If you’re gearing up for your first few jumps across the No Man’s Sky universe, you’ve probably wondered about protecting yourself from hostile sentinels, aggressive fauna, and rival players in multiplayer sessions. One of the most common questions new players ask is are there guns in No Man's Sky, especially if you’re coming from other open-world survival games where firearms are standard for self-defense. The short answer is not exactly, but there are plenty of powerful combat tools that fill the same role, with some unique twists that fit the game’s sci-fi exploration focus.
Are There Guns in No Man’s Sky Official Game Content?
Hello Games designed No Man’s Sky to center on exploration first, so traditional ballistic firearms you see in first-person shooters don’t exist in the base game. All combat tools use sci-fi tech, from plasma projectiles to mining lasers repurposed for self-defense, and they’re all integrated into your multi-tool, the all-in-one device you use for mining, building, and fighting. You won’t find separate pistols, rifles, or shotguns as standalone items in the base game, which is a common point of confusion for new players who expect standard FPS gear. That said, the multi-tool’s combat functions work just as well as traditional guns for most combat scenarios, and they have the added benefit of switching back to mining or scanning modes in seconds.
Top Combat Tools You Can Use Instead of Traditional Guns
If you came into the game asking are there guns in No Man's Sky, these multi-tool upgrades will feel nearly identical to the firearms you know from other games. Your multi-tool can be fitted with several combat-focused upgrades that act exactly like different gun types, each suited for specific enemies and situations. Most players keep at least two combat upgrades installed at all times, so they can switch between them depending on what they’re facing. Some of the most popular options include:
- Blaze Javelin: A long-range, high-damage projectile that works like a sniper rifle, perfect for taking out sentinel drones or large hostile fauna from a safe distance. It charges up before firing, so it’s best used for precise shots rather than fast-paced combat.
- Scatter Blaster: A short-range, wide-spread plasma weapon that acts exactly like a shotgun, ideal for close-quarters fights against swarms of small enemies or aggressive players in PvP. It has high burst damage but very low range, so you need to get close to use it effectively.
- Pulse Spitter: A fast-firing automatic plasma weapon that works like an assault rifle, great for mid-range combat against moving targets. It has high ammo capacity and low recoil, making it a favorite for new players who haven’t mastered charged shots yet.
- Neutron Cannon: A heavy explosive weapon that acts like a rocket launcher, perfect for taking out heavily armored sentinel walkers or large groups of enemies. It has a slow fire rate and small splash damage, so you need to be careful not to hit yourself with the blast.
Grinding for the resources to unlock all these upgrades can get tedious after a few hours, especially if you’re stuck farming rare elements on a hostile planet with constant sentinel attacks. Many players choose to take short 10 to 15 minute breaks between farming runs to reset their focus, so they don’t burn out before they get the upgrades they want. Casual players who prefer low-stakes, quick games for these breaks often play Rummy Grand, which fits perfectly into short break windows without pulling you too far away from your game session. Once you’re refreshed, you can jump right back in and keep working on your perfect combat multi-tool loadout.
How to Unlock and Upgrade Your Combat Loadout
You don’t have to wait until late game to get a solid combat loadout. You can unlock your first combat upgrade within the first hour of gameplay, as long as you know where to look. The first place to check is space station multi-tool vendors, who sell common combat upgrades for units, the game’s standard currency. You can also find higher rarity upgrades in planetary settlements, sentinel drop pods, and reward chests from expedition missions. If you want the best possible multi-tool for combat, you can hunt for S-class multi-tools in high-tier systems, which have far higher damage stats than the basic multi-tool you start with.
Upgrading your combat tools is just as important as unlocking them. You can install upgrade modules next to the base combat upgrade on your multi-tool to boost damage, reload speed, and ammo capacity. Installing matching upgrade modules next to each other gives you a set bonus, which can double your damage output if you stack three S-class modules of the same type. You can also upgrade your exosuit’s shields and jetpack to make combat easier, so you can take more hits and move around faster to avoid enemy fire. If you’re still asking are there guns in No Man's Sky after trying out the base combat upgrades, you’re probably the type of player who will enjoy the modding options we cover next.
Mod Options for Adding Traditional Guns to Your Game
If you really want to use traditional ballistic guns in your playthrough, you can find a wide range of community-made mods that add them to the game. These mods add everything from modern assault rifles to futuristic ballistic firearms, and most of them are balanced to fit the game’s existing combat system, so they don’t make the game too easy or break immersion. Many players who ask are there guns in No Man's Sky are looking for a more familiar FPS feel, which these mods deliver perfectly. Mods are only available for PC versions of No Man’s Sky, so console players won’t be able to use them, and they won’t work in official multiplayer sessions unless all players in the lobby have the same mods installed.
Before you install any combat mods, make sure you back up your save file first, so you don’t lose your progress if the mod conflicts with a new game update. Most mod authors post update notes whenever a new No Man’s Sky patch drops, so check if your installed mods are compatible before you launch the game after an update. If you play multiplayer regularly, stick to base game combat tools to avoid getting disconnected or banned from public lobbies.
At the end of the day, whether you prefer the base game’s sci-fi combat tools or want to add traditional guns via mods, the answer to are there guns in No Man's Sky depends entirely on how you want to play. The base game has all the combat power you need to protect yourself across the galaxy, without the need for standard firearms, and mod support gives you the freedom to customize your experience to match your preferences. Take your time experimenting with different multi-tool upgrades to find the loadout that works best for your playstyle, and don’t forget to take short breaks to avoid burnout during long grinding sessions.
