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The Ultimate No Man’s Sky Phosphorus Guide

  • from PLITCH
  • 11.09.2025

Are you ready to survive the heat of scorched worlds? In our No Man’s Sky Phosphorus guide, we show you how to find this fiery resource, what it’s used for, and how to refine it. You’ll also discover the best farming spots and crafting recipes that make Phosphorus so valuable.

Exploring the galaxy requires gathering many different resources. Some are common, others are rare, and a few are absolutely essential. Phosphorus falls into that last group. You’ll only find it on specific planets, but once you do, make sure to stockpile it. This small mineral is a powerful resource for crafting and refining.


What Phosphorus Is Used For

Phosphorus plays a huge role in crafting. You’ll need it for several key items, especially when upgrading your gear or developing advanced technology. Some of the recipes that require it include:

  • Hazard Protection Unit
  • Airburst Engine
  • Solar Vine
  • Noise Box
  • Infra-Knife Accelerator
  • Megawatt Heater
  • Magno-Gold
  • Coolant Network

Basically, if you want to upgrade your equipment, you’ll encounter Phosphorus sooner or later.


Refining items with Phosphorus

One of the primary uses is refining. To do this, you’ll first need a Portable Refiner:

  1. Open your build menu and go to Portable Technology.
  2. Craft a Refiner using 30 Oxygen and 50 Ferrite Dust (for the metal plating).
  3. Place it down, fuel it, and you’re ready to refine.

Try mixing Phosphorus with Platinum, Cobalt, Gold, Tritium, or Ferrite Dust to see what you can obtain.


Where to find Phosphorus in No Man’s Sky

Phosphorus isn’t the rarest element in the galaxy, but it can still be challenging to find. Fortunately, you have a few dependable ways to gather this resource. Whether you want to buy it directly from a terminal or dig deep into a fiery planet, here’s where you should look.

Galactic trade terminals

Welcome to the Galactic Trade Network. Options: 'Sell items from your inventories', 'Buy items from the Galactic Trade Network'.

One of the easiest ways to grab Phosphorus is by visiting a Galactic Trade Terminal.

  • You’ll find these terminals at Space Stations.
  • Prices vary depending on the system you’re in.
  • It’s a quick option if you don’t feel like farming.

You can even build a terminal at your base for constant access. It costs quite a bit, but it saves time if you need Phosphorus on the fly.

Hotspots in scorched biomes

No Man's Sky Phosphorus source: Scorched biomes. A landscape featuring red plants and trees on a dry, brown terrain. A sunset in the background illuminates the sky in dark colors.

If you prefer to mine your own, go to Scorched planets. These hot worlds are abundant in Phosphorus.

  • Use your Analysis Visor with a Survey Device to find a hotspot.
  • Set up a mineral extractor and let it do the work.
  • Keep your Hazard Protection charged—heat storms can be brutal.

Scorched planets can be dangerous, but they’re one of the most efficient ways to farm large amounts.

Mega exotic planets

A humanoid figure stands among colorful plants in a landscape with tall, striped trees. Red and green bushes are visible in the foreground.

Another great option is searching for mega exotic planets in red star systems.

  • These planets stand out thanks to their unique colors and weird terrain.
  • Once landed, you can locate Phosphorus hotspots the same way you would on a scorched world.
  • Building a base near a hotspot here is smart if you want a long-term supply.

These exotic planets aren’t rare, but you might need to hop through a few systems before finding one.

Resource Deposits and Rocks

Sometimes the easiest method works best. On both Scorched and Mega Exotic planets, you can find resource deposits and rocks that contain Phosphorus.

  • Use the Analysis Visor to look for the diamond-shaped icons that mark deposits.
  • Extract with your Terrain Manipulator.
  • For rocks, scan them first to confirm they contain Phosphorus, then use your Mining Laser.

Mining rocks is slower than deposits, but it’s still a steady source.


Step-by-Step: Harvesting Phosphorus in No Man’s Sky

  1. Scan planets in a system to check for Phosphorus as a listed resource.
  2. Land on the planet and activate your Analysis Visor.
  3. Look for the diamond-shaped Phosphorus icon.
  4. Head to the deposit and mine it using the Terrain Manipulator.
  5. Collect and repeat until your inventory is stacked.

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Happy Gaming!


Make sure to check out our other No Man’s Sky guides: