Acquiring Alien Vessels in No Man’s Sky: A Comprehensive Guide
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
So, you’re looking to pilot something a little… different? Tired of the same old Haulers, Fighters, and Explorers and want to get your hands on one of those slick, organic-looking alien ships in No Man’s Sky? Well, you’ve come to the right place. While “alien ship” can refer to several unconventional starship types, this guide will primarily focus on acquiring Living Ships, which are the most common and well-defined type of what most players consider alien. Getting your own living starship is a journey, not just a purchase.
The core process revolves around the Starbirth questline, which begins by acquiring a Void Egg from the Space Anomaly for 3,200 Quicksilver. Completing the quest allows you to claim your first Living Ship. The Starbirth quest requires patience and travel, but it’s an engaging experience with unique story elements.
The Journey to Obtain a Living Ship
Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:
-
Earning Quicksilver: Quicksilver is the special currency needed to purchase the Void Egg. You earn Quicksilver by completing daily and weekend missions offered by the Nexus in the Space Anomaly. These missions range from combat to exploration and often involve multiplayer participation. Check the Nexus frequently as missions rotate. It may take several play sessions to earn the required 3,200 Quicksilver, so prioritize the higher paying missions when available.
-
Acquiring the Void Egg: Once you’ve saved up enough Quicksilver, head to the Space Anomaly. The Anomaly is a large space station that you can summon while in space. Once inside, find the Quicksilver Synthesis Companion. Interact with him/her/it to access the Quicksilver store, where you can purchase the Void Egg.
-
The Starbirth Quest Begins: With the Void Egg in your inventory, pulse engine your ship in space. Eventually, you’ll encounter a living ship in space, triggering the start of the Starbirth quest. The Void Egg will begin to “awaken” and communicate with you.
-
Following the Egg’s Guidance: The quest involves traveling to specific planets indicated by the Void Egg and completing various tasks. These tasks often involve finding coordinates and interacting with alien structures. Pay close attention to the quest log as the instructions can be cryptic at times.
-
Incubating the Living Ship Components: As you progress, you’ll need to incubate several specialized components for your Living Ship. This involves traveling to specific planetary locations and waiting for timers to expire. Make sure your ship is equipped with sufficient technology to handle various environmental hazards (heat, cold, radiation, toxicity) as the quest locations can be on extreme planets.
-
The Final Steps: After incubating all the components, you’ll be guided to a final location where your Living Ship awaits. Interacting with the ship will allow you to claim it as your own. Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of an alien ship!
Finding Additional Living Ships
Once you’ve completed the Starbirth quest, you can acquire more Living Ships. To do this, you’ll need to purchase additional Void Eggs from the Quicksilver Synthesis Companion. Repeat the quest with another Void Egg. Each completed quest grants you a new living ship. You can own a maximum of 12 ships in No Man’s Sky. To get a specific ship, warp to the system with the desired ship, and then hatch the Void Egg. Fly to the coordinates on the planet with the location of the ship you want, and claim it. For a list of documented Living Ships, see Starship Catalogue – Living Ship.
Beyond Living Ships: Other Unusual Vessels
While Living Ships are the most common form of “alien” ship, keep an eye out for these other rare and unique vessel types:
-
Squid Ships: These exotic ships are incredibly rare. As the name suggests, they resemble squids and can be found at space stations and trading posts. Patience is key to finding one.
-
Exotic Ships: Exotic Ships are unique, single-fin spacecrafts that are always S-Class. It is a great way to add an extra edge of rarity and style to any fleet in the game.
Exploring the Science of Gaming
The allure of No Man’s Sky extends beyond simple entertainment. The game’s intricate systems, resource management, and exploration mechanics make it a compelling subject for study in areas like educational game design. The Games Learning Society is an organization dedicated to exploring these connections, and you can learn more about their work at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take to complete the Starbirth quest?
The Starbirth quest can take several days to complete, as it involves waiting for incubation timers. Planetary travel and resource gathering also contribute to the overall time.
2. Can I speed up the incubation timers?
No, the incubation timers cannot be sped up through in-game means. You have to wait the full duration. You can, however, edit the game files to remove timers, if you are not averse to using third-party tools.
3. What happens if I abandon the Starbirth quest?
You can resume the quest later. The quest progress will be saved.
4. Can I find Living Ships without doing the Starbirth quest?
No, the Starbirth quest is required to obtain your first Living Ship. Subsequent Living Ships can be acquired by repeating the quest with additional Void Eggs.
5. Are Living Ships better than regular ships?
Living Ships have unique advantages and disadvantages. They have excellent maneuverability and are capable of warping to any color star system without requiring specific drive upgrades.
6. Can I upgrade a Living Ship?
Yes, you can upgrade Living Ships using Nanites to purchase upgrades from the Starship Outfitting Terminal on space stations or the Anomaly.
7. How do I repair a Living Ship?
Living Ships are repaired using specialized components obtained from space encounters or purchased from vendors.
8. Are all exotic ships S-class?
Yes, all exotic ships are S-class. This makes them highly desirable due to their maximum stat potential.
9. How do I find crashed ships?
The simplest way to find a Crashed Ship is to use a Transmission Tower. These towers are POIs located randomly on planets. Inside each tower is a puzzle where you have to enter an access code. This will ping the distress beacon of any nearby Crashed Ship or Crashed Freighter.
10. Can I claim abandoned ships in space?
You can take abandoned ships and add it to your collection, fix the launcher, and fly it to a trading post or space station to trade it in for something else.
11. Can I tame aliens in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, No Man’s Sky lets players tame, ride, and milk the aliens that they discover in their travels; provided they know how to make the proper bait.
12. What is the biggest capital ship in No Man’s Sky?
The Resurgent-class Star Destroyer is the biggest known variant of the Venator-Design Star Destroyers. They all have a huge midsection and 6 indentations, instead of 4 or 2.
13. How many ships can I own in No Man’s Sky?
You can own up to 12 ships at any one time.
14. What happens if my ship is destroyed?
You keep your ship, and some installed tech may become unusable until you repair them. You drop your ship’s inventory, you will have to fly out into space and locate your grave floating at the location you died to get your stuff back.
15. Can species go extinct in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, while extinction can happen to any species of flora or fauna, it is of primary interest in No Man’s Sky when it happens to creatures. Extinction normally happens after a major update which resets the universe, but can sometimes happen on a smaller scale to select species after smaller updates.
Conclusion
Obtaining an alien ship in No Man’s Sky, particularly a Living Ship, is a rewarding experience. The Starbirth quest is a journey of discovery, patience, and a little bit of spacefaring luck. With persistence, you’ll be soaring through the cosmos in your very own piece of organic technology. Happy exploring, interloper!