Frontier's space sim models the Milky Way at 1:1 scale, roughly 400 billion star systems, and starts every commander in a Sidewinder with 1,000 credits. There is no story path, only careers: hauling cargo, hunting bounties, mining, exploring, sampling alien plant life on foot, or fighting Thargoids. The learning curve is the game itself, and most of it is systems knowledge rather than stick skill.
This guide covers everything you need: core mechanics, the best builds, equipment worth investing in, location progression, and the tips that actually make a difference.
Core Mechanics
Frame Shift Drive travel
One drive handles both hyperspace jumps between systems and supercruise inside them. Jump range depends on drive class, ship mass and fuel load, which is why explorers strip every module they can before a long trip.
Ship outfitting and rebuy
Modules come in classes 1 to 8 and grades A to E, with A the most capable and usually the heaviest on power draw. Insurance rebuy is roughly 5 percent of the total ship and module value and must be paid in cash.
Engineering modifications
Engineers upgrade modules in exchange for materials and reputation, and each one has an unlock condition. Felicity Farseer in Deciat handles Frame Shift Drives and is almost every commander's first stop, because jump range gates everything else you might want to do.
Exploration scanning
The Full Spectrum System Scanner maps a system's bodies from supercruise, while the Detailed Surface Scanner fires probes to map individual planets for a far larger payout. Mapping a terraformable or Earth like world is worth many times the basic discovery scan.
Background Simulation and Powerplay
Populated systems host minor factions whose influence shifts based on player missions, trade and combat. Powerplay 2.0 layers pledged Powers on top, with commanders earning merits for work inside their Power's territory and unlocking exclusive modules.
For a deeper dive into how these systems interact, see our Elite Dangerous combat guide.
Builds Overview
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trader | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Bounty hunter | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Explorer | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Miner | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
| Exobiologist | A | Versatile approach | Balanced stats |
For full build breakdowns with gear and stat priorities, see our Elite Dangerous builds guide. For rankings, check the tier list.
Equipment Guide
| Equipment | Why It Matters | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Beam Laser | Continuous damage that shreds shields but runs hot and drains the weapon capacitor fast. | Stripping shields in the opening seconds of a fight, paired with a kinetic weapon for the hull. |
| Multi-cannon | Kinetic rounds with a large ammunition pool, low heat and low distributor draw. | Hull damage after shields drop, and long bounty hunting sessions where ammunition economy matters. |
| Fragment Cannon | A short range shotgun that unloads enormous damage inside 500 metres and almost nothing beyond it. | Close range brawling in a manoeuvrable ship, and finishing damaged hulls quickly. |
| Railgun | A charged fixed weapon that fires a single high penetration slug, well suited to sniping specific modules like power plants and drives. | Module sniping on larger targets and pilots comfortable with fixed mounts. |
| Plasma Accelerator | Slow moving projectiles carrying huge absolute damage against both shields and hull. | Experienced combat pilots in heavy ships who can consistently hit a manoeuvring target. |
Beam Laser: Continuous damage that shreds shields but runs hot and drains the weapon capacitor fast. Efficient engineering is nearly mandatory because heat, not damage, is what limits it.
Multi-cannon: Kinetic rounds with a large ammunition pool, low heat and low distributor draw. Weak against shields, strong against hull, and forgiving of imperfect aim compared to fixed weapons.
Fragment Cannon: A short range shotgun that unloads enormous damage inside 500 metres and almost nothing beyond it. Reload cycles are punishing, so it rewards commanders who can hold a firing position.
Railgun: A charged fixed weapon that fires a single high penetration slug, well suited to sniping specific modules like power plants and drives. It demands accurate aim and generates heavy heat.
Plasma Accelerator: Slow moving projectiles carrying huge absolute damage against both shields and hull. Ammunition is limited and the projectiles need serious lead, so every miss is expensive.
Full breakdowns in our Elite Dangerous weapons guide.
Location Progression
| Location | Level Range | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Sol | Permit locked, Federal Navy rank required | Federal shipyard access, the Earth flyby every commander wants |
| Shinrarta Dezhra | Elite rank in any career | 10 percent discount on ships and modules at Jameson Memorial |
| Deciat | Early game, exploration rank Scout | Frame Shift Drive Increased Range up to grade 5 |
| Colonia | Mid game, requires a long range ship | Colonia engineers, a full station network far from the bubble |
| Sagittarius A* | Long range exploration | Exploration data payout, the game's most recognised destination |
Sol: Humanity's home system, permit locked behind a Federal Navy rank. Earth, Mars and the outer planets are all modelled, and it remains one of the most visited destinations in the bubble.
Shinrarta Dezhra: The Founders World system, permit granted when you reach Elite rank in combat, trade or exploration. Its Jameson Memorial station sells effectively everything at a discount.
