How to Hatch a Living Egg in No Man’s Sky: A Comprehensive Guide
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Hatching a living egg in No Man’s Sky isn’t as simple as placing it in a nest and waiting. It involves embarking on a specific questline and understanding the mechanics of Void Eggs and their unique role in the game. The primary method to hatch a living egg in No Man’s Sky, specifically a Living Ship, is by using a Void Egg to trigger the “Starbirth” mission. This questline ultimately leads to the hatching of your very own, procedurally generated Living Ship. You’ll need to engage in a specific sequence of actions, not just wait, to see your unique ship take flight. The first step is obtaining the Void Egg. This is typically acquired by summoning the Space Anomaly and purchasing it with Quicksilver from the Quicksilver Synthesis Companion. Once you have the Void Egg in your inventory, you will initiate the process for hatching the Living Ship.
Obtaining the Void Egg
Summoning the Anomaly
The initial requirement is to summon the Space Anomaly, a large, floating space station that appears in any star system you are currently exploring. This is done through the in-game menu once you have progressed past the initial stages of the game. Once inside, navigate to the Quicksilver Synthesis Companion, located near the center.
Quicksilver Acquisition
The Void Egg isn’t free; it costs Quicksilver, a unique currency earned by completing missions from the Nexus at the Space Anomaly. If you don’t have enough Quicksilver, participate in a few of these Nexus missions. Once you’ve accumulated enough, you can purchase the Void Egg and begin your living ship journey.
Triggering the Starbirth Mission
Pulse Drive and Deep Space Encounter
With the Void Egg safely in your inventory, it’s time to head back into space. Fly to a planet within the system you are in. Now, use your ship’s pulse drive. This is done by holding the boost key (usually L-Shift on PC). As you pulse through space, the game will interrupt you with a notification. It’s this notification that indicates that a deep-space encounter is about to take place and your quest has truly begun. This marks the start of the “Melody of The Egg” quest step, a key element of the Starbirth mission.
The Deep-Space Creature
Once you receive the notification, drop out of pulse and you will be presented with a deep-space creature. This creature will interact with the Void Egg in your inventory, activating it. This is a crucial step in the hatching process and marks the point where your journey begins in earnest.
Following the Starbirth Questline
Guided by the Egg
After the Void Egg activates, you’ll receive instructions from it as part of the Starbirth mission. The questline takes you through various steps, guiding you to different locations and requiring specific actions. This may involve visiting various planets, interacting with ancient structures, and completing specific tasks. Be sure to pay close attention to the quest objectives and to follow them carefully.
The Living Ship Emerges
As you progress through the Starbirth quest, you’ll gather the necessary components to “grow” your Living Ship. Following the mission’s directions is key to getting your unique vehicle. Once you have completed all the steps and reached the final point of the mission, your Void Egg will finally hatch, resulting in a brand new Living Ship. You will receive coordinates to find it within the system you are in, where you will be able to claim it.
Additional Living Ships
After you have hatched your first Living Ship, you can acquire additional ships by incubating further Void Eggs. The process will be the same, except that some steps may be bypassed or simplified after completing Starbirth the first time. This gives you the opportunity to build a fleet of these unique organic ships.
Additional Methods of Hatching Eggs
It’s important to note that Void Eggs have a secondary function besides the Living Ships. When placed in an incubator of a Big or Deluxe Coop, they will hatch into Void Chickens. This is independent of the Starbirth mission, and they will produce Void Eggs daily if fed, which can then be sold or used in cooking recipes.
Incubating Void Eggs for Chickens
You will need to have unlocked farming and then chosen the Rancher profession in order to be able to create coops. Placing a Void Egg in an incubator will cause it to hatch in 6 days or 3 days if you have the coopmaster perk, which is obtained at farming level 10 after choosing the rancher profession at level 5.
Hatching Non-Void Eggs
Other eggs you might find in the game, such as those found after interacting with creatures, can be hatched by placing them in an incubator within a habitat structure. Once the allotted time has passed, the egg will hatch, and the player will get a new creature as a companion.
FAQs About Hatching Living Eggs in No Man’s Sky
1. What is the purpose of a Void Egg?
A Void Egg primarily serves as a key item to unlock and initiate the Starbirth mission, which ultimately allows you to acquire a Living Ship. It also can be used to hatch Void Chickens in a coop.
2. Where do I buy a Void Egg?
You purchase a Void Egg from the Quicksilver Synthesis Companion at the Space Anomaly. It requires Quicksilver, a unique currency, to purchase.
3. How do I summon the Space Anomaly?
You can summon the Space Anomaly through the in-game menu once you have progressed past the initial stages of the game. You can access this menu on PC by pressing the “X” key (or equivalent on other platforms).
4. What is the “Starbirth” mission?
The Starbirth mission is a questline introduced to enable players to acquire Living Ships. It is triggered after the player uses the pulse drive with an active Void Egg in their inventory.
5. Can I get multiple Living Ships?
Yes, you can acquire multiple Living Ships by incubating additional Void Eggs. After hatching your first Living Ship, the subsequent process is similar but can be faster.
6. How long does it take for a Void Egg to hatch into a Living Ship?
The process isn’t based on time but rather the completion of the various steps in the Starbirth mission. The whole process can take several hours of gameplay.
7. Can I get a Living Freighter?
No, Living Freighters are not available. The Dream Aerial is a reward for completing frigate missions, and it enables players to find Living Frigates for their fleets.
8. What are Void Chickens?
Void Chickens are creatures hatched from a Void Egg when placed in an incubator in a Big or Deluxe Coop. They produce Void Eggs daily once they mature.
9. Can I breed animals in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, you can breed your companion animals. You will need to obtain an egg from an animal that you wish to breed with. Then, after hatching the egg, you will receive a baby version of that animal that will grow over time.
10. Do creatures grow in NMS?
Yes, baby creatures have different proportions from adults and will grow to maturity over time.
11. Can I find a Living Ship without doing the quest?
No, the only way to get a Living Ship is by completing the Starbirth mission triggered by a Void Egg.
12. What is the rarest freighter in NMS?
S-Class versions are the highest rated and rarest type of freighter. They can be found for free, but it will require time and perseverance.
13. What is Living Water in NMS?
Living Water is a resource that can be obtained during the Starbirth mission. It’s acquired from the Child of Helios, which appear in space when using pulse drive between planets during specific parts of the mission.
14. How many ships can I own in NMS?
You can own up to 12 different starships at any one time.
15. How do I get a free freighter?
Jump systems until you get a distress signal regarding a freighter under attack. Defeat the pirates, then board the freighter and speak with the captain, where you can accept or decline the offer to claim the freighter as your own. This will happen every few jumps.
By understanding the mechanics of Void Eggs, the Starbirth mission, and the various steps involved, you’ll be well on your way to hatching your own unique Living Ship and even raising a flock of Void Chickens in No Man’s Sky. Enjoy the journey and the many wonders that this vast universe has to offer!