What is the Most Profitable Plant to Grow in No Man’s Sky?

The most profitable plant to grow in No Man’s Sky isn’t a simple, straightforward answer, as profitability can vary based on your playstyle, frequency of harvesting, and access to specific resources. However, if we’re talking purely about the highest units per hour potential from farming, Living Glass takes the crown when harvested frequently. If you’re looking for more of a “once a day” harvest, then Circuit Boards and Living Explosives are your next best options. Let’s delve deeper into why these plants are the most lucrative and explore other farming options in the game.

Understanding Profitability in No Man’s Sky Farming

Profitability in No Man’s Sky is determined by how much you can sell a harvested product for in the Galactic Trade Network, weighed against the time and resources it took to produce it. Several factors come into play:

• Base Material Costs: The raw materials required to cultivate the crops.
• Growth Time: How long it takes for a plant to mature and be ready for harvesting.
• Sale Price: The price you get per unit of the harvested product at a trading terminal or with an NPC trader.
• Harvest Frequency: How often you can realistically harvest your crops given your playstyle.

Considering these factors, some plants stand out as superior options for maximizing your in-game income.

The Top Contenders: Living Glass, Circuit Boards, and Living Explosives

• Living Glass: This is generally considered the most profitable option if you are actively harvesting. With a relatively short growth time of around 4 hours, Living Glass offers a great balance between growth time and sale value. It sells for approximately 566,000 Units per unit, making it a lucrative choice for players who check their farms often.
• Circuit Boards: For a less frequent harvest schedule, Circuit Boards are an excellent choice, maturing in about 16 hours. They command a higher price of approximately 916,250 units per unit. This makes it the most profitable for daily harvests.
• Living Explosives: Similar to Circuit Boards, Living Explosives grow in about 16 hours and sell for about 800,500 units per unit. They are a very good alternative, though they are slightly less profitable than Circuit Boards on average.

These Advanced Agricultural Products provide the greatest profit margins, but they require advanced recipes and facilities to grow, making them a mid- to late-game endeavor.

The Advantages of Living Glass Farming

• High Turnover Rate: The short 4-hour growth cycle allows for multiple harvests per day.
• Good Profit per Unit: Despite not being the absolute highest per-unit price, the quick turnover more than makes up for it.
• Relatively Straightforward Setup: Once you’ve acquired the necessary blueprints, the ingredients for Living Glass are not too difficult to acquire.

Alternatives to Consider

While Living Glass, Circuit Boards, and Living Explosives dominate for pure unit production, there are other plants that offer alternative benefits:

NipNip Buds

NipNip buds are a popular farming option for players looking to maximize their profits. This is because NipNip is often sought after by NPC traders making it an easy and fairly profitable crop. Players can build huge NipNip Farms, easily gaining a substantial profit with very little effort.

Albumen Pearls

Albumen Pearls are another viable option, however, they are quite resource intensive to set up as they require Rigogen. Once set up, they offer a good source of steady income.

Gravitino Balls (Indoor Only)

You can plant Gravitino Balls indoors in hydroponic planters. While not as profitable as the top contenders, they do offer a decent profit and can be grown in any base.

Exploring Other Options

Many players prefer to grow Oxygen Rich Plants which, while not offering a large sale value, provides players with a renewable source of oxygen. Other players prefer to grow Saffron for the challenge of its long growth and cost to acquire the plants.

Resource Farming

While not plants, remember you can set up Mineral Extractors to mine resources continuously, which can provide a solid passive income stream.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the basic requirements to start farming?

To start farming, you’ll need to build a Hydroponic Tray or a Planter. You’ll also need the seeds for the plants you want to grow. These can be acquired through exploring, trading, or by unlocking recipes.

2. Where can I get seeds for advanced crops?

Seeds for Advanced Agricultural Products are typically obtained by unlocking blueprints through various means such as from Manufacturing Facilities, the Space Anomaly, and through completing certain questlines.

3. How do I maximize yield per plant?

The yield per plant is typically fixed and cannot be significantly increased, however, you can always increase the amount of plants in your farm to maximize profit.

4. Can plants be damaged or destroyed in No Man’s Sky?

Yes, plants in Hydroponic Trays and Planters can be destroyed if your base is attacked. Building your farm away from potentially dangerous locations is recommended.

5. Is it better to farm in a base or freighter?

While farming is viable in both, it’s generally easier to manage your farm in a planetary base. You can build large farms, have better protection and access, and also have faster resource access.

6. Do different planets affect plant growth?

No. Plant growth time is consistent across all environments and planets, as long as they are being grown in a Hydroponic Tray or Planter within your base or freighter.

7. Should I sell or refine my harvested plants?

For most plants, selling them directly is the most efficient way to gain units. Refining them typically reduces their overall sale value.

8. Where is the best place to sell my crops?

Planetary Trade Outposts and NPC pilots offer the best prices for your goods, as opposed to Space Stations. Also, look for systems with a high demand for the items you’re selling for a price increase.

9. Are there any items I should avoid selling?

You should avoid selling Carbon, Condensed Carbon, Oxygen, Sodium, Sodium Nitrate, Copper, Salvaged Data, Navigation Data, and Salvaged Frigate Modules. These items are vital for crafting, base building, and other essential actions.

10. How does the game’s economy impact the sale prices of my plants?

The game’s economy is dynamic. Different systems have different demands for different products, impacting their sale prices. Selling to an economy that has a high demand for your particular crop will yield a larger return.

11. Can I automate farming in any way?

While you cannot automate the harvesting process, you can automate resource gathering using Mineral Extractors.

12. Is it worth it to grow multiple types of plants?

Growing a variety of plants can be useful for personal crafting, especially if you need specific resources. However, focusing on a few high-profit crops is usually more efficient for making units.

13. What are some common mistakes players make when farming?

A common mistake is building their farm too close to potential hazards or not checking their farm often enough. Another common mistake is focusing on low-profit plants.

14. How can I quickly find trade outposts for selling my harvests?

Use the Economy Scanner on your starship to locate planetary trade outposts. These are marked with a trade icon on planet surfaces.

15. Does farming have any unique challenges?

Setting up a functional and profitable farm initially can be a significant undertaking. Maintaining a large farm also requires consistent resource management and time investment. However, the rewards are well worth the effort.

In conclusion, while there are various ways to make money in No Man’s Sky, Living Glass, Circuit Boards, and Living Explosives remain the top contenders for most profitable crops when considering time, ease of access, and sale value. Understanding how the game’s economy works and managing your resources effectively can lead to a thriving agricultural empire in the vastness of space.