Scanner

The subject of this article is from the Frontiers update.
The information from this article is up-to-date as of 15 February, 2022.

This article is about the Multi-tool device. For the Journey Milestone, see Scanner (Planetary Zoology).

Scanner

Used to discover resources and points of interest.
Category	Multi-tool - Scanner
Type	Topographic Survey
Updated	Frontiers

The Scanner helps players discover planetary resources.

Summary[ | ]

The Scanner is a shoulder-mounted device that, when used, augments the player's view by identifying and highlighting essential resources which players can harvest. Though the device is physically located on the Exosuit, the technology enabling its function is in the player's Multi-tool.

In the tutorial mission Awakenings, the Scanner, which is initially damaged, is the first technology that the player is told to repair.

Game Description[ | ]

A Personal Surface Radar augmentation for the Multi-Tool.

The Scanner releases a high-energy pulse that reveals any critical survival resources in the immediate area. Data is transmitted via the Exosuit directly into the user's visual nervous system.

Press // (PS4/PC/Xbox) to activate a local scan.

Use[ | ]

The Scanner sends a fast-moving pulse across the landscape when activated. The pulse searches for certain essential resources and displays an icon over all that are located within the Scanner’s scan radius. Resource Deposits in range are also highlighted by yellow cubic grid lines. Placing the dot in the center of the user interface over an icon will display the distance to that resource. Resources revealed by the Scanner will maintain their identifying icons over them for a short time before vanishing.

Once activated the Scanner begins a cool down period during which it cannot be used again. The base cooldown of the Scanner depends on the current Game mode --- the cooldown is significantly longer in Survival and Permadeath than it is in Normal.

The essential resources the Scanner reveals are:

Condensed Carbon Crystals - indicated with
Di-hydrogen Crystals - indicated with
Oxygen Rich Plants - indicated with
Sodium Nitride Crystals - indicated with
Sodium Rich Plants - indicated with
Deuterium Rich Plants - indicated with

Crafting[ | ]

Scanner can be built using the following ingredients:

Ferrite Dust x150 → Scanner

Scanner can be repaired using the following ingredients:

Ferrite Dust x75

Scanner can be dismantled after construction, returning the following ingredients:

Scanner → Ferrite Dust x75

Upgrades[ | ]

The following upgrades greatly improve the amount earned per scan. (up to a 9999% bonus, or 11,000% with illegal x-class upgrades).

Waveform Recycler – decreases the cool down period and increases the scan radius
Analysis Visor Upgrades – increase scan radius and value of discovery data
Even though it is technically possible to extend scan radius by a considerable amount with multiple upgrades, the hard limit to the overall scan radius is currently confirmed to be at 750 u, regardless of the effects of other upgrades.

Module Name	Stats Drawn	Module Improves
Module Name	Stats Drawn	Module Improves	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max
Scanner	C 1-2 B 2 A 2-3 S 3 X 1-4	Scan Radius	5%	10%	10%	20%	20%	30%	30%	40%	5%	50%
		Flora Analysis Rewards	1,000%	2,000%	2,500%	5,000%	5,000%	10,000%	6,500%	10,000%	1,000%	11,000%
		Mineral Analysis Rewards	1,000%	2,000%	2,500%	5,000%	5,000%	10,000%	6,500%	10,000%	1,000%	11,000%
		Fauna Analysis Rewards	1,000%	2,000%	2,500%	5,000%	5,000%	10,000%	6,500%	10,000%	1,000%	11,000%

Release History[ | ]

Pre-release - Shown in pre-release videos, projecting a grid pattern onto usable resources.
Release - Added as a technology.
Release 1.05 - Quite a rare crash, but in certain scenarios it was possible to scan from space or on planet and crash the game.
Release 1.09 - Deposits discovered by scans will now display as the correct resource.
Pathfinder - Blueprint changed, the amount of Carbon is doubled.
Atlas Rises - Improved scan ranges for resources on planets. Added scan markers on more smaller plutonium crystals to aid resource gathering.
Atlas Rises 1.38 - It can be used to see the approximate distance of resources discovered with the Scanner.
NEXT - Waveform Recycler and procedurally generated Analysis Visor Upgrades added, while RangeBoost Sigma and RangeBoost Tau upgrades removed. Blueprint changed, formerly used Carbon. Icon changed.