No Man's Sky: Starships - types, sale, purchase, variants, classes, scrapping No Man's Sky Guide

This page describes the ships in No Man's Sky. We explain the types and classes of ships, where to buy and how to sell ships.

Last update: 24 July 2024

No Man's Sky offers tons of different ships. On this page of the guide, you will learn what types and classes of ships are available in the game, how and where to buy or exchange a ship, and whether there is an option to sell and scrap the ship.

• Basic information
• Types of starships
• Ship classes
• How to buy a new starship?
• How to sell a starship?

Basic information

Spaceships allow players to travel between planets and star systems, participate in outer space encounters, fight space battles, store resources and trade.

You will start the game with one spaceship, but you will have many opportunities to buy new ships or find shipwrecks that you can repair.

A player can have a maximum of 9 ships (except for frigates, the number of which can be up to 30). It is worth noting that the freighter's hangar can only accommodate 6 ships.

All ships are defined by the following elements:

1. number of slots in the inventory,
2. number of slots to install the technology,
3. damage potential,
4. shield absorption,
5. hyperdrive range,
6. maneuverability,
7. fuel efficiency.

The elements listed above can be improved with technologies, but some of these aspects have modifiers depending on the type and class of the ship.

Types of starships

There are 9 types of ships in No Man's Sky:

1. Shuttle - has balanced stats. These ships are ideal for novice players due to their low cost and increased storage space;
2. Fighter - has a bonus to attack. This type of ship is common among pirates;
3. Hauler - has a bonus to a protective shield and has the most inventory space;
4. Explorer - has an increased range of the hyperdrive. Ships of this type have the strangest shapes;
5. Exotic - ships of this type are always of the highest S class. There is only 1 exotic ship in the entire star system and it can cost from 10 to 15 million Nanite;
6. Solar - ships of this type have their own set of unique procedurally generated technologies. They have retractable solar panels and a more efficient Pulse Engine;
7. Living Ship - ships of this type have their own sets of unique organic technologies that are procedurally generated. They have 2 types of equipment, the Organ Chamber with 21 slots and the Storage Sacs with 22 slots. The first ship of this type can be obtained during the Starbirth mission;
8. Freighter - these ships can be used as a mobile base, they contain a large number of inventory slots, and their price can reach almost 180 million Nanite. Unlike other ships, freighters cannot land on planets, they can be moved to other star systems or to a planet's orbit. A player cannot own more than 1 freighter;
9. Frigate - a ship much larger than the other types, but smaller than a freighter. These ships are divided into 5 types specializing in combat, exploration, trade, industry, and support. A player can own up to 30 frigates when commanding a freighter. Frigates can be sent on expeditions to other star systems. Ships of this type can most often be found near NPC freighter ships.

Ship classes

Each ship has a class rating, represented by a letter. Information about the ship's class can be found under its name.

1. Class C ships have the fewest inventory slots, and their class bonus will not be more than 20%.
2. Class B ships have more inventory slots than Class C ships, with a class bonus of 20% or more.
3. Class A ships have the maximum number of inventory slots or one slot less than the maximum. Their class bonus is 35% or more.
4. Class S ships can have the maximum amount of inventory slots (but not always!) and have a class bonus of 50% or more.

How to buy a new starship?

You can buy new ships in No Man's Sky at space stations, trading outlets or in freighter hangars. When you approach a ship and talk to its owner, you will be given the option to buy or exchange the vehicle for one of your ships.

Since the ships in the game are procedurally generated, you may never encounter the same ship twice with the same set of technologies and components.

How to sell a starship?

There is no option to sell the ship in No Man's Sky. You can only exchange it when you buy a new vehicle and get a discount, or scrap and sell the parts obtained from it.

You can find the scrap option at every space station or at a trading point. Approach the orange-colored hologram of the ship and interact with it. In addition to exchanging the ship with parts, you will be able to upgrade your vehicles there.