Starfield: Groundpounder - walkthrough Starfield guide, tips

Groundpounder is an optional mission in Starfield, for completing which you will get a rare rifle. This guide page explains how to unlock it and how to defend the research facility.

Last update: 13 November 2023

This page explains how to unlock the side quest Groundpounder. You'll also learn how to defend the research outpost from the spacers and how to obtain a rifle.

• Journey to the Altair system
• Meeting with captain Myeong
• Last fight

Journey to the Altair system

1. The side quest, Groundpounder, will automatically unlock when you visit the Altair system for the first time. Then you'll hear information from private Mahoney.
2. In the same system, go to the planet Altair II and land near the U3-09 research outpost.
3. Get ready properly for this quest because you'll encounter a lot of combat. Purchase ammunition for your best weapon as well as med packs and trauma packs. During combat, make sure to utilize your powers often and fire from behind the cover.

1. Once you land, kill all the spacers and enter the research station.
2. Downstairs, talk to private Mahoney.
3. Move on and eliminate all the spacers to meet up with Lezama.

Meeting with captain Myeong

1. The corporal will direct you to Torres.
2. Open the door at the end of the floor and eliminate the spacers. In the Head of Research room, talk to Torres. You'll receive the key.
3. There are stairs at the end of the floor - go down them and kill all the spacers in the office.

1. Talk to captain Myeong.
2. Leave the outpost and board your ship.

Last fight

1. Go to the research camp, which is also on the planet Altair II.
2. Kill all spacers on site.
3. Enter the small building and talk to the survivors.

1. Return to the research outpost. After the conversation with Torres and Myeong, head to the orbits of the planets Altair I and Altair V. Once there, eliminate all the spacer ships. If you are having trouble with the spacer ships, consider upgrading your ship's weapons and shields or selecting a different one (the basic Frontier isn't adequate). By using the targeting mode, you can damage the engines or weapons of your opponents' ships in order to neutralize them. However, you must have at least one rank in targeting control system skill.
2. After the space fight, land on the planet Altair II and defeat the spacers who are attacking the outpost.

1. Talk to Torres again. The quest will end and you'll receive a rare rifle called Peacekeeper, ammunition for it, credits, and XP.