No Man's Sky: How and Where to Find Basic Resources

What resources do you need at the start of No Man's Sky? How and where can you find the basics in No Man's Sky? Like all survival games, No Man's Sky is one that introduces you to a lot of materials, systems, and features rather quickly, and it can be daunting when you're just starting out. As part of our No Man's Sky guide, we're going to give you all the information you need about the basics — what resources you need to know about, and where you can find them.

No Man's Sky: How and Where to Find Basic Resources

Let's go through the resources you'll need to keep an eye out for in those early hours of No Man's Sky, and how and where to find them. These are the materials you'll need in order to get by in this sci-fi universe — they're your basic resources for survival, traversal, and getting a start on crafting more useful resources.

Carbon

What Is Carbon?

Carbon is one of the most common resources you can find in No Man's Sky. It's a basic material that's used for a lot of fundamental functions, as well as recipes when building other things.

What Is Carbon Used For?

Carbon's primary use in No Man's Sky — early on, anyway — is to refuel your multitool's mining beam. As you'll be using this a lot in the early game, having a steady supply of Carbon is a must. It's also used in countless crafting, refining, and cooking recipes.

Where Can You Find Carbon?

Fortunately, Carbon can be found almost everywhere in No Man's Sky. You can mine Carbon from most plant life on every planet. If you need some Carbon, mine a nearby tree or other plant and you'll be sure to get a bundle.

Oxygen

What Is Oxygen?

Oxygen is a common resource in No Man's Sky. It's a basic material that's used for some fundamental functions, as well as recipes when building other things.

What Is Oxygen Used For?

You'll initially need Oxygen in order to refuel your life support system, one of the meters you want to keep topped up in order to survive. It's also used in several crafting and refining recipes.

Where Can You Find Oxygen?

Oxygen is in plentiful supply. When on a planet, Oxygen-rich plants can be found scattered across the surface. These are small, bright red flora you can gather without mining. Oxygen can also sometimes be gathered when mining plant life. Additionally, Oxygen can be purchased at any Galactic Trade Terminal. These shopping terminals can be found on the space station of each star system you visit, and you'll eventually be able to build them yourself.

Sodium

What Is Sodium?

Sodium is another very common resource. This is another crucial material in the early stages.

What Is Sodium Used For?

When starting out, Sodium will mostly be used to refuel your hazard protection, as well as your ship's shields. Hazard protection is the meter that keeps you safe from the elements — extreme heat or cold, radiation, etc. Sodium is also used in many crafting and refining recipes.

Where Can You Find Sodium?

Luckily, Sodium isn't very hard to find. Bright yellow, Sodium-rich flora is present on every planet — they're fairly easy to spot, but you can use your Scanner to locate them. You can also get some occasionally when mining minerals. Sodium can also be bought at any Galactic Trade Terminal.

Di-Hydrogen

What Is Di-Hydrogen?

Di-Hydrogen is another very common resource in No Man's Sky. This is another essential material in the early game.

What Is Di-Hydrogen Used For?

Di-Hydrogen's primary use early on is to refuel your starship's launch thrusters, allowing you to take flight. It's also a common ingredient in crafting and refining recipes.

Where Can You Find Di-Hydrogen?

Di-Hydrogen is another resource found on the surface of nearly every planet in the game. It takes the form of large spikes of bright blue crystal, which you can gather with your mining laser. They're hard to miss.

Ferrite Dust

What Is Ferrite Dust?

Ferrite Dust is an extremely common material in No Man's Sky.

What Is Ferrite Dust Used For?

Ferrite Dust is predominantly used in many, many crafting recipes, and will be very important in the early stages as you begin to build the basics. It is also used in several refining recipes.

Where Can You Find Ferrite Dust?

Ferrite Dust can be found basically everywhere on a planet's surface. You'll receive Ferrite Dust from various minerals and rocks, which are extremely commonplace throughout the game. If you prefer, Ferrite Dust can also be purchased from any Galactic Trade Terminal.

Tritium

What Is Tritium?

Tritium is a common resource found in No Man's Sky that's essential for space flight.

What Is Tritium Used For?

Tritium's primary use in the early stages is to refuel your starship's pulse engine, which is what allows you to travel at speed in outer space. This is not to be confused with the launch thrusters, which are only used to take off, or the hyperdrive, which is used to jump from one star system to another. Tritium is also used in many crafting and refining recipes.

Where Can You Find Tritium?

The main way to collect Tritium is to shoot or mine asteroids while flying around in space. Asteroids are plentiful, so it doesn't take long to gather a bunch of Tritium for your pulse engine. It's also for sale at any Galactic Trade Terminal, if you'd rather just buy some.

So, that's how and where to find basic resources in No Man's Sky. Have you got ample supplies of these materials? Share any other tips in the comments section below, and be sure to read our No Man's Sky guide for lots more.