If you’ve spent dozens of hours grinding for rare resources, building a sprawling base, or hunting down elusive S-class ships in No Man’s Sky, you’ve probably wondered at some point does no mans sky have pvp, and if other players can ruin all that hard work with a random attack. Hello Games has expanded the multiplayer feature drastically since the game’s rocky launch, and PvP is one of the most divisive additions to the otherwise peaceful exploration-focused sandbox. You don’t have to guess how it works, though—we’ve tested every multiplayer mode and setting to break down exactly what you can expect from player vs player combat in the game.
Does No Man’s Sky Have PvP? All Available Combat Modes Explained
The short answer is yes, but PvP is never forced on players who don’t want to participate. You will never be attacked by another player if you have PvP disabled in your settings, even if you join a public lobby full of people who have combat turned on. The game offers a few distinct PvP modes to fit different playstyles, so you can pick the experience that works best for you.
First, there’s open-world free roam PvP, which lets you fight other enabled players anywhere in the galaxy. You can battle on planetary surfaces, in deep space, or even near space stations and trade outposts. Ship PvP is far more common than ground PvP, since most random player encounters happen while warping between systems or visiting high-traffic locations like the Space Anomaly. You can use any ship weapons, multi-tool upgrades, or exocraft gear in these fights, and there are no rules or objectives beyond what you set for yourself.
Second, there are official structured PvP events hosted through the Nexus terminal on the Space Anomaly. These events include team deathmatches, capture-the-flag style objective battles, and ship race combat events, all with exclusive rewards like rare ship decals, multi-tool upgrades, and large unit payouts. These events are great for players who want to test their combat skills without the risk of random ganks while mining resources.
Third, you can set up custom private lobbies with mandatory PvP for you and your friends. This is a popular option for groups who want to host friendly tournaments, roleplay as space pirates, or just mess around with combat without bothering random players. You can adjust settings like damage multipliers, inventory loss rules, and allowed gear to make the fights as casual or competitive as you want.
How to Toggle PvP Settings in No Man’s Sky
Adjusting your PvP settings takes less than a minute, and you can change them at any point in your playthrough, even mid-game. To start, open your main menu and navigate to the Network tab. Look for the “PvP Enabled” toggle, and switch it on or off depending on your preference. You can also adjust related settings like whether other players can damage your vehicles or base from this same menu.
Always check lobby settings before joining a public multiplayer game to avoid accidentally turning on PvP when you don’t want it. Some public lobbies have PvP enabled by default for all players, which will override your personal settings as soon as you join. If you’re joining a friend’s lobby, ask them what their PvP setting is ahead of time to avoid any surprises.
Before you turn PvP on for the first time, there are a few key checks you should do to make sure you’re prepared:
- You have backup saves of your most valuable ships and multi-tools to avoid losing upgrades if you get destroyed
- You’ve turned off base damage if you don’t want other players to destroy structures you’ve spent hours building
- You have plenty of repair resources and warp cells to escape a bad fight if you’re outmatched by a more experienced player
- You’re not carrying extremely rare resources you can’t afford to lose if your inventory drops on death
A common question new players ask alongside does no mans sky have pvp is if they can lose their base to other players, and the answer is no unless you specifically enable base damage in your network settings. You will not lose your entire inventory if you die in PvP, only a small portion of unstacked resources, so you don’t have to worry about losing dozens of hours of progress from one fight. If you do get destroyed, you’ll respawn at the nearest space station or your last saved base with all your core gear intact.
Pros and Cons of Playing With PvP Enabled in No Man’s Sky
PvP adds a completely new layer to the game, but it’s not for everyone. On the pro side, it’s a great way to add challenge to your playthrough if you’ve already beaten the main story and completed most of the core exploration content. It’s also a fun way to interact with friends, and the official Nexus PvP events offer exclusive rewards you can’t get anywhere else in the game. Many players also enjoy the roleplay potential of PvP, either as a space pirate hunting down trade ships or a bounty hunter taking out hostile players for rewards.
On the con side, random ganks can be frustrating if you’re just trying to relax and mine resources or complete a story mission. Some players spend hundreds of hours grinding for maxed-out S-class weapons and shields, so new players will almost always be at a massive disadvantage if they get attacked randomly. PvP balancing is also not a priority for Hello Games, so some weapons and builds are vastly overpowered compared to others, which can make fights feel unfair if you don’t have the right gear.
PvP is entirely optional, so you never have to turn it on if you prefer the game’s core exploration loop. I’ve played over 300 hours of No Man’s Sky, and I only turn PvP on when I’m playing with friends or joining official Nexus events. I’ve never had a random gank that ruined my play session, since I always make sure to have an escape plan ready if I run into a hostile player. If you’re curious about PvP but nervous to try it, start with a low-stakes Nexus event first to get a feel for the combat without any real risk.
Top Tips for Winning PvP Fights in No Man’s Sky
If you do decide to try PvP, there are a few simple tips that will help you win most fights even if you don’t have maxed-out gear. First, prioritize upgrading your ship’s shields and phase beams before you jump into any combat. Phase beams drain enemy shields faster than almost any other weapon, and high shields will let you take multiple hits while you line up your shots. Avoid using rocket launchers in ship PvP, as they have a slow travel time and most experienced players can dodge them easily.
For ground PvP, use your jetpack and terrain to your advantage whenever possible. Hide behind mountains or large rocks to break line of sight, and use the jetpack to jump out of the way of incoming multi-tool fire. Using your exocraft’s mounted weapons can give you a huge edge in ground PvP, since they deal far more damage than standard multi-tool weapons and have a much longer range. Most players don’t expect exocraft attacks, so catching someone off guard with a Colossus cannon will almost always end the fight quickly.
Don’t be afraid to run away if you’re outmatched. You can warp to another system at any time as long as you have a warp cell, and most players won’t bother chasing you across multiple systems. If you’re playing team PvP, assign roles to your group to make fights easier: one player can focus on damaging enemy ships, another can focus on repairing team shields, and a third can focus on disabling enemy ship engines to slow them down. Even if you don’t win every fight, PvP is a fun way to mix up your usual No Man’s Sky routine.
At the end of the day, the answer to does no mans sky have pvp is a clear yes, but it’s designed to be as accessible or as invisible as you want it to be. If you’re a casual player who just wants to explore planets and build bases without interruptions, you can leave PvP disabled forever and never have to worry about other players attacking you. If you’re looking for a new challenge or a fun way to play with friends, flipping the PvP toggle on can open up a whole new side of the game you might have never experienced before. No matter what playstyle you prefer, you don’t have to let the fear of PvP stop you from enjoying everything No Man’s Sky has to offer.
