Frigate

Lore & Background

In the Settled Systems, the Frigate occupies a cultural niche that mirrors its mechanical one. Where Scouts are the shuttles of the rich and the smuggler's quick escape, Frigates are the honest, hardworking vessels of the middle class of space. A trader hauling refined duranium from the Akila system to a station in the Shattered Drift will fly a Frigate. A Constellation security team running escort duty through a contested corridor will fly a Frigate. The class is unglamorous in the way that makes it ubiquitous.

Shipwrights in the UES shipyards treat Frigates as a blank canvas. The slot layout is generous enough to field a serious weapon loadout or a heavy engine package, but not so large that you're fiddling with a dozen component bays. This makes the Frigate the class most players gravitate toward when they first start experimenting with the shipbuilding system: enough room to express a build philosophy without the overwhelming choice paralysis of a Cruiser or Battleship.

In military doctrine, Frigates are the 'screen'—the layer between fast, fragile Scouts and the slow, devastating Cruisers. They absorb the first wave of fire, cover the flanks of a convoy, and pick off isolated targets while the heavy ships bring their broadsides to bear. The Freestar Collective's militia and the UES Navy both field Frigate variants, and the Constellation's own fleet includes several that serve as the player's primary long-range vessel.

In Their Own Story

The Frigate *Kestrel's Wake* hung in the amber glow of a dying star, its hull scarred by micrometeorite pitting and the faint blue residue of a shield discharge. Inside the cockpit, a lone pilot—goggles pushed up, coffee going cold on the console—watched the long-range scanner paint a contact three light-seconds ahead. A cargo hauler, drifting, shields down, running a distress ping on an open frequency.

The pilot's Frigate wasn't the fastest thing in the sector. It wasn't the toughest, either. But it had enough engine thrust to close the gap before the pirate skiffs that were also converging on the signal could get a clean shot, and enough weapon slots to lay down a suppressing burst that made them think twice. The pilot engaged the afterburner, felt the familiar shudder in the seat, and turned the *Kestrel's Wake* into a wall between the hauler and the guns behind it.

Three minutes later, the hauler's engines coughed back to life, and the pirates broke off. The pilot exhaled, pulled a fresh coffee from the thermal cup, and set a course for the nearest station. Just another Tuesday in the Settled Systems.

Reader's Guide

Frigates sit in the sweet spot of Starfield's shipbuilding system. They offer a moderate number of component slots across weapons, engines, shields, and cargo—enough to commit to a build without the overwhelming slot count of a Cruiser. Here's how to optimize:

**Slot System & Trade-offs:** Every ship has fixed bays for engines, weapons, shields, and utility components. Frigates typically allocate a balanced spread: a handful of weapon slots, two to three engine slots, and a moderate shield/cargo allocation. You can't add slots beyond the class cap, so every component you mount is a choice against another. Stacking heavy weapons means fewer engine bays, which means less thrust and top speed. Prioritize accordingly.

**Where to Find / Build:** Frigates are available at most shipyards (e.g., in Neon, Akila, or the Shattered Drift) for purchase. You can also build one from scratch if you've salvaged or purchased the required components. Check the shipyard menu → Build → Frigate.

**Build Archetypes:** - *Tank:* Max out shield and hull components, mount one or two heavy weapons for self-defense, and keep engines moderate. You want to absorb hits and outlast. - *Speed/Recon:* Prioritize engine thrust and top speed, keep weapons light (one or two rapid-fire guns), and maximize fuel for long-range jumps. Ideal for exploration and evasion. - *DPS:* Load the weapon slots with the highest-damage components you can find, accept a lighter shield profile, and use moderate engines to reposition between shots. Best for clearing hostile encounters quickly.

**Tip:** Salvage components from destroyed ships to expand your pool. A Frigate's slot cap means you'll want to be selective—save your best components for the bays that matter most to your chosen archetype.

Did You Know?

• The Frigate is the second-smallest ship class in Starfield's five-tier hierarchy, sitting between the nimble Scout and the heavier Corvette.
• Because of its balanced slot layout, the Frigate is often the first ship class players experiment with when learning the shipbuilding and component-salvage systems.
• In the game's military lore, Frigates serve as the 'screen' layer—fast enough to escort and slow enough to absorb fire—bridging the gap between Scouts and Cruisers.
• Multiple distinct Frigate variants appear across the game's factions, each with different base component loadouts, giving players a range of starting points for customization.