Starbound | 10 Best Weapons and Combat Items

Starbound is an action-adventure Metroidvania video game where players chase the stars. The plot is that you just fled home, but your ship is in dire need of repair before you can start exploring the universe. In Starbound, the choice is yours to make between:

• Systematically annihilating the enemy forces who destroyed and forced you to flee from your home.
• Forgoing revenge and simply colonising the many planets in the universe.

But along the way, you’re sure to get into skirmishes. Luckily for you, the folks over at Player.me have played the game. This listicle highlights the weapons that made a difference during our experience.

Also Read: Metroid Prime Remastered: Top 10 Epic Boss Encounters

Why Consider These Weapons?

These weapons are the result of our collective experience. So, they fit different play styles (melee and ranged styles included) while giving you the best edge against enemy crowds and main bosses. Also, the gun or sword mechanics are sleek.

Top 10 Weapons in Starbound

Melee weapons damage enemies the most in Metroidvania games, and Starbound is no exception. So, you might see swords and daggers more than bows or missiles. Don’t miss the ship to our 10 best weapons for squashing opponents in Starbound. Enjoy!

#1: Doomcannon

The Doomcannon is a two-handed weapon that fires seven pellets like a shotgun. We love this weapon because the range of bullets makes it hard to miss your mark — unlike other ranged weapons in Starbound. But the highlight is the secondary firing mode which shoots a missile instead. The missile explodes on impact, and it also inflicts the Doomed status on enemies caught in its blast. 

The Doomed effect is a foolproof way to kill your opponents since any enemy it marks will explode once they take more than 10 damage points. Also, the explosion from the Doomcannon’s secondary gun mode ignores enemy armor, so shoot away. 

How To Get It: You can pick up the Doomcannon by completing the Huntmaster’s quest; the Skeleton Demolitionist. 

#2: Protector’s Broadsword

The Protector’s Broadsword is a two-handed weapon with a high knockback effect. Also, there aren’t many melee weapons in Starbound that can top this sword’s damage output. But the highlight is the empowering ability that the sword grants.

When you’re empowered, the sword glows white, and every one of your swings is more powerful. However, the empowerment ability consumes energy. Once your energy is fully depleted, the sword will send out a wave of energy that will damage all nearby foes.

How to Get It: You can obtain the Broken Broadsword in the Protectorate Introductory mission. After that, complete the Fetch the Glitch Artefact mission. Only then, you will be able to repair the Broken Broadsword. 

#3: Firestorm’s Fury

Firestorm’s Fury is too good a sword for any player to pass up. Not only can you hack and slash your way through enemies using this weapon, but the secondary mode is a flamethrower. So, Firestorm’s Fury doubles as both a melee and a ranged weapon. You can shoot out huge jets of fire until your energy level is depleted. 

The damage output per second is quite high and sure, enemies keep burning after you stop frying them with flames. While the enemies are slowed by their burns, you can kill them using the Firestorm’s Fury’s sword form. 

How to Get It: Firestorm’s Fury is a two-handed sword that can be obtained by completing the side quest — Arena of Fire. Once you’ve beaten the final challenge in this side quest, you’ll be awarded Firestorm’s Fury. 

#4: Time Pierce

Time Pierce is a potent weapon that freezes enemies in time for about 2.5 seconds. During that period, you can hack and slash your enemy with a damage output of 23.86 per 1.2 seconds. Opponents that are immune to the time freeze effect will be knocked back. In that case, the weapon deals 25 damage per hit. 

If you’re struggling with crowd control, Time Pierce is one of the best weapons in Starbound. Also, the time freeze can interrupt enemy attacks so don’t be afraid to play around with this bad boy. 

How to Get It: You can obtain Time Pierce from a dungeon chest on radioactive planets. 

#5: Drill Spear

The Drill Spear dishes out tremendous damage while also being useful for its mining and travelling capabilities. It’s a Tier 6 weapon that also doubles as a pseudo-jetpack, providing boosts to players’ jumps. Once players are in the air, Drill Spear will reduce the effect of gravity. 

Due to the nature of this weapon, it deals a damage of 49 points per second. So, it’s great for decimating bosses in a flash. To unleash the full potential of this weapon, just augment it with low gravity perks. 

