How Suit Protection Works in Starfield

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Just as armor stats and protection are critical in any action RPG, your Spacesuit and Helmet’s stats in Starfield are directly related to your survival. Whether you are battling hostiles or traversing through a planet’s hazardous environment, your equipped Apparel and space gear determine how much damage and danger you can sustain. Some pieces of equipment offer additional bonuses, such as extra HP recovery or resistance to a particular damage type. However, they all share the same seven stats of Helmet and suit protection in Starfield.

All Spacesuit Stats in Starfield Explained

Image Source: Bethesda via The Nerd Stash

Packs, Apparel, Helmets, and Spacesuits all use the same stat system for protection in Starfield. The system is divided into two separate categories of resistances: combat-related and environmental. Physical, Energy, and Electromagnetic are damage types you’ll endure during combat against enemies. Conversely, Thermal, Airborne, Corrosive, and Radiation damage come from sources encountered in the environment. Let’s have a look at each:

Starfield Spacesuit Stat	Description
Combat
PHYS	Physical damage is what you’ll receive from opponents wielding bullet-firing weaponry or explosions. For instance, both the ranged Coachman Shotgun and melee Furious Ripshank deal PHYS damage.
ENGY	Having ENGY suit protection in Starfield is what will defend you against Particle or Laser weapons, like the Hitman Equinox Laser Rifle. The Cutter you receive during the tutorial also deals Energy damage.
EM	Novablast Disruptor and similar guns deal Electromagnetic or EM damage.
Environment
Thermal	As its name implies, the Thermal Spacesuit stat in Starfield will protect you from areas with dangerously high temperatures.
Airborne	Airborne involves damage sources that can affect your character’s lungs, such as toxic gas or poisonous spores.
Corrosive	High Corrosive resistance ensures your suit can endure corroding damage sources like a sandstorm.
Radiation	Radiation is self-explanatory, as exploring radiated areas can be deadly without a high-enough Spacesuit stat in Starfield.