Can Your Companions Fight in No Man’s Sky? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, to a degree, pets in No Man’s Sky can fight, but their combat prowess shouldn’t be your primary expectation. It’s more accurate to say that aggressive companions will defend you against hostile creatures, hazardous flora, and even Sentinels. Think of them less as fierce warriors and more as protective allies who might get into a scuffle. The extent of their engagement depends heavily on their temperament, with aggressive pets being far more likely to participate in combat than their gentle counterparts.

However, it is crucial to understand that combat is not the primary focus of companions in No Man’s Sky. Their main purpose revolves around exploration, resource gathering, and general companionship. While their defensive capabilities are a useful bonus, don’t expect them to carry you through intense battles. This nuanced approach to pet combat is an important part of the game’s overall design, which emphasizes exploration and discovery over action-packed sequences.

Understanding Companion Behavior in Combat

The game’s mechanics dictate that aggressive creatures are more likely to engage in combat. When you are under attack, an aggressive companion may instinctively react by attacking the threat. This behavior includes actively hunting down other fauna, which can help them replenish their hunger. On the other hand, gentle companions typically steer clear of combat, preferring to observe rather than participate.

Therefore, selecting the right type of pet is critical depending on your gameplay style. If you are someone who frequently finds themselves in confrontations, an aggressive companion can be a decent asset. However, if you tend to avoid conflict or favor exploration, a gentle companion might be more to your liking.

What Pets Can and Cannot Do

While pets can attack, it’s important to have realistic expectations about their effectiveness in combat. They are not designed to replace your personal weaponry. Instead, their abilities should be seen as supplementary to your own, and not a complete replacement. Additionally, there are no formal combat roles that your pet will fall into, they will simply react in the ways described above.

Companion Combat – Not the Focus of No Man’s Sky

Keep in mind, No Man’s Sky is an exploration game first and foremost. Combat is a part of the game, but not the main element. Expecting a complex and robust combat system involving pets is a mistake. The game does not focus on combat and it can often be avoided entirely. The main focus of your pet is on the many other features it will provide such as:

• Scanning for resources: Your pet can highlight valuable resources nearby.
• Marking hazards: They can alert you to dangerous areas.
• Providing torchlight: Some pets can illuminate dark spaces.
• Locating buildings: They can point you towards interesting structures.
• Digging up valuable treasures: Some pets are able to dig for hidden goodies.
• Deploying shoulder-mounted mining lasers: Some pets may come equipped with mining lasers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are Pets Good Fighters in No Man’s Sky?

No, not in the traditional sense. They are not designed as primary combatants. They are more of a support system that will sometimes attack enemies. Aggressive companions will defend you, but they won’t carry you through battles.

2. Can Companions Attack Sentinels?

Yes, aggressive companions can engage Sentinels in combat, but don’t rely on them as your main line of defense. Sentinels can quickly overwhelm your pet, so your support will still be required in these encounters.

3. Do Gentle Companions Fight?

Gentle companions tend to avoid combat when possible, preferring to stay out of harm’s way. You will have to rely solely on yourself in combat scenarios if you take a gentle companion.

4. How Does a Pet’s Aggression Level Affect Combat?

An aggressive pet will actively seek out and attack enemies, making them more likely to defend you. Gentle pets won’t engage in fights, focusing more on companionship and other passive abilities.

5. Can Pets Hunt?

Yes, aggressive companions can hunt other fauna, replenishing their hunger in the process. It is common to see aggressive companions engage in combat in any environment with fauna.

6. Do Pets Age?

Yes, pets have three age stages: child, adult, and mature. Each stage lasts between 1-10 days. Age does not appear to impact the combat abilities of your pet, only their overall size.

7. Can I Tame Any Animal in No Man’s Sky?

No, not all animals can be tamed. Typically, creatures that remain close to the ground can be tamed, such as beetles, butterflies, and even some flying fish. High-flying birds and snakes are usually not tameable.

8. Can My Pet Die?

While your pet can be temporarily damaged in combat, it does not die in the traditional sense. They will generally return to your side after a brief period of time or will reappear when you next summon them.

9. Can I Ride My Pet?

Yes, you can ride some tamed animals which is a major addition to the game since the “Beyond” update. This is often a fun and useful way to explore the landscape.

10. Can Pets Help Me Find Resources?

Yes, pets are very useful in locating resources, marking hazards, and digging up treasures. These abilities make them invaluable for exploration and resource gathering.

11. Are There Rare Animals in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, Rangifae are considered one of the rarest fauna in the game, with only a 0.25% chance of appearing on any given planet.

12. What Are the Largest Creatures in No Man’s Sky?

There are many very large creature types in No Man’s Sky such as Rangifae (Diplos), Theroma (Triceratops), Tyranocae (T-Rex), and others. Be mindful of your pet’s behaviour around these creatures.

13. What Weapons Are Available in No Man’s Sky?

The game offers a variety of weapons, with the Scatter Blaster being a popular choice for close-range combat, especially when dealing with Sentinels.

14. Can You Avoid Combat in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, most combat can be avoided, especially if you prioritize exploration and resource gathering. Playing in Creative Mode allows you to ignore combat entirely.

15. Can Other Players Raid My Base?

No, players cannot raid other players’ bases as it is not a core game mechanic. Player versus Player combat is possible, however.

In Conclusion:

While companions in No Man’s Sky can engage in combat, they are not meant to be your primary fighting force. Their strengths lie in exploration, resource gathering, and providing companionship. Their defensive capabilities are a useful bonus, particularly when you have an aggressive companion, but don’t rely on them to win battles. Appreciate their roles as supportive allies and you’ll get the most out of your pet ownership experience in No Man’s Sky.