How to Get It: You can obtain Drill Spear from a Space Dungeon or Station. 

#6: Dragonhead Pistol

The Dragonhead Pistol is a potent gun that fires regular shots like your regular pistol. But hold the fire button, and the shot charges until it’s a ball of fire instead of a bullet. Any enemy caught in its path will be ignited. 

But even if the enemy doesn’t feel the heat, the base power of 31.5 points per hit is more than enough to reduce any opponent into a pile of flesh, entrails, and bones. Especially as the charged shot can be fired every half a second. But the best part about this gun is that it’s one-handed. So, holding two of these will help you decimate the battlefield. 

How to Get It: You can get this weapon by defeating the Dragon Boss after completing the Baron’s Keep mission. The drop chance for this weapon is 10%.

#7: Lazercaster

The Lazercaster would have probably been the number one weapon on our list if not for the grind necessary to get one. It fires a pink beam of pure destruction at your enemies. Luckily, the range of the beam is very long, so it’s great for quickly killing groups of enemies. 

More so as the weapon’s damage output is a massive 40 points per second. It’s one of the only two Tier 7 weapons in Starbound. The other is the Protector’s Broadsword. 

How to Get It: You can purchase the Lazercaster in a Peacekeeper Store inside Peacekeeper Stations. 

#8: Evil Eye

The Evil Eye is a great weapon because you can easily aim with it. Yes, you heard that right! It is a gun, not an eye. In fact, Evil Eye fires shots like an assassin rifle while the eye damages any unfortunate enemy caught in its gaze. 

But to hurt enemies with the eye, you must stare at them. The longer you stare at enemies, the higher the damage output. Finally, Evil Eye stuns enemies for 0.75 seconds. However, the primary damage is 5 points per 5.6 seconds. The great thing about this weapon is that it auto-aims for players. 

How to Get It: You can get Evil Eye by looting dungeons and obtaining reward bags. 

#9: Asuterosaberu DX

Asuterosaberu DX is a killer weapon because its swing rate is fast, and the damage per swing is massive as well. Regarding swords, this is one of the best melee weapons you can enjoy in Starbound. The sword deals 162 damage per swing if you equip Ferozium armor.

But the sword’s special ability is even more devastating — it can tear a hole in reality. The tear in reality will damage enemies caught in its path. Because of this, the sword is also known as Astro Sabre DX. 

How to Get It: You can procedurally obtain the sword from quests and chests. It’s an easy find in Avian Grounded Villages. 

#10: Violium Broadsword 

The Violium Broadsword is a two-handed craftable weapon in the end stages of the campaign. This weapon is so devastating that it’s always sheathed. To craft the Violium Broadsword, you need a few batteries, solarium, and refined solarium. Yes, it’s straight out of Star Wars because the hilt and laser that’s emitted are reminiscent of a sabre. 

There’s also a somersault ability called Flip Slash, and it’s a move that lets players slash enemies in a forward-bladed flip. A flip takes around 0.2 seconds to complete, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll also avoid enemy attacks. 

How to Get It: You can only craft Violium Broadsword using a Separator’s Table. 

Our Final Say

Starbound can get tricky, but with these 10 weapons, you’ll dominate. Whether it’s a gun that shoots plasma or a sword that knocks enemies back, our list caters to even the most exquisite play styles. So, you’ll surely find something in this listicle to ace the combat. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Strongest Weapon in Starbound?

The strongest weapon in Starbound is likely to be Firestorm’s Fury. It’s a great weapon because of its flamethrower effect which ignites enemies. The fire is lethal to enemies because it burns like diesel — persistently. Other memorable mentions are Protector’s Broadsword, Solus Katana, and Hokucide. 

What Is a Good Starter Weapon in Starbound?

A good starter weapon for Starbound is the Iron Bow which is a ranged weapon. You should also have a hunting knife or two, so you can melee any enemy who gets too close. 

Which Weapon Is Tier 7 in Starbound?

Tier 7 weapons in Starbound are the Protector’s Broadsword and Lazercaster. The first weapon is an end-game item, while Lazercaster can be acquired at rank 3. Pair Lazercaster with Accelerator Armor for an explosive chain reaction.