Starfield: Skills Tier List (Best Starfield Skills)

This article is part of a directory: Starfield: Complete Guide & Walkthrough

There are 82 skills in Starfield, but not all of them were created equally. The best Starfield skills can provide players with brand-new abilities, completely transforming the way that the game is played. Others can save the player's valuable time and resources, allowing them to dedicate more of the former to exploring the settled systems.

Although players can eventually unlock every skill in Starfield if they keep playing for long enough, most will likely be done with the game long before reaching this point, meaning they'll have to think carefully about which skills to unlock. This Starfield skills tier list should make life a lot easier for those players by highlighting which ones are must-haves.

S-Tier (The Best Starfield Skills)

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Skill	Description (All Ranks)
Boost Pack Training	You can now utilize boost packs. Using a boost pack expends less fuel. Boost pack fuel regenerates more quickly. Doubles previous bonuses.
Negotiation	You now have access to Bribery in speech challenges. Reduces bribery cost by 25%. Reduces bribery cost by 50%. Occasionally, bribery won't cost any money.
Payloads	Ship cargo holds have 10% more capacity. Ship cargo holds have 20% more capacity. Ship cargo holds have 30% more capacity. Ship cargo holds have 50% more capacity.
Piloting	You can now utilize ship thrusters. Increased ship turning rate and maneuverability. Unlock the ability to pilot Class B ships. Unlock the ability to pilot Class C ships.
Rapid Reloading	Reload Ballistic weapons 30% faster. Reload Energy and EM weapons 30% faster. Reload Particle Beam weapons 30% faster. 50% chance to avoid getting interrupted while reloading. Chance on hitting enemies to increase reload speed for all weapons by 50% for 15 seconds.
Security	You can attempt to hack Advanced locks, and 2 auto attempts can be banked. You can attempt to hack Expert locks, and 3 auto attempts can be banked. Rings now turn blue when the pick can be slotted. You can attempt to hack Master-level locks, and 4 auto attempts can be banked. Expend a Digipick to eliminate keys that aren't required to solve the puzzle. 5 auto attempts can now be banked.
Theft	Unlock the ability to pickpocket targets. 10% greater chance to successfully pickpocket. 30% greater chance to successfully pickpocket. 50% greater chance to successfully pickpocket. Can now pickpocket holstered weapons.
Weight Lifting	Increase total carrying capacity by 10 kilograms. Increase total carrying capacity by 25 kilograms. Increase total carrying capacity by 50 kilograms. Increase total carrying capacity by 100 kilograms. Gain 50% resistance to stagger.

The best skills in Starfield provide players with new abilities or enhance existing abilities that players will find themselves using all the time. Weight Lifting and Payloads allow the player to carry more loot on their person and ship respectively, while the Theft and Negotiation skills let players pickpocket from and bribe NPCs. Boost Pack Training is hands down the best skill in Starfield though, as it comes in handy during both combat and general map traversal. The Security skill also deserves a special mention, as players will need it in order to be able to hack more advanced locks.

A-Tier (Situational Starfield Skills & Major Time-Savers)

