- ostranauts derelict shapes reveal likely access points, pressure risks, and salvage priorities.
- Match speed before docking, keeping relative movement under the safe approach range.
- Repair power systems when possible to reopen useful doors without wasting tools.
- Prioritize compact parts such as thrusters, doors, pumps, and oxygen tanks.
- Watch suit alarms and return to your ship before your captured air runs low.
ostranauts derelict shapes: How to Read a Wreck
The most useful way to understand ostranauts derelict shapes is to treat each wreck as a damaged ship layout rather than a single loot container. A derelict may have open corridors, sealed compartments, broken power infrastructure, exposed exterior sections, or a mixture of all four. Its visible silhouette helps you decide where to dock, where to enter, and which sections are worth the risk.
A practical salvage scan starts from the outside. Look for the airlock, intact hull sections, visible doors, external equipment, and areas that appear connected to the ship’s main structure. The shape does not guarantee a specific reward, but it can show whether the wreck is easy to access or likely to require repairs, cutting, or forced entry.
Video Highlights:
- Learn the basic process for locating and docking with a tutorial derelict.
- See why matching speed matters before attaching your ship.
- Review suit safety, salvage licensing, and early part selection.
- Understand how repairs can restore power and open closed doors.
| Derelict feature | What it suggests | Recommended response |
|---|---|---|
| Visible airlock | A direct entry route may be available | Align your clamp carefully and approach slowly |
| Sealed interior doors | The area may lack power or access | Check wiring, repair infrastructure, or use another route |
| Exposed external parts | Salvage may be possible without deep entry | Remove compact, valuable components first |
| Large connected hull | More room for salvage, but greater travel time | Mark a hauling zone and manage suit reserves |
| Broken or sparse structure | Lower repair value and higher exposure | Take useful parts, then leave before risks accumulate |
Common Shape Patterns
Although wrecks are not presented as a fixed class system, several practical patterns appear during salvage:
- Compact wrecks: Small layouts are easier to search and usually safer for early runs. They are useful when your ship has limited storage or your suit equipment is basic.
- Long corridor layouts: These can contain multiple doors, rooms, and maintenance points. Search them methodically because turning around under pressure can cost valuable time.
- Open-frame wrecks: Missing walls and floors make parts easier to see, but exposed areas provide less protection from vacuum and may complicate movement.
- Dense technical sections: Equipment-heavy areas can contain useful machinery, but damaged cables, pressure differences, and blocked access make them slower to strip.
Use the wreck’s outer silhouette to choose an entry point, but confirm every decision with the VIZOR, suit alarms, and visible pressure conditions. A convenient-looking opening may still lead into an unsafe compartment.
Compact Wreck
- Fast to inspect
- Good for early salvage
- Limited cargo space
Long Layout
- More compartments
- Higher search time
- Useful for hauling zones
Open Frame
- Easy part visibility
- High vacuum exposure
- Fewer safe interior routes
Dense Machinery
- Strong salvage potential
- More repair work
- Watch cables and pressure
Approach and Docking Around Irregular Wrecks
Derelict shapes matter most before you ever step aboard. An awkward angle, narrow access point, or rotating wreck can turn a profitable salvage job into a collision. Use the navigation console to compare your movement with the derelict and reduce relative velocity before attempting to clamp on.
The key measurements are relative velocity toward or away from the target and perpendicular relative velocity. Your approach should minimize both values. Align the clamp with the target’s airlock or docking point, then use the match-speed function to reduce the difference between your ship and the wreck.
| Navigation concern | Safe operating principle | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Approach speed | Dock below 100 m/s | Higher speeds can damage ships and crew |
| Station maneuvering | Keep movement below roughly 200 m/s nearby | Reduces collision risk during local movement |
| Perpendicular drift | Bring it close to zero before docking | Prevents sliding past or striking the wreck |
| Clamp alignment | Face the airlock or compatible connection | A good angle makes docking more predictable |
| Collision awareness | Avoid fast travel near debris | A hull impact can injure or kill crew |
A Four-Step Docking Routine
Select the Wreck
Choose a derelict with a manageable shape and a visible access point. Early runs should favor wrecks that can be reached without extended navigation or complicated maneuvering.
Match Relative Speed
Use the navigation controls to reduce your movement relative to the derelict. Check both forward and perpendicular velocity instead of relying only on the ship’s apparent position.
Align the Clamp
Position your docking clamp with the wreck’s airlock or intended connection point. Make small corrections rather than large thrust inputs near the target.
Confirm the Dock
Attach only after the approach is controlled. Once connected, prepare your pressure suit and inspect the entry route before opening an airlock.
Do not rush because the wreck appears stationary. In space, your ship and the derelict can still have meaningful relative movement. A clean docking setup also gives you a reliable escape route when suit alarms, fire, or pressure problems appear.
Never treat visual closeness as a safe docking condition. Reduce relative movement first, especially when working around stations, debris fields, or irregularly oriented derelicts.
Entering and Opening Derelict Sections
Once docked, the main challenge is converting a wreck’s shape into a safe route. A closed door may indicate a simple power problem, a blocked path, or a compartment that is not worth entering. Repairing electrical infrastructure can bring doors and other systems back online, but forcing, scrapping, or uninstalling a door may be faster when the risk is acceptable.
Your pressure suit protects you from hard vacuum, but its breathable air supply is limited. Monitor the alarms on the helmet HUD and plan your return before the warning becomes urgent. A salvage route should always include the path back to your own ship, not just the next valuable object.
| Entry method | Best use | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Repair power | Restore doors and ship systems | Requires time, tools, and accessible wiring |
| Pry open | Bypass a closed door quickly | May create a less orderly route or consume effort |
| Scrap the door | Remove an obstacle and gain material | Destroys the original component |
| Uninstall the door | Preserve the part for sale or reuse | Requires access and suitable work conditions |
| Use an existing opening | Fastest entry option | The route may expose you to vacuum or hazards |
Route Planning Priorities
Before moving deeper into a wreck, identify three points:
- Entry point: The airlock or breach where you entered.
