Save Point vs. Save Beacon in No Man’s Sky: A Comprehensive Guide

The distinction between Save Points and Save Beacons in No Man’s Sky can be confusing for new and even veteran players. Both are crucial for saving progress, but they serve different purposes and have unique features. Essentially, Save Beacons are versatile, permanent markers visible from anywhere in the system, while Save Points are smaller, base-centric save locations. Here’s a detailed breakdown.

Save Beacons: The System-Wide Navigational Tool

Save Beacons are base building products that act as both permanent markers and save points. Their most significant characteristic is their visibility. Unlike Save Points, Save Beacons can be seen from anywhere within the solar system, making them perfect for marking important locations on planets, even outside of your base.

Key Features of Save Beacons:

• System-Wide Visibility: The beacon’s icon is visible from space, aiding in navigation. This allows you to easily find specific locations you’ve marked, such as mining hotspots or crashed freighters.
• Customization: You can change the beacon’s color and material in the Build Menu. This helps differentiate between various beacons and their designated purposes. Altering the color also updates the beacon’s marker color, making visual identification quick and easy.
• Multiple Placements: You can place up to five beacons per planet. This allows you to mark multiple key locations on a single world.
• Permanent Marker: Once placed, the beacon remains, serving as a constant landmark.
• Save Functionality: Interacting with a Save Beacon allows you to manually save your game, similar to a Save Point.
• Ease of Use: Save Beacons can be placed virtually anywhere on a planet’s surface, offering flexibility in placement that Save Points do not.
• Strategic Advantage: Players often use a pyramid design to build a very visible beacon. While this does not change the function, a large beacon has extra visibility.

Save Points: The Base-Bound Saving Station

Save Points are smaller base building products intended primarily for use within or near your bases. Their main function is to provide a save location, but they do not offer the same system-wide visibility as Save Beacons.

Key Features of Save Points:

• Base-Centric Use: Primarily designed to be placed inside or near your base. Their limited visibility means they’re not ideal for marking locations across a planet.
• Local Saving: Like the Save Beacon, interacting with a Save Point will save your game.
• Blueprint Required: You must unlock the blueprint to build a Save Point using the following materials: Metal Plating x2 and Di-hydrogen Jelly x1.
• Limited Visibility: Unlike Beacons, Save Points are not visible across planetary distances or from space. They primarily serve as a save location within your base structure.
• Simplicity: Save Points are simple, offering only the core saving functionality without the extra navigational capabilities.
• Base Integration: They fit aesthetically into your bases.

Comparison Table: Save Point vs. Save Beacon

Feature	Save Point	Save Beacon
——————	———————————————	————————————————-
Primary Use	Base-specific saving point	System-wide navigational marker and save point
Visibility	Not visible from far distances, base-specific	Visible throughout the entire solar system
Customization	None	Color and material can be changed
Placement Limit	Unlimited, within base building limits	Max. five per planet
Purpose	Local saving within bases	Navigation, saving, landmark
Blueprint	Metal Plating x2 + Di-hydrogen Jelly x1	Available in the build menu, no additional blueprint required

Practical Applications: When to Use Each

• Use Save Beacons when:

  • Marking a resource-rich area.
  • Locating a crashed freighter or other point of interest.
  • Creating a network of visible locations on a planet.
  • Marking the starting point or entry point of your base.

• Use Save Points when:

  • Saving progress within a base.
  • Providing a secure save location in your living space.
  • You don’t need system wide visibility.
  • Simply adding a save option close to base.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How Many Save Beacons can I place on a planet?

You can place a maximum of five Save Beacons on a single planet.

2. Can I change the color of a Save Point?

No, Save Points do not have customization options. They are fixed in their appearance.

3. Do I need fuel to use a Save Beacon or Save Point?

No, neither Save Beacons nor Save Points require fuel. They simply require interaction to save the game.

4. What is the maximum number of units (money) I can have in No Man’s Sky?

The maximum number of units a player can accrue is 4,294,967,295 (approximately 4.3 billion).

5. How does No Man’s Sky save my game?

The game saves every time you exit your starship, whether on a space station or planetary surface. Also every time you interact with a save point or beacon.

6. Can I have too many bases in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, each save has a limit of 450 bases, including your freighter base. This equates to 449 planetary bases.

7. What are Waypoints in No Man’s Sky?

Waypoints are often points of interest that are logged in your discovery log when saved at a location. Waypoints often accompany the location of save beacons.

8. How do I make my beacon more noticeable?

Build your beacon into a 4-level pyramid structure. This makes the beacon more prominent and easier to see from a distance.

9. What are the best early game money-making methods in No Man’s Sky?

Chlorine farming is one of the best early-game money-making methods. It’s easy to acquire the necessary materials like chlorine, oxygen and a refiner.

10. Can I sell all my resources in No Man’s Sky?

It’s not advisable to sell all resources. Items like Carbon, Oxygen, Sodium, and Copper are crucial for crafting, so it’s best to stockpile them.

11. What happens when an expedition is completed?

Upon completion, you can convert your expedition progress to a Normal Mode save. Rewards earned will be registered at the Space Anomaly and can be redeemed across all save games.

12. Does No Man’s Sky require a new save after each major update?

Usually, you do not need to start a new save after every update. However, older saves can be updated to the latest version but will lose backward compatibility.

13. What’s the point of food in No Man’s Sky?

Food products can be used as bait for fauna, consumed for various Exosuit bonuses, and presented to Iteration: Cronus for Nanite rewards.

14. What items are best to farm for money?

Items like Living Glass and Circuit Boards are great for farming if you harvest frequently. Otherwise, Living Explosives is great for once-a-day harvesting.

15. Does No Man’s Sky have an autosave feature?

Yes, No Man’s Sky has an autosave feature triggered by exiting your ship. You also create autosaves every time you use a Save Point or Save Beacon.

In conclusion, while both Save Points and Save Beacons are vital for saving your game in No Man’s Sky, they serve distinct purposes. Understanding these differences will greatly enhance your gameplay experience and your navigation skills. Utilizing Save Beacons for system-wide landmarks and Save Points for localized saves within bases allows for an efficient and organized exploration of the vast universe.