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Quick Answer

  • There are eight multi-tool types in No Man's Sky: Pistol, Rifle, Experimental, Alien, Royal, Sentinel, Atlantid, and Voltaic Staff.
  • Every tool also has a class tier (C, B, A, or S) that sets its built-in bonus percentages for Damage, Mining, and Scanning.
  • Type determines your stat specialty (combat vs. mining vs. scanning); class determines how high those bonuses go.
  • S-class tools have the highest bonus ranges and up to four supercharged slots, making them the endgame target.
  • Pistols and Rifles are the easiest to find; Sentinel, Atlantid, and Voltaic Staff types require specific late-game progression.
  • You can own multiple multi-tools simultaneously and swap between them freely.

Overview

Your multi-tool is your Swiss army knife in No Man's Sky. It fires weapons, mines resources, and scans the environment, all from a single handheld device. But not all multi-tools are created equal. Two tools can look completely different, perform very differently in combat, and yet both technically be "S-class." The reason comes down to a two-layer system: type (what role the tool is built around) and class (how powerful those role bonuses are).

Understanding this system is essential before you spend Nanites upgrading a tool or travel across the galaxy hunting for something specific.

If you're still getting started, our No Man's Sky Beginner's Guide (2026) covers multi-tools in the broader context of your first hours.

The Four Class Tiers

Every multi-tool, regardless of type, belongs to one of four class tiers. Think of these as quality grades:

Class Bonus Range Supercharged Slots Notes
C Lowest (often 0%) 0 Starting tier; replace as soon as possible
B Low to moderate 0 Modest step up; still transitional
A Moderate 0 Solid for mid-game; worth upgrading
S Highest Up to 4 Endgame target; maximum performance

Class bonuses are fixed percentage increases to Damage, Mining, and Scanning that apply on top of any upgrade modules you install. An S-class Alien multi-tool, for example, can carry a substantial damage class bonus before you install a single upgrade. These bonuses are baked into the tool and cannot be changed. Only the class of the tool itself matters here.

Supercharged slots are the other S-class advantage. These golden-highlighted inventory slots amplify any technology module placed in them. An S-class multi-tool can have up to four of them, and positioning your best upgrade modules in these slots is the single biggest performance multiplier available. Lower classes have zero supercharged slots, which is a significant disadvantage regardless of how many upgrade modules you install. Note that the exact number and position of supercharged slots varies between individual tools of the same type and class.

All Eight Multi-Tool Types Explained

Pistol

The Pistol is the most common type you'll encounter early on. It's compact, frequently offered by space station vendors and NPCs, and skews toward mining and scanning. Pistols have no inherent Damage class bonus, so even an S-class Pistol will not match the raw combat output of an Alien or Sentinel tool. If your playstyle is exploration and resource gathering rather than fighting, a Pistol works well, especially early-game when they're easy to come by.

Best for: New players, miners, explorers.

Rifle

The Rifle is the Pistol's more combat-capable sibling. It tends toward balanced stats: moderate Damage, low Mining, and medium Scanning. S-class Rifles can reach damage bonuses in the +15–20% range. They're common across most star systems and space stations, making them a reliable mid-game option before you hunt down something more specialized.

Best for: General-purpose players who want combat viability without grinding for exotic types.

Experimental

Experimental multi-tools have a distinctive technological aesthetic and are tuned heavily toward scanning, with excellent Scanning class bonuses and more modest Damage output. If you spend a lot of time using the Analysis Visor to tag and sell fauna and flora data, an Experimental tool will serve you better than most. Check out our guide on how to scan for Units with the Analysis Visor to see how scanning bonuses translate into income.

Best for: Exploration, fauna discovery farming, scanning-based Unit income.

Alien

Alien multi-tools are rarer than Pistols and Rifles but well worth hunting. They lead the pack in Damage class bonuses, S-class Alien tools can reach damage bonuses in the +25–35% range, while still offering decent Mining and Scanning. Their unusual organic or biomechanical appearance sets them apart visually. You can find them through NPCs in any system, though they're less common than standard types and may require patience or save-reloading.

