How to Loot a Crashed Freighter in No Man’s Sky: A Salvager’s 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’ve stumbled upon a crashed freighter in the vast expanse of No Man’s Sky and your eyes are gleaming at the thought of the loot inside? You’ve come to the right place, interloper! Looting a crashed freighter involves locating it, excavating its buried cargo pods, and claiming the blueprint offered by its distress beacon. Let’s break down the entire process, turning you into a pro at scavenging these planetary wrecks.
Finding a Crashed Freighter
First, you need to locate a crashed freighter. While they appear randomly on planets, there’s a more reliable method:
- Using Transmission Towers: These towers are Points of Interest (POIs) generated randomly on planetary surfaces. Fly low and slow, and use your ship’s scanner (press ‘C’ on PC, check controller bindings on console) to scan the environment for buildings and indicators.
- Solving the Puzzle: Once you find a transmission tower, enter it. Inside, you’ll find a console that presents a puzzle – usually a simple math or logic problem. Solve it to get an access code.
- Pinging the Distress Beacon: Inputting the access code into the console will ping the distress beacon of a nearby crashed ship or, if you’re lucky, a crashed freighter. The location will then be marked on your planetary map.
Excavating the Cargo Pods
Now that you’ve found your freighter, it’s time for the real work: excavating the cargo pods.
- Tool Up: You’ll need a Terrain Manipulator (part of the Multi-Tool) for this. It allows you to dig into the ground and expose the buried pods. You can also use a Plasma Launcher or Geology Cannon, but these are far less precise and can easily damage the pods themselves, resulting in a loss of loot.
- Locate the Pods: Crashed freighters have a fixed layout. There are four cargo pods clustered within the freighter’s “middle” section. Two are above ground, visible immediately. The other two are buried underground.
- Dig Carefully: Use the terrain manipulator to carefully dig around the buried pods. Be cautious not to blast them with excessive force, as this can destroy the container and its contents. Aim for the ground around the pod, not at it.
- Claim Your Loot: Once the cargo pods are exposed, interact with them to claim their contents. These can include Nanite Clusters, units, and sometimes even the elusive Salvaged Frigate Modules (SFMs) which are used for upgrading your freighter.
Claiming the Distress Beacon Blueprint
Every crashed freighter has a Distress Beacon.
- Locate the Beacon: Find the Distress Beacon. It’s usually located somewhere on or near the main wreckage of the freighter. They can often be spotted on the surface without any hints due to their giant silhouette and appear in average frequency.
- Interact and Obtain the Blueprint: Interacting with the Distress Beacon will grant you a blueprint and start a secondary mission. The blueprint is typically for a freighter-related technology or item.
Important Considerations
- Radiation: Be aware that the containers can emit deadly radiation, so ensure you have sufficient hazard protection active. Radiation protection modules in your exosuit are essential.
- Inventory Space: Make sure you have plenty of empty inventory slots before you start looting. You don’t want to leave valuable resources behind.
- Scanning Visor: Use your scanning visor to highlight interactable items and points of interest, including the cargo pods and Distress Beacon.
Looting crashed freighters is a great way to gain resources, blueprints, and potentially even Salvaged Frigate Modules early in the game. It’s a bit of a grind, but with the right tools and a systematic approach, you can become a master freighter salvager.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Crashed Freighters in No Man’s Sky
1. How do I find a crashed ship faster in No Man’s Sky?
While crashed freighters are found via transmission towers, crashed ships can sometimes be found via distress signals. Listen for these signals while flying through a planet’s atmosphere. Alternatively, trading posts on planets often have NPCs who will sell you coordinates to crashed ships in exchange for units.
2. How many Salvaged Frigate Modules can I get from a crashed freighter?
The drop rate for Salvaged Frigate Modules (SFMs) from crashed freighter cargo pods is not guaranteed, and the quantity is always one per pod that contains it. The chances are relatively low. A more reliable method to obtain them is to attack freighter cargo pods in space, though this will lower your standing with the dominant alien race in that system.
3. What is the purpose of finding a crashed freighter in No Man’s Sky?
The primary purpose is to acquire resources, especially Nanite Clusters and units. You can also get lucky and find Salvaged Frigate Modules for freighter upgrades and obtain blueprints from the Distress Beacon.
4. Can I claim a crashed freighter as my own personal freighter?
No, you cannot claim a crashed freighter as your own. You can only acquire a fully functional freighter by responding to a distress call and rescuing it from pirates, or by purchasing one from the captain of a freighter you encounter in space.
5. How do I increase my chances of finding an S-Class freighter?
Finding an S-Class freighter is all about luck and persistence. You will have to keep warping and battling pirates while checking the freighter for sale afterwards. S-Class versions are the highest rated and rarest of them all. Players will have to put in a lot of work to find an S-Class Freighter, but it can be done for absolutely free. It just requires an Economy Scanner and a lot of space travel to get one.
6. What’s the difference between a derelict freighter and a crashed freighter?
A derelict freighter is found in space. You need an Emergency Broadcast Receiver to locate them, which you can buy from the Scrap Dealer at a space station. They are explorable areas filled with loot and story elements. A crashed freighter is found on a planet’s surface, and you can loot its buried cargo pods.
7. Can I bring a friend to loot a crashed freighter with me?
Yes! No Man’s Sky is a multiplayer game, and you can absolutely bring friends to help you loot crashed freighters. More hands make the digging and looting process much faster.
8. What happens if I damage the cargo pods while digging them up?
If you damage the cargo pods too much with a weapon like the Plasma Launcher, you risk destroying the contents. Be precise with your digging and use the Terrain Manipulator for best results.
9. Are crashed freighters the only way to get Salvaged Frigate Modules?
No. You also get SFMs when you destroy the cargo pods on freighters and frigates in space. Another method is to complete frigate expeditions launched from your freighter. They occasionally return with Salvaged Frigate Modules as a reward.
10. Do crashed freighters respawn?
Yes, crashed freighters do respawn on planets. This means you can potentially revisit the same location and loot another crashed freighter after a certain amount of time has passed. The exact respawn timer is unknown.
11. Can I build a base near a crashed freighter?
Yes, you can build a base near a crashed freighter. This can be useful if you want to return to the location frequently or use it as a landmark. Just be mindful of the environment and any potential hazards.
12. What should I do if I run out of hazard protection while looting a crashed freighter?
It is extremely important to prepare for environmental hazards before exploring a crashed freighter. If your hazard protection is low, quickly use sodium or hazard protection modules to recharge it. If you’re caught off guard, retreat to your ship or build a temporary shelter to recharge your systems.
13. What happens to my old freighter base if I get a new freighter?
When purchasing a new freighter, your existing freighter base is automatically transferred and reconstructed on the new freighter. You won’t lose your progress. Additionally, freighter base layouts can now be reset at any time from the Freighter Upgrade Control terminal.
14. How many frigates can I have in my fleet?
You can only have one freighter, but you can have up to 30 frigates in your fleet. These frigates can be sent on expeditions to gather resources and complete missions.
15. Where can I learn more about the design and learning aspects of games?
You can explore the insightful work of the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They delve into the educational potential and design principles behind games. This research helps illuminate the ways in which games like No Man’s Sky can foster creativity and problem-solving skills. This organization’s exploration into the educational aspects of gaming helps illuminate the broader impact that games can have on players of all ages, offering insightful perspectives on the cognitive and social benefits derived from engaging with interactive digital worlds.