No Man’s Sky: How to Find, Farm and Refine Radiant Shards for Maximum Benefits

No Man’s Sky continues to expand its universe, offering players new challenges, resources, and adventures. One of the more recent additions to the game is Radiant Shards, a highly valuable resource that can be difficult to find but offers huge rewards once acquired. These shards are not only important for crafting but also serve as a major source of Nanites, a currency that’s essential for upgrades and purchasing key items.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Radiant Shards in No Man’s Sky. From where to find them to how to refine them, we’ll provide a complete overview of how to make the most of this valuable material.

What Are Radiant Shards in No Man’s Sky?

Radiant Shards are a rare resource introduced in the Interceptor update for No Man’s Sky. These glowing purple crystals are found on hostile, corrupted planets and serve multiple purposes in the game. Players need Radiant Shards for crafting high-level items and, more importantly, for refining into Nanite Clusters a vital resource used for upgrading starships, multi-tools, and more.

Why Are Radiant Shards So Valuable?

Radiant Shards are highly sought after due to their ability to be refined into Nanite Clusters, a currency used to purchase blueprints, upgrades, and other critical items in No Man’s Sky. Each Radiant Shard can be refined into 50 Nanite Clusters, which is an impressive return on investment. Given how crucial Nanites are for advancing in the game, Radiant Shards become an invaluable resource for players looking to enhance their gameplay experience.

Where to Find Radiant Shards in No Man’s Sky

Finding Radiant Shards is not an easy task, as they are only available on specific planets called Corrupted Planets. These planets are typically marked by their Aggressive Sentinel Activity and feature a unique, purple-hued environment that signals they’ve been affected by The Corruption.

Here’s how to locate Radiant Shards effectively:

1. Travel to Corrupted Planets

Corrupted planets are hostile worlds filled with corrupted life forms and aggressive Sentinels. These planets often have extreme weather and hazardous environments, so be prepared with the right gear and upgrades before venturing out. Radiant Shards glow with a distinctive purple light and can be spotted from a distance, making them easier to locate once you’re on the right planet.

2. Look for Dissonant Worlds

In addition to Corrupted Planets, Dissonant Worlds also harbour Radiant Shards. These planets, known for their chaotic and twisted ecosystems, are packed with hostile creatures and corrupted Sentinels. Dissonant Worlds have harsh conditions that are challenging to survive, but they are brimming with valuable resources, including Radiant Shards.

3. Use Advanced Mining Tools

To mine Radiant Shards, players must have at least an A-Grade Advanced Mining Laser equipped on their multitool. This upgrade is essential for breaking down the large crystal formations that house Radiant Shards. Once you’ve spotted a shard, use your multitool to extract it. Keep in mind that harvesting Radiant Shards will trigger hostile Sentinels nearby, so prepare for combat.

How to Farm Radiant Shards Efficiently

Given that Radiant Shards are only found on specific planets, you’ll need to optimize your farming process to gather them efficiently. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Prepare for Combat

When mining Radiant Shards, Sentinels will often attack you. These enemies are more powerful on Corrupted Planets, so it’s a good idea to arm yourself with upgraded weapons and defensive equipment. You can also use Cloaking Devices to avoid detection and mine shards in peace.

2. Spotting Radiant Shards

Radiant Shards emit a soft purple glow, making them easier to find, especially at night. Use your ship’s scanners to identify high-resource areas and focus your efforts on the regions with a higher density of resources.

3. Be Ready to Escape or Fight

Once you start mining, Sentinels will be alerted, triggering a message that says, “The Swarm Is Searching.” At this point, you can choose to fight off the Sentinel forces or use evasive tactics like running and hiding until the Sentinels give up the search.

How to Refine Radiant Shards in No Man’s Sky

Once you’ve collected a significant number of Radiant Shards, it’s time to refine them into Nanite Clusters. Refining is a process where raw materials are converted into more valuable resources using a Refiner.