Best for: Combat-focused players who also want utility.

Royal

Royal multi-tools were introduced alongside the Sentinel update. They are visually striking (each comes in one of ten color variations) and excel in Scanning, while also carrying a meaningful Damage bonus that puts them above Rifles. The key distinction from other types is their acquisition method: Royal multi-tools are only found at Sentinel Pillars in regulated (non-Outlaw) systems. This makes them a mid-to-late-game find tied to engaging with Sentinel content. Their stat profile makes them excellent for exploration-heavy playstyles that still want some combat capability.

Best for: Scanning, exploration, players who engage with Sentinel content.

Sentinel

The Sentinel multi-tool is built entirely around combat. S-class Sentinel tools carry the highest damage class bonuses in the game, in the +25–50% range, making them the top choice for players who fight frequently. Mining bonuses are poor, so they are a dedicated weapon rather than an all-rounder.

To obtain one, locate a Harmonic Camp on a Corrupted planet within a Dissonant system. Use an Echo Locator (dropped by Corrupted Sentinels) to find the camp, then solve the arithmetic puzzle at the Harmonic Interface. Three equations whose answers correspond to numbered glyphs you must input. Completing the puzzle unlocks a cabinet containing the Sentinel multi-tool. Be aware that newly acquired Sentinel tools arrive with many damaged slots that need to be repaired.

Best for: Combat, fighting Sentinels, aggressive playstyles.

Atlantid

The Atlantid multi-tool arrived with the Echoes update and has a distinctive appearance referencing Monoliths and Atlas Interfaces. Its class bonuses lean toward mining, with decent Damage and Scanning alongside a notably high Mining bonus. Obtaining an Atlantid tool requires completing the Atlas and Autophage mission lines and then using an Exocraft radar in a Korvax system to locate alien monoliths. Interacting with the discordant interface at the monolith is where the tool is acquired.

Best for: Players who want strong mining performance after completing story content.

Voltaic Staff

The Voltaic Staff is the most unique multi-tool type in the game. Rather than being found in the world, it is custom-built at an Autophage Synthesis Terminal (or Harmonic Interface) by combining three components: a Head, a Core, and a Pole. Blueprints for the crafting components are awarded through the Autophage questline ("They Who Returned"), and additional parts can be purchased with Void Motes. This means you assemble the exact tool you want, choosing parts for the stats and appearance you prefer. If the class or appearance at one terminal is unsatisfactory, you can cancel and try a different terminal on the same planet. The Staff provides good Damage and Scanning with lower Mining output.

Best for: Players who have completed the Autophage questline and want full customization control.

Type Comparison at a Glance

Type Slots at Generation Damage Bonus Mining Bonus Scanning Bonus How to Find
Pistol 9–18 None High Good Any space station / system
Rifle up to 30 Low–Medium Low Medium Any space station / system
Experimental Varies with physical size Low–Medium Low Very High Any system (common)
Alien Varies with physical size High Medium Medium Any system (rare)
Royal exactly 20 Medium Low Very High Sentinel Pillars only
Sentinel 17–30 Very High Low Above-average Harmonic Camps (Dissonant planets)
Atlantid Not published in sources checked Medium High Medium Korvax system monoliths / story missions
Voltaic Staff Not published in sources checked Good Low Good Crafted at Autophage Synthesis Terminal

On slot counts. The figures above are what a tool can generate with. Every type can be expanded to 60 slots, but only after it has been upgraded to S-class, so a low-slot find is not permanently limited — it is just a longer project. The Rifle's 30 is the highest any multi-tool generates with, which is why rifles are the usual starting point for a build you intend to keep. A Royal is always exactly 20, so unlike every other type there is no point rerolling one hoping for more.

Budget four slots per fully built weapon system (core technology plus its three modules). On a 20-slot tool that is realistically two weapons plus a Mining Beam and a Scanner.

