Starfield Hardest Star Systems

Highlights

The difficulty of star systems in Starfield is not solely determined by the players' level, but higher-level systems tend to have tougher enemies in general.
Reaching some of the higher-level systems requires players to have a better grav drive or high Astrophysics skill.
These locations include various outposts, abandoned structures, and all the procedurally generated content Starfield is known for, depending on where players land.

When it comes to difficult star systems in Bethesda's newest sci-fi RPG, Starfield, it's a hard one to measure. So much of the game's content is randomized thanks to the tile system that spawns procedurally generated content when players land on a planet. Of course, there are a few outposts and locations that carry over from one game to another, but a lot is still up to chance.

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One metric that can be used to measure the rough difficulty of content is the level of the system in question. Now, this isn't always 100% accurate or true. High-level enemies can appear randomly anywhere as players level up themselves, but these systems seem to have by default high-level enemies in general. Still, players shouldn't feel like they have to wait before tackling some of Starfield's hardest star systems, as the level is more of a guide than a rule set in stone.

8 Strix – 70

Starting off at level 70 is Strix, one of several star systems in the game that doesn't really have any outposts or ships or other structures right off the bat when players jump to it. That said, there is one temperate planet here, and the system seems like an ideal spot for players to start their own outposts for resource gathering.

Strix is the lowest level of hard systems, but at 70, players might still want to proceed cautiously in case they happen to run into random encounters while in orbit, or even after landing on any of the system's planets.

7 Katydid – 75

Katydid is a sparse, empty system located at the bottom right of the star map, and is therefore easily ignored by players. There's nothing of note in this area, which makes it a good spot for any resource gathering or just exploring any of the procedurally generated areas on the sparse, desolate planets.

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Those brave enough to do so can also dedicate this spot to any outpost building.

6 Masada – 75

Masada is a much busier system than the ones before, and it's also quite relevant to the main story of Starfield. It's here in this system that players will face off against the final threat of Starfield during their first run of the game, so make sure not to jump in too early, because a space battle of high difficulty awaits on Masada III.

Beyond the main quest, Masada has a few locations worth visiting and a variety of planets and moons to explore, so there are plenty of chances to run into some high-level enemies in this star system. Best not to come without proper gear.

5 Archimedes – 75

Archimedes is a bit less busy in terms of planets compared to Masada, but it's quite an impressive system thanks to the beautiful frozen giant. A few locations, mainly abandoned, can be found for loot-hungry players to pick away.

It's also a good spot for any outpost building and general resource-gathering. This and the following star systems are located on the far right side of the star map, so without a solid grav drive, players may not be able to jump here if they're missing the right skills to pilot a more advanced vessel or increase their jump distance.

4 Hawking – 75

A medium-sized system, Hawking doesn't have much going on in it at first glance. There's one location to discover for some loot, but other than that, this system is a prime spot for any Bethesda-style random encounters.

Once more, it's a great spot to put a deep space outpost in or just loot around and gather resources. Keep an eye out for any hostile activity in orbit, as this high-level system can spawn fairly tough random encounters.

3 Huygens – 75

Players looking to explore abandoned locations or visit an outpost can head to this high-level star system. In Huygens, the most noteworthy spot is the Muybridge Pharmaceuticals Lab, and a few planets worth exploring for their points of interest.

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Despite being a medium-sized system it has a surprising amount of set locations, to make sure to comb it for loot while on this side of the galaxy.

2 Fermi – 75

Fermi has one of the few temperate deep space planets, ideal for building a picturesque outpost for pure living far away from the bustle of the Settled Systems. There's also a civilian outpost to discover, where players can engage in a bit of trading before going their way again.

It's one of the bigger systems in the game, so it will take quite a while to survey all of it. That said, it's what makes it one of the better endgame systems along with Masada, with plenty of places to go, resources to gather, and outposts to build. Those looking for a challenge should head here.

1 Bohr – 75

Bohr is also a decently sized system but with far fewer set locations compared to Fermi or Masada. There's a civilian outpost on one of the temperate planets for trading, but aside from that this is fertile ground for players to set their outposts or explore away.

As with all systems, random encounters are bound to be system-level dependent here, so only come here once prepared.