Starfield: 10 Best Auto Turrets, Ranked

While exploring the Settled Systems' 1000 planets and moons, combat in space with other ships is inevitable. Even players who become pirates will have to put up with Spacers and Ecliptic mercs from time to time. Maintaining a powerful ship's arsenal is vital to engaging these menaces without undue stress.

One of the best strategies for space combat in Starfield is to incorporate auto turret systems into your ship. Since these can aim in virtually any direction and usually possess exceptional rates of fire, they're excellent for both defensive and offensive purposes. Be sure to place one or two at the rear and/or undercarriage of your ship for maximum coverage! These are the very best ship turrets available so far.

Updated by Aaron Krull on October 25, 2023: We've updated our best auto turrets list to better connect to other relevant guides on the site.

10 Mauler 106T Autocannon Turret

All auto turrets require Piloting Rank 3 or 4 so that you can use Class B or C Reactors. But this particular turret is otherwise available pretty early on since it requires no skill in Starship Design in order to purchase. Plus, the majority of ship technicians in UC space will have access to this one. Unfortunately, these turrets take up 4 power each, meaning you can only have up to 3 on one ship.

• Class B Reactor
• Range: 1500m
• Fire Rate: 5/s
• Hull Damage: 17 (85/s)
• Shield Damage: 5 (25/s)
• Max Power 4; up to 3 turrets
• 2 Hull; 3 Mass
• No Starship Design skill is required
• Available at level 20, from ship technicians in United Colonies territory

9 Dragon 241P Pulse Laser Turret

The Dragon 241P has a noticeably slower rate of fire than most other pulse laser turrets, but it packs a powerful punch per shot. These also have a max power of 3. That's all it takes for them to recharge at maximum speed, and you can even build up to 4 of these on a single ship. So it's easier to spread them out for wider coverage.

• Class B Reactor
• Range: 1250m
• Fire Rate: 2.5/s
• Hull Damage: 10 (25/s)
• Shield Damage: 32 (80/s)
• Max Power 3; up to 4 turrets
• 3 Hull; 3 Mass
• No Starship Design skill is required
• Available at level 19, from ship technicians in Freestar Collective space

8 Scorch-P 60MW Pulse Laser Turret

One of the more basic laser auto turrets, the Scorch-P 60MW, requires at least Starship Design rank 1 to obtain. This turret has a better hull-to-mass ratio than most others at its level. But more importantly, laser turrets are typically superior to ballistic ones strategically. Laser auto turrets can rapidly break down the shields of enemy ships even while they're chasing you.

• Class B Reactor
• Range: 1500m
• Fire Rate: 5/s
• Hull Damage: 5 (25/s)
• Shield Damage: 18 (90/s)
• Max Power 4; up to 3 turrets
• 4 Hull; 3 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 1
• Available at level 25, from any ship technicians

7 Eradicator 75MeV Auto Neutron Turret

Particle beam turrets are extremely powerful and extraordinarily useful in combat since they deal equal damage to both hulls and shields. They can also effectively fire from a much further distance than ballistic or laser turrets. So, these are definitely the best ship turret types to go for if you only use one automated turret weapon system.

• Class C Reactor
• Range: 3250m
• Fire Rate: 5/s
• Damage: 19 (95/s)
• Max Power 4; up to 3 turrets
• 3 Hull; 3 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 3
• Available at level 30, from ship technicians in FC space

6 Blaze-P 2GW SX Pulse Laser Turret

This laser auto turret has a somewhat shorter range than most other turrets, but it can decimate enemy shields in no time. So, it's really much better for defensive purposes. Place them on the sides and rear of your ship so they can better target enemy pursuers.

• Class B Reactor
• Range: 1250m
• Fire Rate: 4/s
• Hull Damage: 8 (32/s)
• Shield Damage: 25 (100/s)
• Max Power 4; up to 3 turrets
• 7 Hull; 6 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 1
• Available at level 30, from ship technicians in UC space

5 Disruptor 3340A Auto Alpha Turret

Auto turrets that require Class C reactors are usually, but not always, quite a bit more powerful than those that only need Class A or B reactors. They're also usually significantly heavier. But the extra mass is usually worth the firepower. And the majority of Class C turrets only require 3 powers instead of 4, meaning you can place one more of those.

• Class C Reactor
• Range: 3500m
• Fire Rate: 4/s
• Damage: 19 (76/s)
• Max Power 3; up to 4 turrets
• 7 Hull; 6 Mass
• No Starship Design skill is required
• Available at level 24, from ship technicians in UC space

4 PBO-100 Auto Neutron Turret

The PBO series of particle beam guns are easily among the best ship turrets in the whole game. So, it's no wonder that even the Class B turrets are simply amazing. They deal low damage per shot, but with up to 4 turrets that can still rapidly wear down enemy defenses. This particular model also only requires Starship Design Rank 1.

• Class B Reactor
• Range: 3000m
• Fire Rate: 5/s
• Damage: 16 (80/s)
• Max Power 3; up to 4 turrets
• 3 Hull; 4 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 1
• Available at level 25, from any ship technicians

3 Jishaku Nd RF Rapid Railgun Turret

The best ballistic auto turret of all belongs to the Shinigami Jishaku series. The Jishaku Nd RF is especially deadly, considering the fact that you can build 4 of them on one ship. They're also available surprisingly early. Starship Design Rank 1 is all that's required, and you can most likely find them in one of Neon's several shipyards.

• Class C Reactor
• Range: 1000m
• Fire Rate: 4/s
• Hull Damage: 24 (96/s)
• Shield Damage: 7 (28/s)
• Max Power 3; up to 4 turrets
• 6 Hull; 6 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 1
• Available at level 27, from ship technicians in FC space

2 Reza 300 PHz SX Pulse Laser Turret

Although having 4 turrets is typically better than 3, these are so powerful that they're simply the best laser auto turrets you can buy. Their effective range is notably quite a bit lower than most other laser batteries. But once enemy ships are close enough, the Reza 300s will absolutely melt away their shields. That makes them particularly useful when fighting multiple ships at once.

• Class C Reactor
• Range: 1000m
• Fire Rate: 4/s
• Hull Damage: 11 (44/s)
• Shield Damage: 38 (152/s)
• Max Power 4; up to 3 turrets
• 5 Hull; 6 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 4
• Available at level 60, from ship technicians in FC space

1 PBO-300 Auto Alpha Turret

The champion of all auto turrets isn't anything fancy. But statistically, these particle beams just can't be beat. Solid damage output to both shields and hull, the ability to aim at and strike targets up to 3 kilometers away, and you can even build 4 of them on a single ship! Why they only need Starship Design Rank 1 is anyone's guess.

• Class C Reactor
• Range: 3000m
• Fire Rate: 4/s
• Damage: 22 (88/s)
• Max Power 3; up to 4 turrets
• 5 Hull; 6 Mass
• Starship Design Rank 1
• Available at level 27, from any ship technicians

NEXT: Starfield: All Starborn Armor Sets, Ranked