Archives are large buildings that can be found on certain planets in No Man's Sky. Locating them can be a bit of a chore, which is why we've put together this guide on the easiest way to track them down. We'll take a look at using Planetary Map Data, so visiting the Cartographer will be the first step. Here's how to find Colossal Archive buildings on planets.
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No Man's Sky: How to Find Archives
The best way to find Archives (or Colossal Archives) in No Man's Sky is to use Planetary maps. These can be purchased from the Cartographer at Space Stations, in exchange for Navigation Data. We recommend buying 5-10 maps. The ones you want are called Commercial Cartographic Data, You can see the correct map in the screenshot below:
Once you have a few of these maps, head into space and open them from your Inventory. Each time, a structure will be marked on your map. Head to it to check it before flying into space and repeating. You're looking for a message that reads:
'Planetary archive detected'
Even if you don't get this at first, it's worth heading down to check the building you unlock, as they are often filled with valuable resources. Once you've located the Archive, land on one of the Landing Pads surrounding it.
What Are Archives?
Archives are Commercial buildings that act as libraries of sorts. They all contain vaults, which can be used to trade in Relics. Doing so will usually give you more valuable relics to sell. There are also Technology Merchants here, each with their own unique inventories. At the centre of the archives you will find the main vault. You can break into it using an Archive Override Implant, like the one you get in Expedition 4. This will often give you a valuable relic that can be sold or traded. Finally, there's Local Information Registries at the Archives. This is where you can learn more about the planet that you are on.
That's how to find Archives in No Man's Sky. For more help with the game be sure to check out our guide on Finding Portals in 2021. Once you're done there, have a look at our page detailing the mysterious Station Override Terminals.
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