No Man's Sky: Everything To Know About The Atlas Path (2024)

Quick Links

  • Who Are The Atlas?

  • What's an Atlas Interface?

  • Atlas Seeds

  • Finishing The Atlas Path

No Man's Sky is a vast game that allows players to explore an unlimited amount of planets. While the game does primarily focus on freedom, there are a few story paths that the player can follow. The Atlas is the most obvious and will be introduced after the player completes the tutorial of fixing their ship.

Related

No Man's Sky: Guide To Frigates And Expeditions

Here's what you need to know about buying Frigates, upgrading them, and sending them on expeditions.

With all the updates and changes to the game, though, even veteran players may be a bit confused when trying to completely start the game over and follow the Atlas Path. Below is everything you need to know about the Atlas, including how to complete the story route.

Updated November 7, 2023, by Sean Murray: If you're prepared to follow the Atlas Path in No Man's Sky, this guide is here to help with improved formatting, a new table of contents, and links to other helpful NMS topics.

Some spoilers for No Man's Sky's final quest can be found ahead.

Who Are The Atlas?

No Man's Sky: Everything To Know About The Atlas Path (2)

The Atlas are mysterious creatures that are essentially the gods of No Man's Sky. Once upon a time, they were even worshiped by the Korvax (many still hold these beliefs, as well). There was also a cult centered around the Atlas in Gek society, too. This has led both alien species to now widely worship the Atlas, in comparison to the Vy'keen, who hold no reverence for the Atlas.

In reality, though, Atlas is essentially a computer program that controls the simulation that the Traveler is imprisoned inside. The Atlas is being helped by a security system called Telemon which monitors Atlas to ensure that it doesn't go berserk. It's also revealed that it is not the Atlas that is interacting with players, but the Telemon instead.

In addition, the Atlas is the one that helps the player learn language throughout the game. On Atlas Stations, players can learn words from the strange orbs located on board. Atlas does have a language of its own, but players won't need to learn it in order to interact with them. Instead, they simply need to use the Atlas Interface.

What's an Atlas Interface?

No Man's Sky: Everything To Know About The Atlas Path (3)

If the player chooses to follow the Atlas storyline, then they will come across strange space stations run by the Atlas. Upon entering the station, they will be able to interact with the Atlas using the Atlas Interface located inside the station. Upon interacting with the Atlas Interface, players will need to select that they wish to continue following the Atlas story route.

If they have met the needed goals for progressing the route, then they will receive a blueprint for making an Atlas Seed.

These replaced the Atlas Seeds that players needed to collect before the Atlas Rises update. If a player still has an Atlas Seed, then the item will not be able to be used to help complete the quest.

Here are the milestones players will need to reach in order to unlock all the Atlas Seed blueprints:

Captured Nanode

5 Milestones

Englobed Shade

10 Milestones

Noospheric Orb

15 Milestones

Dark Matter

20 Milestones

Dawn's End

25 Milestones

Photic Jade

30 Milestones

State Phasure

35 Milestones

Novae Reclaiment

40 Milestones

Modified Quanta

45 Milestones

Heart of the Sun

50 Milestones

Essentially, a new blueprint can be received from the Atlas Interface every five milestones. Players can unlock new milestones in the game by completing tasks like learning words and surviving on hazardous planets.

You Must visit ten different Atlas Interfaces to get all the blueprints.

When warping, the player will be shown areas where another Atlas station is present. If the player does get sidetracked by choosing to explore new galaxies for a while, it isn't a problem. An Atlas Station will eventually pop up again, allowing them to continue on with the story.

Related

No Man's Sky: Expeditions Guide

Here's everything you need to know to play expeditions in No Man's Sky.

Atlas Seeds

No Man's Sky: Everything To Know About The Atlas Path (5)

Just like with any other blueprint you are given, you will need to craft the Atlas Seeds. Below are the materials needed for all ten Atlas Seeds:

Materials

Captured Nanode

100 Chromatic Metal

Englobed Shade

1 Captured Nanode

100 Pure Ferrite

Noospheric Orb

1 Englobed Shade

100 Ionised Cobalt

Dark Matter

1 Noospheric Orb

5 Magnitiesed Ferrite

Dawn's End

1 Dark Matter

25 Chromatic Metal

Photic Jade

1 Dawn's End

100 Copper

State Phasure

1 Photic Jade

100 Cadmium

Novae Reclaiment

1 State Phasure

100 Emeril

Modified Quanta

1 Novae Reclaiment

100 Iridium

Heart of the Sun

1 Modified Quanta

100 Gold

Keep in mind that there is no real use for these special items outside crafting other Atlas Seeds, and they will only net you 1,000 units if you choose to sell them.

Related

No Man's Sky: How To Find Crashed Ships

Scattered across No Man's Sky's vast universe are Crashed Ships that are just waiting to be discovered. Here is how to find them.

