Starfield Special Projects skill, explained

Expand your crafting horizons with this skill.

A screenshot from Starfield showing the inside of a cockpit of a spaceship.
Screenshot by Dot Esports

Research and crafting are optional activities in Starfield that allow you create a variety of items, from weapon improvements to medical aid items. The Special Projects skill gives you access to a wider array of research projects to take on.

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There are a ton of skills in Starfield and your specific playstyle might prioritize certain skills while leaving others completely untouched. If you’re interested in late-game crafting and research, however, I recommend you start leveling the Special Projects skill. If you want to know exactly what this skill does or how to upgrade this skill tree, here’s what you need to know.

What is Special Projects in Starfield?

Image of the special projects skill tree in starfield.
The fully maxed out version of the skill not only gives you wider access to components, but also can double your Extractor’s production | Screenshot by Dot Esports

The Special Projects skill in Starfield gives you access to otherwise locked manufactured components at your workbench. These are components that you can build yourself instead of needing to find or purchase them in the Settled Systems. Manufactured components are integral to complete various work orders.

If you find yourself building a lot of outposts throughout Starfield or investing heavily into just a few, I would heavily recommend picking up the Special Projects skill. Below are all the rare and exotic manufactured components that you can craft with Special Projects:

Rare Manufactured Components

Manufactured ComponentsNeeded Resources
Drilling Rigx3 Tungsten, x2 Lubricant, x1 Reactive Gauge
Molecular Sievex2 Membrane, x2 Ionic Liquids, x1 Mag Pressure Tank
Paramagnon Conductorx3 Zero Wire, x1 Neodymium, x1 Gold
Positron Batteryx2 Antimony, x2 Vanadium, x1 Tau Grade Restrostat
Semimetal Waferx2 Antimony, x2 Gold, x1 Zero Wire
Supercooled Magnetx3 Neodymium, x1 Isocentered Magnet, x1 Isotopic Coolant
Zero-G Gimbal x2 Lubricant, x2 Tantalum, x1 Isocentered Magnet

Exotic Manufactured Components

Manufactured ComponentsNeeded Resources
Control Rodx3 Dysprosium, x1 Austenitic Manifold, x1 Isotpic Coolant
Microsecond Regulatorx4 Europium, x2 Lithium, x1 Supercooled Magnet, x1 Tau Grade Rheostat
Nuclear Fuel Rod3x Uranium, x2 Solvent, 1x Semimetal Wafer
Power Circuitx4 Palladium, x2 Polymer, x1 Paramagnon Conductor, x1 Positron Batter
Sterile Nanotubesx2 Vanadium, x2 Solvent, x1 Molecular Sieve

How to upgrade Special Projects in Starfield

Like all other skills in Starfield, you need to both have excess Skill Points to spend and complete a specific task a designated number of times to upgrade your skill of choice. Given how this skill is all about crafting, you can access the higher tiers of Special Projects by crafting manufactured components.

Tier LevelTaskUpgrade
Tier OneInvest 12 total Skill Points into the Science skill tree.You can now research experimental projects at the Research Lab.
Tier TwoCraft ten common or uncommon manufactured components.You can now craft rare manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench.
Tier ThreeCraft ten rare manufactured components.You can now craft exotic manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench.
Tier FourCraft ten exotic manufactured components.You can craft unique manufactured components and Outpost Extractors can produce extra resources.


Author
Image of Blaine Polhamus
Blaine Polhamus
Staff Writer for Dot Esports. Avid gamer for two decades and gaming writer for three years. I'm a lover of anything Souls-like since 2011. I cover everything from single-player RPGs to MMOs.