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Skill	Description (All Ranks)
Armor Penetration	Attacks ignore 15% of a target's armor. Attacks ignore 30% of a target's armor. Attacks ignore 50% of a target's armor. Enemy armor is decreased by 25% for 6 seconds after a critical hit.
Ballistics	Ballistic weapons do 10% more damage. Ballistic weapons do 20% more damage. Ballistic weapons do 30% more damage. Ballistic weapons range is increased by 30%.
Commerce	Buy for 5% less and sell for 10% more. Buy for 10% less and sell for 15% more. Buy for 15% less and sell for 20% more. Buy for 20% less and sell for 25% more.
Dueling	Melee weapons do 25% more damage. Take 10% less damage while wielding a melee weapon. Melee kills make you run 20% faster for 10 seconds. Melee weapons do 50% more damage. Take 15% less damage while wielding a melee weapon. Melee kills heal you for 10% of your health.
Fitness	You have 10% more oxygen available. You have 20% more oxygen available. You have 30% more oxygen available. Sprinting and power attacks now use significantly less oxygen.
Incapacitation	EM weapons do 5% more damage. EM weapons do 10% more damage. EM weapons do 15% more damage. EM weapons have a 15% chance to do 300% EM damage.
Lasers	Laser weapons do 10% more damage. Laser weapons do 20% more damage. Laser weapons do 30% more damage. Laser weapons have a 5% chance to set a target on fire.
Marksmanship	Increase critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons by 3%. Increase critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons by 8%. Increase critical hit chance with non-automatic ranged weapons by 15%. Critical hits using a non-automatic ranged weapon without a scope do double damage and those with scopes knock down enemies on the next shot.
Particle Beams	Particle beam weapons do 10% more damage. Particle beam weapons do 20% more damage. Particle beam weapons do 30% more damage. Particle beam weapons have +5% crit chance.
Persuasion	10% increased chance of success when persuading someone. 20% increased chance of success when persuading someone. 30% increased chance of success when persuading someone. 50% increased chance of success when persuading someone.
Rejuvenation	Slowly regenerate health outside of combat. Regenerate health more quickly outside of combat. Regenerate health much faster outside of combat. You can now slowly regenerate health while in combat. Regenerate health even faster outside of combat. You can now slowly regenerate health quickly while in combat.
Scavenging	There's a chance you'll find extra credits when searching containers. There's a chance you'll find extra ammo when searching containers. There's a chance you'll find extra aid items when searching containers. Tracked resources will get highlighted when using the hand scanner.
Sharpshooting	Increase headshot critical damage by 50% with ranged weapons. Increase critical damage to enemy legs by 50% with ranged weapons. Increase all critical damage to enemies by 50% with ranged weapons. Ranged critical hit kills increase your critical hit chance with all ranged weapons by 25% for 20 seconds.
Shield Systems	Your ship has 20% increased shield capacity. Your ship has 40% increased shield capacity. Your ship has 60% increased shield capacity. Your shields will occasionally resist 100% of all damage received.
Stealth	Adds a Stealth Meter. You are 25% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 5% sneak attack damage. Upgrades the Stealth Meter. You are 50% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 10% sneak attack damage. You are 75% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 15% sneak attack damage. You are 100% more difficult to detect when sneaking. Suppressed weapons do an additional 20% sneak attack damage. Doors you interact with while in stealth no longer alert enemies.
Targeting	Increased accuracy and range when shooting without aiming. Marks up to one enemy within 25m that damages you. Notably increased accuracy and range when shooting without aiming. Marks up to two enemies within 50m that damage you. Greatly increased accuracy and range when shooting without aiming. Marks up to three enemies within 75m that damage you. 10% chance to disarm target hot when shooting without aiming. Marks up to four enemies within 100m that damage you.
Targeting Control Systems	Unlocks ship targeting functionality. Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 15%. Target-locked ships fire at you 25% slower. Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 30%. You have a 10% increased chance of critically hitting a target-locked ship. Time to lock onto enemy ships is reduced by 60%. Deal 20% increased system damage in targeting mode.

A-tier Starfield skills are situational and can come in handy depending on one's style of play. Many of them can be useful for saving the player's time or resources, or making it drastically easier to take down enemies; both when it comes to gunplay and ship combat. Players can certainly live without these skills, though if they've already maxed out all of the S-tier skills and are looking for something to spend their skill points on, they can't really go wrong with these A-tier options. There's perhaps an argument that Stealth deserves to be in the S-Tier of this Starfield skills tier list, but like in most other Bethesda games, Starfield's take on stealth isn't all that great.

B-Tier (Optional Starfield Skills)

