Biome - Exotic

The subject of this article is from the Worlds Part I update.
The information from this article is up-to-date as of 3 September, 2024.

Shorodo 1A Sentinel Relay — Boundary Failure on Shorodo 1A. (Shards)

Exotic is one of the Biome varieties.

Summary[]

Chromatic Fog - Exotic — Semi-Scorched with Huge Rocks (Chromatic)

Exotic (or Weird as per the game file) biomes are characterized by having various mysterious objects not found in other biomes. The Explorers Guild missions from the Mission Board refer to this biome as a strange world.

When viewed from space, they may look rocky and pockmarked by holes. Others look like giant, artificial Hex worlds.

Unlike dead worlds, there is no elevated strain on life support. Unique structures and vacant bases can be found here as well.

Exotic planets have a handful of unique surface types exclusive to this biome, unlike typical planets where the surface, plant-life, and rock formations are largely determined by what biome the planet has.

As of Visions these types have been expanded and standardized, but the Glitch sub-biome carries on the multitude of possible types from the general exotic biomes to showcase. Together with the Chromatic biome that has many interpretations, the Glitch sub-biome is the only one left to do this.

In any galaxy, red star systems have the highest chance for exotic planets, blue stars the intermediate, and green stars the lowest chance.

Due to the conversion of existing Dead biomes made in Vision there is a higher chance to find these biomes, even in yellow star systems.

Likast 1 with Wire Cell biome in a yellow star system
(Visions)

Name generation[]

The biome type is indicated in the information panel when the player exits their starship. This is procedurally generated by adding a prefix to the Planet or Moon text.

There are exceptions: "of Light" (2. in Beams) is a suffix instead of a prefix; Planetary Anomaly (2. in Glitch) does not receive additional text indicating the type of the astronomical body.

The possible names for each subbiomes are listed in the following section. The sequence is taken from the game file.

True Exotics[]

True Exotic worlds are not part of any other biome, and are always unique in their existence. Unlike the Chromatic biome, which is a mix and match of other biomes with colour filters, the true exotics showcase a myriad of new and strange landscapes filled with abnormal variants of life and specific trophies to collect for each world.

Beams[]

Name generation

Fissured
of Light
Breached

The Beam subbiome, also known as Pillars of Aurora or just Aurora, is an anomaly type featuring a planet covered in stone structures which resemble unfolded umbrellas, with some of them emitting blue-ish green particles into the sky. These pillars are often seen with green mists swirling around them. Smaller versions of these Light Fissures can be found at specific points on the planet to be secured and brought back home into the safety of a base and lab, or showcased as an exotic trophy. Less dead variants of these fissures, the Living Geysers or Living Plasma Balls, can be seen on some beam worlds.

Living Geyser
Living Plasma Ball

Bone Spire[]

Floating Rattles - Exotic — Floating Rattles at Night

Name generation

Rattling
Spined
Skeletal

The Bone Spire planet type is characterized by floating, cross-shaped rattles, and tentacle plants. These plants emit a faint red-orange hue at night, while the rattles glow yellow through ring-shaped crevices. Smaller variants of the Rattle Spine can be collected and showcased as an exotic trophy in bases and labs. While harmless, the sudden appearance of a Bone Crawler can surprise local explorers as it digs through the ground nearby with only its spikes breaking through the surface.

Bone Crawler

Bubble[]

Name generation

Bubbling
Frothing
Foaming

Bubble planets are covered in a myriad of shiny bubbles of varying sizes, from giant ones in the upper atmosphere that rival frigates in size, to tiny ones you could fit in your hand. The landscape is dotted with round mineral formations, and the ground itself exudes clusters of bubbles which float upwards. Some of the mid-sized bubbles presumably have stronger films, as these Bubble Clusters can safely be acquired and transported.

Some rare specimens of bubbles have somehow synthesized organic compounds inside of them. Excess of this liquid is constantly dripping out of these Bloodballoons to make room for new gas to condensate within it and to keep it light enough to float. Indeed, these red bubbles seem to exhibit a kind of sentient behaviour as they flee from any visitor at great speed.

Bubble Fountain (Night)
Bubble Cluster
Playing with Bloodballoons: Sneaking Up
Playing with Bloodballoons: A Dash Too Far.

