What Happens to Claimed Ships in No Man’s Sky? A Comprehensive Guide
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In No Man’s Sky, discovering and claiming abandoned starships is a core gameplay loop that offers both challenge and reward. The question of what exactly happens to these newly acquired vessels often arises, and the answer is multifaceted. Once you claim a ship, it becomes part of your personal fleet, allowing you to switch between them at will, regardless of whether you have a freighter or not. These claimed ships can be used, upgraded, traded, or even disassembled for materials. They are not permanently locked to a location but rather become a part of your expanding spacefaring identity.
Understanding Ship Storage and Management
The process begins by claiming a crashed ship, often found by using Transmission Towers to locate their distress beacons. Once claimed, the newly acquired starship is automatically added to your collection, becoming one of up to 12 different starships you can own at any given time. How you interact with these ships depends on whether you own a freighter or not.
No Freighter? No Problem!
If you do not possess a freighter, all the claimed ships will be stored on the planet where they were found. They will remain there until you leave the system. Summoning them using the quick menu (typically activated with “X” on PC) allows you to switch which ship is currently active. Remember, the newly claimed ship will initially be set as your active ship by default.
With a Freighter
If you own a freighter, your life becomes a little more organized. The newly claimed ship will be stored on the planet until the next time you warp your freighter. Warping the freighter the next time after acquiring a ship will automatically move the newly claimed ship to your freighter hangar. A maximum of six ships will be visible in your freighter hangar at any time. You can still have up to 12 ships overall. The additional ships can be swapped in and out using the quick menu options. This allows for convenient storage and management of your starship fleet within the confines of your capital ship.
What Can You Do with a Claimed Ship?
Beyond simply owning them, claimed ships provide several crucial benefits:
- Trading: You can use a claimed ship as a trade-in at a space station or trading post to obtain a new ship. This is especially valuable if the ship you have acquired isn’t as valuable or as good as you want, or if you have an active ship that you would prefer to keep.
- Disassembly: You can dismantle a ship and receive materials. This process isn’t exactly selling but is useful for resource gathering.
- Use and Upgrade: You can fly a claimed ship, add upgrades, and make it a powerful tool. This allows you to collect a variety of types of starships (fighters, haulers, explorers, etc) to suit your gameplay.
- Collection: For some, collecting a full fleet of 12 ships, including rare and exotic varieties, is the most fun part of the process.
Claimed Ships: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about claimed ships in No Man’s Sky, to provide further clarity.
1. How do I find crashed ships in No Man’s Sky?
Crashed ships are most easily located by using Transmission Towers, found randomly on planets. Inside the tower is a puzzle where you have to enter an access code. This process will ping the distress beacon of any nearby crashed ships. You can also find them randomly by exploring.
2. Can I take abandoned ships in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, you can claim abandoned ships and add them to your collection. You just need to repair the launcher to get them flying.
3. How do I sell abandoned ships in No Man’s Sky?
You cannot directly sell ships. Instead, you trade them for a ship of your choice at trading posts or space stations, or disassemble them for trade materials.
4. Can I claim more than one ship in No Man’s Sky?
Absolutely! You can own up to 12 starships at one time. You can summon the ship you are using through the “X” menu.
5. How many ships can you keep in No Man’s Sky?
Players can own a maximum of 12 starships simultaneously. However, only six are stored in your freighter’s hangar at any one time.
6. What is the maximum amount of ships I can have in NMS?
The maximum number of starships a player can own is 12.
7. Should I claim abandoned starships in NMS?
Claiming an abandoned ship is often worthwhile. It allows you to have more ships in your collection, trade it for better ones or simply provide resources when dismantled.
8. What do you do with abandoned ships in space in No Man’s Sky?
You can either add them to your collection by claiming them or trade them for better starships. The ships you are not using will be stored on the ground until you leave the system, or added to your freighter the next time you warp.
9. What is the best ship in No Man’s Sky?
The “best” ship depends on your needs. Explorer-type ships are a great all-around choice, with good storage, jump range and general performance. However, for combat, Fighter-class ships are recommended.
10. Can I leave a derelict freighter and come back to it?
No, the game cannot be saved during derelict freighter missions. If you leave and try to return, it will vanish.
11. Can you lose frigates in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, frigates can be damaged or lost if their rating is lower than the expedition difficulty. Therefore, careful management of your frigate expeditions and your fleet is essential.
12. Can you steal someone’s ship in No Man’s Sky?
You can use a bypass chip to hack a landing pad console (not the pad itself nor any ship berthed there), but only when a ship is not present. This allows you to summon yours if no ship is there, or steal another player’s ship if one is present.
13. How do I get a free freighter in NMS?
You get a free freighter by jumping systems until a distress call occurs. Once a freighter battle is triggered, defeat the pirates attacking the freighter. After that, you can speak with the captain and accept their freighter for free.
14. How do I find a crashed freighter?
Crashed freighters can be located by using the Transmission Tower method used to find starships, or by exploring.
15. What is the point of derelict freighters in No Man’s Sky?
Derelict Freighters offer valuable rewards like Tainted Metal and Salvaged Frigate Modules. They’re a lucrative activity for resource gathering. They are also a unique and fun experience.
Conclusion
Understanding the mechanics of claimed ships is crucial to enjoying all that No Man’s Sky has to offer. From exploring abandoned ships on planets to building a diverse collection of vessels in your freighter’s hangar, the system is designed to enhance your gameplay and exploration. Whether you are looking for the best ship, building a collection, or just looking for salvage materials, the process of finding and managing starships is a fundamental part of the No Man’s Sky experience.