I found the cockpit half-buried in red dust while a swarm of tiny ships circled like gnats. My HUD blinked a single word: Swarm, and for a moment the galaxy felt as thin as wet paper. You can feel that same hitch in your chest the first time you answer the expedition quiz.
I’m a player and a guide: I run these routes, I test the checkpoints, and I’ll point where the traps are. This guide strips the fluff and keeps the momentum—how to get started, what to expect at each phase, and the little tricks that save time in Hello Games’ Expedition 22. Treat it like a flight plan you actually want to fly.
On a commute most people check a notification; in space you check the Anomaly. How to begin the Swarm expedition in No Man’s Sky
You have to be past the tutorial to access this. Walk with me: go to the Anomaly, park, and prepare to commit items to the expedition roster. The Terminal Nexus at the entrance is the gate—shift the inventory you want to carry, then start the expedition and wait for the load screen to finish.
- Dock at the Anomaly and find the Terminal Nexus at the entrance.
- Shift any items you want to move into your expedition inventory.
- Start the expedition and allow it to load fully before moving.
After loading you’ll face a short quiz that assigns you to one of three factions introduced in Swarm. There are no right or wrong answers; pick what fits your instincts. I landed in the Weaver team the first run—your choices shape flavor and minor rewards, not the main arc.
How do I start the Swarm expedition in No Man’s Sky?
Open the Anomaly, use the Terminal Nexus, transfer items to expedition storage, and accept the mission prompt. If you play on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or GOG, the flow is identical; patches from Hello Games sync expedition access across platforms. If the option doesn’t appear, check that your save is post-tutorial and that the Anomaly is summoned in-system.
When you glance at a checklist you trust, you finish faster. How to complete the Swarm expedition in No Man’s Sky
The Swarm runs shorter than many recent expeditions and moves in four clear phases. Each task drops a quest marker—follow those markers, but use this guide to avoid wasted warps and bad choices. I’ll add step-by-step tips as I clear the remaining phases, but what follows gets you through the first two reliably.
How long does the Swarm expedition take?
Expect a compact run: most experienced players can clear the visible phases in a few hours if they skip side activities and have the necessary drive upgrades. If you’re chasing faction rewards or exploring every detour via the Galaxy Map, plan for longer. Fuel for multiple warps—Cadmium Drive and warp cells—will speed a solo run.
What rewards and factions are in Swarm?
Three factions, new cosmetic and tech rewards, and expedition-exclusive unlocks appear as you complete milestones. The faction quiz nudges you toward Weaver, but you can still earn shared expedition rewards regardless. For community chatter and trade tips, check Reddit threads and Steam guides where players catalog drops and methods.
| Task | Description | How to complete |
|---|---|---|
| Fragmented | Investigate the crashed Ship | Find your starship and complete the initiation stages. Check the on-screen marker to find the location of your ship. |
| To Live | Echoed three soul fragments | You’ll find three Soul Fragment blueprints. You need to craft and install all three to complete the stage. |
| To Be Haunted | Seek aid from the other side | Return to your ship and offer the crafted fragments to the pilot. |
| Forged Signature | Manifest the Traveller Echo’s Signature | Craft the Pilot signature from the recipe you obtain at step three of this milestone. |
| Contact | Reclaim your Starship | Repair the ship with the required materials. You have to repair two parts to claim your ship. You’ll then get a strange message from a mysterious source. |
| A Shadow Above | Investigate the object in the sky | Fly your ship to the Hive of Glass. It will disappear, and you’ll be ambushed by smaller Swarmer ships. Destroy all of them to complete this task. |
| Stratagem | Consult Specialist Polo | Speak with Polo by summoning the Anomaly in the space. Submit him the Corrupted Ichors, and ask him about Fragmentation. This completes the final task of the first phase. |
How do I handle the Crash Site and related objectives?
Bring a Gravitino Coil and a stocked inventory so you can move wreckage parts and choose between the salvage options. Use the Galaxy Map to plot a guided route to the crashed Swarmer—this consumes Cadmium Drive fuel and warp cells. If you hit a freighter encounter, destroying cargo loads is part of the path to reach Popoli Reed and the Atlas contact.
| Task | Description | How to complete |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Site | Investigate the crashed swarmer | Once your conversation with Polo is over, head to the outer space in your ship. Next, open the Galaxy Map to find a guided route to the crashed swarmer. You’ll need the Cadmium Drive and fuel for several warps. |
| Disassembly | Disassemble swarm remnants | Once you’ve found and interacted with the crashed swarmer, you’ll have to remove its parts using the Gravitino Coil. Once all parts are moved, interact and pick one of the two available options. |
| Divine Intelligence | Seek the Atlas | Return to your ship and follow the guided path along the Galaxy map. You’ll first have to help a captain by destroying two freighter cargo loads. Keep following the same path until you reach Popoli Read to speak with the Atlas and present him the Corrupted Ichors. |
| Emperor of Glass | Confront the Hive of Glass | Attack the Glass of Hive and try to damage its core, but it will trap you in the World of Glass. |
| Devoured | Escape the World of Glass | Escape the World of Glass. This happens naturally as part of the expedition. |
| Headquarters | Recount your experience to Polo | Use the summon option to recall your ship. Use it to fly to space and then describe your experience to Polo. Use his Prismatic Core to track the Swarm activity, and you finish the second phase. |
The Swarm feels like a sharpened knife compared with bulkier expeditions—fast, focused, rewarding. It’s also like a small clockwork watch: every piece you fix or choose changes the tempo of what comes next.
I’ll update this as I clear the final phases and test alternate faction paths. For now, follow the markers, stash the right items in the Terminal Nexus, and keep fuel for warps. Want to compare notes? Which faction did you answer for, and would you trade their rewards for a faster clear?
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