No Man’s Sky is a vast, ever-evolving universe full of adventure, discovery, and endless possibilities. Whether you’re a complete beginner or returning after an update, the sheer scope can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the fundamentals — from efficient resource gathering and inventory management to escaping Sentinels — so you can thrive across the stars.
1. Gathering Resources
Efficient Mining
- Use your Mining Beam just below the overheat threshold to maximize speed.
- Alternatively, blast surface resources using your ship’s weapons after scanning.
Faster Ground Travel: Melee Boost
- While sprinting, press melee, then immediately hold your jetpack to launch forward — great for covering long distances quickly.
Locating Resource Deposits
- Scan planets from space to preview available materials.
- Tag deposits with your Analysis Visor to set a clear route.
- Adjust your Terrain Manipulator size (L1+R1 / LB+RB) for faster excavation.
Salvaged Data & Tech Modules
- Use your visor to find Buried Technology Modules and extract Salvaged Data — essential for unlocking building blueprints and vehicles.
- Pro tip: You can sometimes collect them without digging by standing directly above them.
Resource Catalog
- Unsure where to find something? Check the Catalog Menu — it tracks known resources and how to acquire them.
Trading for Resources
- Don’t want to grind? Buy materials from Trade Terminals or NPC Pilots at space stations or trading posts.
- The game’s settings influence shop inventories — explore different systems for variety.
2. Crafting & Refining
- Start with a Portable Refiner (1 input slot), then upgrade to Medium and Large Refiners for more complex recipes.
- Refining works in both directions — e.g., Dihydrogen Jelly can be refined back into Dihydrogen.
Helpful Tools
- Use community websites or apps to check the best refining combinations and optimize your crafting workflow.
3. Expanding Your Inventory
- Every Space Station and the Anomaly offers one Exo Suit upgrade per system — don’t miss them!
- Use Drop Pod Coordinate Data from cartographers to locate and repair drop pods for more slots.
- Salvage crashed ships and freighters for free starship and cargo upgrades.
4. Ship & Flight Management
- Only refuel Starship Launch Thrusters at 0% to avoid wasting fuel.
- Better yet, use Uranium instead of crafting launch fuel — it’s common on irradiated planets and available for purchase.
Warp Cell Crafting
To fuel your hyperdrive, you’ll need:
- Antimatter Housing: 30 Oxygen + 50 Ferrite Dust
- Antimatter: 25 Chromatic Metal + 20 Condensed Carbon
Want more distance? Unlock Warp Hypercores, which require Storm Crystals (covered in Part 2).
5. Avoiding Sentinels
- On Foot: Dig a quick tunnel with your Terrain Manipulator and hide until your alert clears.
- In Space: Summon the Anomaly mid-combat — entering it cancels all Sentinel aggression.
6. Earning Currency: Units, Nanites & Quicksilver
How to Earn Units
- Scan Everything: Upgraded Scanners can yield 200k+ units per rare creature.
- Run Trade Loops: Buy low in one system and sell high in another.
- Sell to NPC Pilots to avoid dropping prices at terminals.
How to Earn Nanites
- Upload discoveries through the Discoveries Menu.
- Refine Living Slime → Runaway Mold → Nanites for passive income.
- Visit Anomaly vendors daily to exchange data and discoveries.
How to Earn Quicksilver
- Earn it by completing Anomaly Missions (daily, weekly, or seasonal).
- Spend Quicksilver on rare cosmetics and emotes.
7. Base Building Basics
- Build near a Trading Post or Landing Pad to save on launch fuel.
- Use Salvaged Data to unlock essential structures early, including teleporters, refiners, and storage.
8. Final Beginner Tips
- Use the Quick Menu to toggle views, turn on your flashlight, and recharge life support or shields instantly.
- Prioritize upgrading your Exo Suit and Multi-Tool — survivability and mining speed are key.
- Explore multiple systems to discover better ships, tools, and NPC vendors.
What’s Next? Part 2 Coming Up!
You’re now equipped with the essentials, but there’s even more waiting for you in the stars. In Part 2, we’ll explore:
- How to get a free freighter
- Advanced refining chains for massive profit
- Finding and using Storm Crystals
- Automating your base and farming
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