No Man's Sky: A Guide to Completing the Scales of Fire Milestone

With the recent Aquarius update enriching No Man's Sky with new mechanics, technologies, and activities, players are diving into the universe’s vast oceans to hunt for the rarest fish. Among these new challenges, the Scales of Fire Milestone, part of Phase 5 of the Aquarius Expedition, stands out as particularly elusive. While this milestone might seem daunting, with the right approach, you can complete it without too much hassle. Here’s a guide to help you tackle the Scales of Fire Milestone with ease.

Understanding the Scales of Fire Milestone

The Scales of Fire Milestone tasks you with discovering the "fiery scales of the Angler's legacy" within a "suitable body of water" using the Exo-Skiff. In No Man's Sky, this translates to locating a specific legendary fish known as "The Angler"—which, intriguingly, is actually an octopus. Here’s how to increase your chances of encountering this elusive creature.

Boosting Fish Rarity with Bait

To enhance your odds of finding legendary fish like The Angler, you’ll need to use bait that boosts fish rarity. While the base baits are helpful, the Bionic Lure provides the best chance, offering a 64% rarity increase. However, you can cook up even more effective baits using the Nutrient Processor:

- Caramel Ice Cream (76% rarity boost):

 - 1x Viscous Custard

 - 1x Frozen Tubers

 - 1x Crunchy Caramel

- Cheese-and-Flesh Stew (74% rarity boost):

 - 1x Mystery Meat Stew

 - 1x Partially-Liquid Cheese

- Mucal Doughnut (72% rarity boost):

 - 1x Lumpen Doughnut

 - 1x Sweetened Mucous

Finding the Right Body of Water

The "suitable body of water" mentioned in the milestone refers to deep waters. Fishing in bodies of water that are 50 to 70 units deep yields the best results. You might encounter water worlds with deep oceans or create your own deep water areas using the Terrain Manipulator—this tool can also assist with other milestones, such as Freediving in Phase 3.

By fishing in these deeper waters with your top-tier baits and the Exo-Skiff, you’ll need to be patient. The Angler can be elusive, so persistence is key.

Utilizing Automated Traps

If you find yourself spending too much time fishing for The Angler, Automated Traps can help streamline the process. These traps can be unlocked by spending one Salvaged Data at the Construction Research Station in the Space Anomaly or by completing the Tales of the Waves milestone in Phase 3, following the Gone Fishing: 3 milestone. To build an Automated Trap, you’ll need the following materials:

- 50x Salt: Obtain this from underwater minerals or Resource Deposits, or craft it using the Refiner with:

 - 1x Chlorine

 - 1x Di-hydrogen + 1x Oxygen

- 3x Metal Plating: Create this with 50x Ferrite Dust.

- 1x Ion Battery: Build this using 5x Ferrite Dust and 10x Cobalt.

With these tips and tools at your disposal, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer the Scales of Fire Milestone in No Man's Sky. Happy fishing!