The Multi-tool in No Man’s Sky is your lifeline to soaring through the stars, making money, and surviving in harsh environments. Not only does the Multi-tool allow you to collect resources, but it has many weapons modules to keep you safe while doing so. Below, we rank all of the NMS Multi-tool weapons by their ability to kill things like Sentinels, Abysmal Creatures, and fauna from least effective to most effective.
We won’t be including certain Multi-tool modules like the Terrain Manipulator, Solar Ray, or Animus Beam because, well, they don’t cause any damage. Instead, we’ll be focusing on the primary attachments that can be used in combat.
We also won’t cover secondary tool modules, like the Combat Scope, Personal Forcefield, or Cloaking Device. While those are useful, they technically aren’t Multi-tool weapons.
Ranking All NMS Multi-tool Weapons
Blaze Javelin
The Blaze Javelin is the best weapon in No Man’s Sky. Fully charged, it can melt through Sentinel armor and looks amazing while doing it. Keep in mind, however, that the Blaze Javelin has a long charging and cooldown period, as well as a long reload time, making it risky when facing multiple, scattered enemies. Taking down a Sentinel Mech or Sentinel Walker is perfect for this weapon.
Neutron Cannon
The Neutron Cannon shoots energy blasts in a cone that explode on impact. It does less energy damage than the Scatter Blaster, but the additional AoE from the blasts gives it a boost. It doesn’t require Projectile Ammunition, either, freeing up inventory space for other cargo.
Scatter Blaster
Effectively an NMS Shotgun equivalent, the Scatter Blaster fires bullets in a cone, similar to the Neutron Cannon. This weapon is perfect for taking out multiple targets at once, especially Swarms, but getting used to the aiming can take time. If you’re up against a single target, there are better options, like the Blaze Javelin.
Paralysis Mortar
The Paralysis Mortar makes getting rid of Repair and Summoner Sentinel Drones so much easier. Using an EMP pulse, it discharges on impact, stunning all Sentinels in a small area, giving you time to take out pesky drones. Since Drones can heal enemies with low health, the Paralysis Mortar is especially effective against Corrupted Sentinels and Drones with improved abilities.
Screenshot by GameSkinny
Incinerator
The Incinerator is the flamethrower of No Man’s Sky. It’s great for close combat, dealing tons of damage, but less effective if you like to keep your distance — and it’s not always a good idea to get close to Sentinels and other enemies. Effectively, this is a high-risk, high-reward weapon. The Incinerator is not currently available to build as a module, but many Multi-tools found throughout the NMS universe can have it already equipped.
Pulse Spitter
The Pulse Spitter’s high rate of fire makes it great for going up against jumping Sentinel Quads and Corrupted Swarm Quads. It fires three projectiles in rapid succession, letting you hit enemies quickly.
Plasma Launcher
The Plasma Launcher is a Secondary Tool weapon that shoots plasma projectiles at targets to deal explosive damage. It can be fired rapidly, but it only has a small number of charges and uses Unstable Plasma to charge. It’s a good supplement in combat when enemies are grouped together.
Boltcaster
The Boltcaster is your basic Multi-tool weapon in No Man’s Sky. A straightforward, no-nonsense shooter, the Boltcaster offers a fast rate of fire with good accuracy. Fully upgraded, this weapon is good for 1v1 combat throughout NMS, though it can take a while to get through Sentinel armor with it, and using it against larger enemies isn’t advised.
Screenshot by GameSkinny
Geology Cannon
A more destructive version of the Terrain Manipulator, the Geology Cannon launches exploding charges that can actually cause damage. Direct hits inflict the most damage, but the Geology Cannon can also cause splash damage if a charge hits near a target. This Multi-tool weapon is great for wide, area-of-effect attacks against multiple targets in a pinch.
Mining Beam
The Mining Beam can be used as a weapon in emergencies or before you’ve installed other weapons on your Multi-tool. It does a little damage, especially when fully upgraded with S-tier modules, but even then, it’s a paltry substitute for other entries in this list.
While you may be able to defend yourself against one creature, a swarm of Sentinels will most likely kill you if you’re only using the Mining Beam.
Those are all the Multi-tool Weapons in No Man’s Sky ranked for combat effectiveness. For more, check out our No Man’s Sky guides page.