Percentage values vary by individual tool and class tier. The S-class ranges referenced in this article come from community data and may vary between discovered tools. Where a slot figure is not published in a source we could verify, the cell says so rather than guessing.

Choosing the Right Type for Your Playstyle

  • You fight a lot: Sentinel or Alien S-class. Sentinel wins on raw damage ceiling; Alien is easier to obtain.
  • You explore and scan: Experimental or Royal. Both excel here; Royal requires Sentinel Pillar access and also brings useful Damage bonuses.
  • You mine resources: Pistol or Atlantid. Pistols are easiest early on; Atlantid combines high mining with better all-round stats late-game.
  • You want one tool for everything: Alien or Atlantid. Both sit in the middle of the stat spread.
  • You want full customization: Build a Voltaic Staff once you've completed the Autophage storyline.

For a deep dive into the hunting process, see our guide on how to get an S-class multi-tool. For the Sentinel-specific tool, the Sentinel multi-tool guide covers Dissonant systems in detail. And if the Voltaic Staff appeals to you, the Atlantid multi-tool and Voltaic Staff guide walks through the full build process.

You're also not locked into one choice. The game lets you carry multiple multi-tools at once, which means you can keep a dedicated combat tool and a scanning tool loaded simultaneously, swapping as the situation demands.

FAQ

What is the strongest multi-tool type in No Man's Sky?

For pure combat damage, Sentinel S-class tools have the highest damage class bonus ceiling in the game. If you can't access a Harmonic Camp yet, Alien S-class tools are a strong runner-up and easier to find.

Does the class of a multi-tool matter more than the type?

Both matter, but in different ways. Type sets which stat categories get the biggest class bonuses; class determines how high those bonuses go. An S-class Pistol will always have zero inherent Damage bonus no matter how high the class, so if combat is your goal, choosing the right type first is essential.

Can I upgrade a multi-tool's class?

Not directly. You cannot change the class of a tool you already own. To get a higher class, you need to find a new tool of that class. You can, however, improve your tool's performance significantly by installing upgrade modules and placing them in supercharged slots.

What are supercharged slots and why do they matter?

Supercharged slots (the golden highlighted inventory squares) multiply the effect of any upgrade module placed inside them. Only S-class multi-tools have them, with up to four per tool, though the exact count and position varies between individual tools. Filling supercharged slots with your top-tier upgrade modules is the biggest performance leap available for any multi-tool.

Where do I find an Alien multi-tool?

Alien multi-tools can be offered by NPCs across any star system, but they are rarer than Pistols or Rifles. Save-reloading at a space station or outpost and checking NPC inventories repeatedly is the standard approach. Using Signal Boosters or Planetary Charts to find outposts and then reloading to refresh stock can speed up the search.

Do I need to max out my multi-tool's slots?

More slots give you more room to install upgrade modules and use supercharged slot positioning effectively. Expanding your inventory slots is always worthwhile for a multi-tool you plan to use long-term, but it is not mandatory for the game to be enjoyable.

Key Takeaways

  • Eight multi-tool types exist: Pistol, Rifle, Experimental, Alien, Royal, Sentinel, Atlantid, and Voltaic Staff, each with a different stat specialty.
  • Four class tiers (C through S) set the strength of built-in Damage, Mining, and Scanning bonuses.
  • S-class tools have up to four supercharged slots, which are critical for endgame performance; exact slot count and position varies per tool.
  • Sentinel types lead on damage; Experimental and Royal lead on scanning; Pistols and Atlantids favor mining.
  • Pistols have zero Damage class bonus; Alien tools lead on damage among non-Sentinel types.
  • Sentinel tools come from Harmonic Camps on Corrupted/Dissonant planets; Royal tools come from Sentinel Pillars; Voltaic Staffs are crafted at Autophage Synthesis Terminals.
  • You can carry multiple multi-tools and swap between them. There is no penalty for specializing.
  • Always prioritize finding the right type for your goals before worrying about maximizing class or slots.