The RPG gods blessed one Starfield player who fought a pirate 3 times their level and walked away with an OP legendary gun

Concept art of Starfield involving someone walking through a busy market
(Image credit: Bethesda)

One incredibly lucky Starfield player has stumbled onto a space pirate that was three times their level and, somehow, walked away with both their life and a sweet legendary rifle. 

“Back when I was level 32, I stumbled into a random facility on a level 75 moon where I found myself greeted by the level 98 pirate that gave me this,” JaykDoe posts on the game’s subreddit. The weapon in question was the legendary-tier Elemental Advanced Hard Target - basically just a very, very good scoped rifle. On top of the already sweet stats, the rifle came with a random chance to deal elemental damage and the “Instigating” perk that deals double damage to enemies with full health. I can imagine that’s extra deadly when scoping out foes from afar. 

Back when I was level 32, I stumbled into a random facility on a level 75 moon where I found myself greeted by the level 98 pirate that gave me this from r/Starfield

"98 is a lot of levels for a pirate," the poster jokes, "so I decided it was about time he retired. I like to think he felt the same way." Another commenter quips back: "My gun doesn't kill them, it just moves them forward to a time when they are no longer alive."

Other Starfield weapon hunters had some advice for those of us who haven't been so lucky. Redditor Rook7425 mentions that explorers should travel "toward the right of the space map" to find high-level moons. "They will have random encounters with peaceful workers/settlers who will send you to deal with some combatants," they continued." Most of these encounters supposedly contain a couple of elite enemies, plus one "final boss" that has an even higher chance of dropping legendary loot. 

You might want to hold off on high-level loot scavenging until after you reach New Game Plus, however. You lose all your weapons, armor, and credits upon entering Starfield's New Game Plus, which would be disappointing if it weren't for the RPG innovations thrown in

Elsewhere, Todd Howard's eventual retirement looms over long-time Bethesda fans.

Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

Read more
Star Wars Outlaws weapons
All Star Wars Outlaws weapons and blaster upgrades
Helldivers 2 Ultimatum
Helldivers 2's new Fallout-grade mini nuke Ultimatum is a 4,500-damage delete button that's already got the community debating whether it's OP
STALKER 2 guns
Best STALKER 2 weapons for the early game
Star Wars Outlaws tips
10 Star Wars Outlaws tips we wish we'd known
The player in Cyberpunk 2077 holding a heavy machine gun on an escalator.
The best Cyberpunk 2077 weapons and guns
A screenshot of Elden Ring boss Godfrey, the first Elden Lord
Meet Elden Ring's new community hero, the Elder Lord, a 72-year-old gamer with over 700 hours and New Game+7 beaten: "It was impossible, but I did it anyway"
Latest in RPG
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 screenshot of Henry wearing a fancy coat, hat, and spectacles
I'm terrible at the combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, so I'm beating the RPG as a medieval rizz master instead
Four adventurers journey into a dim dungeon
Dark and Darker's legal battles are far from over as the popular extraction RPG has been pulled from the Epic Games Store again
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds art director and 20-year series vet says the new game intentionally leans into a question fans have debated forever: "What is a hunter?"
Skyrim
Skyrim is still an all-time great for asset reuse: this hunk of human flesh could be some poor guard's glute, or probably just a piece of repurposed beef
Infinity Nikki
Infinity Nikki and The Sims' return are only the start of a retro gaming renaissance for Y2K girlies
Avowed screenshot of the godlike envoy with branch-like antlers, pink hair, and mushroom decals framing her eyes. A bow is on her back.
Some of Avowed's most memorable smaller instances are reminding me of the magic of Red Dead Redemption 2's random encounters
Latest in News
Alien Earth teaser
New Alien: Earth teaser introduces us to new cast members and the cutest little cat – and if a Xenomorph eats it, I will be furious
Three RTX 5070 gaming PCs on a purple background
I'm surprised to see some RTX 5070 gaming PCs under $2,000, and these are the ones I'd buy
Let's Build a Dungeon
"They will cancel their subscription and your investors will have your head": This management sim about making the perfect MMO is so detailed it lets you play your own game
Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette in Mickey 17
Although the Mickey 17 cast were at first baffled by the unique way Parasite director Bong Joon Ho works, now they want it no other way
Hollow Knight
Day 1,251: Hollow Knight's strongest soldier has been fighting the boss version of Silksong star Hornet every day for over 3 years, and watching them master the Metroidvania in real time is truly amazing
Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
The Monopoly movie from Margot Robbie's production company will be written by the Dungeons and Dragons movie directors