How do Afflictions work in Starfield?

How do Afflictions work in Starfield? That's one question on the minds of Starfield players starting to explore all of the planets on offer in Bethesda's latest release.

Depending on which city you visit while working through the quests, there's a high chance you'll encounter all kinds of enemies looking to bring your adventure to a premature end. Even if you manage to heal in time, an Affliction can still influence how your character performs simple actions.

Before we take a closer look at how Afflictions work in Starfield, take a look at our guides showcasing the best demolition builds and all of the difficulty settings available to select.

Starfield Afflictions and Status Effects explained

There are several Starfield Afflictions and Status Effects you will encounter during your journey through space. Ranging from broken bones to infections, numerous ailments can impact multiple areas of gameplay.

Afflictions apply a negative Status Effect to your character, while Acute and Severe Afflictions are capable of applying multiple effects at once. If you gain the same Affliction that you've already earned by attempting to defeat pirates, its severity will be bumped up to the next tier.

• Read more: How to disable turrets in Starfield

Afflictions you earn over time come with a Prognosis rating ranging from Poor, Stable, and Good. Any rating that's above Poor has a high chance of healing. But, if the same Affliction returns before the healing is complete, the Prognosis rating will drop back down to Poor.

For example, a predator manages to injure you with one of their sharp claws. This will give you the Laceration Affliction. Head to the main menu and enter the Status Effects tab where you'll have the ability to see all of the effects the Laceration has on you.

We're in the process of putting together a full list of Afflictions and Status Effects and we'll update the guide as we continue moving through the galaxy.

Credit: Bethesda

How to heal Starfield Afflictions and Status Effects

If you don't fancy letting the Status Effects heal by themselves, you can speed up the process with a few simple steps. If you've got some Aid items stored in the inventory, pick up the item, check which Status Effects and Afflictions they heal, and use it.

On the other hand, if you're running low on supplies, you can choose to visit a Doctor who will heal all Afflictions and Status Effects immediately.

There you have it, that's all there is to know about how Afflictions work in Starfield. For more, check out our guides showcasing the best melee build and our companions hub.