Trident Keys in No Man’s Sky are classified as a curiosity, and it opens Sealed Sea Chests, which are found in Submerged Ruins. This is not the only type of key in the game. In their travels through the near-infinite universe, players may also encounter Ancient Keys. They open Large Artifact Crates in Ancient Ruins. The Ancient Keys are very similar to the Trident Keys, but they don’t require the player to go for a swim.
Getting a Trident Key in No Man's Sky can be a challenge. They are only found in certain areas, and it requires some work to obtain one. Players will need to search the Submerged Ruins. As their name suggests, Submerged Ruins are found underwater. They can appear as a point of interest on any planet with a sufficient quantity of water. Aquatic biomes can appear on all planetary types except for dead or exotic worlds, though it’s possible that worlds of applicable types have no water on their surfaces.
To find Submerged Ruins, players will need to get the Nautilon, which is the submersible exocraft in No Man's Sky. Then, they need to install the High-Power Sonar to be able to scan for Submerged Ruins.
Exploring Submerged Ruins in No Man’s Sky
Once players find Submerged Ruins in the Nautilon, they can dive down, and interact with the glowing platform on the top of the ruins. It opens a dialogue with The Voice of the Shell. If they choose to accept the waves, they are presented with a Trident Key when the dialogue concludes.
Upon using the Analysis Visor, players can find that there are Sealed Sea Chests buried underneath the ruins. They can get to them by using the Terrain Manipulator. To open the chest, players will use their Trident Key as well as a Pearl Offering.
Players can get a Living Pearl from an Armoured Clam, found underwater. They must shoot at the Armoured Clam, which causes it to open its shell for a short time. They can quickly grab the Living Pearl. If they aren't fast enough, the shell snaps shut and damages the player. The Living Pearl is what is used for the Pearl Offering at the Sealed Sea Chest.
Unfortunately, since players only get one Trident Key per Submerged Ruin, they will not be able to open all the Sealed Sea Chests nearby. Still, players can get some nice rewards from each chest. It will give them a random type of Aquatic Treasure, which can be sold to earn more units, depending on its rarity.
Once players have what they need, they can return to the surface. Alternatively, if they like the location, they also have the option to build an underwater base.
No Man’s Sky is available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.