The Direwasp Disintegrator is one of the standout additions from the Swarm update in No Man's Sky, and the good news is you can grab it without spending a single resource. The catch is that it's locked behind Expedition 22, so you'll need to put in some time with the community event before it shows up in your main save.
How do you unlock the Direwasp Disintegrator?
The Direwasp Disintegrator is a reward tied specifically to Expedition 22: Swarm, which Hello Games restructured around three main phases rather than the five-phase format used in older expeditions. To unlock the multi-tool, you need to reach and complete Phase 2 of the expedition.
Phase 1 has seven tasks and is the lightest of the three in terms of requirements. Mostly basic resources and straightforward objectives. Phase 2 steps things up with six tasks, some of which have harder requirements, but finishing all of them triggers the Direwasp Disintegrator reward automatically. You don't need to manually claim it mid-expedition.
Phase 2 unlocks the Disintegrator
How to transfer the Direwasp Disintegrator to your main save
This is where players sometimes get confused. Earning the multi-tool during the expedition doesn't automatically place it in your primary save. When you first receive it, the weapon shows as locked.
Here's the transfer process step by step:
- Finish Phase 2 of Expedition 22 to earn the Direwasp Disintegrator.
- Return to your primary save (not the expedition save).
- Travel to the Space Anomaly and locate the Expedition Terminal.
- At the terminal, you'll see an option to resume the expedition and a second option to copy the item to your main save.
- Select the copy option. The Direwasp Disintegrator will now appear as an equipped multi-tool in your primary game.
Don't skip the Expedition Terminal step. The multi-tool stays locked until you go through the copy process there. Resuming the expedition from the terminal is a separate action from copying the reward.
Copy the reward at the Anomaly terminal
What makes the Direwasp Disintegrator worth getting?
The Direwasp Disintegrator arrives with advanced tools already installed, which puts it ahead of most multi-tools you'd find through normal exploration. It's not a blank slate you have to build from scratch. That said, it does have empty module slots, so there's room to push it further with upgrades.
The combination of pre-installed advanced tech and open upgrade slots makes it a strong pick regardless of how long you've been playing. Veterans get a solid base to build on, and newer players get a multi-tool that performs well out of the box without requiring a massive resource investment.
The Direwasp Disintegrator is a timed expedition reward. Once Expedition 22: Swarm ends, this method of obtaining it will no longer be available, so prioritize completing Phase 2 before the expedition closes.
What should you upgrade on the Direwasp Disintegrator?
Once the multi-tool is in your main save, the empty module slots are yours to fill. The Swarm update brought new systems and economy changes worth understanding before you commit resources to upgrades. For context on what's changed in the broader update, the Swarm update patch notes guide covers the new enemies, combat changes, and Expedition 22 rewards in full.
Prioritize modules that match how you actually play. If combat is your focus, damage and fire rate upgrades push the Disintegrator's existing advanced tools further. If you spend more time mining and scanning, utility modules fill the gaps that the pre-installed tech doesn't cover.
For more on what's new in No Man's Sky right now, the full No Man's Sky guides collection covers everything from the Gravitino Coil to S-class creature hunting across the Swarm update and beyond.