You're pulsing through the deep dark of a frozen ocean, your hazard protection is screaming at you, and suddenly, you see it. A faint, rhythmic glow emanating from a rock formation that looks a little too much like a nightmare. Most players back away. Smart players keep their multi-tool ready. If you’ve spent any time at all chasing late-game blueprints or trying to cook the perfect cosmic meal, you know the No Man's Sky hypnotic eye is one of those items that feels rarer than it actually is—if you know where to look.
It’s creepy. It’s literal nightmare fuel. Honestly, the first time one of these things looked back at me, I almost fumbled my controller into my coffee. But this isn't just a trophy for your inventory; it’s a vital ingredient for high-end crafting and some surprisingly lucrative cooking recipes.
Where the Hell Do You Find One?
The Abyssal Horror. That’s your target.
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You won't find these things wandering around on a lush paradise planet or hiding in a cave. You have to go deep. We’re talking underwater, usually tucked away in those glowing, pulsating "Alluring Specimens" you see on your scanner. You’ll see a cluster of glowing orbs. They look inviting, right? Like free money? Wrong. As soon as you interact with those orbs, the specimen reveals its true form: a giant, stationary eye that tries to pull you into its maw with a tractor beam.
Kill it. Fast.
If you don’t kill it quickly, it’ll teleport away or just keep gnawing on your shield. Once it pops, it drops the No Man's Sky hypnotic eye. You have to be quick, though. These drops have a nasty habit of rolling away or getting lost in the terrain geometry if you’re fighting in a particularly craggy trench.
Sometimes, you’ll get lucky with a Derelict Freighter. Those spooky, abandoned husks floating in space occasionally have them tucked away in crates, but relying on RNG in a derelict is a fool’s errand compared to just jumping into a lake.
The Abyssal Horror: More Than Just a Jump Scare
Let’s talk strategy. Most people panic when the tractor beam hits. Don't. Your jetpack works differently underwater, and while the beam is strong, a decent Scatter Blaster or even a well-aimed Blaze Javelin will make short work of the Horror. The eye is the weak point. Obviously.
I’ve seen some players try to use the Nautilon’s cannon. It works, sure. But it’s clunky. Honestly, it’s much faster to just swim up, trigger the event, and blast it with your multi-tool. Just make sure you have some oxygen canisters or a high-capacity air tank. There is nothing more embarrassing in No Man’s Sky than winning a fight against an ancient sea monster only to drown while trying to pick up the loot.
Why You Actually Need This Thing
So, you’ve got the eye. Now what? You can sell it for a decent chunk of units, but that’s a waste of a good horror.
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- Refining: Stick that eye in a refiner. It’ll give you 50 Living Slime. Not great, right? But wait. If you process that slime through the chain (Slime -> Runaway Mould -> Nanite Clusters), it’s a slow but steady way to farm Nanites. There are better ways to get Nanites, but if you’re already underwater, it’s a nice bonus.
- Cooking: This is where the real value is. If you’re into the Nutrient Processor side of the game, the hypnotic eye is a base ingredient for "Awful Stew" or "Abyssal Stew." Cronus on the Space Anomaly has a weird palate. Giving him high-tier food made from these eyes is one of the best ways to earn thousands of Nanites without the grind of scraping slime off walls.
- Crafting: It shows up in specific high-level recipes and occasionally as a requirement for base-building missions or Nexus quests.
The "Alluring Specimen" Trap
Don't confuse the Abyssal Horror (the eye) with the larger, biological horrors you find at abandoned buildings. Those give you Larval Cores. The No Man's Sky hypnotic eye is strictly an aquatic venture.
When you see those five glowing petals on the sea floor, that's your signal. Each petal you "harvest" increases the chance the eye will spawn. Usually, by the time you grab the third or fourth "Hadals Core" (which are also valuable, don't ignore them), the eye will pop out and start its tractor beam sequence.
Pro tip: If you’re hunting these for a specific mission, look for "Water" planets in the galaxy map. Look for high-ocean percentages. Systems with a "Water" tag in the description are your best bet for finding deep trenches where these specimens thrive.
Survival and Optimization
Is it worth the risk? Early game, maybe not. The damage an Abyssal Horror does can shred a basic hazard suit in seconds. But once you have a few S-class shield modules, it’s basically a non-threat.
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What most people get wrong is the movement. Don't try to swim away once the beam catches you. You won't win. Turn, aim, and shoot. The eye is surprisingly fragile once it’s fully exposed.
If you're looking to farm these efficiently, get the Nautilon exocraft. Its sonar can specifically scan for "Sunken Buildings" or "Submerged Ruins," which often have these specimens nearby. It’s way better than just swimming aimlessly in the dark hoping for a glow.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re ready to go hunting, here is your checklist. No fluff.
- Upgrade your Multi-tool: Ensure you have the Scatter Blaster or Pulse Spitter. Precision isn't as important as raw damage when you're being pulled toward a mouth full of teeth.
- Stock up on Oxygen: Or better yet, install the Divergence Shield and the Aeration Membrane.
- Find a Deep Ocean: Shallow water rarely spawns the Alluring Specimen. You want the kind of water where you can’t see the bottom from the surface.
- Trigger the Trap: Collect the Hadal Cores from the Alluring Specimen. Be ready. The moment the eye opens, focus all fire on the pupil.
- Loot Immediately: The eye is a physical object that can roll. Grab it before it clips through a rock or gets lost in the kelp.
Once you have a stack, head to the Space Anomaly. Don't just sell them at a trade terminal for a few thousand units. Go to the Nutrient Processor. Turn them into Abyssal Stew. Take that stew to Cronus. It's a bit of a walk, and he’s a bit of a jerk about your cooking, but the Nanite payout is worth the verbal abuse.
The No Man's Sky hypnotic eye is a weird, creepy little corner of the universe. It’s a reminder that even in a game about infinite stars, the most interesting things are often hiding in the dark, waiting for you to look back.
Go find a planet with deep oceans. Bring a gun. Don't blink.