No Man's Sky 2022: System - exploration, pirates, asteroids No Man's Sky 2022 Guide
The planet systems in No Man's Sky are full of pirates, NPCs, various entities and anomalies. On this page, we explain how to explore planetary systems and the space battles.
Last update: 20 February 2024
Exploring the star systems in No Man's Sky may result in interesting space encounters. In addition to pirates and NPCs, planetary systems may also have asteroids, various anomalies, and entities. On this page, you will learn how to travel between planets and how does the space combat look like.
System map
The systems consist of 2 to 6 planets and moons, and most often one space station.
A galaxy map shows the following information:
- planetary system name,
- system region,
- your distance to this system,
- spectral class,
- presence of water on planets,
- dominant race,
- system economy,
- conflict level.
Information about the economy will be shown after the first visit to a given system or by using the economy scanner. You can read more about it on the page: Economics.
The conflict level will be available after the first visit to the system or by using the conflict scanner. You can buy the blueprint of this device for 150 nanites in the starship upgrades on an Anomaly station.
There are 4 colors of star systems:
- Yellow, the most common, F and G classes;
- Red and orange, only available when using Cadium Drive, M and K classes. These systems will have cadmium on planets;
- Green, only accessible via Emiril Drive, E-class. These systems will have planets with the emiril element;
- Blue and purple, B and O classes, only available via Indium Drive. Only these systems will have indium on the planets.
Exploring a planetary system
When traveling through the star system, you can land on any planet or space station that offers trading, scrapping a ship, and changing the appearance of your spacesuit. At the stations, you will also encounter many NPCs, who can teach you new languages or give you tasks and missions. Space stations are also the perfect place to trade or buy new ships.
The Pulse Engine will enable you to travel faster in space. You can use it to jump to any landmark on the planet or to space stations.
When approaching an unexplored planet, you should scan it first. You will then receive the following information:
- planet size,
- planet type,
- dominant flora,
- dominant materials.
The scanner will also discover the landmarks on the planet and mark them with icons slightly distant from the planet. This will allow you to use the Pulse Engine and move towards them.
When traveling through space, it is also worth using the scanner to discover asteroids. These objects are a rich source of a valuable element that will serve you as fuel for the pulse engine. You will also find pieces of silver, gold and other rare elements in space.
Space combat
However, longer stays in space are not entirely without risks. Often times, our ship will be scanned and then attacked by pirates. In such a situation, we have only two options - fight or flight to a nearby station or planet. If you want to escape, you must remember that enemy ships will prevent you from starting the Pulse Engine, and they can also turn it off once you use it. So it is best to invest not only in the capacity of your ship's hold, but also in its weapons and armor.
Death in space is not permanent, but it can be quite painful. In case of failure, you will wake up at the nearest orbital station not only with a damaged ego, but also with an empty ship's hold and at least one damaged component. Then you only have to load the previous save, or grit your teeth and go to your "grave", that is, the place where your ship was shot down, and recover the lost materials.
Apart from random pirate attacks, in space you can occasionally come across an SOS signal from one or more transport ships. When that happens, you can help the attacked and gaining reputation points with the attacked race.
You can also become a pirate. Each of the huge ships has several points that you can attack - these are mainly cargo containers (which you can, of course, intercept) and defense cannons. Remember, however, that an attack on such a ship will lose you reputation points with the attacked race. The same goes for attacking smaller friendly ships.
Space encounters
In addition to fighting in space, you can also meet regular NPCs who will ask you for help in repairing the ship or offer to trade.
Space encounters are triggered when using the Pulse Engine. After using this drive, check if there is any anomaly or a ship nearby.
You will also find all kinds of anomalies in the interplanetary space. Some of them will try to speak to you, others you can shoot down and get valuable items, nanite, elements or the coordinates of rare landmarks.
One of the most interesting objects you can encounter in space is the ancient Relic Gate. Passing through such a gate can take you a much greater distance than a black hole or even send you to another galaxy. Note, however, that this object will not necessarily move you closer to the galaxy's core, as it would in the case of a black hole.