Paint & Pigments: Boat, Caretaker and Weapon Paints
Paint cans let you change a scheme; pigments are used to craft paints after you unlock them. Follow the steps below, then check the separately labeled location reports.
Data status
A marks official announcements; B marks facts cross-checked between independent sources. C means a single-source report, not yet verified, and is not used in calculations. Game reference: Update 5.5; older evidence is dated in each source list. Last checked: 2026-10-08.
What you can paint
Official (A)
Update 02 introduced 37 full boat paint schemes and 4 paint zones. The paints can be found around the world.
Sources and version
Update 02 announcement, February 11, 2026. Checked 2026-10-08.
Official (A)
Update 03 added ores, nuggets and pigments for crafting Caretaker paints.
Sources and version
Update 03 announcement, March 18, 2026. Checked 2026-10-08.
Official (A)
Update 5.5 added coloring for the Caretaker’s scarf.
Sources and version
Update 5.5 announcement, August 31, 2026. Checked 2026-10-08.
Official (A)
Update 3.5 introduced weapon paints for the bolt gun.
Sources and version
Update 3.5 announcement, April 15, 2026. Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
The wiki lists the head, arms, torso and legs as paintable and describes paint slots at the bottom right of the character Tab menu. These details have not been independently checked; scarf coloring is separately confirmed by the official announcement above.
Sources and version
Community wiki, September 15, 2026; interface details not independently checked. Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
The wiki says Bolt Rifle and Bolt Pistol paints are applied through the weapon inspection menu.
Sources and version
Community wiki, September 15, 2026; weapon menu details not independently checked. Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
Zone names are disputed: the wiki lists Deck, Tower, Hull and Flag, while a player lists Deck, Hull, Cabin and Flag. The Tower/Cabin naming difference is unresolved.
Sources and version
Community wiki and player report disagree; zone names not independently checked. Checked 2026-10-08.
Where to paint the boat
Cross-checked (B)
Use the Customization Table in the boat cabin to paint the boat.
Sources and version
September 2026 wiki checked against an August 28, 2026 player report (before Update 5.5). Checked 2026-10-08.
Unlock crafting a paint
Cross-checked (B)
Apply the same paint 4 times to unlock its recipe in the build menu. Uses on either the Caretaker or the boat count. Once unlocked, the paint can be crafted with pigments.
Sources and version
September 2026 wiki checked against pre-Update 5.5 player reports. Checked 2026-10-08.
Pigments: ore → nugget → pigment
| Dismantle | Recycle | Pigment output |
|---|---|---|
| Rutile Ore | Rutile Nugget | Titanium Dioxide White (white) — 2 per nugget (B)Sources and versionSeptember 2026 wiki nugget entries and independent community item listings. Checked 2026-10-08. Community wiki: Rutile NuggetCommunity item listing: Rutile Nugget |
| Cobalt Ore | Cobalt Nugget | Cobalt Aluminate Blue (blue) — 2 per nugget (B)Sources and versionSeptember 2026 wiki nugget entries and independent community item listings. Checked 2026-10-08. Community wiki: Cobalt NuggetCommunity item listing: Cobalt Nugget |
| Hematite Ore | Hematite Nugget | Iron Oxide Red (red) — 2 per nugget (B)Sources and versionSeptember 2026 wiki nugget entries and independent community item listings. Checked 2026-10-08. Community wiki: Hematite NuggetCommunity item listing: Hematite Nugget |
| Chromite Ore | Chromite Nugget | Chromium Oxide Green (green) — 2 per nugget (B)Sources and versionSeptember 2026 wiki nugget entries and independent community item listings. Checked 2026-10-08. Community wiki: Chromite NuggetCommunity item listing: Chromite Nugget |
| Graphite Ore | Graphite Nugget | Carbon Black (black) — 2 per nugget (B)Sources and versionSeptember 2026 wiki nugget entries and independent community item listings. Checked 2026-10-08. Community wiki: Graphite NuggetCommunity item listing: Graphite Nugget |
Cross-checked (B)
Use a dismantle tool on the corresponding ore to obtain nuggets. Recycle each nugget in the Recycler to get 2 portions of its pigment.
Sources and version
September 2026 wiki nugget entries and independent community item listings. Checked 2026-10-08.
- Community wiki: Rutile Nugget
- Community item listing: Rutile Nugget
- Community wiki: Cobalt Nugget
- Community item listing: Cobalt Nugget
- Community wiki: Hematite Nugget
- Community item listing: Hematite Nugget
- Community wiki: Chromite Nugget
- Community item listing: Chromite Nugget
- Community wiki: Graphite Nugget
- Community item listing: Graphite Nugget
Cross-checked (B)
Pigments cannot be applied directly to the boat or Caretaker. They are ingredients for crafting paints.
Sources and version
September 2026 wiki checked against an August 28, 2026 player report (before Update 5.5). Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
One community item site lists a 50% chance of obtaining 2–3 nuggets when dismantling a pigment ore. This mining yield has not been independently checked.
Sources and version
Community item listings only; recording version not established. Checked 2026-10-08.
Don’t recycle paints too early
Cross-checked (B)
Pre-Update 5.5 player reports from May and August 2026 agree that recycling paint cans produces pigments, and those pigments can only craft paints already unlocked. Recycling all your cans before unlocking their paint can leave you unable to craft it.
Sources and version
Pre-Update 5.5 player reports, May 28 and August 5, 2026. Checked 2026-10-08.
Where to look
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
The wiki reports paint cans in most Habitat Nodes, Helios Reserve nodes, Sanctuary Dock 37 and Quarantine Stacks, as well as random Supply Buoy loot.
Sources and version
Community wiki, September 15, 2026; locations not independently checked. Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
A community item site lists pigment ores at Courier Sieve Node Facility, The Spire of Exodus, Quarantine Stack Amen and North Deep Intake Station. This location list has not been independently checked.
Sources and version
Community item listings only; locations not independently checked. Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
The same item site reports loose pigments at places including Central Warehouse Alpha, Sanctuary Dock 37 and Refuel Outpost Gamma.
Sources and version
Community item listings only; locations not independently checked. Checked 2026-10-08.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
The total is disputed: Neoseeker lists 39 paint names, while the official Update 02 announcement states 37 boat schemes; the extra names have not been reconciled.
Sources and version
Official Update 02 compared with a community guide; difference unresolved. Checked 2026-10-08.
For the community-maintained paint list, see the wiki’s Paint Cans page.
Frequently asked questions
How many boat paint schemes are there?
The official Update 02 announcement introduced 37 full boat paint schemes and 4 paint zones.
Official (A)
How do you unlock paint crafting?
Apply the same paint 4 times to unlock its recipe in the build menu. Uses on either the Caretaker or the boat count. Once unlocked, the paint can be crafted with pigments.
Cross-checked (B)
Where do pigments come from?
Use a dismantle tool on the corresponding ore to obtain nuggets. Recycle each nugget in the Recycler to get 2 portions of its pigment.
Cross-checked (B)
Can you apply pigments directly to your boat or Caretaker?
Pigments cannot be applied directly to the boat or Caretaker. They are ingredients for crafting paints.
Cross-checked (B)