---
title: "No Man's Sky: Beginner-to-Advanced Guide"
game: "No Man's Sky"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/no-mans-sky"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Builds", "Beginners"]
summary: "A practical guide to surviving your first planet, getting off-world, earning Units and Nanites, and making the most of the 2026 updates — including COSMOS (7.0), with its owned space stations, hulk salvage, and orbital…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/no-man-s-sky-beginner-to-advanced-guide-0353e023"
published: "2026-09-27T16:26:07.633Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T16:26:07.633Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# No Man's Sky: Beginner-to-Advanced Guide

A practical guide to surviving your first planet, getting off-world, earning Units and Nanites, and making the most of the 2026 updates — including COSMOS (7.0), with its owned space stations, hulk salvage, and orbital bases.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the COSMOS (7.0) update (September 9, 2026) and the "Our Journey Continues" 10th-anniversary Expedition. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Quick Start

1. **Pick a game mode on purpose.** Normal is the intended experience. Relaxed softens survival. Survival and Permadeath are harsh. Creative removes costs. Custom lets you tune individual rules.
2. **Fix your ship and scan everything.** The opening tutorial walks you through repairing your crashed starship. Press the scanner often — it highlights resources and points of interest.
3. **Keep three bars topped up:** Life Support (Oxygen, Sodium, Di-hydrogen Jelly), Hazard Protection (Sodium), and your Mining Beam/tech charge (Carbon, Ferrite Dust, and so on).
4. **Follow the story missions early.** Artemis/the main quest line unlocks core blueprints, the Space Anomaly, Portals and base-building essentials. Don't skip them for the first dozen hours.
5. **Build a base with a Base Computer early.** It gives you a safe save point, storage and farming.
6. **Visit the Space Anomaly (the Nexus).** Once unlocked, summon it from your Quick Menu in space. It has the Quicksilver shop, Construction Research, multiplayer missions, and more.
7. **New in COSMOS:** after warping, open the new **Star System Map** from the Quick Menu. It reveals space points of interest — Derelict Hulks, Deep-Space Outposts, stations — that start new missions. New saves get a short "Signals" tutorial for it.
8. **Upgrade inventory slots constantly.** Exosuit slots come from Drop Pods on planets and the Space Station/Anomaly. Ship and Multi-Tool slots can be bought at stations.
9. **Salvaged Data (from buried tech modules) is your blueprint currency** for base parts at the Construction Research terminal.
10. **Don't panic about Sentinels.** Heat builds when you mine or shoot things they protect. Break line of sight, or fly off-planet, to lose them.

## Controls (PC Defaults)

| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Scanner | C |
| Analysis Visor | F (hold) |
| Quick Menu (summon ship, Exocraft, Anomaly, Star System Map) | X |
| Inventory | Tab |
| Jetpack | Space (hold) |
| Melee | Q |
| Multi-Tool primary | Left mouse |
| Sprint | Shift |

Rebind anything in Options; controller support is complete.

## Core Resources and Currencies

| Resource | Where | Main uses |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon / Condensed Carbon | Plants, trees | Mining Beam fuel, crafting |
| Ferrite Dust / Pure Ferrite / Magnetised Ferrite | Rocks, refining | Building, tech repairs |
| Oxygen | Red plants | Life Support |
| Sodium / Sodium Nitrate | Yellow plants | Hazard Protection |
| Di-hydrogen / Di-hydrogen Jelly | Blue crystals | Life Support, Starship Launch Fuel |
| Tritium | Space asteroids | Pulse Engine fuel |
| Chromatic Metal | Refine copper, cadmium, etc. | Warp Cells, tech |
| Antimatter / Antimatter Housing | Crafted (blueprints from story) | Warp Cells for the Hyperdrive |
| Salvaged Data | Buried tech modules (scan with Analysis Visor) | Base blueprints |

| Currency | Earned from | Spend on |
|---|---|---|
| Units | Selling items, missions, trading | Ships, Multi-Tools, freighters, goods |
| Nanites | Scrapping upgrade modules, missions, discoveries | Tech upgrades and blueprints |
| Quicksilver | Nexus missions, Expeditions, community events | Cosmetics and base decor at the Anomaly |

