Overview
Want to complete the crystal quest from start to finish? I have over 500 hours on steam and I’ve found the secret sector lots of times. This isn’t fool proof and sometimes you’ll do everything right and still fail. But if you follow this guide your chances are much higher.
0) You gotta do some of this yourself
This guide assumes you already know what you’re looking for but just don’t know the best way to do it. Check out the wiki page or other guides if you want to know the basics of this quest. You also have to be reasonably good at the game. To be successful you have to sacrifice otherwise helpful things and still make it to the end in one piece.
1) Easiest step of all
First of all, use the Rock ship on Easy. It guarantees you successfully find the pod in the asteroid field. I definitely prefer layout B.
2) Treat yo self
All throughout your run try to pick up long range sensors and distraction buoys if you ever find them, along with plenty of fuel. When you’re in a sector that can’t have the event you’re looking for, visit as many shops as you can and keep at least 55 scrap on you.
3) But I had such a good first sector!
At the end of the first sector you need the second sector to be one that can have the status pod: Engi, Pirate, or Rock Controller sector or the Engi Homeworlds. You also want at least one green sector in 3-4. Lastly, you want good routes to late, red sectors where you’ll be able to choose between as many as possible. The Rock Home World can only occur in sectors 5-7 and you need a route that includes all of these in one connected path. If ANY of these fail, restart and try again. Doesn’t matter if you were really off to a great start. That’s not why we’re here.
4) Time is scrap
If you’re ever in a sector where you’re looking for the next step, always take any opportunity you find to slow down the fleet: Pay mercenaries and booby trap the cache. Time is the most valuable resource here so buy extra time in sectors and avoid useless beacons.
5) Only help if it helps you more
If you’re looking for the pod, go to all the distress beacons. If you’re looking for the research facility avoid all the distress signals. If someone asks you to go do something for them at a different beacon say no. You don’t want to pollute your beacons with events you know aren’t what you’re looking for. On the other hand, if someone’s out of fuel, help them out. There’s a chance they will show you their map and then you’ll know exactly which beacons to check out.
6) It can’t be THAT bad
If it comes down to avoiding the rebel fleet or a chance to find the event you’re looking for, take the chance. It’s worth it to take some extra hull damage if you can find part of your quest. Of course the exception here is if it will actually kill you.
7) Give up
Sometimes the Rock Homeworld just isn’t there or there’s no way to find the research facility in time. If that happens just start over. Sucks. But that’s FTL for ya.
Closing
Hopeful you learned something new here and you enjoyed. If this helped you find the Crystal Homeworlds let me know! I’d be interested to know how many tries you give it. Of course you could also rename your crystal crewman on layout C, but this is more exciting. And frustrating. But so satisfying.