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Skill	Description (All Ranks)
Astrophysics	You can scan the moons of your current planet. You have a 10% chance to discover a trait when scanning. You can scan any planet or moon in this system. You have a 20% chance to discover a trait when scanning. You can scan any planet or moon within 16 Light Years. You have a 30% chance to discover a trait when scanning. You can scan any planet or moon within 30 Light Years. You have a 50% chance to discover a trait when scanning.
Automated Weapon Systems	Automated ship weapons do 10% more damage and reduce all targeting mode costs by 20%. Automated ship weapons do 20% more damage and reduce all targeting mode costs by 30%. Your ship takes 20% less damage while in targeting mode. Automated ship weapons do 30% more damage and reduce all targeting mode costs by 30%. Increases crit chance against targeted sub-systems by 20%. Ship turret weapons recharge 40% faster and do 20% more damage to targeted sub-systems.
Boost Assault Training	Nearby enemies take damage when you boost and have a chance to catch on fire. Chance to knockdown nearby enemies when you boost. Aiming down sights while boosting will let you hover in place. Fuel is still expended until empty. While hovering, time slows down and the world moves 70% slower around you.
Cellular Regeneration	Slightly increased chance to recover from injuries naturally. Moderately increased chance to recover from injuries naturally. Noticeably increased chance to recover from injuries naturally. 20% chance of not gaining an injury when you otherwise would.
Concealment	You no longer set off enemy mines. Ranged sneak attacks do 2.5x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 4x normal damage. Running while sneaking doesn't affect stealth. Ranged sneak attacks do 3x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 5x normal damage. You gain a Chameleon-like ability when completely still and sneaking. Ranged sneak attacks do 3.5x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 8x normal damage. Engaging stealth causes distant enemies to lose you. Ranged sneak attacks do 4x normal damage and your melee sneak attacks do 10x normal damage.
Crippling	Human enemies have a 30% increased chance to enter a downed state after taking enough damage. Humanoid enemies have a 50% increased chance to not naturally recover from a downed state. Human enemies can now enter a downed state earlier. Previous ranks now apply to all enemy types. You now do 100% more damage to downed enemies.
Deception	Ships 10% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 10% less effective. Ships 20% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 20% less effective. Ships 30% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 30% less effective. Ships 50% stronger will automatically surrender to piracy demands. Enemy contraband scans are 50% less effective.
Decontamination	Slightly increased chance to recover from infections naturally. Moderately increased chance to recover from infections naturally. Noticeably increased chance to recover from infections naturally. 20% chance of not gaining an infection when you otherwise would.
Diplomacy	You can force a target NPC at or below your level to stop fighting for a while. You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than your level to stop fighting for a while. You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than your level to stop fighting for a while. You can force target NPCs to permanently stop fighting (unless they're attacked again).
EM Weapon Systems	EM ship weapons have 10% increased damage and cost 15% less to use in Targeting Mode. EM ship weapons have 20% increased damage and cost 30% less to use in Targeting Mode. EM ship weapons have 30% increased damage and cost 45% less to use in Targeting Mode. EM ship weapons have a small chance of instantly disabling enemy engines.
Energy Weapon Dissipation	Energy damage is reduced by 5%. Energy damage is reduced by 10%. Energy damage is reduced by 15%. 25% chance to reflect energy damage back to an attacker when your health is below 50%.
Energy Weapon Systems	Energy ship weapons have 10% increased damage and cost 15% less to use in Targeting Mode. Energy ship weapons have 20% increased damage and cost 30% less to use in Targeting Mode. Energy ship weapons have 30% increased damage and cost 45% less to use in Targeting Mode. Energy ship weapons recharge 30% faster.
Heavy Weapons Certification	Heavy weapons do 10% more damage. Heavy weapons do 20% more damage. Heavy weapons do 30% more damage. Gain 25% Physical resistance while aiming down sights with a heavy weapon.
Instigation	You can force a target NPC at or below your level to attack their allies for a limited time. You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time. You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time. Enemies affected by Instigation will attack their allies unless they are dead.
Intimidation	You can force a target NPC at or below your level to flee for a limited time. You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than your level to flee for a limited time. You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than your level to flee for a limited time. Intimidated targets now flee for substantial amount of time.
Leadership	Companions gain affinity 25% faster. Companions have 50 more health and 50kg more carrying capacity. Companions will occasionally heal you when you get low health. Doubles the bonuses of Combat and Physical Crew Skills on Companions. Companions have a chance to pick themselves up from a downed state.
Manipulation	You can force a target NPC at or below your level to obey commands for a limited time. You can force a target NPC up to 10 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time. You can force a target NPC up to 20 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time. Manipulated targets now obey commands for a substantial amount of time.
Martial Arts	15% increased chance to crit with a melee or unarmed attack 15% chance to disarm an opponent with a melee or unarmed power attack. While unarmed or wielding a melee weapon, take 10% less damage. Reflect 50% damage back when blocking a melee or unarmed attack.
Missile Weapon Systems	Ship missile weapons do 10% more damage, and their Targeting mode cost is reduced by 20%. Ship missile weapons do 20% more damage, and their Targeting mode cost is reduced by 40%. Ship missile weapons do 30% more damage, and their Targeting mode cost is reduced by 60%. Ship missiles have a 20% increased Range, Travel Speed, and Reload Speed.
Outpost Management	Additional cargo links can be placed at outposts. Additional robots can be constructed at outposts. Additional crew can be assigned at outposts. Outpost extractors produce twice as fast.
Particle Beam Weapon Systems	Ship particle beam weapons do 10% more damage and Targeting mode cost is reduced by 10%. Ship particle beam weapons do 20% more damage and Targeting mode cost is reduced by 20%. Ship particle beam weapons do 30% more damage and Targeting mode cost is reduced by 30%. Increased critical hit chance with ship particle beam weapons.
Pistol Certification	Pistols do 10% more damage. Pistols do 25% more damage. Pistols do 50% more damage. Pistol kills grant +25% critical hit chance for 5 seconds.
Planetary Habitation	You can build outposts on planets with extreme temperatures (Deep Freeze and Inferno). Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 4. You can build outposts on planets with extreme pressure. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 8. You can build outposts on planets with toxic or corrosive atmospheres. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 12. You can build outposts on planets with extreme gravity. Increase the maximum number of Outposts you can build by 16.
Research Methods	Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 10%. Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 20%. Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 40%. Sudden developments during research are twice as common. Resources required to craft items and complete research projects is reduced by 60%.
Rifle Certification	Rifles do 10% more damage. Rifles do 20% more damage. Rifles do 30% more damage. Reload rifles 30% faster while you're standing still.
Scanning	You can detect uncommon inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more information about ships in space. You can detect rare inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and more specific information about ships in space. You can detect exotic inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and gain better combat information on ships in space. You can detect unique inorganic resources on planet and moon surfaces, and gain a complete list of cargo on ships in space.
Ship Command	You can have up to four active crew members. You can have up to five active crew members. You can have up to six active crew members. You can have up to eight active crew members.
Shotgun Certification	Shotguns for 10% more damage. Shotguns for 20% more damage. Shotguns for 30% more damage. Shotgun kills grant a small chance to stun additional targets with shotguns for a limited time.
Sniper Certification	Scoped weapons are steadier and have less sway. You can hold your breath for longer with scoped weapons. Headshots while aiming with a scoped weapon have a +25% critical hit chance. Scoped weapons do 50% more damage while using the scope.