Contour[]

Name generation

Contoured
Cabled
Webbed

Contour planets are covered with round, brown pods, attached to the ground by wide nets of cables. Some of these pods are mounted on huge multi-legged structures with a tendril protruding below them, which has an eerie, oscillating black texture. Some of these pods can be collected as Cable Pods to showcase them in a base. There are also Living Cable Pods, which blend in well with their environment, and sometimes attempt to flee if they see something coming at them.

Several instances of cable pods appearing on other planets have been observed. They most commonly appear below the surface of oceanic planets.

Living Cable Pods
Cable Pods on other worlds - most often subnautic

Fract Cube[]

Unchained Terbium Cores in their natural habitat.

Name generation

Mechanical
Metallic
Metallurgic

A fract cube subbiome is also known as a Nanophage. This anomaly type covers the planet in remnants, shards, and husks of large, metallic structures, the Redbraite. Some of these are still active, and can be seen floating and glowing red or green in the air, while others remain embedded in the ground and are inactive. The structures generally appear artificial, and are assembled of two types of smaller parts that form a new shape. Their design is based on fractals, which might explain the subbiome's title.

Smaller versions of the larger Redbraites - Terbium Growths - can also be found, and may be taken home for further analysis or showcased in a base. Terbium Growths themselves seem less active as they display no active light, aside from a meek yellow shine of the core.

The analysis visor interprets the floating and still active terbium alloy structures as plants or living matter. This does not describe the terbium alloy or the Redbraite themselves, but their cores. These Terbium Cores occasionally roam freely over the surface of these worlds. They are beings of highly condensed matter and energy. Their inner ring and core shines with a bright red colour, similar to the Atlas, but may also turn green.

Terbium Growth (Yellow Energy Signature)
Active Redbraite (Red Energy Signature)
Active Redbraite (Green Energy Signature)

Hexagon[]

The Hex in Space — **The Hex**, the only biome seen from space! (Hexagon)

Name generation

Hexagonal
Plated
Scaly

Notably the most famous subbiome, the Hexagon, or often just abbreviated to The Hex, is an anomaly type which divides the planet into a hexagonal landscape. Their placement is so pristine that they form bigger hexagons from an ever increasing distance up to space itself. Ultimately, this makes the Hex the only subbiome that is visible from outer space.

The stems of the plants on these worlds resemble yellow, glowing optic fibers, with hexagonal plates serving as their leaves. Smaller, orange-glowing versions of this foliage, the Hexplate Bushes, can be safely removed for use in a home base. In addition to the plants, there are small Platelet creatures, which carry just one hexagon on their head and roam around in clusters.

Hydro Garden[]

Calcishroom World (Sporal) — Hydro Garden Landscape

Wisps (Calcishroom Worlds) — Wisps swarming out during contact.

Name generation

Fungal
Sporal
Capped

Despite being part of the true exotics, the landscape of a Hydro Garden world mostly resembles a bleak steppesland. This grassland is littered with mineral pseudo-mushrooms, with glowing blue "windows." Smaller versions of these Calcishrooms can be acquired and stored in your base. The weirdest presence on these worlds are the Wisps, some of which can be quite noisy.

Irri Shells[]

Name generation

Finned
Bladed
Shell-Strewn

The main feature of an Irri Shell world is a surface littered in elongated oval shells, which typically appear in clusters. There are also large, fin-like structures, which can be quite tall. Medium-sized Capilliary Shells can be found and secured for showcase. While the surface itself is mostly deserted and dead, some of the remnant shells form small clusters that seem to be alive - these Animated Shells will dance eerily through the sky.

M Structure[]

Mollusc-Viruses on Zenith 1D. (M Structure)

Name generation

Ossified
Petrified
Calcified

The M Structure subbiome is also referred to as the Mollusc-Virus for its calcified shells and animated virus-shaped purple phenomena. The mollusc-based shells coat the surface in a myriad of structures, which can resemble a complex molecule. Some of the singular large white mollusc shells still have a 'living' core inside them that lights up if one aims at them.

Smaller versions of the calcified molluscs, the so-called Ossified Stars, can be picked up and taken home for study or showcase in a base. Some of these small 'stars' are still alive and quite mobile - these Living Molluscs will move about the surface and grow until they are too big to move, and become one of the large molluscs.

