In Starfield you can find Skill Magazines to get permanent buffs. Finding 20 Skill Magazine Locations unlocks the Thirst for Knowledge achievement. They are Collectibles that look like books. When activating the scanner they will have a blue outline that make them easier to see.
Upon picking up a Skill Magazine it will be stored in ‘Notes’ section of the inventory. There you can keep track of which ones have been collected.
The way exploration works in Starfield is that some locations are premade and identical for everyone (cities, space stations, certain story locations) whereas landing sites on planets are randomized and different for everyone. Every planet will show different pre-marked landing areas for everyone. There are many types of landing sites, but what buildings and collectibles each type has is always the same. Example: Planet Mercury may show an ‘Abandoned Cryo Lab’ for one player but not for another. If you find an ‘Abandoned Cryo Lab’ on another planet it will be 1:1 the same (identical layout, buildings, collectible placements) regardless of which planet has it. So it’s just a matter of scanning all planets for an ‘Abandoned Cryo Lab’ until you find one, then the collectible will always be in the same spot within it.
This guide shows the easiest ‘fixed’ locations that have guaranteed spawns for all players in the populated cities and space stations (not randomly generated landing sites). They are in the order how they are closest together to get the achievement quickly. The locations are all accessible after finishing the third main mission. Everything can be revisited until reaching the end of the story. After the ending it automatically starts New Game+ and resets all progress so be sure to collect everything before then.
#1 – Constellation Guide 01 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Alpha Centauri > Planet: Jemison > Landing Site: The Lodge
Inside the Lodge, in the middle of the lodge main room (ground floor) where you meet the members of The Constellation for the first time. You go there automatically during the first story mission and can return any time thereafter.
#2 – Nova Galactic Manual 03 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Alpha Centauri > Planet: Jemison > Landing Site: MAST District (District of New Atlantis)
Fast travel to MAST District. From where you spawn, go forward a few meters up the ramp, then turn around and head into the MAST building (says “MAST” above entrance with a big sign). It’s the big building. Enter the elevator behind the receptionist and select the top floor “Cabinet Chambers / Interstellar Affairs”. After exiting the elevator turn left, immediately left again to enter “Office of Interstellar Affairs”. Turn right, enter the office at the end of the room. There you find the skill magazine on a small coffee table.
#3 – Cyber Runner’s Cipher 02 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Alpha Centauri > Planet: Jemison > Landing Site: New Atlantis > District: The Well
Land at the New Atlantis landing pad. Move forward until you reach the train station but don’t use the train. At the train turn left and take the path between Jemison Mercantile & Terrabrew until you reach an elevator. Enter the elevator, select the top floor “The Well” (which is the slums area). After the elevator ride, take the second road left to find a shop called “Apex Electronics” (has a sign over entrance). Go inside, immediately turn right to find the skill magazine sitting by the window.
#4 – The New Atlantian 05 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Alpha Centauri > Planet: Jemison > Landing Site: New Atlantis > District: The Well
Land at the New Atlantis landing pad. Move forward until you reach the train station but don’t use the train. At the train turn left and take the path between Jemison Mercantile & Terrabrew until you reach an elevator. Enter the elevator, select the top floor “The Well” (which is the slums area). After the elevator ride, enter the second building on the right, which is a restaurant. Go through the kitchen and head upstairs into the living room. Immediately after entering, turn right to find the magazine on a table in the living room (before bedroom and shower).
#5 – Nova Galactic Manual 02 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Sol > Nova Galactic Staryard (white icon next to Luna, Moon of Earth – do not confuse this with the landing site called “Nova Galactic Research Station” on Luna. The location for this is the space station flying around Luna, must zoom in a bit on white icon next to Luna until it says “Nova Galactic Staryard” then you can fast travel to it).
You will visit the Staryard early in the story but can still return to it any time thereafter. Fly towards the space station, press 
/ E to select it > 
/ R to dock when within a couple hundred meters. Enter the Staryard space station, in the first room exit through the door to the main station (short loading screen). Go right to the end of the corridor (some enemies are shooting here during the story), take next left to end of corridor, enter next room and go upstairs, go up next stairs and through door that says “Workroom”, go right through a hallway, next room you enter has this skill magazine on the table. Next to a whiteboard. This is before a big enemy encounter with a Level 15 Ecliptic miniboss, about halfway through the station.
