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What is the Fastest Transport in No Man’s Sky?

The vast, procedurally generated universe of No Man’s Sky offers countless opportunities for exploration and discovery. A critical aspect of this experience is travel, and understanding how to move quickly across planets, star systems, and even galaxies is essential. So, what is the fastest transport in NMS? The answer isn’t as simple as a single vehicle or method. It depends on the context: land, space, or intergalactic travel.

For pure ground speed, the Pilgrim Exocraft is the fastest vehicle in No Man’s Sky. This two-wheeled wonder, once fully upgraded, outperforms all other Exocrafts on land thanks to its impressive boost and relatively light handling. For space, the Pulse Drive allows rapid movement within a star system, but it’s dwarfed by the Hyperdrive, which enables jumping between entire star systems. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics of these methods and address common questions.

Exocraft: The Kings of Land Speed

The Pilgrim – Speed Demon

As stated, the Pilgrim is the undisputed champion of ground speed among the Exocraft family. It’s the only two-wheeled vehicle, and its agility and boost capabilities set it apart. This makes the Pilgrim ideal for covering vast distances on planetary surfaces. With its 16 inventory slots and full upgrades, it becomes an indispensable tool for swift exploration. Though it isn’t necessarily the “best” Exocraft in terms of utility, when it comes to pure speed, the Pilgrim is the fastest on the ground.

Other Exocraft

While the Pilgrim takes the crown for speed, other Exocraft offer their own advantages. The Minotaur, for example, stands out with its 28 inventory slots and its impressive jump and boost, making it a powerful and versatile choice overall. Although it may not be as quick as the Pilgrim, it makes up for this with its heavy armor and combat utility. Consider the Colossus for cargo hauling, and the Nomad for all-terrain exploration. Each Exocraft serves a unique purpose, but for pure speed, the Pilgrim reigns supreme.

Starships: Rulers of the Sky and Beyond

Within Star Systems

For travel within a star system, the Pulse Drive is your go-to option. By utilizing the Pulse Drive, players can reach speeds of 37,881.67 mph or around 10.52 miles per second. While this seems quick, relative to the vastness of space, this speed is considerably slower compared to interstellar travel. Despite being considerably slower than the speed of light (approximately 186,000 miles per second), pulse travel is still necessary to navigate between planets, space stations, and other points of interest within the system.

Interstellar Travel: Hyperdrive

When it comes to moving between star systems, the Hyperdrive becomes essential. This technology allows you to jump across vast cosmic distances, enabling players to venture into entirely new galaxies. The hyperdrive requires specific types of fuel, like Thamium9, and the range of your jumps is determined by your ship’s hyperdrive capabilities and the class of warp drive installed. Unlike the Pulse Drive, hyperdrive jumps are instantaneous loading screens.

Ship Speed in Atmosphere

It’s important to consider the speed of a starship in atmosphere. A starship can reach speeds of 50u/s using normal flight controls, or 150u/s using the boost while in atmosphere. This is important to know when comparing to ground vehicle speed as the player may often use a ship for speed on a planet rather than an Exocraft.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide further clarity on transportation in No Man’s Sky:

Can you make your ship faster in No Man’s Sky? Yes, upgrading your ship’s engine and pulse drive with better modules increases its overall speed both in atmosphere and when using the Pulse Drive. Certain ship types like Explorers naturally have higher speeds.
What is the best Exocraft in NMS overall? While the Pilgrim is the fastest, the Minotaur is arguably the “best” overall Exocraft due to its combat capabilities and greater inventory, with a total of 28 slots for materials.
How fast is the Pulse Drive compared to the speed of light? The Pulse Drive travels approximately 17,680 times slower than the speed of light. This makes it useful for short distances within a star system, but far from suitable for intergalactic travel.
What is the maximum ship limit in No Man’s Sky? Players can own up to 12 starships. However, only six can be stored in your freighter hangar at any given time. The others are stored elsewhere and are accessible in your quick menu.
Can freighters participate in combat in No Man’s Sky? Yes, recent updates have introduced the ability for freighters to engage in combat, including fighting other freighters. They can also defend your fleet from pirates.
What is the strongest starship weapon in No Man’s Sky? The Infra-Knife Accelerator is considered the strongest starship weapon. It is a high-risk, high-reward weapon without lock-on, requiring the pilot to have sharp aim.
What is the rarest type of ship in NMS? The Squid-shaped Exotic ship is considered the rarest, and can take a significant amount of time and luck to find.
How long does it take to 100% No Man’s Sky? A focused main quest playthrough can take around 30 hours, while achieving 100% completion may take upwards of 140 hours or more.
Is S-Class the best ship class in NMS? Yes, S-Class is the highest tier ship class in the game. Exotic S-Class ships are particularly rare and highly sought-after.
Is the Living Ship the best in NMS? Living Ships have unique advantages, like the ability to warp to any star system without specific warp drive modules, making them a popular choice for many players.
What are Haulers good for in NMS? Haulers are primarily used for transporting large amounts of goods and materials. They have the highest inventory space among all ship types and are very useful when building bases.
Can you own more than 6 ships in NMS? As of recent updates, players can own up to 12 ships. However, the freighter hangar can only hold six ships at any given time. The other ships can be swapped using the quick menu.
Is there a base part limit in NMS? Yes, there is a limit of 16,000 base objects per save and a 3,000-component limit per base upload. If you exceed the base component limit, your base cannot be uploaded.
How many frigates can you own in NMS? Players can own up to 30 frigates, which includes both traditional and expedition reward frigates. These frigates can then be sent out on expeditions to other systems.
What is the best method for earning units through farming in NMS? Advanced agricultural products like Living Glass offer some of the highest values per hour, but other crops like Venom Urchin and Gravatino Balls are also a great option if you lack the blueprints.

Conclusion

Navigating the vastness of No Man’s Sky requires a solid understanding of the various modes of transportation. For raw speed on the ground, the Pilgrim Exocraft is your best bet. In space, the Pulse Drive allows for quick movement within star systems, while the Hyperdrive is necessary for interstellar jumps. By combining the proper vehicles with well-chosen upgrades, you can make the most of your exploration time in this expansive universe. Remember to utilize all the available options – your ship, Exocrafts, and the Hyperdrive – to travel swiftly and efficiently across the cosmos.

What is the fastest transport in NMS?