Do You Lose Your Inventory When You Buy a New Freighter in No Man’s Sky?
Navigating the vast universe of No Man’s Sky is an exciting adventure, and a key part of that journey is managing your assets, especially your freighter. These colossal vessels are not just storage units; they’re mobile bases, resource generators, and crucial for fleet management. A common concern among players, especially as they progress and aim for better freighters, is: do you lose your inventory when you buy a new freighter? The straightforward answer is: mostly no, but with critical exceptions.
When you exchange your current freighter for a new one, you will not lose items stored within your freighter base itself. This includes all structures you’ve built, such as your farms, crafting stations, and decorative elements. Think of your freighter base as a digital blueprint that’s seamlessly transferred and reconstructed on your new ship. This is incredibly convenient, as it saves you the tedious task of rebuilding your base from scratch each time you upgrade your freighter.
However, there’s a crucial distinction: you WILL lose anything stored in the freighter’s general inventory slots and technology slots. This is where items and technology upgrades specific to the freighter itself are kept. Any resources, crafted items, or technology modules placed here will be lost in the transfer. This is a significant factor to consider before committing to a freighter trade.
The key takeaway is to ensure that before trading your freighter, you carefully transfer all the items from these general and technology slots into your exosuit, starship, or ideally, freighter storage containers. This prevents any unfortunate losses and ensures a smooth transition to your new, upgraded command vessel.
Understanding Freighter Mechanics
Freighters in No Man’s Sky are more than just spaceships; they represent a huge leap in gameplay capabilities. They are effectively your mobile bases, capable of carrying substantial amounts of resources, serving as a launch point for planetary exploration, and the command center for your frigate fleet.
Freighter bases transfer without loss, and the game provides the convenience to reset your freighter base layout from the Freighter Upgrade Control terminal, which allows you to adjust to the new freighter’s unique internal structure. This transfer includes all of your build structures but does not include the content within the main inventory or tech slots.
It is also important to understand that the freighter class (C, B, A, or S) cannot be upgraded. Instead, you must find and acquire a new freighter of the desired class, making the decision to buy a new freighter a vital one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions about freighters in No Man’s Sky, designed to give a deeper understanding of these crucial assets.
1. What Happens to My Frigates When I Buy a New Freighter?
Your frigate fleet transfers seamlessly along with your squadron. You don’t lose your hired frigates when switching freighters. They automatically reposition to follow you to your new flagship.
2. Can I Own More Than One Freighter?
No, you can only own one freighter at a time. This is a design choice by the developers and means careful consideration is needed when selecting and upgrading your freighter. While you can have a fleet of up to 30 frigates, you can only captain one freighter.
3. How Many Ships Can I Own in No Man’s Sky?
The game allows players to own up to 12 starships. These can be a mix of fighters, haulers, explorers, and exotics, allowing for a varied fleet to match your diverse gameplay needs.
4. How Do Freighter Storage Units Work?
Freighter Storage Units are built on the freighter to provide additional inventory space. You can construct up to ten storage units (0-9), and each one holds 50 stacks of items. This is a vital addition to help with resource management and crafting.
5. What Is the Rarest Freighter Class?
The S-Class freighter is the rarest and highest-rated class. Acquiring one often involves patience, repeated space travel, and a bit of luck, though it can be done without spending resources by rejecting the first freighter encounter battle.
6. Can You Steal Freighters in No Man’s Sky?
The game currently does not allow you to “steal” freighters in the traditional sense. You can, however, engage in combat with defending forces in order to be given the option to acquire a freighter. The fight is less about “stealing” and more about defeating the previous owners.
7. Can My Freighter Be Attacked?
Yes, your freighter can be attacked by both pirate NPCs and other players. This can occur during freighter battles, and you must defend your freighter and its valuable cargo.
8. What Is the Biggest Freighter in No Man’s Sky?
The Oculus-class freighter is considered to be the largest of the standard freighters. This ship features a spherical bow with an extra engine unit and a huge internal volume.
9. Should I Accept the First Freighter I’m Offered?
You don’t have to accept the first freighter offer. If you decline, another free freighter encounter will trigger after 3 hours and 5 warps. The second encounter is guaranteed to be a capital ship.
10. Can Other Players See My Freighter?
Yes, other players can see your freighter in multiplayer. However, only one player’s freighter can be summoned and visible in the system at a time. If you want to show off your base, you may need to dismiss your own if another player has a freighter active.
11. Can I Loot Derelict Freighters?
Yes, you can loot derelict freighters which are found throughout the galaxy. You will need to locate the airlock terminal to gain access and begin exploring. Be aware of potential threats inside.
12. What Is the Probability of Finding an S-Class Freighter?
The probability of an S-Class freighter spawning varies. In pirate-controlled systems, the rate is roughly 5%, higher than the 2% in other systems with three stars.
13. How Many Free Freighters Can I Acquire?
You can acquire one free freighter when you first begin the game. Subsequent freighters will require payment in units.
14. How Much Do S-Class Starships Cost?
S-Class starships are expensive, with prices that vary based on class. For example, a large S-Class explorer can cost around 39 million units, while a large S-Class hauler could cost upwards of 126 million units.
15. Can I Get a Living Freighter?
Yes, you can obtain living frigates by doing fleet missions. You need to obtain a Dream Aerial by completing those missions. It’s not guaranteed, but it will allow you to start a quest line to encounter living frigates.
Conclusion
Understanding the mechanics of freighter trading is crucial for efficient resource management in No Man’s Sky. The key to avoiding inventory loss is careful planning and preparation. By knowing what gets transferred and what needs to be moved to safety, you can make informed decisions and ensure a smoother transition to your next flagship freighter. Remember to always empty your general and technology slots before trading your freighter, and enjoy the process of upgrading to a bigger and better home in the vastness of space!