The skills found in the B-tier of this Starfield skills tier list are largely tied to mechanics that a lot of players probably won't spend too much time engaging with. They may well prove useful for players who really enjoy building outposts in Starfield or blindly exploring the universe, but for everyone else, they're far from essential. This is also where a lot of the weapon-specific skills land. If players favor one particular weapon type these can be incredibly useful, but for those who just opt for the strongest weapon that they have in their arsenal regardless of type, there are definitely better options. Boost Assault Training is arguably the pick of the bunch here, but only for players who enjoy close-quarters combat.

C-Tier (Bottom of the Barrel Starfield Skills)

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Skill	Description (All Ranks)
Aneutronic Fusion	Ship reactors produce 1 extra unit of power. Ship reactors produce 2 extra units of power. Ship reactors produce 3 extra units of power. Ship reactors produce 5 extra units of power.
Astrodynamics	Increase grav jump range of jump drives by 15%. Reduced fuel cost of jump drives by 15%. Increased grav jump range and reduced fuel cost of jump drives by 30%. Reduced fuel cost of jump drives by 50%.
Ballistic Weapon Systems	Ballistic ship weapons have 10% increased damage and cost 20% less to use in Targeting Mode. Ballistic ship weapons have 20% increased damage and recharge 15% faster. Ballistic ship weapons have 30% increased damage and recharge 30% faster. Ballistic ship weapons do 50% increased damage to individual systems.
Botany	Get more common and uncommon organic resources from plants, learn additional info about them from the scanner, and allows some plants to be cultivated at your outposts. Get more rare organic resources from plants and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner. Get more exotic organic resources from plants, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner. Occasionally harvest additional rarer resources from plants, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.
Boxing	Unarmed attacks do 25% more damage. 25% less O2 used when using a power attack. Unarmed attacks do 50% more damage. 50% less O2 used when using a power attack. Unarmed attacks do 75% more damage. While in a fight and unarmed, running consumes 30% less O2. Unarmed attacks do 100% more damage and have a chance to knock down opponents.
Chemistry	You can create improved chems, and research additional chems at a Research Lab. You can research and create superior chems. You can research and create cutting-edge chems. Crafting chems occasionally triples the amount crafted.
Demolitions	Throwing grenades now shows a trajectory arc. Explosions have a 25% larger radius. Explosions do 25% more damage. Reduce damage taken from explosions by 25%. All previous bonuses are doubled.
Engine Systems	Your ship's top speed is increased by 10%. Ship boosts last longer and the cooldown is shorter. Your ship's top speed is increased by 20%. While boosting, all enemies disengage the player and can only reacquire them as a target after the player stops boosting.
Environmental Conditioning	Gain 10 resistance to Airborne environmental damage. Gain 10 resistance to Thermal environmental damage. Gain 10 resistance to Corrosive and Radiation environmental damage. Reduced chance to gain afflictions from environmental damage sources.
Gastronomy	You can craft specialty food and drinks, and research additional recipes at a Research Lab. You can research and craft gourmet food and drinks. You can research and craft food and drink delicacies. Crafting food and drinks occasionally doesn't use up your resources. You can research and craft exotic recipes.
Geology	Get more common and uncommon inorganic resources from surface objects. Get more inorganic resources from surface objects. Get more exotic inorganic resources from surface objects. Occasionally harvest additional rarer resources from surface objects.
Gymnastics	Unlock the ability to combat slide. Take 15% less fall damage. Move faster in Zero-G. Take 20% less fall damage. Become more stable while Zero-G. Take 30% less fall damage. Replenish some O2 after mantling. Increased jump height. Run faster after combat sliding or mantling.
Isolation	Do +10% weapon damage and gain 15 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew. Do +20% weapon damage and gain 30 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew. Do +30% weapon damage and gain 45 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew. Do +40% weapon damage and gain 60 Damage Resistance for each Spacesuit and Helmet equipped when you don't have a companion or any crew.
Medicine	Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 10% additional Health 10% faster. Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 20% additional Health 20% faster. Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 30% additional Health 30% faster. Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits restore 50% additional Health 50% faster, and have a chance to cure an affliction.
