Weapon mods are a great way to customize gear in Starfield. These can improve damage, higher accuracy, faster reloading, or other secondary effects. Mods belong to specific categories, like magazines, barrels, or grips, and cannot be doubled up.
Each weapon can fit several mods based on its rarity. Legendary-grade rarity guns can have up to eight mods, and many of them come with some pre-installed. Other ones can be purchased, found through quests, or even crafted at a workbench.
8 Shock Charge Band
The Shock Charge Band is a muzzle that adds an energy burst to certain weapons. To craft it you will need to fully master Muzzle Mods to level three. Then, you’ll need the following materials: four Titanium, two Adhesive, one Polymer, and two Ytterbium. Most of these can be bought in shops or found by exploring many different planets.
The Shock Charge Band can be added to any Mag-type weapon. This includes rifles like the Magshear and Magsniper. This does make it a more limited mod, but still powerful. The mod itself adds damage over time pulses that will continue to hurt enemies for a few seconds.
7 Hornet Nest
The Hornet Nest is a magazine that can turn shotguns and heavy weapons into deadly explosive cannons. This time, you will need to level up the Science tree with Magazine and Battery Mods 3. The required materials include three Lead, three Adhesive, and three Tetraflourdies.
Many of Starfield's Legendary shotguns already have custom magazine mods, and in some cases, they cannot be removed. This usually means the Hornet Nest is more suited for lower-end rarity guns, even ones that are Epic or Rare quality. Still, with the high explosive fury, the mod can be extremely powerful even with these custom-made weapons.
6 Tesla Pylons
Tesla Pylons is another possible magazine, this time mostly used with heavy weapons exclusively. To craft them yourself, you will once again need Magazine and Battery Mods 3. For such crafting the materials are two Zero Wire, two Adhesive, and one Tau Grade Rheostats. That third material is sometimes sold in stores, but is more reliably crafted by you at a workbench. For that, you would need a Microsecond Regulator, Positron Battery, and Comm Relay.
The Tesla Pylon leaves an electrified charge on any surface it hits. This makes it ideal for controlling an area. However, many times the enemy AI can become rather suicidal. Rather than being deterred by your trap, they will simply run through it. While it can deal some damage, you might soon find yourself swarmed if a foe can survive.
5 Fully Automatic
Fully Automatic is a receiver slot mod. This greatly increases the firing rate of many different guns. It can be made yourself if you have Receiver Mods 2 from the Science skill tree. The crafting materials include three Sealant, four Titanium, four Lubricants, and one Microsecond Regulator.
With the Fully Automatic mod installed, the gun will continuously fire as long as you hold the fire button. This is mostly used on special rifles but can be installed on a select number of pistols and shotguns. Note that the mod doesn’t directly improve the fire rate stat, so its performance is best seen on guns that already shoot quickly.
4 Amplifier
The Amplifier is an internal mod that increases both the power output and raw damage of laser weaponry. It can be constructed after learning Internal Mods 2. The crafting materials are one Zero Wire, one Isocentered Magnet, three Adhesive, and three Titanium. These are fairly common materials, making it much easier to buy them instead of gathering them on far-off planets.
The Amplifier is great if your build centers on energy or electromagnetic damage. The mod does nothing for physical damage. Thankfully, in most cases, the Amplifier cannot be added to bullet-based guns. Note that the Equinox gun also has an exclusive mod called Amplifier. However, this is a cover mod instead of an internal mod.
3 Recon Laser Sight
Recon Laser Sight is a special laser weapon mod that automatically highlights foes. It can be studied with Optic and Laser Mods 3 from the Science tree. The ingredients include two Zero Wire, two Adhesive, three Vanadium, and two Palladium.
Like the Amplifier, the Recon Laser Sight is amazing for optimizing electromagnetic and energy damage. Enemies spotted receive the Aiming debuff, which greatly improves overall accuracy. Surprisingly, the mod can be installed on a small amount of physical weapons as well. This includes the AR-99 rifle, Shotty Shotgun, and Kodama rifle, among others. This increases the value of the mod by being extra versatile.
2 Penetrator Rounds
Penetrator Rounds allow projectiles to through enemies, allowing single shots to damage large groups. It is another magazine mod learned from Magazine and Battery Mods 3. The required materials are three Adhesives, three Lead, and four Antimony. That third material can sometimes be bought in stores. However, it is more reliable to personally gather it from cold or frozen planets like Gasparis or Cruth.
The Penetrator Round mod tends to be used with pistols like the Urban Eagle or Deadeye. However, it can be also used with a small number of good rifles. Still, it is mostly dependable if you favor small sidearms with deadly precision. But, to get the most use of the mod enemies do need to line up in a straight line, mainly due to narrow terrain or traps.
1 High Powered
High Powered is among the best internal mods. It simply improves flatout damage, making it one of the most reliable mod choices. It is crafted with Internal Mods 3. The materials are three Tantalum, three Adhesive, four Titanium, and one Isocentered Magnet. The best method for gaining Tantalum is using Extractors you’ve placed on planets. But, they can also be farmed the old-fashioned way by picking up ore by hand.
High Powered works on a ton of different weapons. This includes most rifles, pistols, and shotguns. While the mod is incredibly efficient, it isn’t very creative. With limited mod slots and tons of combat situations in Starfield, do not be afraid to change internal mods just to spice up the experience.