- Work zone: The compartment containing parts you intend to remove.
- Exit path: The route back to your ship, including any doors that could close or lose power.
If a compartment is pressurized, be cautious when opening a wall or door. A strong pressure difference can damage the hull or create a dangerous airflow event. Keep hull-sealing materials available, and avoid opening unfamiliar sections until you understand the pressure state.
For early salvage, it is often better to take several accessible parts than to spend the entire run reaching one distant component. A small, organized haul can pay for fuel, supplies, repairs, and future licenses without exposing your spacer to unnecessary hazards.
A successful derelict route is not the deepest route. It is the route that lets you remove useful parts, return safely, and preserve enough air, power, and health for the next job.
Best Salvage Targets by Shape and Risk
The value of a derelict depends on more than its apparent size. Your own ship’s storage capacity, available tools, license status, and crew condition determine whether a wreck is worth stripping. Compact machinery is generally easier to transport than large structural pieces, while parts in better condition can produce better sale results.
Thrusters, doors, pumps, and non-empty oxygen tanks are strong early targets because they combine practical utility with useful resale potential. Before selling, restore damaged parts with a welder when the repair cost and battery use make sense. A part that occupies valuable cargo space should justify the time needed to remove and transport it.
| Target | Why prioritize it | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Thrusters | Useful for ship upgrades and resale | Check condition and removal access |
| Doors | Compact and reusable | Repair power or uninstall carefully |
| Pumps | Practical ship equipment | Confirm the route is safe |
| Oxygen tanks | Valuable when not empty | Protect your air supply during removal |
| Structural pieces | Useful for expansion | Take them when storage and labor allow |
Match the Target to the Wreck
Small Wreck, Limited Ship
Prioritize compact parts that fit inside your current ship. Avoid lengthy structural projects until storage and crew capacity improve.
Large Wreck, Good Supplies
Use hauling zones, external cargo netting, and queued orders to reduce manual movement. Keep the route organized before stripping rooms.
Damaged Technical Wreck
Focus on equipment that can be removed safely. Repair only when it opens access or meaningfully improves the part’s value.
Barter zones help turn a chaotic salvage pile into a usable inventory. A barter zone can make items available for selling and can also receive purchased goods when configured accordingly. Hauling zones are useful when a derelict contains more loose material than you can carry manually.
If you have a crew, issue broad orders rather than constant direct commands. Crew members can claim and complete accessible work during scheduled hours, but permissions, missing tools, forbidden zones, and off-duty periods can stop an order. Check the order details when work appears stalled.
Repair high-value salvage when the part is accessible and your welder has sufficient battery power. Do not spend scarce time repairing every damaged object by default.
| Salvage condition | Recommended action | Efficiency rating |
|---|---|---|
| Good condition, easy access | Remove and transport immediately | Excellent |
| Damaged but compact | Repair if batteries and time allow | Good |
| Blocked behind powered door | Restore power when practical | Situational |
| Large structural item | Queue removal and use hauling space | Moderate |
| Deep, unsafe compartment | Skip unless the reward justifies exposure | Low priority |
Derelict Run Checklist and FAQ
A reliable derelict run is built around preparation. Confirm that your ship has enough oxygen, nitrogen, power, food, water, and working tools. Keep a valid scavenging license when operating in areas that require one; being caught without authorization can result in fines, bribes, or time in the brig.
Your spacer’s condition matters as much as the wreck. Fatigue and pain slow movement and work, while high G-forces can cause a character to pass out during a maneuver. Crew permissions should also prevent unsuited characters from opening airlocks or entering vacuum.
Before Leaving for a Derelict:
- Confirm oxygen, nitrogen, power, food, and water supplies
- Check that the scavenging license is valid
- Charge the welder and carry hull-sealing materials
- Identify the entry point and return route
- Prepare cargo space for compact salvage
| Pre-run check | Ready condition | If it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Suit | Helmet and captured air available | Refill air before leaving |
| Welder | Battery charged | Buy replacement batteries |
| License | Valid scavenging authorization | Renew or choose another legal task |
| Cargo | Space for selected parts | Install storage or reduce targets |
| Ship systems | Air, fuel, and power stable | Repair and refuel before departure |
Save before attempting a difficult boarding operation. Ostranauts keeps autosaves, but a hard save provides additional insurance before risky navigation, decompression, fire response, or ambitious salvage work. If a plan produces consequences several actions later, a prior save can help you reassess without abandoning the entire career.
Set a clear stopping point before boarding. Once you have enough valuable parts to cover the trip and your immediate bills, returning safely is often better than pushing deeper.
Q: What do ostranauts derelict shapes tell me?
They help you estimate access routes, exposed areas, likely pressure problems, and how much time a salvage operation may require. Shape is a planning aid, not a guaranteed loot table.
Q: Which parts should I remove first from a derelict?
Start with compact, useful components such as thrusters, doors, pumps, and non-empty oxygen tanks. Choose parts that are accessible and fit your available cargo space.
Q: Should I repair a derelict before salvaging it?
Repair power infrastructure when it opens important doors or improves access. Otherwise, forced entry or uninstalling selected components may be more efficient.
Q: How can I avoid dying during a salvage run?
Dock at a controlled speed, wear a pressure suit, monitor helmet alarms, carry hull-sealing materials, and keep a clear route back to your ship. Leave when air, health, or time becomes a concern.
For broader mechanics and the official game context, visit the Blue Bottle Games Ostranauts page. Use it alongside this route-focused guide when planning future salvage operations.