The most effective methods for farming iron in Starfield

Starfield is one of those games that has something to offer practically everyone. If you prefer to delve into the main story and faction questlines, they are truly well-crafted. However, if you'd rather get lost in the galaxy, that's also an option. Perhaps you would like to become a Freestar Ranger, eliminating injustice and making a name for yourself.

Alternatively, perhaps you aspire to operate a thriving space resource empire, complete with numerous outposts and colossal cargo shipping missions that will make you wealthy. If that's the case, there are few materials as intricately intertwined with this process as iron, a common metal that you might assume is readily available anywhere. While it's true that you can certainly procure it from just about anywhere, allow me to share with you a significantly more efficient approach to obtaining vast quantities of iron, hundreds of times more efficient, in fact.

Building Bases

The construction of outposts can be initiated quite early in the game. When you find yourself on a planet where outpost construction is feasible, you can perform an instant build by switching to your scanner using LB or the corresponding key on your keyboard. Of course, there is a significant distinction between placing the central command flag, so to speak, and actually constructing a fully-fledged, self-sustaining outpost.

If iron is the desired ore type, you would naturally want to establish your outpost on an iron-rich planet or moon. Your options are nearly limitless, but one obvious location to consider would be Luna, the moon of Earth. Try to recruit Lin and Heller as the crew for the outpost here, as they are relatively easy to enlist and excel in this type of assignment.

Construct an iron extractor and, if possible, build an accompanying piece that transports the ore directly to your ship. Initially, progress may be slow, but once you make improvements to the outpost, you will achieve significant advancements.

Blasting Asteroids

And then there's our personal favorite approach, which we have also seen embraced enthusiastically by other players. Enter orbit near an asteroid field. You may have previously regarded these locations merely as (lovely) obstacles to navigate through en route to your destination, being careful not to damage your hull. However, destroying these rocks can unleash tremendous ore deposits, with iron traditionally being at the forefront.

Once an asteroid has been blasted, fly close to the debris to gather the resources, much like salvaging valuable loot from the wreckage of spacecraft. If you have the time and, most importantly, the cargo space for it, you can acquire hundreds of units of iron all at once.