Finishing The Atlas Path

No Man's Sky: Everything To Know About The Atlas Path (7)

Once the player finishes and gives the Heart of the Sun, the interface will ask them to pick from two options:

  • Birth a Star
  • Return to the Current Galaxy

It is heavily recommended that you birth a star to get the Star Seed blueprint. Doing so will move you to a new galaxy, far away from the one that you were in right before you selected to birth a star. In addition, you will now be able to see black holes on your path, which can be incredibly useful when exploring the universe.

The Star Seed blueprint you receive allows you to craft the Star Seed health item, which can be a huge help when exploring the new planets ahead of you.

Next: No Man's Sky: Squadron Guide

  • Triple-A Games
  • No Man's Sky

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Manage Your List

Follow

Followed

Follow with Notifications

Follow

Unfollow

No Man's Sky: Everything To Know About The Atlas Path (2024)

FAQs

What is the point of the Atlas Path nms? ›

The Atlas Path

After visiting the first Atlas Interface, you're provided with quest information about obtaining Atlas Seeds. As you progress through the quest, you will gain a blueprint for 10 Atlas Seeds. Each seed is a required component to craft the next seed.

What happens if I complete the Atlas Path? ›

The Final Atlas Interface

The mission proper ends once the decision is made; both options will grant the player the ability to see Black Holes on the Galaxy Map without the assistance of Polo, but the Star Seed blueprint will be awarded only if the player chooses to birth a new star.

Should I follow the Atlas in no man's sky? ›

Follow the in-game guidance. I recommend the Artemis Path first, because that mixes with the Expanding the Base mission. Do Atlas Path later. The story is also told from a lot of different angles, like the abandoned building tell a side, so do crashed freighters and ancient ruins.

Should you refuse the Atlas in NMS? ›

If the player chooses to refuse the Atlas, they and their starship will be teleported back to the exotic planet reached via the final interface portal, with the starship located around 500 units away, and the mission will conclude immediately.

Is the atlas a god in NMS? ›

Today, the majority of Korvax and Gek believe in the Atlas as a god. In contrast most of the Vy'keen are opposed to this doctrine, and see the Atlas as a false god, based on the teachings of their ancient prophet Hirk the Great. The followers of his legendary rival Nal, however, do.

What does the atlas allow you to do? ›

The atlas is the topmost vertebra and the axis (the vertebra below it) forms the joint connecting the skull and spine. The atlas and axis are specialized to allow a greater range of motion than normal vertebrae. They are responsible for the nodding and rotation movements of the head.

Can you do the Atlas Path and the Artemis Path? ›

Additional Information. Because the Atlas Rises update reworked the story by adding the Artemis Path and intertwining it with the entire storyline, players who had already completed the Atlas Path have to do it again.

What happens if Atlas stops holding the sky? ›

Other versions of the story depict Atlas holding up a globe or carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Whether Atlas carries the heavens or the earth on his shoulders, the effect is the same. Dropping his burden would be the collapse of the heavens and cause the sky to come crashing down onto the earth.

Can you ride aliens in no man's sky? ›

Well, No Man's Sky Beyond introduced a new way to get around: creature riding. With just a few short steps, you can be perched on the back of your favorite alien creature, galloping across the landscape or even flying around above it. Here's how to ride creatures in No Man's Sky Beyond.

Is it possible to visit every planet in no man's sky? ›

Your character wakes up on one planet, but No Man's Sky has 255 entire galaxies' worth of planets to explore, totaling up to more than 18 quintillion worlds. It would take you nearly 585 billion years to see them all. No, that's not a typo.

What happens if I birth a star in NMS? ›

It is heavily recommended that you birth a star to get the Star Seed blueprint. Doing so will move you to a new galaxy, far away from the one that you were in right before you selected to birth a star.

Can you be a bad guy in no man's sky? ›

But the game never says you're a hero, or what you're doing is even a noble cause. I would even argue that there's ample evidence in the game to point toward your character isn't doing good at all, but rather could very well be a villain.

Can you destroy a space station in no man's sky? ›

While you can attack a station, it cannot actually be destroyed.

What is the most hostile planet in NMS? ›

Compakask-Mepp Major is a highly dangerous, small parched planet in the star system Kamaixingti on the PC version of No Man's Sky. This is the most dangerous planet in the system due to the sheer number of predators that inhabit it.

What is the purpose of the Atlas map? ›

An Atlas is a (curated) collection of spatial data with thematic and spatial focal points visualised with different means. One of the main tasks of an atlas is to enable comparisons between maps in order to recognise correlations between them.

What is the Atlas pass used for in no man's sky? ›

Atlas Passes - v1, v2 and v3 - are essentially infinite-use key cards which unlock certain doors or storage containers throughout the game.

What does the messenger of Atlas do in no man's sky? ›

Messengers of Atlas will only try to communicate with the player. They will not respond if fired upon, nor will the attacks damage it in any way. If the player answers their communication, they will be given a choice to either accept or reject the message of Atlas.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 6620

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.