Getting Started

Getting Started with No Man's Sky: A Newcomer’s Guide

Welcome, Traveller! No Man’s Sky can be overwhelming at first, but this guide will help you survive your first hour, understand the basics, and avoid common pitfalls. Follow this step-by-step walkthrough, check the controls for your platform, know your priorities, and use the day-one checklist to get off to a strong start.

First Hour Walkthrough (Spoiler-Free)

1. Wake Up on a Random Planet

• You start inside a crashed starship. Your suit’s life support is draining. Don’t panic.


• Immediate objective: Repair your ship’s launch thrusters and pulse engine to leave the planet.


2. Gather Essential Resources (Survival Mode)

• Break down the small rocks, plants, and ferrite dust crystals around you.


• Prioritize: Sodium (yellow flowers) – recharges your hazard protection. Oxygen (red flowers) – recharges life support. Carbon – refuels mining beam.


3. Scan Everything

• Use your Analysis Visor (key/button T on PC, D-Pad Up on controller) to scan flora, fauna, and minerals. This rewards units and nanites.


4. Locate Your Ship

• Follow the HUD marker (white icon) to your crashed ship. As you approach, you’ll see damage sites – use your Multi-Tool’s mining beam to harvest the required components.


5. Repair the Ship

• Launch Thrusters: Requires 50 Di-hydrogen (blue crystals) and 1 Metal Plating (crafted from 50 Ferrite Dust).


• Pulse Engine: Requires 1 Hermetic Seal (crafted from 60 Condensed Carbon – refine Carbon with your Portable Refiner) and 2 Metal Plates.


• Ship Shields and Weapons are optional for now.


6. Get into Space

• Once repaired, enter the ship, open the Galaxy Map (Options/Start > Galactic Map), and follow the mission marker to the Space Station.


7. Meet the Anomaly

• After your first warp, you’ll encounter a distress signal from the Space Anomaly (giant spherical station). Fly inside and speak to Nada and Polo. They give you essential tech like the Advanced Mining Beam and possibly a freighter later.

Character Creation

No Man’s Sky does not have character creation in the traditional sense. You start as one of three preset Traveller appearances (randomly selected). Customization becomes available later when you visit the Appearance Modifier in the Space Anomaly or at Space Stations. You can change your gender, race (Anomaly, Gek, Vy’keen, Korvax), suit style, and colours.

Controls Overview (All Platforms)

Tips:

• Rebind keys if needed – go to Options > Controls.


• On controller, double-tap Scan (R2/RT) to switch between visor modes.


• Use Quick Menu (X / D-Pad Down) to recharge hazard protection, life support, call your ship, place a save beacon, etc.




UI Overview



Heads-Up Display (HUD):

• Top left: Life Support (oxygen symbol), Hazard Protection (shield icon), and Environment suit status.


• Top right: Compass and mission waypoints. Yellow markers = main mission, Blue = optional, Red = combat.


• Bottom center: Interaction prompts (e.g., “Press E to interact”).


• Bottom left: Multi-Tool ammo count and mode indicator.


• Bottom right: Scanner/Visor mode indicator.


Inventory Screen (Tab / Options > Inventory):

• Suit Inventory: 3 rows initially. Tech slots are separate (upgrade modules).


• Ship Inventory: carry more items.


• Multi-Tool: 1 equipped; you can own up to 3 later.


• Exosuit Cargo: unlockable via Drop Pods or Space Station vendors.


Quick Menu (X / D-Pad Down):

• Access to: recharge life support/hazard, place save point, summon ship, call exocraft, teleport to base (if placed), galactic map shortcuts.




Essential Early Objectives



1. Survive the first planet: Keep your hazard protection and life support charged.
2. Repair your ship and leave the planet.
3. Reach the Space Station – this acts as a fast travel hub (teleporter).
4. Visit the Space Anomaly – get key tech and quests.
5. Follow the “Awakenings” main mission until you own a freighter (you get a free one after 3-5 warps).
6. Expand your Exosuit inventory – buy a slot at each new Space Station (exosuit upgrade terminal) and repair Drop Pods planetside.
7. Build a small base – to progress the base computer missions and unlock construction parts.



What to Do First vs. What to Avoid



✅ DO:

• Always carry Sodium and Oxygen – they are your lifelines.


• Scan everything for units and nanites.


• Save often by using the Save Beacon (buildable) or hopping in/out of ship.


• Experiment with Refining – combine raw materials into advanced elements.


• Follow the main quest (Awakenings / Artemis Path) at your own pace.


❌ AVOID:

• Fighting Sentinels early – unless you are prepared. They escalate aggression quickly.


• Ignoring your hazard protection – especially on extreme weather planets.


• Hoarding high-value items without using them – you can always sell or refine later.


• Trying to reach the galactic core immediately – it’s a long journey.


• Getting attached to one planet – always be ready to warp away.




Early Resource Priorities




• Survival Resources: Sodium (yellow flowers) > Oxygen (red) > Carbon (plants). Craft Life Support Gel from Oxygen + Di-hydrogen for emergency recharges.


• Fuel: Di-hydrogen (blue crystals) + Tritium (pink asteroids in space) for pulse drive; Warp Cells (Antimatter + Antimatter Housing) for hyperdrive.


• Building: Ferrite Dust (rocks) → Pure Ferrite (refine) for basic base parts; Chromatic Metal (refine Indium, Cadmium, etc.).


• Currency: Units (sell high-value items like Activated Indium or Salvaged Data). Nanites (buy upgrade modules from Space Station vendors). Quicksilver (special event currency from the Anomaly).




Common Beginner Mistakes



1. Not recharging hazard protection before it’s empty. Once depleted, health drains fast.
2. Forgetting to refuel the mining beam – always have Carbon or Condensed Carbon handy.
3. Selling all rare materials – some are used for base parts or upgrades (e.g., Wiring Looms, Salvaged Data).
4. Not expanding inventory early – buy one slot per system (costs 0 units for first purchase!).
5. Ignoring the exosuit cargo and tech slots – they allow more upgrades.
6. Building a base before completing the tutorial – wait until you unlock the Base Computer mission.
7. Warping without a clear goal – follow the main quest lines to unlock tech and story.



Day-One Checklist




• [ ] Spawn, collect Sodium and Oxygen nearby.


• [ ] Repair your ship: gather 50 Di-hydrogen, craft 1 Metal Plate, repair Launch Thrusters.


• [ ] Craft Portable Refiner and Condensed Carbon (2 Carbon → 1 Condensed Carbon).


• [ ] Craft Hermetic Seal (60 Condensed Carbon). Build 1 more Metal Plate for Pulse Engine.


• [ ] Repair Pulse Engine.


• [ ] Fly to Space Station (first warp triggers encounter).


• [ ] Land at Space Station, use the teleporter to mark it.


• [ ] Speak to NPCs; buy an Exosuit upgrade slot from the vendor (blue backpack terminal).


• [ ] Answer the Anomaly call; warp to its coordinates.


• [ ] Inside Anomaly: accept quests from Nada & Polo, visit Appearance Modifier if desired, buy upgrades from vendors.


• [ ] Build a basic base (Base Computer, floor, walls, roof) on a safe planet – this unlocks the base-building missions.


• [ ] Scan flora/fauna/minerals on each new planet for nanite rewards.


• [ ] Save game often (use ship exit or save point).

Once you complete this checklist, you will have a solid foundation. Explore freely, follow the Artemis story, and remember: there is no wrong way to enjoy No Man’s Sky. Happy exploring, Traveller!