Summary

  • Players in Starfield can use the Elemental Pull power to easily gather chunks of Caelumite, a valuable resource, instead of relying on the slow and laborious process of mining with a Cutter.
  • The Manipulation power in Starfield can practically break Persuasion as a game mechanic, expanding its influence beyond just combat abilities.
  • While Caelumite currently has limited use in the game, it is possible that upcoming DLCs like Shattered Space will expand its value by introducing new crafting options for weapons and armor.

Starfield players need not rely on the unwieldiness of the Cutter to mine Caelumite, as they can instead use the Elemental Pull power to grab several chunks in an instant. Powers in Starfield add an extra dimension to its gunplay, and the comparisons that players have made to Dragon Shouts from Skyrim are obvious in that regard. However, a fair few of them affect more than just character combat prowess, as the Manipulation power practically breaks Persuasion as a mechanic in Starfield.

Mining resources among the endless landscapes of Starfield's procedurally generated planets allows players to always find what they need to complete a research project, build the equipment mod of their choice, or even establish a thriving outpost. However, it can get rather dull to walk around with a Cutter, searching for materials, and slowly melting it away. This is where Elemental Pull comes to save the day, and with the sole exception of a few quest items such as the Heart of Mars, this Starborn power can do anything the Cutter does, but far more efficiently.

Posted by sw_faulty on the official Starfield subreddit, this method empties an entire artifact room of its Caelumite in a single cast, as it draws inorganic materials to the player character with a very generous range. Elemental Pull can be obtained from Temple Psi, and much like other Starborn powers, it can be further upgraded by engaging with the temples in Starfield's New Game Plus mode.

Despite being considered almost a tier of its own, this unique resource doesn't seem to have much use in-game yet. Starfield uses Caelumite for crafting top-tier chemicals, as well as some spacesuit mods, but otherwise remains largely unusable. A possible reason why Bethesda may have restricted its use could be because of an upcoming DLC like Shattered Space, where Caelumite's value as a crafting material would be expanded with new weapons and armor.

That being said, a Cutter still has its use as a very respectable weapon against terrormorphs, especially if players specialize in Laser Weapons through Starfield's perk system. Though when it comes to mining and resource gathering, Elemental Pull easily outclasses anything conventional, and has firmly established itself as one of the most useful Starborn powers in Starfield. Though the fantasy of drilling ores with a mining laser appeals to many players from a role-playing standpoint, they may have to wait for Starfield mods to get more competitive Cutter options.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Starfield Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Starfield
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Action
RPG
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Systems
PC-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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Released
September 6, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
proprietary engine
Cross-Platform Play
no multiplayer
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Genre(s)
Action, RPG