Can You Get Your Starter Ship Back in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, it is absolutely possible to get your starter ship back in No Man’s Sky, although not through a straightforward “reclaim” button. The process involves a bit of exploration and understanding how the game handles ship ownership and storage. While the game doesn’t offer a direct mechanism to retrieve your initial ship, it does preserve your ships when you acquire new ones. This opens avenues to recover your original vessel even after progressing far into the game. This article will explain how to achieve this and provide additional information about ship mechanics in No Man’s Sky.

How to Retrieve Your Starter Ship

The key to getting your starter ship back lies in understanding the game’s ship storage system. Here’s how it works:

1. Don’t Destroy It: When you acquire a new ship, your old one isn’t deleted. It’s essential not to permanently scrap or trade your starter ship. Instead, always ‘claim’ your new ships and add them to your collection.
2. Ship Storage: Your ships are stored in a “hanger,” and you can have up to 12 ships at once. If you own a freighter, the ships will be stored within its hangar. If you don’t have a freighter yet, your other ships will stay on the ground where they were left until you travel to a new system.
3. Returning to the Location: If you haven’t warped or reloaded the game your ship will remain in the spot it was left. Therefore, it’s possible to swap back into it. However, upon warping to another system or any form of game reload, your ships location becomes unsavable, and you would need to use the freighter system for later access to that ship.
4. Freighter Ownership: If you have a freighter, all of your acquired ships, including your starter ship, will automatically be transferred into your freighter’s hangar. Simply visit your freighter and you should be able to swap between ships.

So, if you’ve acquired a freighter, your starter ship will very likely be waiting for you in the hangar. If you have not yet acquired a freighter and you want to return to your starter ship before that, your best bet is to locate where you left it last, providing you have not warped or reloaded since.

Important Considerations

• The Starter Ship is Unique: Remember that your starter ship has particular traits, both visual and in its statistics. It is always a randomly generated C-class ship with specific characteristics. If you plan to collect different ship types you may want to keep your original, as it might have unique features to keep as part of your personal collection.
• Upgrade Options: While your starter ship might seem basic, you can upgrade its class, inventory, and technology slots at a Space Station. Don’t underestimate its potential.
• Trading vs. Keeping: Never permanently trade in your starter ship, always swap it for a new ship. Scrapping ships only provides materials, while keeping the ships grants an ever-growing collection for use whenever you desire. This is especially important if you’d like to reclaim it later in the game.

Why Players Might Want Their Starter Ship Back

There are several reasons why a player might want to reclaim their starter ship:

• Nostalgia: The starter ship holds sentimental value, being the vessel that kicked off your No Man’s Sky adventure.
• Unique Looks: Some starter ships have interesting or unique designs that players might want to revisit or collect.
• Collection Purposes: Many players like to collect all sorts of ship types for personal collections, so the starter ship is just as valid a addition to a collection as any other.
• For specific tasks: Some players like to use a specific ship type for a particular job, so your original ship may be useful as a means to perform the duties of a low-class ship.
• Replaying early missions: Some missions might require a ship without certain upgrades, and so using your basic starter ship is the easiest way to complete those missions.

Finding Other Ships

Remember that other ships can be found in many ways:

• Trading Posts: These are excellent places to find a variety of ships, so you may be able to obtain a duplicate of a ship you want from here.
• Space Stations: Space stations are also an easy place to acquire new ships.
• Crashed Ship Encounters: You can stumble upon crashed ships when exploring planets. Crashed ships and freighters show as red dots on your Starship scope. These can be claimed and added to your collection.
• Freighters: Freighters can house entire fleets of ships, allowing you to switch between various starship types that you have collected.

Conclusion

Getting your starter ship back in No Man’s Sky is not only achievable, but relatively simple. It highlights the game’s emphasis on exploration and collection. By understanding the ship ownership and storage mechanics, players can reclaim their first vessel and add it to their expanding hangar.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I sell my first ship directly in No Man’s Sky?

No, there isn’t a direct way to sell ships. Instead, you can scrap them for materials at the ship salvage terminal found in most space stations. The materials can then be sold at any Galactic Trade Terminal.

Is your first freighter free in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, the game offers your first freighter for free, after completing a few warp jumps and engaging in a pirate fight. A freighter battle against pirates will typically be found after five warp jumps.

How do I get a free freighter in No Man’s Sky?

After a few warp jumps, a distress signal will alert you to a freighter under attack. Defeat the pirates, then board the freighter and speak to the captain. You can then choose to accept the free freighter.

What is the biggest ownable ship in No Man’s Sky?

The Hauler ships boast the highest inventory space, as well as a shield absorb bonus. They are the largest of the starships.

What is the rarest type of ship in No Man’s Sky?

The Squid-shaped ship is the rarest, and can be extremely difficult to find. Some players can play for hundreds of hours and still not come across one of these exotic ships.

How many ships can I own in No Man’s Sky?

You can own up to 12 different starships at a time, thanks to the Fractal update.

What happens when I claim an abandoned ship?

The claimed ship is stored either on your freighter if you own one, or on the ground where it was found until you leave the system. When in your freighter hangar the ship can be swapped out and used at any time.

Can I miss the free freighter in No Man’s Sky?

No, the freighter rescue mission will continue to appear when warping, unless the player already owns a freighter.

What happens to my old ship when I get a new one?

Your old ship will be stored safely, either in your freighter or in the location you left it. If on a planet it will remain there until the system is left or the game is reloaded.

Can I salvage freighters in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, you can explore Derelict Freighters which are found in deep space. These freighters contain valuable rewards and make for a lucrative activity.

How much does an S-class ship cost?

The cost varies greatly, a Regular Freighter S Class can cost around 23M units, while a Capital Freighter Ship can cost between 26M and 178M units. The price will vary depending on the size, class, and number of inventory slots.

Where can I find S-class ships in No Man’s Sky?

S-class ships are more likely to spawn in 3-star systems such as those with descriptors like Opulent or Advanced. You will need an economy scanner to see system economy stats.

What is the best overall ship in No Man’s Sky?

The Explorer-type starship is often considered the most versatile as it excels in various roles such as combat, exploration and trade, and has the capacity to max out the storage.

How many frigates can I own in No Man’s Sky?

You can own up to 30 frigates once you own a freighter, and they can be sent on expeditions to other star systems.

Should I take a freighter or payment for rescuing a freighter?

For the first rescued freighter, it’s better to request payment. Subsequent freighter rescues will still offer a free freighter, as long as the player does not yet own one. This allows you to make some units, and still gain a freighter later in the game.