#6 – Mining Monthly Issue 09 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Sol > Moon: Titan (Moon of Saturn) > Landing Site: New Homestead
After landing at New Homestead, walk straight ahead into the main building (go through the two cycling sluices to get inside). Once inside, go straight ahead and downstairs, enter the door on the bottom floor. This leads to a cantina-looking area. Go straight ahead to the end – when you reach the “Brown Horse Tavern” go right and follow the corridor to the end to reach the “Mine” entrance (says “Mine” above door). Flip the switch at the mine entrance to open the door. As soon as you enter the Mine, there are 3 people shooting mining lasers. Directly right when you enter the mine you can find this on a big wire spool.
#7 – Peak Performance 01 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Alpha Centauri > Space Station: The Eye (white icon next to Planet: Jemison)
In the “Eye” space station, head forward towards the central area and take the second right into the hallway marked FACILITIES F01. Go in the first room on the right marked PHYSICAL TRAINING, there you find this magazine in the left corner on a red cloth.
#8 – Trackers Primer 05 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Narion > Moon: Vectera (Moon of Anselon) > Landing Site: Argos Extractors Mining Outpost
After fast traveling to this location there will be two buildings in front of you. Enter the building on the right by interacting with the power switch at its entrance (this opens the airlock, go through). Inside, follow the corridor until you reach another airlock/power switch on wall. Instead of going through the airlock, turn left and go through the door to the living quarters. There you find the magazine on the right.
#9 – The New Atlantian 01 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Tau Ceti (left of Alpha Centauri) > Planet: Tau Ceti II > Landing Site: Tau Gourmet Production Center
Fast travel to “Tau Gourmet Production Center” landing site. From where you spawn, move straight forward, to the nearest building (about 100 meters/yards from the landing pad). There’s only one small building here. Go inside, go forward into the next big main room. On the right is a workbench with this magazine located on it.
#10 – UC Defense Manual 02 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Wolf (from Alpha Centauri next one top right) > Space Station: The Den (orbiting Planet: Chthonia)
Fast travel to “The Den” space station. Fly towards it and press / E to highlight it, when you are within a few hundred meters/yards hold / R to dock and board the station. After entering, take the hallway on the right, until the end where a door is, go through that door. It leads through an office into a bedroom. In the bedroom is the skill magazine.
#11 – Va’Ruun Scripture 03 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Cheyenne > Planet: Akila > Landing Site: Akila City
Land in Akila City, move forward into the city. Stick to the far left side, go along the left edge of the city until you reach a lower area with many small shops/shacks close together. Near the end of the path, on the right side is a broken metal shack. Inside on the floor is this magazine.
#12 – Gunslinger’s Guide 01 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Cheyenne > Planet: Akila > Landing Site: Akila City
Land in Akila City, move forward into the city. Keep going straight ahead and enter the tall building called “The Rock” (name shows when you are at the ‘open door’ prompt). It’s the base of the Freestar Rangers faction, looks like a bar inside. On the top floor in front of the Marshall’s office is this magazine. From bar go upstairs > run to end of long corridor towards back exit (stay inside) > turn right to find stairs leading up > immediately after going up the stairs turn right and go through the door and take another staircase going up, at the top of the stairs is the magazine.
#13 – Gunslinger’s Guide 02 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Cheyenne > Planet: Akila > Landing Site: Akila City
Land at Akila City. Go forward into the city. Look left and go past the shop with the sign “Shepherd’s”. Walk to the next shop Rowland Arms. Enter the street on the left after it, walking past another shop called “Chunks”. Keep following the street in a straight line until you see a shop called “Sinclair’s Books” at the corner (it will have a sign over the entrance with “Sinclair’s” written in red letters). Enter Sinclair’s Books, inside, on a small table in the right corner, is the skill magazine.
#14 – Solomon’s Adventures 01 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Cheyenne > Planet: Akila > Landing Site: Akila City
Land at Akila City. Go forward into the city. Walk straight ahead until you reach the tall building “The Rock” (Freestar Rangers base), but don’t go inside. Instead, go up the stairs to the right and keep going straight until you reach the backside of “The Rock”, which has a roofed area (looks like some sails hanging over ruins). Enter the second-last house on the right called “Coe Estate” (it says the name when standing at the door and getting the ‘open door’ prompt). This is only open after going there in Main Mission 03: The Empty Nest. After entering turn left to enter the bedroom, on the nightstand next to the bed is the skill magazine. You visit the same house during the story when vising Sam Coe’s parents.
