Bethesda’s Starfield has proven that the studio is still more than capable of making great RPGs, increasing fans’ faith in TES VI. Gameplay-wise, Starfield is a solid show from Bethesda and speaks heavily of their expertise in the genre. But Bethesda is Bethesda, and you can’t expect them to put out a game free of technical issues. Problems such as the High Price to Pay quest and the Digipick bug are just some of the many issues in Starfield. And this issue of stealth attack not working is also one of them.
Like other Bethesda RPGs, Starfield also allows its players to use stealth in order to kill enemies or get around. But unlike other games, the stealth mechanic in this game is a mess. Many players have been unable to get stealth attack kills in Starfield for a myriad of unrealistic reasons, ranging from incapable companions to hyper-alert NPCs. So, is there a fix for all this? Let’s find out!
Starfield Stealth Attack Not Working Issue: Is there any fix yet
As of now, Bethesda has yet to release an official fix for this particular issue. The studio did release an update on September 13, but that was mainly focused on certain quests and general stability improvements. So, for now, you need to rely on the following workarounds:
Check the basics –
The stealth ability isn’t available to everyone outright. For you to use stealth, you first need to unlock the Stealth skill in the Physical tree. Besides this, the only backgrounds that come with stealth unlocked by default are Ronin and Cyber Runner. If you don’t see a stealth bar at the top of your screen, then it’s yet to be unlocked.
In order for stealth attacks to work, you need to be in a crouching position. Try to stay hidden and out of an NPC’s field of view. Take a good look at your surroundings and never go near or under bright lights. And most important of all, avoid making noise. That’s just inviting more suspicion from NPCs.
Use appropriate weapons –
When using stealth attacks, the weapon of your choice also comes into play. If you are trying to stealth attack using a shotgun, then that just makes the skill redundant. Opt for suppressed weapons when going for ranged weapons. As for melee weapons, they work just fine since they barely make any noise.
Upgrade skill –
The reason why so many of your stealth attacks might not be working could be due to the skill still being at a lower level. Like other skills in this game, there are four ranks for the Stealth skill too. The final skill level will make you “100% harder to detect when sneaking”, along with other useful perks. So, we suggest you invest some skill points into leveling up stealth and then try executing stealth attacks.
Go solo –
The companions in this game can be highly useful for lots of things, but stealth attacks certainly aren’t one of them. You can bring them along with you during general combat, but if you want to take the stealth route, it’s better to go solo.
Take off your spacesuit –
As per Reddit user Ventetr, your character’s weight can also play a big role in stealth attacks. So, make sure you’re not encumbered when going on a stealth run-in combat mission. Also, some mentioned that taking off their spacesuits and wearing normal clothes made their stealth playthrough a lot easier. Additionally, you can also use the Chameleon suit, which makes you invisible when staying still. It’s not a total invisibility thing, but it’s still quite useful.
That said, we hope you find this guide informative. For more guides on the game, check out DigiStatement. Also, read: Starfield Power From Beyond Quest Bug: Is there any fix yet
