No Man’s Sky Guide: What to Do First

1. Get Your Multi-tool in Working Order

As soon as you start No Man’s Sky, you’re given the task of repairing your Starship. While that does seem like the most logical thing to do, you may want to hold off on that for a moment. The very first thing you should do is take care of your Multi-tool. When you begin, this beam weapon is capable of one thing, mining for resources, but it has a few more uses that will help you out a lot with not only getting your ship back together, but scouting all of the planets you’ll eventually visit.

There are three attachments that you’ll want to have up and running – Scanner, Analysis Visor, and Boltcaster. These will allow you to scan your immediate surroundings for resources and locations, analyze plants and animals for discovery, and attack with an actual weapon respectively. Both the Scanner and Visor will be attached but need some repairing requiring Iron and Carbon. The Boltcaster blueprint will need to be found, but if you explore the nearby areas you’ll eventually stumble across it. Now you’re ready to take on the world(s). 

2. Become Airborne

Now that your weapon situation is taken care of, it’s time to focus on your main objective: getting that bucket of bolts you crash-landed in back into space. You’ll need to fix the Deflector Shield, Launch Thruster, and Pulse Engine. Once that’s done you will finally be able to fly around like the badass space explorer you were always meant to be.

You will have to do a lot of trekking on foot, though, before you can even hop into the cockpit and take off. While Carbon and Iron (two of the main resources you’ll need at first) are very common, Heridium, Zinc, Plutonium, and Thamium9 can be a bit of a headache to locate. Still, rest assured that everything you need can be found on your first planet, so don’t lose hope.

When you finally do get your ship up and running, don’t take off just yet. 

3. Use Your Starship to Quickly Explore the Planet

What would’ve taken you hours on foot can take you mere minutes once you have your ship. There will be a ton of upgrades that you can find for both your Exosuit and Multi-tool scattered about your first planet, you only need to seek them out. That Scanner you upgraded can also be used while in your ship, and that’s what will make your life a lot easier for this part.

Fly around looking for any Pods or Buildings. Pods will always offer a way to upgrade your Exosuit and Buildings tend to have either an upgrade for your Multi-tool or a brand new one to exchange for. Also, you can keep an eye out for wildlife. If you see something new, hop out of your ship and analyze them. Then go ahead and upload your discoveries so that you can earn Units (No Man’s Sky’s currency).

Once you feel you’ve gotten everything you want/need from your first planet, you’re free to take off into space. 

4. Hyperdrive

Once you’re in space you’ll see new planets, stations, and other things you can explore. It will be tempting, but hold off for just a bit. Scan space by clicking in the left thumbstick and you’ll gain your next task to build a Hyperdrive. This is what will allow you to jump from system to system, moving faster down your chosen path.

You definitely want to ignore anything else and do this first, as it will get the hassle out of the way and then leave you free to do as you please. You’ll obtain the blueprint from an alien, and then all you have to do is obtain the components necessary to build it. One will be purchased from the nearby Space Station, which you’ll be guided to, so make sure to check there before losing your mind.

After that, you’ll need to charge using a Warp Cell. You’ll be guided on how to obtain and craft that as well. Once you’re all set, there’s only one thing left to do before setting out on your grand adventure. 

5. Obtain an Atlas Pass

The last thing you should do before finally being free to explore is obtain an Atlas Pass. Shortly after getting your Hyperdrive up and running you’ll be contacted by Atlas, a mysterious entity that wishes to guide you on your journey. If you follow this path in the beginning, you’ll eventually be led to your first Atlas Pass, AtlasPass V1. This is important to obtain because every Space Station has an Exosuit upgrade locked behind a door that requires this pass. Getting one early on means you can quickly increase your inventory space, making the rest of your journey much easier.

Once you’re all done with that, you’re free to choose your destiny. You can shoot for the center of No Man’s Sky’s universe, follow Atlas, or do your own thing. The choice and the universe before you is yours.

For more tips, tricks, and guides, be sure to check out our No Man’s Sky wiki.