Starbound
Starbound

Vehicle Crafting & Usage — Starbound Guide

Learn how to craft and utilize vehicles in Starbound, from basic hoverbikes to advanced mechs, to traverse planets and challenging terrain faster.

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Vehicle Crafting & Usage

While Starbound offers a vast universe to explore on foot, sometimes you need to cover ground faster or traverse challenging terrain with ease. This guide will walk you through the process of acquiring and utilizing vehicles, from basic hoverbikes to more advanced mechs.

Acquiring Your First Vehicle: The Hoverbike

The Hoverbike is your entry-level vehicle, perfect for zipping across planetary surfaces. To get one, you'll need to craft it at a specific station.

  1. Unlock the Inventor's Table: Your journey begins with the Inventor's Table. This crafting station is crucial for many early-game recipes. You can craft it at your Anvil (or a similar basic crafting station) using 10x Wood and 5x Stone.
  2. Craft the Vehicle Assembly Station: Once you have your Inventor's Table, interact with it. Look for the "Vehicle Assembly Station" recipe. This specialized station is where all vehicles are constructed. You'll typically need 20x Iron Bars, 10x Copper Bars, and 5x Silicon Boards. Iron and Copper Bars are smelted from their respective ores at a Furnace, while Silicon Boards are crafted at the Atomic Furnace (a later-game upgrade to the basic Furnace).
  3. Gather Hoverbike Materials: With your Vehicle Assembly Station placed, interact with it. The Hoverbike recipe will be available. The exact materials can vary slightly with game updates, but commonly include:
    • 50x Titanium Bars (mined from planets with higher threat levels, smelted in a Furnace)
    • 20x Durasteel Bars (mined from even higher threat level planets, smelted in a Furnace)
    • 10x Rubber (harvested from rubber trees found on forest or jungle planets)
    • 5x Batteries (crafted at an Atomic Furnace or found as loot)
  4. Craft Your Hoverbike: Once you have all the necessary components, select the Hoverbike recipe at the Vehicle Assembly Station and craft it. It will appear in your inventory as a deployable item.

Deploying and Using Vehicles

Once you have a vehicle in your inventory, deploying and using it is straightforward:

  • Deployment: Select the vehicle from your hotbar or inventory and right-click (or use the equivalent action button) on a flat surface. The vehicle will materialize.
  • Entering/Exiting: Approach the deployed vehicle and press the 'E' key (default interaction key) to enter. Press 'E' again to exit.
  • Controls:
    • Movement: Use 'W', 'A', 'S', 'D' (default movement keys) to accelerate, steer, and reverse.
    • Jumping/Boosting: Vehicles often have a jump or boost ability, typically activated by the 'Spacebar'.
    • Headlights: Some vehicles, like the Hoverbike, have headlights that can be toggled with the 'F' key (default flashlight key).
  • Storage: Most vehicles, especially larger ones, have a small internal storage compartment. Access it by interacting with the vehicle while not driving it.
  • Damage and Repair: Vehicles can take damage from enemies or environmental hazards. If a vehicle is destroyed, it will drop a broken version of itself. You can repair it at the Vehicle Assembly Station using specific repair kits or materials.
  • Retrieval: To put your vehicle back into your inventory, stand near it and press 'E' (default interaction key) while not driving it. A prompt to "Retrieve Vehicle" should appear.

Advanced Vehicles: Mechs and More

Beyond the Hoverbike, Starbound offers more powerful and specialized vehicles, primarily Mechs. These are essential for exploring dangerous planets and engaging in space combat.

Mech Acquisition and Customization

Mechs are acquired through a different progression path, typically tied to the main questline and specific vendors at the Outpost. You'll unlock the ability to craft and customize Mechs after completing certain missions.

  1. Outpost Mech Shop: Visit the Mech Assembly Station at the Outpost. Here, you can purchase new Mech parts, including bodies, arms, legs, and boosters.
  2. Mech Blueprint Acquisition: Many advanced Mech parts are found as blueprints in high-level dungeons or as rewards for completing challenging quests. Once acquired, they can be crafted at the Outpost Mech Assembly Station.
  3. Customization: The Mech Assembly Station allows you to swap out different Mech parts, each offering unique stats and abilities. Experiment to find a loadout that suits your playstyle.

Mech Usage and Combat

Mechs operate similarly to other vehicles but with a focus on combat and environmental traversal:

  • Deployment: Deploy a Mech from your inventory like any other vehicle.
  • Weapons: Mechs come equipped with various weapons on their arms. Use your primary and secondary attack buttons (typically left and right mouse clicks) to fire them.
  • Abilities: Many Mech parts grant special abilities, such as shields, dashes, or powerful area-of-effect attacks. These are usually activated with specific hotkeys.
  • Energy Management: Mech weapons and abilities consume energy. Keep an eye on your energy bar and allow it to recharge when not in combat.
  • Space Combat: Mechs are crucial for engaging in space combat against hostile ships. Fly your ship close to an enemy vessel, deploy your Mech, and board the enemy ship to disable it or eliminate its crew.

Mastering vehicle crafting and usage will significantly enhance your Starbound experience, allowing for faster exploration, safer resource gathering, and exciting combat encounters.