Part of the handbook:
- No Man's Sky Beginner's Guide (2026): New to the game? Start here.
- Best Technology Upgrades & Supercharged Slots: Make the most of your new multi-tool.
- How to Get More Inventory Slots: Expand your tool's capacity.
Quick Answer
- No Man's Sky has eight multi-tool types: Pistol, Rifle, Experimental, Alien, Royal, Sentinel, Atlantid, and Voltaic Staff, each with different stat focuses.
- Tools come in four classes (C, B, A, S); S-class is the strongest and grants the most supercharged slots.
- You can upgrade a tool's class at the Space Anomaly or space stations by spending Nanites. Costs escalate significantly each tier.
- S-class tools have up to 60 technology slots and four supercharged slots, making slot placement critically important.
- Sentinel, Royal, Atlantid, and Voltaic Staff tools require special in-game activities to unlock and cannot simply be bought at space stations.
- For everyday play, an Alien or Experimental tool is a reliable early S-class target before you unlock the specialized types.
- Supercharged slot position, not just class, is what separates a good tool from a great one.
Overview
Your multi-tool is your most personal piece of gear in No Man's Sky. It mines resources, scans fauna and flora for Units, and handles all ground combat. Unlike starships, you carry only one active multi-tool at a time (with the ability to store extras in your quick-swap slots), so choosing the right one matters.
The game currently features eight distinct multi-tool types, each pulling stat bonuses in different directions. On top of type, every tool has a class rating, C through S, that determines raw power, slot count, and the number of special supercharged slots available. Understanding both layers is the key to building the best possible loadout, whether you're a miner, a scanner-farmer, or a combat specialist grinding Sentinel waves.
This hub guide gives you the full picture. Use the child guides linked throughout for step-by-step acquisition walkthroughs.
Multi-Tool Types Explained
Every multi-tool falls into one of eight specializations. Your choice should match your playstyle.
| Type | Damage | Mining | Scanning | How to Find |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistol | Low | High | Medium | Space stations, anywhere |
| Rifle | Medium | Low | Low | Space stations, anywhere |
| Experimental | Low | Low | Very High | Space stations, common |
| Alien | High | Medium | Good | Any system, rarer |
| Royal | Low | Low | Very High | Sentinel Pillars only |
| Sentinel | Very High | Medium | Medium | Harmonic Camps (Dissonant systems) |
| Atlantid | Medium | Very High | Good | Autophage questline (Korvax Monoliths) |
| Voltaic Staff | High | Low | High | Autophage Synthesis Terminals |
For a deeper breakdown of how each type's bonuses scale with class, see the dedicated No Man's Sky Multi-Tool Types & Classes Explained guide.
Combat Tools: Sentinel & Voltaic Staff
The Sentinel multi-tool is one of the strongest damage-focused options in the game. It is obtained for free from Harmonic Camps inside Dissonant systems, but it arrives with many damaged slots that need repairing. The trade-off is worthwhile for players who lean into ground combat or enjoy the unique visual design.
The Voltaic Staff is crafted rather than found. You build it from three components (Head, Core, Pole) at Autophage Synthesis Terminals or Harmonic Interfaces. Blueprints for the three base components are awarded through the Autophage questline, specifically the "Audience with the Autophage" mission, while additional cosmetic and functional parts are purchasable with Void Motes. Unlike a pure combat tool, the Staff also carries a strong scanning bonus, making it a hybrid option. See the full walkthrough in our Sentinel Multi-Tool guide and Atlantid Multi-Tool & Staff guide.
Scanner Tools: Experimental & Royal
Experimental tools are the go-to for players who use the Analysis Visor to earn Units. They are common enough to find across many systems and reward dedicated scanning builds. Learn how scanning pays off in our Analysis Visor scanning guide.
Royal tools are rare, expensive, and visually striking. Sharing the aesthetic of Exotic starships. They can only spawn at Sentinel Pillars, accessed via Sentinel Boundary Maps. These maps may be found by consuming Salvaged Glass, which drops from defeated Sentinels, or through Suspicious Merchandise in outlaw systems.
Mining Tools: Atlantid
The Atlantid multi-tool delivers the highest mining bonuses in the game and comes with the Runic Lens as its default weapon, a built-in advanced mining beam that also grants cloaking capability. Unlocking Atlantid tools requires progressing through the Autophage questline (They Who Returned); once you have access to the Discordant Interface on Korvax Monoliths, you can claim an Atlantid there. This pairs naturally with Activated Indium mining setups.
All-Rounders: Alien, Pistol & Rifle
Alien tools split the difference between combat and scanning, making them a solid choice before you have committed to a playstyle. Pistols are the most accessible entry point: great for new players who just need something functional, with a strong mining bonus and serviceable scanning. Rifles lean toward damage while keeping the loadout versatile.
Classes: C, B, A, and S
Every multi-tool type exists across four classes. Class determines:
- Stat multipliers on each bonus (damage, mining, scanning)
- Technology slot count: S-class tools can reach up to 60 slots
- Supercharged slot count: the special gold-bordered slots that dramatically amplify installed technology
| Class | Supercharged Slots | Max Tech Slots |
|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | 30 |
| B | 2 | 40 |
| A | 3 | 50 |
| S | 4 | 60 |
Upgrading Class
You can upgrade a multi-tool's class at the Space Anomaly or through upgrade vendors at space stations. The Nanite costs scale steeply:
- C → B: 10,000 Nanites
- B → A: 25,000 Nanites
- A → S: 50,000 Nanites
This means upgrading from scratch costs 85,000 Nanites total, a significant investment. See how to get Nanites fast if you are building up your reserves.