#15 – Freestar Captain’s Log 03 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Cheyenne > Planet: Akila > Landing Site: Akila City
Land at Akila City. Go forward into the city. Walk straight ahead until you reach the tall building “The Rock” (Freestar Rangers base), but don’t go inside. Instead, go up the stairs to the left, then immediately up another set of stairs straight ahead. After going up all the way turn left and the first building you see will have the writing “Freestar Collective Consulate”. Enter this building (the door prompt calls it “Akila City Consulate”). Once inside, go straight ahead to see a small round glass table with the magazine on it. Not the big table in the meeting room.
#16 – Constellation Guide 04 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Narion (from Alpha Centauri it’s two stars top right) > Space Station: Starstation / The Clinic (white icon orbiting Planet: Deepala, initially called just “Starstation” in solar system map but changes to “The Clinic” after first visit)
Fly to The Clinic, aim at it and click / E > hold / R to dock and board. Immediately after boarding, enter the first room (waiting area before Reception). The magazine is on the left, on a small table.
#17 – Gunslinger’s Guide 03 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Valo (from Alpha Centauri it’s two stars up to the right) > Planet: Polvo > Landing Site: Hopetown
After landing at Hopetown, go forward and enter the first building on the right that says “Rangers” above the entrance. Immediately on the right after entering you find the skill magazine on a white table between plastic chairs.
#18 – Gunslinger’s Guide 04 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Volii > Planet: Volii Alpha > Landing Site: Neon Core
Fast travel to Neon Core. From where you spawn, in front of you enter the 2nd building on the left called “Freestar Rangers Outpost” (if you spawn facing the red dragon on wall, turn left and it will be 2nd building on left). Inside this building go upstairs to find the skill magazine next to a bed on the nightstand.
#19 – Neon Nights 02 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Volii > Planet: Volii Alpha > Landing Site: Neon Core
Fast travel to Neon Core. From where you spawn, turn around and go all the way to the end of the street and upstairs to “Lastrail Lounge” (nightclub). After entering, turn left to enter an elevator and press the elevator button. After the elevator ride, enter the first room on the right to find the magazine on a small round glass table.
#20 – Mining Monthly Issue 07 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Sol > Planet: Mars > Landing Site: Cydonia
Land at Cydonia and head inside. Once inside, go straight ahead, underneath the sign that shows “Hours without incident”, then a ramp goes down. Immediately when the ramp flattens out, turn left to see orange doors with a white sign over them saying “STAIRS”. Go through those doors. Go downstairs until you reach a big room, go left through the door. Then enter the next door left that says “Deimos Miner Quarters”. Turn right to find the magazine on a white plastic dining table.
#21 – UC Defense Manual 03 [Guaranteed Location]
Star System: Sol > Planet: Mars > Landing Site: Cydonia
Land at Cydonia and head inside. Once inside, go straight ahead, underneath the sign that shows “Hours without incident”, then a ramp goes down. Immediately when the ramp flattens out, turn left to see orange doors with a white sign over them saying “STAIRS”. Go through those doors. Go downstairs until you reach a big room, go left through the door. Then enter the next door to the right that says “UC Marine Barracks”. Turn left to find the magazine on a big white table at the start of the room.
#22 – Trackers Prime 02 [Guaranteed Location] [Only during/after Main Mission 12: Unity]
Star System: Indum (from Alpha Centauri to bottom right, overlapping a 2nd system called “Guniibuu”) > Planet: Indum II > Landing Site: Pilgrim’s Rest (only available during/after Main Quest 12: Unity).
First of all, you must have advanced the story to Main Mission 12: Unity, until you get the objective “Go to Pilgrim’s Rest”. This unlocks the landing site on Indum II, it’s not before this. You can always go back afterward, it will stay marked. Fast travel there, from where you spawn enter the building in front of you (slightly to the right). Interact with the computer to open the Pilgrim’s locked room. The correct answers to input in the computer are: What is Unity? > People are necessary, But people are madness > Myself > In stopping, In embracing compassion. Now the door opens, the magazine is inside on the left side shelf. The door can potentially bug out if you try to return after the quest, the computer may say the door is already unlocked but the door remains locked. A possible workaround on PC is to open the command console and enter cheat code “tcl”, it allows flying through surfaces. Enter the cheat again to disable it after flying through the door (be warned that cheats disable achievements and there’s no command console on Xbox).
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