Are Exotic Ships Rare in No Man’s Sky?
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The short answer is: no, exotic ships are not inherently rare in No Man’s Sky. While they might feel rare when you’re diligently hunting for one, the game mechanics ensure that every star system has an exotic ship that spawns. The perceived rarity stems from the fact that they have a low spawn rate and only one of them exists per system at any given time, which often leads to long waiting periods or a feeling that finding one is down to sheer luck. This article will dive deeper into the mechanics of exotic ship spawns and answer some frequently asked questions, helping you understand how to find these unique vessels.
Understanding Exotic Ship Spawns
The core concept to understand is that exotics are not unique to certain systems, like specific galaxies or economic tiers. Instead, each system has its own unique exotic ship that spawns. Once you enter a system, a hidden timer starts. The exotic ship is part of the regular ship rotation that visits space stations and trading posts. The trick is to be patient, understand how to force spawns, and recognize what an exotic looks like.
Spawn Rate and Patience
Exotic ships have a spawn rate of roughly 1-2%. This means that, on average, for every 100 ships that land, only 1 or 2 will be exotics. This percentage can make finding them a waiting game. To put it in perspective:
- To have a 50% chance of seeing an exotic at a 1% spawn rate, you’d need to see around 69 ships.
- For a 90% chance, you might need to wait through 229 ships.
These are just probabilities, not guarantees, but they illustrate that patience is key when hunting for exotics.
Where to Look for Exotics
The primary locations to find exotic ships are:
- Space Stations: These are the most common locations and have the advantage of a continuous flow of ships.
- Trading Posts: These are found on planets and have the advantage of having more potential landing locations for ships.
To maximize your chances, you should go directly to a space station or a trading post as soon as you enter a system. This way you will experience the full rotation of ships, making it easier to spot an exotic.
Forcing Ship Spawns
If you’re not seeing an exotic, or you are tired of waiting, there are techniques to “force” ship spawns:
- Save and Reload: At a space station or trading post, get out of your ship to trigger an autosave. Then, reload the game. This will refresh the ship rotation, often causing a new selection to spawn. Repeat this process as many times as needed.
- Wait: Sometimes simply waiting, without reloading, is also enough. The rotation will eventually bring different ships in. You do not need to keep flying out into space and coming back, just be patient.
- Go to different areas: The game may only spawn a limited number of ships in any given location, especially at space stations. If you are tired of the rotation there, moving to a trading post may yield better results.
Identifying Exotic Ships
Knowing what an exotic ship looks like is also key. Here’s what to look for:
- S-Class: All exotic ships are S-class, which means they will have the best stats.
- Unique Designs: Exotics come in two primary designs: the squid and the ball variations. The squid is notably more rare.
- Stats: They offer top-tier bonus values in all categories. They commonly range between 35-50% Damage, 55-60% Shield, and 50-65% Hyperdrive range.
- Price: Due to the limited slots, the price will range from 10M-15M units.
- Thrusters and Tails: Ball type exotics may have a large tail to completely encase its thruster, a narrow hood above the thruster, or no tail at all. The large tail opens up like a bird beak during flight. They come in single or double sets.
The Rarity of the Squid
While all exotics are technically not rare, the squid-shaped variant is significantly more difficult to find. Due to the game’s equal probability of spawning any exotic design, the numerous variations of the ball-type design contribute to the squid’s greater perceived rarity, and this is what most people refer to when talking about “rare” exotics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about exotic ships in No Man’s Sky:
1. How Do I Know if My Ship is Exotic?
Exotic ships are always S-class and will have top tier bonus values in all three categories. They have unique, distinct visual designs, being either the ball or squid shape. The price ranges between 10M-15M units.
2. Does Every System Have an Exotic Ship?
Yes, every system has a unique exotic ship that spawns randomly over time.
3. Are Solar Ships Exotic?
No, solar ships are not exotic. Systems can have multiple solar ships and the mechanics for how they spawn are different from exotics.
4. What is the Rarest Type of Ship in No Man’s Sky?
The squid-shaped exotic is the rarest ship due to the probability of spawning variants. It’s one of only two designs for exotics and there are many different variations of the “ball” type.
5. How Many Inventory Slots Do Exotic Ships Have?
Exotic ships typically have a small inventory space, between 15-20 base slots (with some up to 25). Tech slots usually range between 4-6 slots.
6. Can You Find S-Class Ships in Trading Posts?
Yes, S-class ships, including exotics, can be found in both space stations and trading posts.
7. What is the Spawn Rate of Exotic Ships?
The spawn rate is around 1-2%.
8. Can I Force an Exotic Ship to Spawn?
Yes, you can save and reload the game at space stations or trading posts to refresh the ship spawns and increase your chances of seeing an exotic.
9. What Stats Do Exotic Ships Have?
Exotic ships have top tier bonus values, usually around 35-50% Damage, 55-60% Shield, and 50-65% Hyperdrive range.
10. How Much Do Exotic Ships Cost?
They range from approximately 10-15 million units, due to their lower inventory slots.
11. Do Exotic Ships Spawn in Space Stations?
Yes, exotic ships can spawn in space stations as well as trading posts.
12. What is the Rarest Creature in No Man’s Sky?
Rangifae are considered one of the rarest land fauna, with a 0.25% chance of spawning. This, however, is not related to ships.
13. Can I Upgrade an Exotic Ship?
Yes, you can upgrade an exotic ship’s class to S-class (if it’s not already), its inventory slots, and its technology slots, just like any other ship.
14. How Can I Make Ship Hunting Easier?
Go to a system where the space station is right next to the portal, allowing you to easily access it after reloading. Keep an eye on the first few waves of ships that come into a space station or trading post, and reload if an exotic doesn’t show up.
15. Why Do Some Exotic Ships Have Tails?
Some ball-type exotic ships have tails that can either completely encase the thruster, have a narrow hood above the thruster, or have no tail at all. The large tails can even open up like a bird beak during flight.
Conclusion
While the perceived rarity of exotic ships in No Man’s Sky can be high, understanding the game mechanics and practicing patience makes finding these unique ships much easier. Remember to look at space stations and trading posts, and remember to reload your save if you don’t see one. While the squid-shaped ship might be the more difficult one to find due to the odds, all exotic ships can be found if you are persistent. Happy hunting, traveler!