Deciat: Home of Felicity Farseer, the Frame Shift Drive engineer and the single most important unlock in the game. Access needs exploration rank Scout and a donation of one Meta Alloy.
Colonia: The second inhabited region, roughly 22,000 light years from Sol and built out from Jaques Station after its famously botched jump. It has its own engineers and its own economy.
Sagittarius A:* The supermassive black hole at the galactic centre, about 25,900 light years from Sol. Reaching it is the standard long distance pilgrimage and takes days of jumping in a well built explorer.
See our maps & locations guide for detailed area breakdowns and our walkthrough for the optimal progression path.
Tips That Actually Matter
- Unlock Felicity Farseer in Deciat before any other engineer. She needs exploration rank Scout and a donation of one Meta Alloy, and a grade 5 Increased Range Frame Shift Drive changes every other activity you will ever do.
- Fuel is free once you know which stars to visit. Filter the galaxy map to scoopable classes, remembered as KGBFOAM for K, G, B, F, O, A and M, and plot routes through them so you never pay for refuelling again.
- Rebuy is roughly 5 percent of the total ship and module value and has to be paid in cash. Keep that amount liquid at all times, because losing an expensive build without the rebuy means starting again in a free Sidewinder.
- Shinrarta Dezhra unlocks when you hit Elite in combat, trade or exploration, and Jameson Memorial there sells ships and modules at a 10 percent discount. Grinding one career to Elite pays for itself across every ship you buy afterwards.
- The Detailed Surface Scanner earns far more than the initial system scan. Probe terraformable and Earth like worlds rather than jumping straight out, because a single mapped high value body can be worth millions on its own.
- On foot exobiology is the highest paying exploration work in the game. Take three samples of a species at the minimum separation the Genetic Sampler shows, and top tier finds like Stratum Tectonicas sell at Vista Genomics for close to 20 million credits.
- Interdictions are survivable if you decide early. To escape, throttle into the blue zone and follow the escape vector, and if you drop out anyway, boost, deploy chaff, then high wake to a different system rather than trying to outrun them in supercruise.
- Powerplay 2.0 rewards work inside your pledged Power's territory with merits, and merits unlock exclusive modules such as Prismatic Shields from Aisling Duval. Pledge deliberately rather than for the first Power that looks interesting.
- System colonisation arrived with the Trailblazers update and lets commanders claim unclaimed systems and build stations. It takes enormous amounts of hauling, so treat it as a squadron project rather than something to attempt solo.
- Fleet Carriers cost 5 billion credits plus weekly upkeep and jump 500 light years at a time. They are a logistics tool for established commanders, not a goal to chase in your first hundred hours.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Flying without the rebuy in the bank. Losing an expensive ship with no cash reserve drops you back into a free Sidewinder with nothing to rebuild from.
- A rating every module on a hauler. A rated power plants and thrusters add mass and cost on a ship whose only job is carrying cargo, and D rated core internals jump noticeably further.
- Skipping engineering because the material grind looks long. An unmodified Frame Shift Drive roughly halves your practical range and doubles the time every single trip takes.
- Treating supercruise as a straight line at constant speed. The 0.22 light year run to Hutton Orbital in Alpha Centauri takes well over an hour precisely because supercruise speed depends on distance to the target.
- Buying the biggest ship you can barely afford. A well outfitted Python or Krait Mk II earns more per hour than an Anaconda you cannot fit properly or insure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the galaxy in Elite Dangerous?
It is the Milky Way at 1:1 scale, roughly 400 billion star systems. Sagittarius A* sits about 25,900 light years from Sol, and Beagle Point on the far rim is around 65,000 light years out.
Do I need the Odyssey expansion?
Horizons content is included in the base game. Odyssey is the separate expansion that adds on foot gameplay, settlements and exobiology sampling, which is where much of the current exploration income comes from.
What is the best beginner ship?
The Cobra Mk III. It costs a few hundred thousand credits, carries cargo, fights adequately and jumps far enough to explore, so it covers every career while you decide which one you like.
Is Elite Dangerous still being updated?
Yes. Powerplay 2.0 reworked faction gameplay, the Trailblazers update added system colonisation, and Frontier has continued adding ships including the Panther Clipper Mk II.
How do I make money as a new commander?
Take on courier and cargo missions from a single station until you can afford a Cobra Mk III, then pick one career and specialise. Mining and exobiology both pay far better once you have engineered a ship for them.
More Elite Dangerous Guides
- Elite Dangerous Best Builds
- Elite Dangerous Tier List
- Elite Dangerous Walkthrough
- Elite Dangerous Beginner's Guide
- Elite Dangerous Tips & Tricks
- Elite Dangerous Weapons Guide
- Elite Dangerous Combat Guide
- Elite Dangerous Boss Guide
- Elite Dangerous Maps & Locations
- Elite Dangerous Crafting Guide
- Elite Dangerous Classes & Characters
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