## Getting Off the Ground: The First Hours

1. Repair the ship's Launch Thruster and Pulse Engine using the tutorial steps.
2. Craft Starship Launch Fuel (Di-hydrogen Jelly plus Metal Plating) to lift off; keep spares.
3. Mine Tritium from asteroids to fuel the Pulse Engine.
4. Follow Artemis to a Space Station. Buy inventory slots there when you can.
5. Build the Hyperdrive and craft Warp Cells to jump systems.
6. At the station, learn to use the **Galactic Trade Terminal** and mission board.
7. When the story unlocks it, visit the Space Anomaly and grab its free blueprints.

## Main Activities

### Exploration
Scan planets from orbit and on foot for flora, fauna and minerals — uploads earn Nanites and Units. Planets vary by biome, weather, Sentinel level, and rarity. Worlds Part I and Part II (2024–2025) added gas giants, water worlds and much more varied terrain, so look for new planet types in older systems.

### Starships

| Class | Strength |
|---|---|
| Fighter | Combat |
| Hauler | Cargo space |
| Explorer | Hyperdrive range |
| Shuttle | Cheap, flexible |
| Exotic | Rare, stylish |
| Solar | Solar sail speed boost |
| Sentinel Interceptor | Anti-grav, strong weapons (earned from Sentinel ships) |
| Living Ship | Grown from a Void Egg quest |
| **Corvette** | Custom-built, multiplayer-capable ships from Voyagers (6.0) — COSMOS adds a **Tractor Beam** utility part |

Ships and Multi-Tools have classes (C, B, A, S). S-class is best, but you can upgrade class at stations.

### Freighters
A capital ship arrives after you help a freighter under pirate attack in space; buying one gives you mobile storage, frigate fleet expeditions (for Units and loot), and a place to build. Larger capital freighters cost millions of Units but can sometimes be claimed for free from a rescue event.

### Base Building and Settlements
Build anywhere with a Base Computer. Farm plants for passive resources; build refiners, storage containers, teleporters, and eventually industrial setups. Settlements (from Frontiers) let you oversee a community you manage for ongoing income.

**COSMOS added orbital bases:** you can build free-floating bases anywhere in space, on natural asteroid platforms or in empty volume, using new corridor parts and many station decoration modules from the Construction Research Terminal.

### Pets and Xeno Arena
You can adopt companions with Creature Pellets. The **Xeno Arena** update (April 2026) lets you raise, train and battle creatures in holo-arenas found in space stations — rare creature abilities give exploration a new purpose.

### Salvage and the Gravitino Coil
The **Remnant** update (February 2026) added the **Gravitino Coil**, a gravity-gun module for your Multi-Tool. Grab salvage and debris, load it into trucks and haulers, and bring it to industrial yards for rare resources.

### The Swarm (May 2026)
The Hive of Glass appeared in the skies. Players were sorted into three factions by a personality test and cooperate on a war effort tracked in the Anomaly and on the Galactic Atlas site. This update also brought the game's biggest space battles.

## COSMOS (7.0): What's New in Space

| Feature | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Star System Map | Quick Menu map of planets, station, and deep-space points of interest |
| Derelict Hulks | Huge wrecks to strip for tech and cargo. Scan first for the best-value parts — tear too much and the hulk's structural integrity fails and it melts down/explodes |
| Deep-Space Outposts | Alien-run facilities: process rare minerals, trade with the quartermaster, take salvage/material recovery contracts for standing and rewards |
| Station Directorship | Prove yourself to local authorities to become director of a Space Station; decorate the lobby, add rooms, dress the exterior |
| Galactic Alliances | Directors can found alliances with names and banners. You can join up to three alliances; alliance stations get quick teleporter access and there are activity leaderboards |
| Orbital Bases | Build free-floating bases in space |
| Tractor Beam | Corvette part that pulls physical cargo into the hold; pair it with the Gravitino Coil to salvage hulks |

A good loop in 7.0: warp in, check the Star System Map, scan a hulk, strip high-value chunks with the Gravitino Coil into your Corvette's Tractor Beam, then sell or process the haul at an Outpost while doing its contracts.

