Step 1: Select Expedition

Step 2: Customize (Optional)

Note: You may undo these customizations and replace the JSON file at any time during your expedition.

Notice

  • Some player inventory tech modules and ship inventory tech modules are in the wrong spot. You’ll need to move them.

Notice

  • For some reason you cannot get past 1/3 Dosimeter readings in Phase 5, Milestone 2. A patch has been created to reduce the required number of readings to 1.

Notice

  • The “redux” version of this expedition changed some rewards to those from expedition 1, 4 and 5. A patch has been created so you can choose which rewards you get.
  • DO NOT set BlockStormsAtStart to true or you will not be able to complete all the milestones. If you start the expedition with BlockStormsAtStart set to true, simply set it to false below and re-download the json.

Notice

  • The second and third worm hunt milestone seems to be undoable. A patch has been created to replace those milestones.
  • For some reason you cannot get to the rendezvous 4 and 5 planets. A patch has been created to replace milestones requiring those planets.
  • Some player inventory tech modules and ship inventory tech modules are in the wrong spot. You will need to move them.
  • To find Atlas stations, ask Polo for Black Hole coordinates. That will show BOTH Atlas stations AND Black Hole systems on your galaxy map.

Notice

  • For the “Sightseer” milestone, make sure you do NOT use your freighter’s scanner before landing on the required planets.
  • Phase 5, Milestone 7 (Recognisable Life) will bug out if you meet a gaseous sentience without using a lure and you will be unable to complete the milestone. If this happens to you, check the optional patch and replace your SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON.

Notice

  • To leave the galaxy you need an Atlantid drive (and possibly to do the Atlantid quests), which is not possible. A patch has been created to replace the leave-galaxy milestone (ignore the text about Utopia).
  • Freighters are very buggy in this expedition and they can be hard to acquire. A patch has been created to start you off with a freighter. This patch also rewards you with the first part of the pirate map as the P1M3 reward, since that can also be very buggy.
  • If you have an existing save in this expedition and need the pirate map fragment 1, use a save editor to give yourself the PIRATE_MAPPROD0 item.

Notice

  • Permadeath warning: It is not possible to finish this expedition in permadeath mode. If you can avoid death until the final milestone, your expedition AND primary save will be deleted by “submitting.”
  • The community milestones cannot be completed offline. A patch has been created to replace them with other milestones (ignore the message about Vile Spawns, you can collect them at any time). Unfortunately the Memory Fragments never upgrade.
  • This expedition breaks a lot, in particular the “reset save on death” mechanic. It seems to be working now, but if it breaks you can use the patch to disable it.

Notice

  • A pirate freighter is used as your starting freighter in some scenarios. This causes an issue with the captain not properly allowing you to read the logs. A patch has been created to force a civilian freighter. If you still get a pirate freighter, save, exit to desktop, and start your game again.

Notice

  • The base-building/uploading milestones can only be completed online. A patch has been created to replace those milestones (ignore the milestone hint about needing a Visceral Synthesiser).
  • The “Beacon” update made all rendezvous milestones auto complete when you enter a system, and since you are already in the system with all the rendezvous locations, they all auto complete upon starting the expedition. Also it seems like some planet-specific milestones no longer work properly. A patch has been created to replace all rendezvous and planet-specific milestones in this expedition.
  • When starting this expedition from an existing save, The Anomaly will not show up after the expedition is completed. A patch has been created to fix this issue.

Notice

  • The community milestones cannot be completed offline. A patch has been created to replace them.

Notice

  • Many planets have changed, so most guides are no longer going to have correct information.

Notice

  • Community milestones cannot be completed while offline. A patch has been created to replace them with offline milestones.

Notice

  • HG changed how abandoned galaxies work. There is no longer any way to find synthetic life forms in them. A patch has been created to replace the “scan synthetic life forms” milestone.

Notice

  • Community milestones cannot be completed while offline. A patch has been created to replace them with offline milestones.

Notice

  • Some planets mentioned in milestones no longer have water. For any milestones that ask you to “Land a message from the Angler,” fish on any planet with water in the system and make sure to have the milestone selected when catching/opening a Message in a Bottle.
  • For the “Ice Cold” milestone, you must catch 5 uncommon frozen fish on a frozen planet.

Notice

  • As of the Beacon patch all rendezvous milestones seem to complete as soon as you warp to the designated system. To complete the photograph milestones, simply go to the designated planet and take a picture anywhere.

