No Man’s Sky Xeno – How to Start Creature Battles (Beginner Guide)
Hello Games has once again raised the bar for what it means to support a game long after launch, with the release of No Man’s Sky Xeno, an update that adds creature battling just in case you were somehow running out of things to do. The battling mechanics are surprisingly well done, and I have already spent more time than I expected collecting creatures and levelling them up for battle. This guide is here to help get you started on your quest to be the very best, like no Traveller ever was, so let’s get right into it.
Finding Companions for Battling
You cannot really get into creature battles without companions, so this is where you start building your team. Ideally, you will want up to three creatures so you have a full party ready to go, but you can absolutely begin with just one or two and expand as you play. There are a few different ways to get companions. If you have been playing for a while and completed Expeditions, the Quicksilver vendor on the Space Anomaly can sometimes offer creature eggs as rewards. These are a quick way to get started if you already have access to that system.
For most players though, especially early on, you will need to head to a planet and tame creatures yourself. This is done by crafting Creature Pellets using carbon. Once you have them, you can attract creatures by dropping pellets on the ground or feeding them directly. After interacting with a creature this way, you will get the option to adopt it as a companion and add it to your Companion Register. If you run out of companion slots, you can expand your roster by opening the Companion Register and spending Nanites to unlock additional spaces. This gives you room to gradually build a larger and more flexible battle team over time.
You can also use the Egg Sequencer on the Space Anomaly to modify creature eggs before they hatch. This is mostly cosmetic, although some traits can be altered to change the creatures. The majority of your levelling up will be done via the companion menu using battles for XP and Retroviral Tablets.
Where to Start Creature Battles
The most important thing to know is that you cannot jump straight into this on a fresh save. You will need to progress far enough to unlock the Space Anomaly, as this is where the entire system begins. If you have not reached that point yet, focus on your main objectives and come back once it is available.
Once you are ready, head to the Space Anomaly.
As you enter, head up the ramp on the right-hand side, and you will find a new NPC, Iteration: Oceanus, who introduces the creature-battling system. You can ask about tactics if you want a bit more context, but when you are ready, select “Initiate Holo-Arena Battle” to begin your first fight. This is your tutorial battle, and it is designed to ease you into the system. Each creature has a list of stats, what it’s strong against, what it’s weak against, and its moves. This battle should be fairly straightforward, and if you have a mix of types in your party, this should be an easy victory.
During the fight, you will select your moves from the right-hand side of the screen and take turns attacking. If you have a small mix of creature types in your party, this should be a straightforward win. Once you defeat Iteration: Oceanus, you will receive a Retroviral Tablet as your reward. To use it, open your Companion Register, select the creature you want to improve, and apply the upgrade to evolve or enhance one of its abilities. After that, speak to Iteration: Oceana again, who will give you a Holo Arena Invitation, which will now start you off on a series of battles in the system. Find the invitation in your inventory and activate it. This will plot a waypoint to your next battle and officially kick off your journey into creature battling.
Future Unlocks as You Progress
As you take on more battles, the Holo-Arena gradually ramps up in difficulty. Those tougher fights also come with better rewards, and as you progress, you will start earning more useful upgrades and items that help you refine your creatures and improve their performance in combat. There is also a PvP element further down the line, allowing you to test your team against other players once you have progressed far enough. It is not something you need to worry about at the start, but it does give you a sense of where the system is heading if you decide to stick with it. For now, the important thing is simply getting comfortable with the loop. Each battle naturally feeds into the next, and before long, you will find yourself building a proper roster without even realising it.
And that is everything you need to get started with creature battles in No Man’s Sky Xeno! Once you know where to go and how to set up your first companion, the system opens up pretty quickly. The Holo-Arena turns into a steady loop of battles, upgrades, and progression. It’s amazing to see Hello Games continue this level of support for No Man’s Sky. I’ll see you in the Holo-Arena, Travellers.
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