ICE So He Had to Settle For This’

The Nerd Stash
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
© 2025 The Nerd Stash. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.