Notice

  • The latest NMS patch seems to have broken the bone collecting milestones, there does not seem to be a way to turn them in. The milestones have been replaced in a patch below.

Notice

  • The multiplayer and comunity milestones cannot be completed offline. A patch has been created to replace them.

Presets

Click a button below to load a customization preset.

  • Property Default Override

    AbandonedFreighterHazardProtectionMul

    Turn this down for more challenge?

    BlockAggressiveSentinelsInStartSystem

    BlockStormsAtStart

    CarnageMode

    Makes Biological Horrors pop up at every location you go to

    DefaultToPvPOff

    DifficultySettingPreset

    This won’t actually set you to Permadeath if you select it, see GameMode below.

    DistanceFromShipAtStartOfGame

    EnergyDrainMultiplier

    Turn this up for more challenge?

    Expedition End Date

    FarmPlantsTimerMul

    Turn this up for more challenge?

    ForceStartSystemAbandoned

    GameMode

    Note: Setting this to “Creative” may make some expeditions impossible to finish. You may need to adjust your difficulty settings for certain milestones.

    Warning: If you choose Permadeath and die in the expedition, your main save will be deleted as well.

    HazardProtectionDrainMultiplier

    Turn this up for more challenge?

    MustCraftInBases

    ResetSaveOnDeath

    Resets your expedition milestones, equipment and items when you die, like the Leviathan expedition.

    Warning: This mechanic breaks from time to time and can lock your save file. To fix this you can use a save editor to edit the raw JSON of your save file and change `ActiveContext` from `Season` to `Main`.

    ShipStartsDamaged

    Warning: If you set this to true and start on a freighter, you will be stuck

    ShipType

    StartAboardFreighter

    StartingSuitSlots

    StartingSuitTechSlots

    StartNextToShip

    StartWithFreighter

    TechCostMultiplier

    Increase this to make Technology modules cost more

    UseRandomPet

    UseSpookHazardOnly

    Replaces all hazards on planets with the ghost effect from The Cursed

    PurpleSystemsUnlocked

    Start with purple systems unlocked

    ForceAllSentinelsAggressive

    OnlyCorvettesSpawnWhenPlayerTeleports

    OnlyCorvetteLauncherCanBeRepaired

    Starting ship (and other ships?) cannot be repaired

    AllowOnlyCorvetteShipPurchases

    Cannot trade, buy, or claim and other ships

    AllowSaveContextMultitoolTransfer

    Allow Multi-Tool to be transfered TO expedition

    AllowSaveContextShipTransfer

    Allow Ship to be transfered TO expedition

  • These settings only affect the minimum setting that can be selected in the options menu, you will still need to set the difficulty options after you start the expedition.

    Property Default Override

    Survival Elements

    Survival Difficulty

    Natural Resources

    Sprinting

    Scanner Recharge

    Damage Levels

    Damage taken from environment

    Technology Damage

    Liklihood of suit modules breaking when recieving damage

    Death Consequences

    Fuel Usage

    How much it takes to recharge stuff

    Crafting

    Purchases

    Goods Availability

    How common items are in shops

    Enemy Strength

    On-Foot Combat

    Space Combat

    Creatures

    Inventory Transfer Range

    Hyperdrive System Access

    Base Power

    Fishing Timing

    Reputation & Standing Gain

Import/Export

These buttons save/load the above customizations only. See Step 3 to download the actual expedition file.

Step 3: Download

Save to the appropriate directory:

Steam logo Steam PC:
%APPDATA%\HelloGames\NMS\{steam id}\cache
Steam logo Steam Mac:
~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/cache
MS Store logo MS Store / GOG logo GOG / PC Gamepass logo PC Game Pass:
%APPDATA%\HelloGames\NMS\cache
SteamDeck:
/home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/275850/pfx/drive_c/Users/SteamUser/AppData/Roaming/HelloGames/NMS/{steam id}/cache
Nintendo Switch:
Thanks to gusklein for figuring this out: Using DBI.nro (or similar), open game saves, look for the No Mans Sky SD.Cache folder

Note: These directories may be somewhat different on your machine.

Note 2: The file MUST be named exactly SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON (names like SEASON_DATA_CACHE (1).JSON will not work).

You must be OFFLINE (meaning Steam needs to be in offline mode, or you need to disconnect from the internet, or you need to block NMS via a firewall) when you start NMS for this to work. For more information see When Can I Go Online? below.

