Weapons
StarMade has three primary weapon types plus two utility weapons. Primary weapons can be combined to change how damage is delivered.
Weapon Types
| Weapon | Role |
|---|---|
| Cannon | General-purpose direct-fire; high burst, short-to-mid range |
| Missile | Guided projectiles; high damage, travel time, area splash |
| Damage Beam | Continuous damage ray; sustained DPS, long range |
Utility weapons (not direct damage):
| Weapon | Role |
|---|---|
| Push Pulse | Knocks back nearby ships; no direct damage |
| Tractor Beam | Pulls or tows ships and loose objects |
Setting Up a Weapon
Every weapon system consists of two block types:
- Weapon Computer — the controller. Assign it to a hotbar slot. One per weapon system.
- Weapon Modules — the actual firepower. More modules = more damage and range.
Steps
- Place a Weapon Computer on your ship in build mode.
- Place Weapon Modules anywhere on the ship (they don't need to touch the computer).
- Open the Weapon Panel (
G). - Drag the computer into a hotbar slot.
- Close the panel, switch to flight mode, and select the weapon slot.
| Weapon | Computer | Module |
|---|---|---|
| Cannon | Cannon Computer | Cannon Barrel |
| Missile | Missile Computer | Missile Tube |
| Beam | Damage Beam Computer | Damage Beam Module |
| Push Pulse | Push Pulse Computer | Push Pulse Module |
| Tractor Beam | Tractor Beam Computer | Tractor Beam Module |
Combination System
Two weapon computers can be linked — the slave weapon modifies the behaviour of the primary weapon. The primary fires; the slave only provides its secondary effect.
Linking via the Weapon Panel
- Open the Weapon Panel (
G). - Find your primary weapon computer in the list.
- Drag the slave weapon computer into the slave slot of the primary.
- The coloured borders on the computers in the world indicate the connection.
To unlink, drag the slave out of its slot and drop it in the unlink box.
You can also link in-world: press C on the primary computer, then V on the slave computer.
Ratios and DPS
The ratio of modules between the primary and slave determines how much of the secondary effect you receive.
Primary modules : Slave modules = effect ratio
| Example | Effect |
|---|---|
| 70 Cannon + 30 Cannon (slave) | LMG: ~60% rapid-fire buff, higher damage per shot |
| 50 Cannon + 50 Missile (slave) | Charge Cannon: full charge effect, lower damage per charge |
| 100 Cannon (no slave) | Full base damage, normal fire rate |
Total DPS is determined by total block count across both computers. Combining weapons does not increase DPS — it changes how that DPS is delivered.
A weapon computer can only be used in one combination at a time.
Projectile Colour
Link a Light Source block to a weapon computer (using C to select, then V to connect) to change the colour of that weapon's projectiles to match the light colour.
Effect Blocks
Connecting certain effect blocks to a weapon computer changes the damage type distribution (Kinetic, Heat, EM). See the Armor & Damage guide for how damage types interact with shields and armor.