No Man's Sky: Economics - economy scanner, type of economy, trade routes No Man's Sky Guide
In No Man's Sky, each system has its own economy. We cover types of economy, economy strength, modifiers to selling and buying goods, economy scanner and trade routes.
Last update: 24 July 2024
Each star system in No Man's Sky has its own economy. We have described all 3 elements that determine the economy of the system : the type of economy, the strength of the economy, and the modifiers offered for selling and purchasing. In addition, we explained how to check the economy of a given system, how to build an economy scanner and presented trade routes between specific systems.
Economy scanner
The type of economy can be checked with a device called the economy scanner, which is part of the starship technology. With the economy scanner, you will be able to check the economy of a given system without having to travel there, which will make it easier for you to find systems with high economy.
You can buy the economy scanner blueprint for 150 Nanites at the Anomaly space station or you can find it by following the emergency signal from the crashed ship.
To build an economy scanner, you will need:
- microprocessor x5,
- wiring loom.
To repair a broken economy scanner, you will need:
- microprocessor x3,
- wiring loom.
How to check a system's economy type?
If your spacecraft is equipped with an economy scanner, information about the economy of individual systems should be immediately visible after entering the galaxy map. Sometimes you need to press the appropriate button (R key on PC) to display this information on the screen.
When you don't have an economy scanner, you will have to go to the new system first to discover its economy.
A system's economy is described by 3 elements:
- stars that define economic strength. 1 star means poor economy, 2 stars average and 3 stars strong. Strong economy systems offer more items in stores, but such systems are rare and you will encounter average and underdeveloped systems more often;
- symbol describing the type of economy. The name of the economy is also displayed next to the symbol;
- sell and buy modifiers.
Types of economies
The type of system economy determines what local merchants prefer to buy and sell. Remember that the type of economy is independent of the economic strength of the system, buy and sell modifiers, as well as factions.
Symbol | Economy type | System color | Trade routes |
 | Trade | Green | Sale - advanced materials systems. Purchase - scientific systems. |
 | Advanced materials | Purple | Sales - scientific systems. Purchase - trading systems. |
 | Scientific economy | Navy blue | Sale - trading systems. Purchase - advanced materials systems. |
 | Mining | Orange | Sale - manufacturing systems. Purchase - power generation systems. |
 | Production | Yellow | Sale - technology systems. Purchase - mining systems. |
 | Technology | Light blue | Sale - power generation systems. Purchase - manufacturing systems. |
 | Power generation | Red | Sale - mining systems. Purchase - technology systems. |