Neurostrikes	10% chance to stun an NPC with an unarmed attack. Unarmed attacks now do additional EM damage. 20% chance to stun an NPC with an unarmed attack After stunning an enemy, you also knock down any enemies within close range.
Nutrition	Food and drink are 10% more effective. Food and drink are now 20% more effective. Food and drink are now 30% more effective. Food and drink are now 50% more effective.
Outpost Engineering	You can construct improved outpost modules, and research additional modules at a Research Lab. You can research and construct superior outpost modules. You can research and construct cutting-edge outpost modules. Outpost modules now cost 50% fewer resources to build.
Pain Tolerance	Physical damage is reduced by 5%. Physical damage is reduced by 10%. Physical damage is reduced by 15%. 5% chance to ignore physical damage when your health is low.
Robotics	You deal 10% more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to stop fighting for a limited time. You deal 20% more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to flee for a limited time. You deal 30% more damage to Robots and Turrets. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time. You can force a target robot up to 10 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time.
Special Projects	You can research experimental projects at a Research Lab. You can craft rare manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. You can craft exotic manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. You can craft unique manufactured components at an Industrial Workbench. Outpost extractors have a chance to produce additional resources.
Spacesuit Design	You can craft improved spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods, and research additional mods at a Research Lab. You can research and craft superior spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods. You can research and craft cutting-edge spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods. Construction of spacesuit, helmet, and pack mods occasionally doesn't cost resources.
Starship Design	Allows the installation of improved ship modules. Allows the installation of superior ship modules. Allows the installation of cutting-edge ship modules. Allows the installation of experimental ship modules.
Starship Engineering	All ship systems repair 10% faster. Ship systems have 25% increased damage mitigation. All ship systems repair 25% faster. Occasionally, repairing one block of a system will repair the entire system.
Surveying	Adds an optional zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 20 meters. Adds another level of zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 30 meters. Adds another level of zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 40 meters. Adds another level of zoom to the hand scanner, and scan distance is increased to 50 meters.
Weapon Engineering	You can craft improved weapon mods at a Weapon Workbench, and research additional weapon mods at a Research Lab. You can research and craft superior weapon mods. You can research and craft cutting-edge weapon mods. You can research and craft master-level weapon mods.
Wellness	Increase your maximum health by 10%. Increase your maximum health by 10%. Increase your maximum health by 30%. Increase your maximum health by 40%.
Xenosociology	You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to stop fighting for a limited time. You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to flee for a limited time. You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to attack their allies for a limited time. You can force a target alien creature up to 10 levels higher than you to obey commands for a limited time.
Zoology	Get more common organic resources from creatures and harvest from them without harming them, learn additional info about them from the scanner, and allows you to produce animal resources at your outposts. Get more uncommon organic resources from creatures, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner. Get more rare organic resources from creatures, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner. Occasionally harvest additional rarer resources from creatures, and learn information about them more quickly using the scanner.

One of the biggest complaints levied against Starfield is that it lacks focus and tries far too hard to include a little bit of everything, resulting in a lot of half-baked ideas. This isn't helped by the poor enemy AI, which makes the game remarkably easy even when playing on harder difficulties. There's very little incentive for players to go out of their way to craft food, chems, or mods as a result, and even if there were, gathering the resources required to do so can often be a real chore. The fact that players will constantly be finding better weapons and spacesuits further disincentives engaging with the game's crafting systems, making the associated skills kind of pointless, for the most part.