You can use Electromagnetic (EM) weapons in Starfield to disable enemies instead of killing them. These weapons are great if you want to perform an entire pacifist run or don’t like killing people. However, there are only a limited amount of EM weapons in Starfield, making it tricky to find them from the start of your game. Here’s how to find Electromagnetic non-lethal weapons in Starfield.
How to get EM weapons in Starfield
Image: Starfield
Here is how to find Electromagnetic non-lethal weapons in Starfield:
- Take a weapon to a Weapon Workbench
- Open the Magazine and Battery Components menu
- Select EM-Charged Shot or Electromagnetic Beams
The game only has two EM weapons: Brawler’s Equinox and Novablast Disruptor. However, these weapons aren’t easy to find, so you need to know that you can modify most weapons so they deal Electromagnetic non-lethal damage instead. All you need to do is collect the required materials and then visit a Weapon workbench to convert your favorite weapon into an EM one. As mentioned above, most weapons can be turned into Electromagnetic non-lethal weapons in Starfield, but guns like the Equinox, Solstice, and Novalight are the easiest ones to do so.
| Mod | Description | Materials |
| Electromagnetic Beams | Electromagnetic rounds can knock out living creatures and temporarily turn off robotic units. | 2 x Adhesive |
| 3 x Beryllim | ||
| 1 x Isocentered Magnet | ||
| EM-Charged Shot | EM-Charged ballistic rounds, typically non-lethal. | 3 x Cobalt x3 |
| 1 x Isocentered Magnet | ||
| 2 x Polymer |
Image: Starfield
To make your EM weapons more effective, you want to invest in the Incapacitation skill, which increases the amount of damage your EM weapons do.
How do EM weapons work in Starfield?
Image: Starfield
Dealing electromagnetic damage to enemies doesn’t kill them. Instead, it disables them, allowing for non-lethal takedowns. When hit by Electromagnetic damage, enemies do not lose health; instead, a non-lethal takedown gauge appears above their health bar. Once the gauge is complete, the enemy is knocked out! However, any lethal damage or unsuccessful pickpocketing attempt will wake them up!
If an enemy is knocked out with electromagnetic damage, you can still interact with them, but you won’t be able to loot them. However, by successfully pickpocketing them, you can still take their items. In addition, enemies downed with EM weapons will stay unconscious if you don’t attack them with a non-EM weapon.
Author’s Note: I wrote this guide while playing Starfield on Xbox Series S and PC.