Living Molluscs

Shards[]

Name generation

Columned
Sharded
Pillared

Akin to the Hexagon subbiome, the Shards subbiome is one of the more famous exotic worlds. It is also known as The Glass due to its similarity to the glass worlds described in a former Traveller's logbooks at terminals in ruined bases. This anomaly type features large rectangular slabs and smaller crystals of reflective golden stone that levitate above the ground. The surface of the entire planet is littered with large amounts of fractures of varying scale, which do not only float around the separators and other structures, but also protrude from the ground.

Among the bigger structures, there exist smaller separators which are not held in place on the surface. These Glitching Separators can be stored and taken off world to study or present in a base. Unlike other exotic trophies however, a Glitching Separator is so massive it needs at least a two story room to be presented or has to be placed outside.

In this more or less dead landscape, some of the clustered shards have taken on a will of their own. These Crystal Elementals will randomly appear and roam around. Unlike other shards or separators on this world, the elementals appear in pristine gold and without the black scorch marks. While harmless, the sudden appearance of a Shard Crawler can surprise local explorers as it digs through the ground nearby with only its metallic shards breaking through the surface.

Wire Cell[]

Fractals New Biome — Wire Cell Landscape at Night

Living Zimbaite (Wire Cell) — Living Zimbaite

Name generation

Shattered
Fractured
Fragmented

The main feature of a Wire Cell planet is the focus on screens and displays, held up by bent metal wires. These screens can appear with colors, or static, or nothing at all. Some screens form into vast pillars, and some pillars appear to be in the process of breaking down. There are also Electric Cubes, some of which can be gathered and taken home.

The real mystery of these planets are the Zimbaites. While bigger instances of Zimbaites can be found as lifeless husks in between the wire cells, smaller variants of them hover over the surface via colourful emissions. Their surface is lined with electrical conduits, and their general appearance and behaviour implies a type of artificial intelligence.

Wire Cell Landscape at Day
Electric Cube

Glitch[]

Name generation

Crimson
Planetary Anomaly
Malfunctioning
Breached
Infected
[REDACTED]
Glassy
Thirsty
Doomed
Erased
Temporary
Corrupted

A Glitch planet is essentially randomized, in that they can contain any other exotic subbiomes. If these planet types are encountered, a visitor can never be sure what they will find. The only exception are the Crimson, Planetary Anomaly and [REDACTED] types, which tend to default to Chromatic biomes for all star types. While these planets can be very diverse, they are also quite rare among the true exotics.

Weather[]

Some exotic planets have gravity storms, during which the gravity is significantly reduced. This is independent of any weather descriptor.

Invisible Mist
Internal Rain
Lost Clouds
Crimson Heat
Winds of Glass
Thirsty Clouds
Obsidian Heat
Memories of Frost
Haunted Frost
Indetectable Burning
[REDACTED]
Anomalous

Some descriptors from the Mega Exotic biome can also apply to the exotic biome. The following scorched weather types have been observed, along with the system or planet where they have been found:

Deadly Pressure Variations (Wislawa II)
Harsh Toxic Wind (MCB243-YK2MAT Shiman-Boo Zeta)

Anomaly types[]

Unlike other planets, where the surface, plant-life, and rock formations are largely determined by what biome the planet is, Exotic planets have a handful of unique surface types exclusive to this biome. These include:

Chromatic: "Mega" Exotic worlds under effect of the chromatic shift can be identified by the lack of colour. The entire world suffers a major desaturation of light. Not all of them have mega structures though and some have a blue hue which almost makes them look normal. Introduced in the NEXT update, this anomaly type is characterized by having mega-sized versions of objects found in other planet biomes. The atmosphere here refracts light into unusual colours. It is further considered as its own biome.

Additional Information[]

The name generation and weather with their sequence are extracted from the 3.68 version of NMS_UPDATE3_ENGLISH.MBIN game file.

Video[]

Release history[]

Atlas Rises - Added Exotic Worlds
NEXT - Added Chromatic Shifted Worlds with the chance of mega structures
Visions
- Added new exotic biomes and bound old ones to specific planet types for direct identification in space (except for Glitch and Chromatic Planet subtypes). Prior to Visions the planet type did not decide the anomaly encountered. An exotic planet could have any other exotic biome anomaly type.
- Added new and specific species and trophies for exotic worlds.
- Hidden changes: Mineral and flora scans now count towards missions and do show up in discoveries. Prior to Visions this was not the case.