Starfield Contraband Smuggling Tips: Techniques for Hiding, Selling Locations, and More

Starfield Contraband refers to the assortment of illegal items present throughout the game universe. These items will be confiscated whenever you enter regions governed by the Freestar Collective or the United Colonies. Initially, these items may not appear to be worth the trouble, but the key motivation for engaging in smuggling activities is the potential to earn credits.

In total, there are 8 types of Contraband in the game: Aurora, Black Market Antiquities, Harvested Organs, Mech Components, Sentient AI Adapters, Stolen Artwork, Va’Ruun Heretic Writings, and Xenowarfare Tech.

If you’re uncertain whether an item is classified as Contraband, you can easily identify them in your inventory by the yellow marker next to each item. Additionally, because these items are illegal, they often sell for significantly higher prices, providing players with an early financial advantage.

Starfield Contraband Smuggling Stakes and Rewards: What Can You Gain?

As previously mentioned, the primary incentive for smuggling Contraband in Starfield is the prospect of earning substantial credits. These illegal items command high prices on black markets, enabling players to grow their wealth rapidly. These credits can then be reinvested in acquiring new equipment, making your journey through the game much easier and allowing you to tackle challenging missions more effectively without excessive difficulty.

Harvested Organ as a Contraband in Starfield (Image via Bethesda Softworks)

However, smuggling isn’t without risks. If you’re apprehended with Contraband in your possession, you may face fines or arrest, the latter resulting in a decrease in your XP, along with the loss of your illegal items.

On the other hand, possessing a high Negotiation Skill may allow you to bribe your way out of trouble. Nevertheless, this approach is highly situational and doesn’t guarantee a safe escape.

Despite the inherent risks of smuggling Contraband, the advantages clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

How to Safely Carry and Conceal Contraband in Starfield?

Here are three practical methods to safely carry and hide your Starfield Contraband:

Invest in the Deception skill
Purchase Shielded Cargo Holds
Equip Scan Jammers

Let’s examine how each of these strategies can help you conceal illegal items:

Enhance Your Deception Skill

By improving your Deception skills, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of being caught with Contraband. For example, reaching Deception Rank 4 decreases your chances of detection by an impressive 50%.

Utilize Shielded Cargo Holds

Buying Shielded Cargo Holds to smuggle Starfield Contraband (Image via Bethesda Softworks)

Using Shielded Cargo Holds is one of the best methods to smuggle Contraband effectively. These specialized cargo compartments can keep your illegal items concealed from scanners. The higher the quality of the Shielded Cargo Hold, the lower your chances of detection. However, avoid overloading them, as this will greatly increase the risk of getting caught.

Employ Scan Jammers

Lastly, Scan Jammers can be incredibly useful. These devices prevent scanners from detecting your hidden items. Just like Shielded Cargo Holds, they vary in quality, with some being more effective than others at jamming scans.

Where to Sell Contraband in Starfield?

After successfully acquiring and smuggling your items, it’s time to sell your Starfield Contrabands for credits. The ideal location for selling is The Den space station in the Wolf star system. Alternatively, if you’re affiliated with The Crimson Fleet, you can also sell at The Key space station in the Kryx star system.

Getting to The Den in the Wolf star system in Starfield (Image via Bethesda Softworks)

Additionally, you can also sell Contraband in New Atlantis, Cydonia, and Akila City. However, beware that these locations will subject you to scans, making it essential to take all necessary precautions to avoid getting caught.

That summarizes everything you need to know about smuggling Starfield Contraband.

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