Starfield Thermal Protection: Understanding Suit Mechanics and Consequences of Failure

Starfield, the highly anticipated game, offers an immersive experience with its stunning visuals and complex mechanics. However, it can be overwhelming to navigate through the game’s tutorialization and decipher the numerous stats and status effects that bombard you. Don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this guide, we will delve into the details of how suit protection works in Starfield.

Understanding Starfield Suit Protection

Your suit is your primary source of armor and protection in Starfield, and it encompasses several essential statistics, as outlined below:

• PHYS, ENGY, EM
• Thermal
• Airborne
• Corrosive
• Radiation

While PHYS, ENGY, and EM represent weapon damage types in the game, the focus should be on the remaining four environmental status/damage types that can afflict you.

Thermal, Corrosive, and Radiation damages are relatively self-explanatory. When exploring the vast world of Starfield, you may encounter vents or gases that can cause Thermal, Corrosion, or Radiation damage depending on their nature.

When you sustain damage from these environmental afflictions, your HUD’s bottom left corner will flash, notifying you of the ongoing damage.

Airborne damage, on the other hand, is less lethal compared to the other types. It signifies your vulnerability while airborne, such as when utilizing jetpacks during combat or executing evasive jumps.

Understanding the intricacies of suit protection in Starfield is vital for your survival in this immersive universe. Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently explore and engage in thrilling encounters while keeping your suit intact.

If you want to stay safe in Starfield, having a high suit protection resistance rating is crucial. It allows you to withstand danger for a longer period before taking damage. Just take a look at the screenshot above. With thermal and corrosive protection on my suit, I have an added layer of resistance against those types of damage. This means I can confidently expose myself to those elements without worrying too much.

What Happens When Your Suit Protection Runs Out

While environmental damage in Starfield takes time to affect you, it can be deadly if you neglect your suit’s protection. When your protection wears down, your maximum health will decrease, and a yellow portion will appear on your health bar.

Once your health reaches the yellow portion, you won’t be able to restore it beyond that point. To regain your maximum health and recharge your suit protection, you must find a safe place where you can breathe.

Although it’s possible to mod your spacesuits at a workbench, increasing suit protection against environmental damage types is not an option. The available mods focus on increasing resistance to weapon damage.

However, don’t fret! You have the chance to loot Rare or Legendary gear from enemies and chests, which might come with perks that improve your suit protection right from the start.

Now you know all about how suit protection works in Starfield. If you’re hungry for more tips and information about the game, don’t hesitate to search for Twinfinite.

About the Author

Zhiqing Wan

Zhiqing Wan is the Reviews Editor for Twinfinite. She’s a History graduate from Singapore with over nine years of experience in the games media industry. She’s well-versed in everything gaming, from trawling through showfloors and conferences to spending an absurd amount of time creating spreadsheets for min-max-y RPGs. When she’s not praising Amazon’s Kindle as the greatest tech invention of the past two decades, you can find her exploring the depths of FromSoft games.