## Expeditions

Expeditions are limited-time seasonal runs on a fresh save with themed goals and rewards you keep on all saves. **"Our Journey Continues"** (launched September 17, 2026) celebrates ten years of NMS. Its rewards include framed artworks of classic update covers, a bobblehead cockpit companion, the Starbound v0.27 Multi-Tool, a golden Rasamama S36 (the original starter ship), and a vintage Sentinel Interceptor. Play the expedition before it ends — rewards come from its milestones.

## Making Money

- **Early:** scan and upload discoveries, sell valuable minerals, and do space station missions.
- **Mid game:** farm resources at a base and craft them into higher-value products (the Stasis Device chain is a classic high-value craft). Buy low and sell high between systems with different economies.
- **Freighter frigate expeditions:** passive Units and loot while you play.
- **COSMOS:** hulk salvage plus Outpost contracts is a strong new income loop.
- **Nanites:** scrap unwanted upgrade modules, dig up buried tech, and do Nexus/Anomaly missions.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Letting Hazard Protection drop in storms.** Duck into a cave, your ship or a building.
- **Wasting inventory on raw resources.** Refine them and use storage containers at your base.
- **Selling blueprints-critical items.** Keep Salvaged Data, Storm Crystals and Ancient items until you know their use.
- **Ignoring the Space Anomaly.** It hosts free upgrades, multiplayer missions and the Construction Research terminal.
- **Tearing a hulk apart blindly.** Too much stripping causes a meltdown — scan first and take the valuables.
- **Warping with no fuel plan.** Carry Warp Cells and Launch Fuel.
- **Not saving before risky moves.** Restore points and your ship act as save points; Permadeath has no second chances.

## Advanced Tips

- **Economy scanners** show system wealth and conflict levels on the Galaxy Map — trade and shop accordingly.
- **Multi-Tool and ship upgrade modules** are best stacked three of the same type in adjacent slots for an adjacency bonus.
- **Supercharged slots** boost modules placed in them — put your best upgrades there.
- **Portals** let you jump between planets across the galaxy with glyphs; coordinates are widely shared by the community.
- **The Galactic Atlas site** tracks community events and the Swarm war effort.
- **Cross-save and cross-play** are supported across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch/Switch 2, Steam Deck, and VR — you can carry progress between platforms.
- **Custom game mode** is great for testing base designs or a relaxed second save.

## FAQ

**Is No Man's Sky still getting updates?**
Yes. Hello Games has shipped 41 named updates as of September 2026, the latest being COSMOS (7.0). All are free.

**What's the best game mode for beginners?**
Normal. Relaxed if survival feels stressful.

**How do I become a Space Station director?**
The COSMOS patch notes say you must "prove yourself to the local authorities" of a station; the exact steps are delivered in-game, so follow the station's mission prompts.

**How do I get a freighter?**
Warp a few times, and a freighter under pirate attack will appear. Rescue it and the captain offers the ship — sometimes free.

**Can I play with friends?**
Yes. Multiplayer, cross-play and cross-save are supported. Corvettes can be crewed together.

**Do Expedition rewards carry over?**
Yes. Rewards unlock on your account and can be claimed on other saves.

## Sources

- [No Man's Sky: COSMOS update page](https://www.nomanssky.com/cosmos-update/)
- [Steam news: No Man's Sky COSMOS (7.0) (September 9, 2026)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/275850)
- [Steam news: "Our Journey Continues" 10th Anniversary Expedition (September 17, 2026)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/275850)
- [Steam news: The Swarm (May 27, 2026), Xeno Arena (April 8, 2026), Remnant (February 11, 2026)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/275850)
- [Galactic Atlas](https://galacticatlas.nomanssky.com/)
- [No Man's Sky on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/275850/No_Mans_Sky/)