If you’ve ever tried to upgrade your hyperdrive to reach farther star systems, or craft high-tier multi-tool upgrades, you’ve probably hit a wall looking for cadmium. It’s one of the first rare mid-game resources that stops new players in their tracks, and it’s not immediately obvious where to find it if you haven’t stumbled on the right systems yet. If you’re asking how do i get cadmium in no man's sky, this guide breaks down every reliable method, from quick one-time hauls to passive farming setups that keep your stockpile full long term. You don’t have to waste hours wandering random planets or overpaying at space stations once you know the simple rules for finding this valuable resource.
How Do I Get Cadmium in No Man’s Sky: Core Location Rules
First, let’s get the most important rule out of the way so you don’t waste time looking in the wrong places. Red star systems are the only natural source of cadmium deposits. You won’t find large, mineable cadmium veins on planets in yellow, green, or blue star systems, no matter how much you scan. I remember grinding for 3 hours trading random resources at space stations just to get 200 cadmium before I figured out this rule. Don’t make that same mistake.
To access red star systems, you’ll first need a Cadmium Hyperdrive installed on your ship. You’ll get the blueprint for this upgrade automatically as part of the main “Awakening” story quest, so you don’t have to hunt for it randomly. If you skipped the story or lost the blueprint, you can also buy it from the technology merchant at any major space station for a small amount of nanites. You only need 250 chromatic metal and 200 condensed carbon to build it once you have the blueprint.
Once you’re in a red star system, you still need to pick the right planet to land on. Cadmium only spawns naturally on irradiated planets, which are marked with a radiation hazard symbol on your system map. You can scan planets from orbit to check their biome and resource drops before landing, so you never have to waste fuel flying down to a world that doesn’t have what you need.
Fastest Cadmium Farming Methods for All Play Styles
There’s no single “best” way to farm cadmium, because the right method depends on how much time you have and what you need the resource for. If you just need 200 units for a single upgrade, you can grab it in 10 minutes. If you need a steady supply for crafting and trading, you can set up a passive farm that works while you do other things. These are the most reliable methods I’ve tested over hundreds of hours of play:
- Mining surface deposits on irradiated planets in red systems: These have the highest concentration of cadmium per hour, especially if you use an advanced mining laser. You can easily get 500+ units in 15 minutes if you find a large deposit cluster.
- Extracting from underground cadmium veins using mineral extractors: This is a passive method that gives you steady supplies without active grinding. A single S-class extractor can pull 50 units of cadmium per hour, even when you’re off exploring other systems.
- Trading surplus resources at space stations in red systems: Many NPC pilots sell cadmium at 20-30% discounted rates if you have high standing with the local faction. This is a great option if you have extra units or rare resources to trade and don’t want to deal with planetary hazards.
You can double your mining yield by using a S-class mining laser with the cadmium boost upgrade. These upgrades drop randomly from damaged multi-tools or can be bought from technology merchants in red systems, and they’re well worth the small nanite investment if you plan to farm a lot of cadmium. You can also use a exocraft with a mining attachment to cover more ground faster, which cuts down on travel time between deposits.
Set up a base near a large cadmium deposit for passive collection while you complete other missions. All you need is a base computer, a few mineral extractors, and some supply depots to store the collected resource. You can come back every few days to empty the depots, and you’ll have thousands of units of cadmium waiting for you without any extra work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hunting for Cadmium
Even if you know the basic location rules, it’s easy to make small mistakes that waste a lot of time when you’re looking for cadmium. These are the most common errors I see new players make, and how to avoid them:
First, don’t skip the survey scanner step when you land on an irradiated planet. The survey scanner will show you exactly where the largest cadmium deposits are, so you don’t have to wander aimlessly looking for small scattered rocks. You can unlock the survey scanner blueprint from the construction research terminal at the space anomaly for just 10 salvaged data. It’s one of the most useful exploration upgrades you can get, not just for cadmium but for all rare resources.
Irradiated planets have constant toxic and radiation damage, so pack extra radiation shields before landing . The last thing you want is to find a huge cadmium deposit only to have to run back to your ship 2 minutes in because your hazard protection ran out. You can craft radiation shields from 50 uranium and 10 oxygen, or buy them from any space station for a few thousand units. I always keep at least 10 in my inventory when I’m heading to a red system.
Another common mistake is hoarding more cadmium than you actually need. Most mid-game upgrades only require 100-300 units of cadmium, so you don’t need to carry around 10,000 units taking up inventory space. Any extra you farm can be sold for a good price at space stations in yellow systems, where cadmium is much rarer and sells for a 40-50% markup. So don’t be afraid to farm extra if you find a good deposit, you can turn it into quick units later.
Smart Ways to Use Your Cadmium Stockpile
Now that you have a steady supply of cadmium, you might be wondering what to do with it besides the initial hyperdrive upgrade. It’s a versatile resource that’s used for a lot of high-tier crafting, so it’s worth keeping a small stock on hand at all times.
Prioritize crafting the cadmium hyperdrive first if you haven’t already, as it unlocks access to hundreds of new star systems. Once you have it, you can reach red systems that have much rarer resources, better ships, and more challenging content. It’s the first step to moving past the early game and exploring the more interesting parts of the No Man’s Sky universe.
You can also use cadmium to craft high-tier multi-tool upgrades, like the advanced mining laser and the projectile launcher damage boost. These upgrades make exploring and combat much easier, especially when you’re dealing with high-level sentinels or large resource deposits. You can also use it to build fortified base walls and automated defense turrets, which are great if you’re setting up a permanent base on a hazardous planet.
If you play with friends, cadmium is a great resource to trade with other players who are still in the early game. A lot of new players will trade rare resources like void eggs or S-class upgrade modules for a steady supply of cadmium, so it’s a great way to get endgame items without grinding for them yourself.
Now that you know how do i get cadmium in no man's sky, you don’t have to wander aimlessly looking for this rare resource or overpay for it at space stations. Test out the different farming methods to see which fits your playstyle best, and don’t forget to set up a passive extractor farm if you need a steady supply for crafting. With a little bit of planning, you’ll have all the cadmium you need to upgrade your gear, build your dream base, and explore even farther parts of the galaxy. The next time you’re stuck looking for a rare resource, just remember that the solution is almost always simpler than you think.
