¶ Flight Combat
Welcome to the ultimate guide hub for flight combat in Elite Dangerous. Learn about ship builds, combat tactics, bounty hunting, and survival strategies.
¶ Overview
As a fighter, your role is diverse, and your intentions define your path. Will you take contracts as a mercenary in war zones or hunt high-value bounties? Are you an assassin tracking dangerous fugitives, a guardian protecting traders, or a pirate preying on the weak? Perhaps you're a veteran warrior fighting for your Powerplay faction.
No single ship or build defines success—only your skills, strategy, and adaptability determine the outcome of battle.
¶ Combat Roles
Fighter – Balanced and nimble, these ships favor energy weapons and large shields to stay in the fight longer.
Tank – Built for maximum durability, these ships absorb damage over prolonged battles while wearing down opponents.
Hunter – Fast and lethal, these ships strike hard and disengage quickly, excelling in one-on-one engagements.
Stealth – Specialized for invisible assassinations, these ships use radar evasion and speed to avoid detection.
Interceptor – Designed for supercruise interdiction, these ships deliver devastating burst damage in hit-and-run attacks.
Torpedo Specialist – Armed with explosive ordnance, these ships disable enemies by crippling shields and key systems.
Support – Focused on repair, regeneration, and battlefield utility, these ships keep allies in the fight longer.
Pirate – Targeting traders for their cargo, pirates rely on precision and speed to plunder before law enforcement arrives. They use hatch breaker limpets or direct weapon attacks to force cargo drops.
Mercenary – Contracted for battle, mercenaries fight in conflict zones to support factions, either as loyal warriors or hired guns.
Assassin – Tracking high-value targets, assassins operate solo or in squads to eliminate fugitives and claim large bounties. PvP assassins are skilled in duels and high-risk engagements.
Bounty Hunter – Actively scanning and eliminating wanted criminals in space, at resource extraction sites, and beyond. PvP bounties are capped at 2M Cr.
Guardian – Defending Powerplay factions and player-controlled systems, Guardians engage in prolonged battles to protect assets from enemy incursions. Powerplay bounties cap at 6M Cr with a Kill Warrant Scanner.
AX Fighter – Equipped to battle Thargoids, these specialized combatants take the fight to humanity’s alien adversaries.
No matter your path, combat in Elite Dangerous is shaped by your choices. Adapt, evolve, and dominate the battlefield.
¶ Guides
Find detailed guides on how to get started with flight combat, ship builds, combat tactics, bounty hunting, and survival strategies.
¶ Massacre Stacking
Learn how to stack pirate missions to make millions and materials.
¶ Getting Started with Combat
Learn the basics of space combat, from ship maneuvering to targeting systems.
¶ Bounty Hunting
Tips and strategies for tracking and eliminating wanted targets.
¶ Power Management & Priorities
Learn how to correctly prioritize your modules to keep your ship’s power in check.
¶ Conflict Zones
Learn how to survive and dominate in faction warfare zones.
¶ Best Combat Ship Builds
Optimize your ship loadout for different combat roles.
¶ Tools and Resources
Utilize these tools to enhance your combat performance:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Inara Combat Rankings | Track combat stats and bounty payouts. |
| Coriolis Ship Builder | Design and optimize your combat ship builds |
| E:D Shipyard | Design and optimize your combat ship builds. |
| ED Tools | A tool for finding good sources of PVE "Massacre pirates" missions. |
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