Debug Info/Tools

Expedition Overrides/Patches
Expedition Patch Creator


Expedition Notes

General

  • Some expeditions start with tech in inventory slots. You need to move them.
  • If you need Polo to show you Atlas stations, he won't do it UNLESS you also ask him to show you black holes. Then you will see both on your galaxy map.
  • To summon the Anomaly after your first warp jump you must now enter then exit the space station (this may be a bug).
  • If you feel we should all be able to replay expeditions online at any time, please tell Hello Games.

When Can I Go Online?

  • If NMS is not running, you can go online without any consequences.
  • If you start NMS in online mode, you may play NON-expedition saves, however you will need to close the game, go offline and re-download the appropriate expedition SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON file before loading your expedition save.
  • If you start NMS in online mode and load an expedition save, you will be taken to the Anomaly and the expedition will end. If you do not save before closing the game, you may be able to go offline, re-download the expedition JSON and resume the expedition.

News

  • Removing Larval Core Patches -

    The Fiend Egg/Larval Core bug has been fixed, so the patches are being removed from all the expeditions that required them (1, 3, 4, 7, 13, 14).

  • Adding and Patching Expedition 19: Corvette -

    Expedition 19: Corvette has been added and the multiplayer/community milestones have been replace with milestones that can be completed offline.

  • Adding Larval Cores to Inventory in Expedition 3: Cartographers -

    Due to a bug in NMS 6.0, Larval Cores cannot be collected. A patch has been created to start the player with 3 Larval Cores in their inventory.

More News...

Replaying/Restarting Expeditions

You can replay expeditions you've already completed, however you cannot play the same expedition twice in a row (without a little work). If you want to play the same expedition again, or if you need to restart an expedition, you must do the following:

  1. With NMS closed, download the SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON for a different expedition and put it in your cache folder (make sure to override the old one if it's still there)
  2. Open NMS, load your game and start the new expedition from the terminal
  3. Save (either by entering and exiting your ship or waiting for an auto save to happen), then close NMS
  4. Download the SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON for the expedition you want to play and put it in your cache folder

You should now be able to replay/restart your desired expedition.

Note: If you are familiar with save editing, you can just remove the ExpeditionContext entry from your save file (that's how the game knows which expedition you played last).

How Do Rewards Work? Can I Send Them To My Main Save?

Rewards you earn by completing all the milestones in a phase are usually account-wide unlocks that can be collected at the QuickSilver vendor on any save once unlocked.

If you started the expedition from an existing save via the expedition terminal on the Anomaly, other rewards and items you collect during the course of the expedition can be sent back to your primary save via the expedition terminal once you have completed all the milestones but before you click End Expedition. Once the items have been added to the terminal, you can either click End Expedition to end the expedition and return to your primary save (can only be done once) OR you can save and switch to your primary save via the pause menu and collect your items from the terminal (this can be repeated multiple times). Not all items can be transferred (such as eggs). You will NOT keep anything you learned during the course of the expedition, but you will keep any bases you made. When you are on your primary save, you can copy your active expedition multi-tool and ship to your primary save for nanites.

If you started the expedition from the new game screen, you will keep everything you collected.

Static Expedition Config Files for Developers

This GitHub repositiry now has static SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON files with all the recommended patches. I don't require anything if you want to use these files, but credit is always appreciated.

You can access these files with Git or, you can link to them using the "raw" github links (Example link for Expedition 1, Pioneers).

You can find all the patched expedition config files in my GitHub project.

Obtaining Expedition Unlocks/Rewards Without Playing Expeditions

If you want to skip actually playing the expeditions and JUST want the rewards unlocked on your account, you have a number of options:

  1. Using a save editor: You can use either NomNom or the GoatFungus NMSSaveEditor to unlock expedition rewards on your account.
  2. Manually editing your account file: You can manually edit your accountdata.hg file in a simple text editor to unlock all the expedition rewards. Please refer to this guide on Steam, or do a search on your search engine of choice.
  3. NoMansApp: The NoMansApp bot can deliver items to you and even unlock rewards on your account. To unlock expedition rewards, you must be on one of their paid Patreon tiers.
  4. Other methods: If you are on console, you can work with other players to get ships and eggs (possibly more, I've never done it).

01: Pioneers (Redux)

  • Some player inventory tech modules and ship inventory tech modules are in the wrong spot. You’ll need to move them.

02: Beachhead (Redux)

  • For some reason you cannot get past 1/3 Dosimeter readings in Phase 5, Milestone 2. A patch has been created to reduce the required number of readings to 1.

