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What Are Expeditions?
List of Expeditions
Top Tips
How To Find The Current Expedition
Since update 3.3, Expeditions have been a huge part of No Man's Sky's core gameplay. The game mode, which sees you traveling from a fixed point in the universe on a journey across space, is not only great fun but also a fantastic way to get new items and explore new landscapes.
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Despite this, they can often be quite tricky to keep track of, even more so when with a group of friends. Learning the specifics of Expedition travel and knowing which ones are currently available can help your travels improve.
Updated August 12, 2024, by Sean Murray: No Man's Sky continues to add more Expeditions to its growing universe, so we've added the details of each one to this guide. There've also been a few changes to how Travellers can embark on Expeditions and what they can bring with them.
What Are Expeditions?
Simply put - Expeditions are timed events in which you embark on galactic trips from one specific point in the galaxy to another. They encompass several challenges and achievements exclusive to each named Expedition.
The journeys can range quite dramatically in length, with some stretching across systems, whilst others are restricted to a single planet.
Each Expedition has a unique starship that you must use to complete the event. Once completed, there is a multitude of items and rewards waiting for you. Keep in mind that Expeditions are timed events, so get them done while you still can!
The event will also restrict certain mechanics for gameplay purposes. For instance, blueprints are restricted to a selected few depending on which Expedition you're participating in. This is to make sure that higher levels don't have express advantages to others.
List of Expeditions
To get a good idea of how Expeditions vary, it's pertinent to look at past events. So far, there have been nine expeditions that have taken place since 2021. Each with its unique challenges, trials, and rewards for you to complete.
Expedition | Start Date | End Date | Journey | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Pioneers | 31 March 2021 | 16 May 2021 | Sissica - Ippen Omega | The first Expedition. Involved traveling to various lost systems and completing tasks in four phases |
Beachhead | 17 May 2021 | 31 May 2021 | Tibertant Alpha - Puhene VI | A crossover with Mass Effect. Must complete challenges over five phases with the SSV Normandy SR1 as a reward. |
Cartographers | 08 September 2021 | 17 October 2021 | Single Planet - Gisto Major | Expeditioners must traverse the toxic world of Gisto Major where they must complete several challenges to repair their starship. |
Emergence | 20 October 2021 | 22 November 2021 | Single Planet - Wasan | Focused on players completing tasks around Titan Worms and dust storms. |
Exobiology | 24 February 2022 | 04 April 2022 | Ecorald - Beinus XVII | This Expedition sends Travelers across the galaxy to discover and breed new species of alien life. |
The Blighted | 14 April 2022 | 22 May 2022 | Issh 77/R6 - Alph XI | In keeping with the piratical theme of The Outlaws update, Travelers follow a pirate faction called The Blight and search for its mysterious treasure. |
| | ||||
Leviathan | 25 May 2022 | 05 July 2022 | Christole Oich - Kaok 84/O4 | Trapped in a time loop, Leviathan is No Man's Sky's first roguelike Expedition. Every death resets the loop but provides Travelers with stronger upgrades. |
Polestar | 27 July 2022 | 11 September 2022 | Freighter - Black hole | Take part in an interstellar cruise on Polestar by unlocking your freighter's unique technology. |
Utopia | 22 February 2023 | 04 April 2023 | New Kehille - Endil D2 | Rebuild an abandoned system for the Utopia Foundation with the help of other Travelers. |
Singularity | 8 June 2023 | 12 July 2023 | Ahei XV - Usaling | Rebuild an artificial intelligence, discover the secrets of Harmonic Camps, and dive into the meaning of life as you complete several pilgrimages for the Autophage. |
Voyagers | 31 August 2023 | 16 October 2023 | Freighter - Variable | Voyagers returns to No Man's Sky's exploration roots. You'll be tasked with discovering new creatures, landing on new planets, and determining the extremes of what life can endure in this cozy romp across the stars. |
Omega | 15 February 2024 | 18 March 2024 | Nafut Gamma - Upacton Sigma | An introductory Expedition designed to get new Travellers moving through the endless expanse of No Man's Sky. Tour the stars, meet new creatures, salvage ancient technology, and uncover the solution to an ancient mystery. |
Adrift | 29 May 2024 | 15 July 2024 | Iapezuk - Nashifn Tau | Unlike all other Expeditions, Travellers complete Adrift in a lonely universe devoid of sentient beings. There are no aliens, no operational space stations, no merchants, settlements, or buildings. This Expedition will test your limits as you're faced with the challenge of survival. |
Liquidators | 24 July 2024 | 2 September 2024 | Eardog Sigma - New Yirrolin | Let the hunt begin! A vile brood has swept through the galaxy and must be purged with extreme pregidous! Join your fellow Travellers in exterminating these space bugs and be rewarded with a massive new engine of destruction. |
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Top Tips
Despite each Expedition being considerably different from one another, there are still some top tips to keep in mind. Most of these tips are typical gameplay decisions you would take in No Man's Sky's early game since the events begin in a very similar fashion.
However, not all are applicable, so keep your wits about yourself and everything should be fine.
The biggest help is that the events are online and thus players will leave behind bases and other notable marks to show you where to go. Take note of which bases are built where, and it will help you dictate where to go in the long run.
As well as this, always make sure you collect any rewards sent your way, no matter how minuscule. You'll often be given items, resources, blueprints, or upgrade modules as rewards for completing milestones, so always cash in each milestone as it is completed.
It's also worth buying the hyperdrive upgrade as soon as possible as most Expeditions will require some traveling. Most systems you travel to will come with a space station nearby, so keep an eye out.
How To Bring Items To Expeditions
As of the Omega update, Travellers can now enter Expeditions from their main save and bring equipment and resources with them into the Expedition. Just go to the Expedition Terminal in the Nexus just to the left of the Quicksilver vendor and behind the Nexus mission computer.
From this terminal, you'll be able to bring up to eight technology upgrades and up to 24 resources/items from your main save into the Expedition. You'll also be able to create copies of your starship and multi-tool to use in the Expedition at the cost of several thousand Nanites.
You can also bring back equipment and resources to your main save after you've completed the Expedition. Just return to the Expedition Terminal in the Nexus to transfer goods to your main save.
You won't be able to return to your non-Expedition location or gain access to the rest of your equipment until you've completed the Expedition or the Expedition has expired.
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How To Find The Current Expedition
Expeditions are limited-time game modes. They're typically only available for six weeks, with the Expedition no longer being available after that. For this reason, it's important to know when Expeditions become available.
Expeditions will be announced on the official No Man's Sky website as well as the No Man's Sky social media channels. You can also see what Expeditions are available in-game by selecting New Game. If an Expedition is available, it will be listed under "Community Expedition."
You can also check to see what Expeditions are available from your main save file. Just head to the Expedition Terminal on the Nexus to see if there is an ongoing Expedition.
Shortened versions of each Expedition have returned at the end of the year in case you missed it the first time around.
Expect more Expeditions to be announced as No Man's Sky continues to expand.
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