Key Points
- The Xeno Arena is a new battle arena for pets.
- You get to pick up the arena tutorial after talking to Oceanus at the Space Anomaly.
- But first, you need to find pets in the overworld or collect their eggs and hatch them at the Egg Sequencer to get pets.
The latest update of No Man’s Sky introduces a unique concept of pet battles. This would probably take your mind off building and exploration for a while. As you uncover more planets, you will find unique NPCs who are willing to put their pets to the test. This is a great way to earn some rewards in the process if you win.
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No Man’s Sky – Xeno Arena Overview
| Tutorial NPC | Oceanus |
| Location | Space Anomaly |
| Version | 6.3 |
How to Prepare for the Xeno Arena Creature Battles Mission
The first time I got the pop-up message about the Holo Arena Battles was while I was chilling at the Space Anomaly. If you didn’t get the pop-up message yet, then you need to progress through the main story quests first. My next task was to pick up some pets to use in the arena.
I owned several existing pets, so I jumped into the battle arena headfirst. But if you don’t have any, then you need to visit the Quicksilver Synthesis Companion and purchase a creature egg. You can also find creature eggs randomly during exploration.
After purchasing the egg, take it to the Egg Sequencer. Add the egg and any Catalysts to give it unique traits. Once hatched, you can interact with it as you would a pet. You can view your new pet’s stats in the Quick Menu, under Companion Register. Select your existing pet in the menu to learn more about their skills and abilities.
Xeno Arena Creature Mission Explained
While exploring the Space Anomaly, look around for a new NPC named Oceanus. They will introduce you to the turn-based arena. A menu will appear where you need to place your required pets in the battle slots. You will need to add 3 pets here.
You can check out your opponent’s pets here, too, and counter them with the right pets. Once ready, click on the button at the bottom of the menu to enter the arena.
The Xeno Arena is similar to most turn-based battle arenas. You can select your pet’s abilities on the right to use them in battle. Some skills might have a cooldown period after using them, so you have to pick other moves to use here.
Below the skill list are two other options. There is an option to switch pets and an option to surrender them. Whoever has the last pet standing wins the battle. If you win, you will be rewarded with random upgrade materials, including an important item called the Retroviral Pellet.
To complete the mission, you need to participate in the arena two more times against Oceanus, after which you will be done with the tutorial. You are now free to visit different arenas on any planet, anytime, and battle against other NPCs.
What Does the Retroviral Pellet Do?
Retroviral Pellets are an important item that will help you modify your creature’s skills. This item helps upgrade your pets to unlock their full potential by feeding it to them. Unfortunately, this material is quite rare, and you will get it the first time you participate in the tutorial Xeno Battle. But, I found a quick hack that will help farm multiple Retroviral Pellets using the Portable Refiner glitch.
How to Farm Retroviral Pellets
Visit any planet and place a Portable Refiner. Interact with the refiner and add the Retroviral Pellet. Then, add another Portable Refiner right on top of the previous refiner. It helps if you are standing in the same position as when you added the first refiner, so the two refiners align.
Interact with the refiner and press the Pick Up option. Only one of them will be picked up and discarded, while one still stays on the ground. You will also see that you will get a Retroviral Pellet added to your inventory.
Interact with the existing refiner and collect the original Retriviral Pellet that you have added to the machine. If you check your inventory, you will now have two pellets instead of one. Repeat the above steps a couple more times until you get several pellets for each of your pets.
FAQs
How do I get S-Class pets?
You need to visit planets that have better systems, then use your scanner to find existing animals on the planet. Once you find them, you can check their stats using the scanner to get accurate descriptions of their tier and abilities. The ecosystem of the planet will also influence what type of pet you will get, like ice-dealing pets that are found in colder planets.
How do I give the Retroviral Pellet to my pet?
While interacting with the pet, you will get the option to feed them. If you have any Retroviral Pellets in your inventory, they will be fed this item automatically.
Which is the best pet to use in the Xeno Arena?
There is no best pet overall, as each pet offers unique characteristics and skills that will help counter the opponent. You need to check your opponents’ pets and use the right counter pets to help you win.
