¶ Basics of Space Combat Guide
Gain an understanding of ship maneuvering, targeting systems, and weaponry.
¶ Welcome to Space Combat in Elite Dangerous
Space is vast, unforgiving, and full of dangers. Whether you're a bounty hunter, a mercenary, or a pilot defending your home system, combat is an essential skill to master in Elite Dangerous. Unlike traditional arcade-style space shooters, combat in Elite Dangerous is a deep, physics-driven experience, requiring mastery of maneuvering, ship systems, and weapons.
This guide is designed to take new pilots from their first combat engagement to becoming seasoned dogfighters and ace pilots. You'll learn:
- How to control your ship effectively in combat
- The importance of power management and flight assist
- The best targeting strategies and subsystem attacks
- How to choose and optimize weapons for different combat situations
- Advanced tactics for PvE and PvP engagements
- Survival techniques when facing overwhelming odds
- How to upgrade and engineer your ship for maximum combat efficiency
Whether you’re defending your faction in Background Simulation (BGS) wars, hunting down wanted criminals for bounties, or engaging in high-risk PvP combat, the skills covered in this guide will help you survive, dominate, and thrive in the dangerous world of Elite Dangerous.
💡 Tip: Even the most experienced pilots started somewhere. Practice in low-stakes fights, experiment with ship builds, and always stay aware of your surroundings. A well-prepared pilot is a dangerous pilot.
Now, let's dive into the fundamentals of ship maneuvering, combat tactics, and space warfare!
¶ Mastering Ship Maneuvering
Ship maneuvering is one of the most important aspects of space combat. Mastering your ship’s movement will make you harder to hit and give you better positioning over enemies.
¶ Thruster Control
- Lateral & Vertical Thrusters: These allow for precise movements, such as dodging projectiles, lining up shots, or staying within an enemy’s blind spot.
- Use Boost Wisely: Boosting drains your engine capacitor but can be useful for closing gaps or quickly evading fire.
- Drifting with Flight Assist Off (FA Off): Flight Assist keeps your ship stable, but turning it off allows for momentum-based maneuvers. This is critical for dogfighting and outmaneuvering opponents.
¶ Pip Management (Power Distribution)
Power in Elite Dangerous is distributed between:
- SYS (Systems) – Strengthens shields and improves heat resistance.
- ENG (Engines) – Boosts speed and maneuverability.
- WEP (Weapons) – Powers your guns, lasers, and railguns.
Recommended Pip Settings in Combat
- General Dogfighting:
2 SYS / 4 ENG / 0 WEP(Dodge incoming fire, reposition) - Engaging an Enemy:
2 SYS / 2 ENG / 2 WEP(Balanced attack mode) - Defensive Mode:
4 SYS / 2 ENG / 0 WEP(Best when shields are taking damage) - All-Out Attack:
1 SYS / 1 ENG / 4 WEP(For finishing off an enemy) - Duck N Run:
2 SYS / 4 ENG / 0 WEP(For jumping out of a bad situation)
¶ Targeting & Combat Awareness
Your ability to track and engage enemies efficiently is just as important as piloting skills.
¶ Targeting Basics
- Primary Targeting: Select your enemy ship and lock on using your sensors.
- Sub-Targeting Modules: Targeting enemy ship modules like thrusters, shields, or power plants can disable or cripple an enemy.
¶ Using Sensors & Scanners
- Advanced Discovery Scanner (ADS) helps identify enemy signals at long range.
- Kill Warrant Scanner (KWS) reveals additional bounties on a target.
- Manifest & Wake Scanner can be useful for piracy or tracking enemy escape routes.
¶ Choosing the Right Weapons
Elite Dangerous features a variety of weapons, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
¶ Weapon Types
| Type | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Lasers | Good vs Shields | Poor vs Hull, Generates Heat |
| Kinetics | Good vs Hull | Ineffective vs Shields |
| Plasma/Explosive | High Damage | Slow Projectile Speed, Heat Build-Up |
¶ Best Weapon Loadouts (2025 Meta)
- Balanced Loadout (PvE & PvP): 2x Pulse Lasers + 2x Multi-Cannons (Shields & Hull)
- Shield Stripper: 2x Burst Lasers + 2x Railguns (Melts shields fast)
- Hull Breaker: Plasma Accelerators + Cannons (For heavy armor penetration)
- Interceptor Loadout: Frag Cannons + Missiles (Great for quick kills)
¶ Advanced Combat Techniques
¶ 1v1 Dogfighting Strategies
- Use FA Off Sparingly: Helps with tight turns but is harder to control.
- Circle Strafing: Move sideways and keep your reticle on the target.
- Boost Turns: Use boost while rolling to execute fast 180-degree turns.
¶ Group Combat & Wing Tactics
- Designated Tank & Damage Dealers: One player absorbs damage while others attack.
- Focus Fire: All pilots target the same module (e.g., power plant).
- Baiting Maneuvers: One pilot lures enemies into a trap while others ambush.
¶ Surviving & Escaping Combat
¶ High WAke vs Low Wake
- High Wake (Best Escape Method) – Jump to another system (Harder to mass-lock)
- Low Wake (Riskier) – Enter Supercruise in the same system (Can be mass-locked)
¶ Silent Running & Heat Sinks
- Silent Running makes you invisible to sensors but overheats your ship.
- Heat Sinks help avoid missile lock-ons and reduce your infrared signature.
¶ Upgrading Your Ship for Combat
To be effective in combat, upgrading your ship’s core components is essential.
- Thrusters (A-Rated) – Improve speed and maneuverability.
- Power Distributor – Allows faster energy regeneration.
- Hull Reinforcements & Shield Boosters – Increases survivability.
- Engineering Upgrades – Seek out Engineers to modify weapons, shields, and engines.
¶ Final Tips for Becoming an Elite Combat Pilot
✔ Join a Combat-Focused Squadron – Flying with experienced players will help you learn faster.
✔ Experiment with Loadouts – No single weapon setup works for every fight.
✔ Train in Combat Simulators – CQC (Close Quarters Combat) is a great way to sharpen your skills.
✔ Learn NPC Patterns – Elite-ranked NPCs use smarter tactics and can be great practice before PvP.
✔ Always Carry Shield Cells & Chaff – Defensive modules can save your life in a dogfight
Mastering combat in Elite Dangerous is a combination of:
- Skillful piloting
- Understanding targeting & weapon mechanics
- Optimizing your ship’s build
- Knowing when to engage or retreat
With time and practice, you’ll go from being an easy target to a feared combat pilot.
Return to the Combat Guide Hub.
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