Here’s how to refine Radiant Shards for the best results:

1. Use a Refiner

To start the refining process, place your Radiant Shards in a refiner. You can use any of the refiners available in the game, from portable units to more advanced refiners found on space stations or large freighters.

2. Refine into Nanite Clusters

One Radiant Shard can be refined into 50 Nanite Clusters, which makes this resource incredibly valuable. To refine your shards, simply place them into the refiner, and the system will automatically convert them into Nanites. You can also combine Radiant Shards with other materials like Pugneum to increase the output of Nanites.

3. Make Use of the Nanite Clusters

Nanite Clusters are crucial for purchasing blueprints, upgrading starships and multitools, and paying travellers for valuable information, including the location of Traveller Graves. By refining Radiant Shards regularly, you can build up a large stockpile of Nanites, giving you a strategic advantage in the game.

Crafting with Radiant Shards

Radiant Shards aren’t just for refining; they’re also a key component in several important crafting recipes in No Man’s Sky. Here’s a quick look at the items you can craft using Radiant Shards:

• Resonance Amplifier: Requires 1 Radiant Shard, 160 Di-hydrogen, and 3 Gravitino Balls. This is a high-end crafting item used for certain advanced technologies.
• Scan Harmonizer: Crafted using 1 Radiant Shard, 1 Microprocessor, and 100 Runaway Mould. The Scan Harmonizer is essential for improving your scanning abilities in the game.
• Nanite Cumulus: Refining Radiant Shards can also produce 50 Nanite Clusters, as we’ve mentioned. This is the most common and practical use for Radiant Shards, especially for players focusing on upgrades.

Avoiding Sentinel Attacks While Farming Radiant Shards

Farming Radiant Shards on Corrupted Planets can be risky due to the aggressive Sentinels patrolling these areas. Here are a few tips to avoid getting caught in Sentinel crossfire while collecting shards:

• Use a Cloaking Device: Cloaking Devices are your best friend on hostile planets. Activate your cloaking ability before mining Radiant Shards to avoid detection by Sentinels.
• Relocate Quickly: After mining a shard, move quickly to another location. Sentinels will search the area where you harvested the shard, so it’s best to be far away by the time they arrive.
• Distract Sentinels: You can also use decoys or other distractions to lure Sentinels away from your mining spot. This gives you time to collect shards without triggering an attack.

FAQ: Radiant Shards in No Man’s Sky

Q: Where can I find Radiant Shards in No Man’s Sky?
A: Radiant Shards are found on Corrupted and Dissonant planets. These hostile planets are marked by their purple colour and aggressive Sentinel activity.

Q: What do I need to mine Radiant Shards?
A: You’ll need an A-Grade Advanced Mining Laser on your multitool to extract Radiant Shards from their crystal formations.

Q: What can I craft with Radiant Shards?
A: Radiant Shards are used in crafting advanced items such as the Resonance Amplifier and Scan Harmonizer. They can also be refined into Nanite Clusters, which are essential for upgrading equipment and purchasing blueprints.

Q: How do I refine Radiant Shards?
A: Place Radiant Shards into a refiner, and they will be converted into 50 Nanite Clusters per shard. You can also combine them with other resources for additional refinement options.

Q: How do I avoid Sentinels while farming Radiant Shards?
A: Use Cloaking Devices to stay hidden while mining shards. Alternatively, move quickly after mining to avoid Sentinel detection or use distractions to lure Sentinels away.

Key Takeaways

1. Radiant Shards are a rare and valuable resource found on Corrupted and Dissonant planets, making them highly sought after for both crafting and refining into Nanite Clusters.
2. Efficient farming of Radiant Shards involves preparing for Sentinel attacks and using cloaking devices or fast relocation tactics to avoid combat.
3. Refining Radiant Shards yields 50 Nanite Clusters per shard, making them a critical resource for upgrading ships, multitools, and purchasing essential blueprints in No Man’s Sky.