Starships are the heart and soul of any and all No Man’s Sky players. Numerous hours are spent warping and searching for that perfect-looking ship they can call their own. However, updates from Hello Games have added new features that allow for full starship customization, and, more recently, the Worlds Part I update 5.0 added the solar ship category to the customization list. Without further ado, here is how to create a starship in No Man’s Sky!
For players in the mid-to-late game, custom starships aren’t just a vanilla alternative to searching and obtaining existing ships. They allow players to construct a vessel that fits their person and playstyle more precisely.
Getting Ship Parts
Acquiring ship parts in No Man’s Sky requires a bit of searching, patience, and many credits. To start, players need three ship parts to serve as the frame of their ship. These include the ship’s fuselage, wings, and engine components. Players will also need one reactor to power and determine the class of the custom ship. More on that later.
Remember that all three starship parts must be one of the five specific ship categories: the fighter, explorer, shuttle, hauler, and solar variants. Remember, no mixing ship categories. For example, if a player has fighter wings and fighter fuselage parts but an engine part for a hauler, the player cannot make a custom starship.
Players need to travel to their system’s Space Station to get these items. After landing, starships will begin to spawn and land at the station. As ships come and go, players should watch for parts that catch their eye. Should a ship land with a part that players are looking for, they need to speak to the ship’s pilot and offer to buy their ship. C-class ships generally cost between four to six million credits, whereas higher-class ships will cost much more. Therefore, players should seek out parts on lower-class ships to save on credits. Furthermore, if players can’t find ships with the parts they want, they will need to warp to different systems and look for ships at the stations there.
Once players have acquired the ships with the parts they want, they need to head towards the back of any Space Station and use the Starship Outfitting Terminal on the left. There, players can choose to “begin salvage analysis,” providing the option to salvage the desired part. After making a choice, the ship will be dismantled, and the part will appear in the player’s inventory. This process must be done for all three ship components: fuselage, wings, and engine.
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Getting a Reactor
With all three ship parts in hand, the next step for players will be to purchase a reactor. The Ship Technology Merchant has reactors available in any Space Station. They are located on the upper levels next to the other technology merchants.
Reactors consist of the usual four classes: C-class, B-class, A-class, and S-class. However, the nanite cost of these reactors can vary drastically. If players are a bit strapped for nanites, they can summon the Space Anomaly and check for any Nexus Missions that reward a high-class reactor core. If no such missions are available, players can also improve their standing with the respective faction of the Space Station to get a discount.
Reactors will determine the class and capabilities of their custom starship. For example, a starship with a B-class reactor will have more tech and storage slots than a C-class ship but fewer than an A or S-class ship.
Putting Together a Starship
Players who have acquired all four parts can now create their starship. The terminal to start the process is located in the center of the Space Station.
Inside the ship-building menu, players can select the three ship parts and reactor they want for their ship. The custom ship will appear on the platform to give players a preview of their new ship. Colors and paint styles are selected and combined to truly create a unique-looking ship.
Note that the two locked paint style options are only available to players who have completed the expeditions necessary to unlock them. Players should also know that the stats for a custom starship will be random and dependent on which category of the ship they decide to make. For instance, fighters do more damage, haulers can carry more, and explorers can warp further. Players satisfied with their choice can assemble their vessel. Then, they will have a custom starship of their own making as their reward.
No Man’s Sky offers players near-limitless freedom to pursue whatever they want. The Guide Hall will bring you more guides as we pursue our adventures!
