What to Do When You Discover a Crashed Freighter in No Man’s Sky
Finding a crashed freighter in No Man’s Sky can be a very exciting and rewarding experience. These massive, derelict vessels offer a variety of opportunities for players looking to scavenge resources, complete missions, and even uncover valuable blueprints. But what exactly should you do when you stumble upon one of these wrecks? The answer is multi-faceted, so let’s break it down into actionable steps.
Initial Assessment and Approach
First and foremost, when you spot a crashed freighter, take a moment to assess its surroundings. These wrecks are usually quite prominent, with a large, distinctive silhouette against the landscape. They’re often found on planets and can be spotted from a distance due to their size. Once you’ve identified one, the key steps to take are:
- Approach with Caution: Be mindful that the area around a crashed freighter can sometimes be hazardous. There might be environmental risks or, more commonly, radiation leaks emanating from the damaged cargo pods. Make sure you have appropriate hazard protection installed on your exosuit.
- Locate the Distress Beacon: Every crashed freighter has a Distress Beacon, which is usually a glowing terminal located somewhere near the center of the wreckage. Interacting with this beacon is essential, as it will grant you a blueprint and begin a secondary mission. This is your starting point for interacting with the freighter itself.
- Scan the Area: Use your scanner to identify cargo pods. These containers are the main source of loot from a crashed freighter. These pods are sometimes buried and you will need to use the Terrain Manipulator, Plasma Launcher, or Geology Cannon to uncover them.
Scavenging for Resources and Blueprints
Once you’ve activated the Distress Beacon and scanned the area, it’s time to get to work:
- Locate and Excavate Cargo Pods: Crashed Freighters have a set number of cargo pods, typically five. Four of these pods are clustered in the freighter’s middle section, with two above ground and two underground. The final pod is located to the left of the freighter’s “middle” when facing the distress beacon, also underground.
- Use your Terrain Manipulator: Use your terrain manipulator to excavate the underground pods. Once exposed, the containers can be interacted with and looted.
- Loot the Cargo Pods: Approach the pods carefully, as some may be emitting radiation. Interact with each pod to collect its contents. They typically contain valuable resources such as Nanite Clusters and units.
- Complete the Secondary Mission: The Distress Beacon will assign a secondary mission that usually involves exploring the area or gathering specific resources. Completing this mission can yield additional rewards.
Important Considerations
- Radiation Hazards: Remember that damaged cargo pods often emit radiation. Ensure your exosuit is well-equipped with hazard protection to avoid taking damage while looting.
- No Freighter Ownership: You cannot claim the crashed freighter itself as your own. These are simply static locations that offer loot and missions.
- Fixed Locations: Crashed Freighters have fixed spawn locations on planets. They are often in open and easy to spot areas. They also do not respawn when looted.
- Salvaged Frigate Modules: While you won’t find Salvaged Frigate Modules directly within the cargo pods of a crashed freighter, they are frequently available in related activities such as destroying cargo containers on NPC freighters or during space encounters and Nexus Missions.
By following these steps, you can effectively explore and benefit from the discovery of a crashed freighter in No Man’s Sky. These locations offer a great way to obtain resources and blueprints and are an essential part of the NMS experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Crashed Freighters
How do I find crashed freighters in No Man’s Sky?
Crashed Freighters can be located through various methods. One common way is using Transmission Towers. By solving the number sequence puzzle at a Transmission Tower, you have a chance to receive a Distress Signal which leads to a crashed freighter (though sometimes they may direct you to crashed ships). You may stumble across them while exploring planets. Their size makes them easy to spot from afar.
How many cargo pods does a crashed freighter contain?
Each crashed freighter has a fixed number of cargo pods. There are **five cargo pods** in total: four clustered around the "middle" of the freighter, with two above ground and two underground. The fifth pod is underground, located to the left of the freighter's center when facing the distress beacon.
What kind of rewards can I get from crashed freighter cargo pods?
Cargo pods in crashed freighters typically contain resources such as **Nanite Clusters** and **units**. These are useful for upgrading your gear and purchasing items at Space Stations or Trade Outposts.
Can I claim a crashed freighter as my own?
No, you **cannot claim a crashed freighter** as your own. They are static locations used for exploration, looting and missions.
What is the purpose of the Distress Beacon on a crashed freighter?
The **Distress Beacon** on a crashed freighter is crucial for two reasons: it **grants you a blueprint** upon interaction, and it **starts a secondary mission** associated with the crashed freighter site.
Can I find Salvaged Frigate Modules at crashed freighter sites?
While **Salvaged Frigate Modules** are not directly found inside cargo pods at crashed freighter sites, these sites contribute to finding them. You can obtain Salvaged Frigate Modules by destroying cargo containers on NPC freighters or during space encounters, Nexus Missions and Frigate Expeditions, which crashed freighters also help to discover.
How do I access the underground cargo pods at a crashed freighter?
To access underground cargo pods, you'll need to use your **Terrain Manipulator**, **Plasma Launcher**, or **Geology Cannon** to excavate the ground. This will expose the container for looting.
Do crashed freighters respawn after I have looted them?
No, **crashed freighters do not respawn** once they have been looted. They are a one-time source of resources and missions on a given planet.
Are there any hazards when exploring a crashed freighter?
Yes, **radiation leaks** are a common hazard around crashed freighters. Always check your hazard protection level and carry sufficient supplies for repairs before exploring one.
Can other players see the same crashed freighter I found?
Yes, **crashed freighter locations are the same for all players** in a particular system. This means other players might have already looted them before you arrive, however, once looted it does not re-spawn for anyone.
Are crashed freighters the same across all star systems?
No, the **location** of crashed freighters will differ from system to system and from planet to planet. The style of freighter may also vary in style.
Can I leave a crashed freighter and come back later?
Yes, you can **leave a crashed freighter and return** later. The freighter will remain in its position until looted. Be aware that all the cargo pods may have been looted by other players in the multiplayer mode if playing online.
What happens if I don’t complete the secondary mission on the crashed freighter?
If you don't complete the secondary mission from the Distress Beacon, you will miss out on some rewards, but you can always return to the location later to complete the mission. The loot from the cargo pods are available to be looted regardless of whether the mission is active or completed.
Does the type of freighter that crashed affect the loot I find?
No, the **type of freighter** that crashed does not affect the loot you find. The contents of the cargo pods will have a similar range of resources regardless of the type of freighter.
Is there a limit to how many crashed freighters I can find?
There is **no limit** to how many crashed freighters you can find, although finding one is random, and each location only has one crashed freighter. They are often generated on planets across the universe.