The outposts and abandoned space stations of Starfield are absolutely packed with junk. Sometimes you’ll have a hard time searching the derelict locations for anything useful — but you’ll want to look anyway, because eagle-eyed players will be rewarded with one-time-only upgrade magazines.
These special paperbacks give you a permanent stat boost whenever they’re found, and there are dozens hidden throughout the galaxy. Players can miss out on almost all of them if you’re not searching the many, many flat (and mostly empty) surfaces of the interiors. Seriously, normally that is very little for you to find that’s worth picking up. It’s worth looking out for these magazines.
Below we’ll explain how magazines work, and where to find what we’ve located so far. There are likely dozens (and dozens) of these magazines across the galaxy. Whenever you reach a unique location or a mission-specific spot, take a look around for one of these very useful upgrades.
More Starfield guides:
Best Skills | Best Ship Upgrades & Mods | All Companions | All Romance Options | All Settlement Locations | Join All Factions | How To Pirate Ships | Secret Companion | Secret Ship & Suit
How To Get Permanent Stat Upgrades
Don’t miss out on permanent upgrades. While exploring, you can find magazines and notes that provide permanent stat upgrades to your character. These can improve specific types of weapons, your crew, your stats in general, and much more. There are hundreds of these magazines, so always look out for them in the cluttered environments across the galaxy.
Here are some examples of magazines and the permanent benefits they’ll give when collected.
- Constellation Guide 01: Jemison – New Atlantis – In the Lodge, the headquarters of the Constellation explorer’s group you’ll join as part of the main story, you’ll find this magazine on the curved table surrounding the platform where you’ll place each artifact piece. Permanently reduces fall damage by 5%.
- Cyber Runner’s Cypher 02: Jemison – New Atlantis – The Well – Located on a shelf in Apex Electronics, one of the vendors in the Well near the Trade Authority building. Laser weapons permanently do 5% more critical damage.
- UC Defense Manual 02: Cthonia (Wolf System) – The Den – At the Den space station, go to the room in the upper-floor, back-right where the UC Vanguard sleeps. In the bunk room, find this magazine between the two beds. Further increases magazine size and weapon bash critical chance for all Allied Armaments guns.
- UC Defense Manual 05: Tau Ceti IV – Science Facility – Inside the Spacer Base inside the Abandoned Robotics Factory, enter the large control room. The magazine is on the table behind the main desk. Slightly increases magazine size and weapon bash critical chance for all Allied Armaments guns.
- Grunt Issue 01: Porrima 3 – Red Mile – When taking part in the Red Mile challenge, check the body at the beacon in the center of the crater. He’s carrying this magazine. Ballistic weapons permanently do 5% more critical damage.
- Grunt Issue 03: Montara Luna – In the canyons east of the Waggoner Farm, you’ll need to confront a gang during the ‘Deputized’ quest. In the gang camp, find this magazine on a table in the center of the camp. Ballistic weapons permanently do 5% more critical damage.
- Grunt Issue 04: Suvorov – The Key – Found in the bar of The Key, the Crimson Fleet’s HQ. Go to the bar and look at the booths in the back-right of the place. Ballistic weapons permanently do an additional 5% more critical damage.
- Combatech Catalog 03: Polvo – Hopetown – Inside the weapon shop (Best Defense) in Hope Town. Look on the shelves on the right wall. Slightly increases the range and accuracy of CombaTech weapons.
- Gunslinger’s Guide 04: Volii Alpha – Neon – Found in the upper bedroom of the Freestar Rangers Outpost. It’s on the nightstand to the right of the bed. Permanently reload and draw Laredo weapons 5% faster.
- Peak Performance 01: Jemison – The Eye – Found in the Physical Training room in The Eye, the space station base of Constellation. You’ll eventually be required to visit this area while progressing the main story. Permanently adds 5% to melee weapon critical damage.
- Peak Performance 05: Suvorov – The Key – At the Shooting Range in the Crimson Fleet HQ. Find it on the left side of the table facing the targets. Permanently increases carrying capacity by 5kg.
- Mining Monthly Issue 01: Tau Ceti II – Abandoned Mine – Enter the airlock door in the southwest corner of the mine. There’s a small interior structure with this magazine inside. Permanently increases tool-grip weapon damage by 2%.
- Tracker’s Primer 03: Porrima 3 – Red Mile – In the Red Mile establishment, enter the hotel room hallways. There’s a magazine in the middle-unlocked room, on a small table. Permanently increases EM weapon damage by 5%.
- Tracker’s Primer 05: Vectera (Narion System) – Argos Extractors Mining Outpost – When you return to the outpost during the main mission ‘Back to Vectera’ you’ll need to investigate a broken computer. Inside the outpost, enter the crew quarters where there are two bunk areas. Look in the second bunk area on the right. Permanently increases ballistic weapon damage by 5%.
- Va’ruun Scripture 05: Deepala (Narion System) – The Clinic – Inside the VIP Area, look in the first medical room on the right. Permanently increases sneak bonus by 1% and melee sneak attack damage by 5%.
- Freestar Captain’s Log 01: Arcturus 2 – Mech Factory – Command Center – During the Freestar Ranger quest ‘First to Fight, First to Die’ you’ll reach a command center where Paxton Hull is holed up. Enter the office with an Old Earth Rifle to find this magazine. Permanently increases carry capacity by 5kg.
- Kryx’s Journal Entry 01: Bessel 3 (Bessel System) – Crimson Fleet Outpost – During the mission ‘Back to Vectera’ you’ll reach a Crimson Fleet Outpost where Barret is being held captive. In the room right before where Barret is caged, you’ll find two crates and this magazine to the left. Store prices are permanently reduced by 2%, and you permanently sell items for 2% more (on top of any other bonuses).
Those are all the magazines we’ve found so far. This is just to give you a good idea what to look out for while you’re exploring the galaxy. Most of the time you can ignore everything in one of the massive outposts — but look for these.