03: Cartographers (Redux)

  • The “redux” version of this expedition changed some rewards to those from expedition 1, 4 and 5. A patch has been created so you can choose which rewards you get.
  • DO NOT set BlockStormsAtStart to true or you will not be able to complete all the milestones. If you start the expedition with BlockStormsAtStart set to true, simply set it to false below and re-download the json.

04: Emergence (Redux)

  • The second and third worm hunt milestone seems to be undoable. A patch has been created to replace those milestones.
  • For some reason you cannot get to the rendezvous 4 and 5 planets. A patch has been created to replace milestones requiring those planets.
  • Some player inventory tech modules and ship inventory tech modules are in the wrong spot. You will need to move them.
  • To find Atlas stations, ask Polo for Black Hole coordinates. That will show BOTH Atlas stations AND Black Hole systems on your galaxy map.

05: Exobiology (Redux)

  • For the “Sightseer” milestone, make sure you do NOT use your freighter’s scanner before landing on the required planets.
  • Phase 5, Milestone 7 (Recognisable Life) will bug out if you meet a gaseous sentience without using a lure and you will be unable to complete the milestone. If this happens to you, check the optional patch and replace your SEASON_DATA_CACHE.JSON.

06: The Blighted (Redux)

  • To leave the galaxy you need an Atlantid drive (and possibly to do the Atlantid quests), which is not possible. A patch has been created to replace the leave-galaxy milestone (ignore the text about Utopia).
  • Freighters are very buggy in this expedition and they can be hard to acquire. A patch has been created to start you off with a freighter. This patch also rewards you with the first part of the pirate map as the P1M3 reward, since that can also be very buggy.
  • If you have an existing save in this expedition and need the pirate map fragment 1, use a save editor to give yourself the PIRATE_MAPPROD0 item.

07: Leviathan (Redux)

  • Permadeath warning: It is not possible to finish this expedition in permadeath mode. If you can avoid death until the final milestone, your expedition AND primary save will be deleted by “submitting.”
  • The community milestones cannot be completed offline. A patch has been created to replace them with other milestones (ignore the message about Vile Spawns, you can collect them at any time). Unfortunately the Memory Fragments never upgrade.
  • This expedition breaks a lot, in particular the “reset save on death” mechanic. It seems to be working now, but if it breaks you can use the patch to disable it.

08: Polestar (Redux)

  • A pirate freighter is used as your starting freighter in some scenarios. This causes an issue with the captain not properly allowing you to read the logs. A patch has been created to force a civilian freighter. If you still get a pirate freighter, save, exit to desktop, and start your game again.

09: Utopia (Redux)

  • The base-building/uploading milestones can only be completed online. A patch has been created to replace those milestones (ignore the milestone hint about needing a Visceral Synthesiser).
  • The “Beacon” update made all rendezvous milestones auto complete when you enter a system, and since you are already in the system with all the rendezvous locations, they all auto complete upon starting the expedition. Also it seems like some planet-specific milestones no longer work properly. A patch has been created to replace all rendezvous and planet-specific milestones in this expedition.
  • When starting this expedition from an existing save, The Anomaly will not show up after the expedition is completed. A patch has been created to fix this issue.

10: Singularity (Redux)

  • The community milestones cannot be completed offline. A patch has been created to replace them.

11: Voyagers (Redux)

  • Many planets have changed, so most guides are no longer going to have correct information.

12: Omega (Redux)

  • Community milestones cannot be completed while offline. A patch has been created to replace them with offline milestones.

13: Adrift (Redux)

  • HG changed how abandoned galaxies work. There is no longer any way to find synthetic life forms in them. A patch has been created to replace the “scan synthetic life forms” milestone.

14: Liquidators (Redux)

  • Community milestones cannot be completed while offline. A patch has been created to replace them with offline milestones.

15: Aquarius (Redux)

  • Some planets mentioned in milestones no longer have water. For any milestones that ask you to “Land a message from the Angler,” fish on any planet with water in the system and make sure to have the milestone selected when catching/opening a Message in a Bottle.
  • For the “Ice Cold” milestone, you must catch 5 uncommon frozen fish on a frozen planet.

17: Titan

  • As of the Beacon patch all rendezvous milestones seem to complete as soon as you warp to the designated system. To complete the photograph milestones, simply go to the designated planet and take a picture anywhere.

18: Relics

  • The latest NMS patch seems to have broken the bone collecting milestones, there does not seem to be a way to turn them in. The milestones have been replaced in a patch below.

19: Corvette

  • The multiplayer and comunity milestones cannot be completed offline. A patch has been created to replace them.