Targeting enemy ships in Starfield differs significantly from targeting enemies on foot. It necessitates specific maneuvers and, notably, the acquisition of a crucial perk.
Your spacecraft serves a multifaceted role, extending beyond mere transportation; it empowers you to partake in combat while navigating the vast expanse of space. Although space combat may not be a frequent occurrence, it is an inevitable aspect of your journey. In many instances, it can prove to be a daunting challenge, which is precisely where the skill of locking onto ships becomes invaluable.
The act of locking onto ships in Starfield bestows upon you the ability to pinpoint your adversaries with precision. Your projectiles will strike precisely where the enemy is most vulnerable, eliminating the need for manual aiming
Starfield Locking on Ships in Combat Explained
To achieve ship targeting in Starfield, you must engage in combat by initiating an attack on the ships, after which the game will automatically establish a lock on them.
In the realm of Starfield combat, gaining the capability to lock onto ships hinges on acquiring a specific perk: the Targeting Control Systems perk, which resides within the Tech perk tree.
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This particular perk not only grants you the ability to lock onto ships but also empowers you to target specific sections of those ships. Notably, you can pinpoint and focus on ship engines using this method.
The Targeting Control Systems perk is classified as tier 1, ensuring that you can obtain it relatively early in your Starfield journey. Once you’ve successfully unlocked this perk, the next time you aim at a ship while in space, you will have the capacity to establish a lock on it. Additionally, the perk offers room for improvement with four possible upgrades, enhancing its effectiveness.
When you reach Rank 4 of this perk, you’ll experience a remarkable 40% reduction in the time required to lock onto a ship. Since perks operate passively, they automatically benefit your character. Nevertheless, to initiate the locking process, you must follow a couple of steps.
Firstly, ensure you are within a range of at least 500 meters from the enemy ship. Once you are within this range, press the designated targeting button.
On Xbox, this button corresponds to the A key, and on PC, it is the E key. This action will promptly establish a lock on the target ship in Starfield, enabling you to execute precise shots against your enemy.