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 walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Sol | Frame Shift Drive travel basics | Bounty hunter | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Shinrarta Dezhra | Ship outfitting and rebuy mastery | Bounty hunter | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Deciat | Engineering modifications + gear | Trader or Bounty hunter | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Colonia | Build optimization | Trader | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Sagittarius A* | Min-max | Trader or Exobiologist | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (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.
Level/Difficulty: Permit locked, Federal Navy rank required Key Rewards: Federal shipyard access, the Earth flyby every commander wants
What to Do in Sol
- Learn Frame Shift Drive travel. One drive handles both hyperspace jumps between systems and supercruise inside them. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Bounty hunter as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- 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.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Multi-cannon or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Frame Shift Drive travel fundamentals
- Bounty hunter selected and functional
- Sol main content cleared
- Ready for Shinrarta Dezhra
Phase 2: Early Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Elite rank in any career Key Rewards: 10 percent discount on ships and modules at Jameson Memorial
What to Do in Shinrarta Dezhra
- Work on 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. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Multi-cannon if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- 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.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Deciat.
- Consider whether Trader might suit your playstyle better than Bounty hunter.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Ship outfitting and rebuy integrated into gameplay
- Multi-cannon acquired
- Shinrarta Dezhra fully cleared
- Ready for Deciat
Phase 3: Mid Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Early game, exploration rank Scout Key Rewards: Frame Shift Drive Increased Range up to grade 5
What to Do in Deciat
- Master Engineering modifications. Engineers upgrade modules in exchange for materials and reputation, and each one has an unlock condition. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Beam Laser. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- 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.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Exploration scanning for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Engineering modifications mastered
- Beam Laser acquired or in progress
- Deciat fully cleared
- Ready for Colonia
Phase 4: Late Game (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.
Level/Difficulty: Mid game, requires a long range ship Key Rewards: Colonia engineers, a full station network far from the bubble
What to Do in Colonia
- Finalize your build. You should be running Trader or Bounty hunter with optimized gear.
- Beam Laser should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- 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.
- Background Simulation and Powerplay optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Sagittarius A*.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Beam Laser upgraded to max
- Colonia fully cleared
- Ready for Sagittarius A*
Phase 5: Endgame (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.
Level/Difficulty: Long range exploration Key Rewards: Exploration data payout, the game's most recognised destination
What to Do in Sagittarius A*
- Sagittarius A tests everything.* Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- 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.
- The endgame loop: run Sagittarius A*, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Exobiologist for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Background Simulation and Powerplay mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Sagittarius A* fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- 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.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More Elite Dangerous Guides
- Elite Dangerous Elite Dangerous Overview
- Elite Dangerous Best Builds
- Elite Dangerous Tier List
- 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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