How to Increase Your Carry Capacity in Starfield

It wouldn't be a Bethesda game if you weren't looting every single thing you see!

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In Starfield, nothing stings more than the dreaded warning: "Running while encumbered will quickly drain your health!" Exceeding your carry capacity in this game takes a toll on your oxygen levels, potentially leaving you gasping for air. Thankfully, there are several ways to boost your carry capacity and avoid such dire consequences.

1. The Weight Training Skill

A straightforward approach to increasing your carrying capacity is by investing in a specific skill: Weight Training. This skill offers a substantial capacity boost at various ranks:

  • Rank 1: Adds 10kg to your carry capacity.
  • Rank 2: Increases it by 25kg.
  • Rank 3: Offers a significant 50kg boost.
  • Rank 4: Provides an impressive 100kg of additional space.

Such skill progression allows you to carry more items and gather more loot during your explorations.

Starfield weight lifting skill
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2. Modding Your Armor

Another effective way to permanently enhance your carry capacity is by equipping armor with suitable mods. To do this, interact with a Spacesuit Workbench and examine the available open mod slots. Here, you can create mods to increase your carrying space:

  • The Pocketed Spacesuit Mod elevates carry capacity but requires research into Spacesuit Mods 2.
  • The Extra Capacity Pack Mod adds 10kg to your carry capacity but necessitates research into Pack Mods 2.

Both mods demand you invest in Spacesuit Design Skill Rank 2, and you'll also need to gather resources to research and apply these mods to your gear. While you may occasionally come across gear with pre-installed mods, armor generally has fewer pre-equipped mods than weapons.

Starfield armor capacity
Bethesda

3. Consuming Certain Food

In Starfield, certain food items can make you feel like a walking cargo hold. Pay attention to these edible options:

  • Research Mixology 1 to learn how to craft Alien Liquor, which grants a +10 Carry Capacity bonus for 5 minutes.
  • Some outposts or traders stock UC Battlemeal or Multipack rations, offering +6 or +8 Carry Capacity for 5 and 8 minutes, respectively.

4. Using Chems

Chemical Aids produced at Pharmaceutical Stations offer various bonuses, including one that significantly aids your carry capacity. During the UC Vanguard Faction Missions, complete the "Delivering Devils" quest on Mars. Instead of hacking a Trade Authority terminal, follow Cambridge's alternative task in the Deep Mines, which involves using Aqueous Hematite to create a drug called Pick-Me-Up. This miraculous drug boosts your Carry Capacity by +50 for a generous 15 minutes.

Starfield carry weight from food
Bethesda

5. Special Gear Modifiers

While a bit random, keep an eye out for special gear modifiers when searching for Rare, Epic, or Legendary gear. Some of these modifiers have "___ Hauler" effects, reducing the weight of specific item classes by 25%. For instance, a suit with the "Resource Hauler" perk makes all resources you find 25% lighter, making them more manageable for you to carry compared to storing them in your ship's cargo.

With these methods at your disposal, you can significantly enhance your carry capacity in Starfield and avoid the perils of overburdened exploration.

Here are some other Starfield articles to help you in your journey:
Vasco Location In Starfield - How To Get Your First Spaceship In Starfield - Starfield: 5 Skills Every New Player Should Get - How To Bind Your Weapons In Starfield - Starfield Lockpicking Guide - How Many Main Quest Missions Are There? - How To Change Your FOV