With the release of Bethesda’sStarfieldcomes a whole new range of game mechanics, stories, and locations for players to explore. One such mechanic introduced withStarfieldis the inclusion of jetpacks, or “Boost Packs” as they are known in-game. These give players the ability to traverse both vertically and horizontally throughout the manyworlds of the Settled Systems. Since ground vehicles are not currently part of the game, a good Boost Pack is essential for quicker travel and can make journeying across vast open spaces considerably easier. Packs will also influence the amount of Oxygen a player uses as they jump and run, particularly if they are over-encumbered with equipment.
There are four main categories of Boost Pack for players to be aware of. Each one offers a slightly different style of jump, as well as varying Boost consumption. Boost is a fuel meter displayed with theplayer’s health bar, which will tell them how much power their Pack has left and whether they are able to jump again.
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How To Use & Upgrade Boost Packs
to use Packs, players will first need to invest in the Boost Pack Training skills perk. Players should get this as early as possible since some planets will be impossible to visit without the assistance of a Pack. To upgrade to better Packs, players can visit some of thetop retailers in the major cities, complete quests, and explore enemy locations such as outposts. Packs can also be upgraded by defeating certain enemies with specialist equipment.
Basic
The default “Basic” pack type is a standard pack offering a medium jump with medium amounts of Boost consumption. Nonetheless, there are still a variety of modified Basic packs which can be extremely useful even if slightly inferior to the other pack types. Best used forpreventing large fallsor quickly relocating in tense combat situations, the Basic pack is a good place to start. However, it is still relatively limited in comparison to other Boost Pack types.
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Many players will likely become frustrated with the limitations of the Basic pack type, and will likely seek out better ones sooner rather than later. However, some of the most legendary Packs in the game are of the Basic classification, but tend to be heavily upgraded with a list of modifications.
Balanced
The Balanced Boost Pack type is a better version of the Basic type, but still does not offer any particular advantage in terms of vertical lift. Despite this, Balanced packs are much more energy efficient than Basic ones. They will make life much easier when trying tocross vast open spaces, as will often be required throughout the game.
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Balanced Packs might not contain as many specialist or legendary items as the Basic pack type, but they generally offer better flight than the average Basic Pack. Regardless of how upgraded the player’s Boost Pack skills are in theirTech skill tree, the pack will still have limited thrust and be quite inefficient. Even with themaximum Boost pack training, it is often better to pick a specialty pack type of either Power or Skip, unless the player already has a highly upgraded rare or legendary pack.
Power
Power Boost Packs focus on vertical thrust and will enable players to ascend to points that are otherwise inaccessible The downside is that these packs are not very efficient with Boost, and just one or two jumps can drain the pack to near depletion. In the event of an attempted pack-jump to save a big fall, this can be costly and even fatal if players do not monitor their Boost levels.
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Power packs are likely to be a favorite pack type for many players, since they offer the most lift and can be extremelyuseful in combat situations. The ability to fly up and around a room, as well as onto taller objects and surfaces, can provide a significant advantage when compared with the other available pack types.
Skip
Skip Packs will give the player a very different feeling to the other pack types, since they offer short bursts of medium-height thrusts. While they will not be able to generate enough power to climb to the heights of a Power pack, the Skip pack is brilliant for both combat and traversal alike. It can makecovering long distancesor flanking enemies a breeze.
Typically more efficient on Boost than the other pack types, this type is perfect for catching falls. It will enable players to gradually descend from colossal heights, while still maintaining enough Boost to land safely. In addition, the Boost efficiency of Skip packs will free up more Oxygen for players. This means that players can spend less time exhausted and recharging their Oxygen meter, and more time exploring the many mysteries thatStarfieldhas to offer.
Starfieldis available now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.