Important: Before spending 50,000 Nanites on the final S-class upgrade, make a manual save. The new supercharged slot that unlocks will appear in a semi-random position, and its placement relative to your installed technology modules is what separates a great tool from a mediocre one. Reload if the placement is poor.
Finding an S-Class Multi-Tool
If you would rather find an S-class tool than upgrade into one, your options depend on the tool type you want.
For common types (Pistol, Rifle, Experimental, Alien):
- Check the multi-tool display cabinet in space stations. Each station has one rotating tool on offer, and the class varies by system economy.
- Wealthier systems (indicated by more stars in the economy rating) offer better odds of an S-class spawn.
- The Space Anomaly also stocks multi-tools and is worth checking regularly.
For special types:
- Sentinel: Farm Corrupted Sentinels in Dissonant systems to collect Echo Locators, then use them to find Harmonic Camps. Full method in the S-Class Multi-Tool guide.
- Royal: Engage Sentinel patrols until you collect Salvaged Glass; consuming it may yield a Sentinel Boundary Map that points you to a Sentinel Pillar.
- Atlantid / Staff: Complete the required Autophage storyline first; you cannot shortcut these.
If you are early in the game, prioritize any S-class Alien or Experimental tool you encounter. They are strong enough to carry you through the mid-game while you work toward the specialized types. For full hunting strategies, see How to Get an S-Class Multi-Tool.
Supercharged Slots: Why They Matter Most
Supercharged slots (the gold-bordered slots in your technology grid) multiply the effect of any technology module installed in them. Installing three matching upgrade modules in or adjacent to a supercharged slot creates a powerful adjacency bonus stack.
At S-class, you have four supercharged slots. The positions of those slots are fixed per tool, meaning two S-class Sentinel tools can have wildly different effective power depending on where their supercharged slots land. Always check the layout before committing to a tool, and consult the Technology Upgrades & Supercharged Slots guide for optimal module stacking strategies.
The Gravitino Coil
Not every Multi-Tool module is a weapon or a scanner. The Gravitino Coil, added by the Remnant update, is a gravity device: it grabs large objects so you can carry or fling them, and turns heavy debris into ammunition. The Remnant and Gravitino Coil guide covers it.
FAQ
Can I own more than one multi-tool at a time?
Yes. No Man's Sky allows you to store multiple multi-tools and swap between them from the quick-access menu. This lets you keep a dedicated mining tool and a combat tool without needing to rebuild either loadout. You can purchase or acquire new tools even if you do not want to replace your current one.
Is it better to upgrade my existing tool or find a new S-class one?
It depends on the type and supercharged slot layout. Upgrading costs up to 85,000 Nanites in total and locks in whatever slot positions your current tool has. Finding an S-class version of your preferred type directly gives you a fresh layout: sometimes better, sometimes worse. For rarer types like Sentinel or Royal, upgrading a good C-class find is often more practical since S-class versions are not sold in stations.
What is the best multi-tool for a new player?
An Alien or Experimental S-class from a high-economy space station is the easiest strong pick for a new player. Experimentals excel if you plan to farm Units via scanning. Aliens are better if you want flexibility. You will find both in ordinary space stations without needing to complete any special questlines. Check the Early Game Checklist for when to prioritize this upgrade.
Do multi-tool upgrades (technology modules) carry over when I change class?
Yes. All installed technology modules remain in place when you upgrade a tool's class. The new supercharged slot that appears is the only change to the layout, which is why saving before the upgrade is strongly recommended.
What are Void Motes and how do they relate to multi-tools?
Void Motes are a currency earned through Autophage activities and certain Sentinel encounters. They are used specifically at Autophage Synthesis Terminals to purchase cosmetic and functional components for Voltaic Staffs. If you are building a Staff, you will accumulate Void Motes as a natural byproduct of the Autophage questline.
Where is the best place to check for a high-quality multi-tool regularly?
The space station in any three-star economy system and the Space Anomaly are your two reliable spots. The station's display case refreshes each time you warp to a new system, so hopping through wealthy systems while doing other tasks is an efficient passive strategy for finding strong tools.
Key Takeaways
- Eight types exist: match your tool to your playstyle (scanner, miner, or combatant).
- S-class is the goal: four supercharged slots and up to 60 slots make it the clear endgame choice.
- Upgrading costs 85,000 Nanites total from C to S. Save before the final upgrade to check supercharged slot placement.
- Sentinel, Royal, Atlantid, and Voltaic Staff require specific in-game activities; they cannot be bought at ordinary space stations.
- Supercharged slot position matters as much as class. Two S-class tools of the same type can perform very differently.
- Use high-economy (three-star) systems and the Space Anomaly as your regular hunting grounds for common-type S-class tools.
- Dive into the child guides below for step-by-step acquisition walkthroughs on every special tool type.