Starfield offers plenty of customization in terms of character-building. Yu have the ability to take any specialization and build your character around it, and personally, I love making stealthy characters in Bethesda games. Combined with a proper set of sniper skills, it allows me to overcome difficult fights easily. This guide will cover all the key points to pull off a stealth sniper build in Starfield.
How to build a stealth sniper in Starfield
The stealth sniper character build is one of the most OP builds you can create. It focuses on long-range combat and takes down opponents before they know what hit them. Building your character in such a way allows you to overcome even the strongest opponents you wouldn't necessarily be able to while underleveled.
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Best background and skills for stealth snipers - Starfield
The best background for the stealth sniper character build in Starfield is, without a doubt, Cyber Runner. This background gives you three essential skills you will require for your playstyle:
- Stealth: Having your character be 25% more difficult to detect when sneaking will be quintessential to this build. Additionally, suppressed weapons do an additional 5% sneak attack damage for a nice bonus (on top of scoring well-placed headshots).
- Security: Gives you the ability to attempt to hack Advanced locks, banking two auto attempts. Having it is a must-have in all of my Bethesda game builds because I find more often than not, I'm able to find rare and valuable resources hidden inside locked containers, especially early on.
- Theft: While it may look easier to just kill your targets instead of going through the trouble of pickpocketing them, certain actions can have far-reaching consequences in Starfield. Sometimes, it's best to play it smart and pick your targets carefully.
Best traits for stealth snipers in Starfield
The best traits for the stealth sniper character build in Starfield are as follows:
- Alien DNA: Health and oxygen will receive an additional boost (essential for breathing). Reduces the effectiveness of healing and food items, which I found to be easily circumvented.
- Introvert: You receive an additional oxygen boost by traveling alone, which this build should be doing anyway.
- Terra Firma: Boosts your oxygen and health during ground missions. If you plan on spending most of your time in space, feel free to pick Spaced instead.
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Best weapons for stealth snipers in Starfield
I like picking a sniper rifle and having a handgun on the side while playing a stealth sniper build in Starfield. These are the weapons I've found the most useful for this build so far:
- Hard Target Rifle: This rifle is the Starfield's equivalent to 50-caliber anti-material rifles in real life. It delivers incredible damage on its own—even more so combined with your stealth bonus. It becomes the ultimate assassin's tool with an attached suppressor, and when combined with the following weapon traits:
- Hitman: Provides you with the additional +15% damage while aiming.
- Handloading: Volatile rounds provide bonus damage but are also unstable.
- Shattering: Additional armor penetration.
- Urban Eagle Pistol: An excellent high-powered pistol that provides excellent stopping power, especially if used for headshots (which you should be doing anyway). Below are the best perks for the Urban Eagle.
- Crippling: Grants you a +30% damage bonus on the next attack after hitting one of the target's limbs. I found this perk especially useful when an all-out firefight erupts and I must concentrate on taking out opponents as quickly as possible.
- Corrosive: Randomly deals corrosive damage and reduces the targets' armor over six seconds. It is excellent for going around some tougher armor types.
- Furious: Each consecutive hit deals more damage, which goes well with the Crippling perk.
If you're a Starfield fan like us and are looking for more guides to help you on your adventures, you've come to the right place! Check out Where to Find Every Companion in Starfield nad How to Get Resources from Asteroids in Starfield – How to Mine, here on Pro Game Guides!