The video assesses prospector mining on Ariel in Star Citizen post-patch 4.7, concluding that while the moon offers a diverse range of ores, the prevalence of low-value materials and scarcity of high-value ores like quantanium limits its profitability for credit-focused miners. However, Ariel remains a valuable source for players seeking abundant crafting materials, making it suitable for those prioritizing resource gathering over maximum profit.
In this video, the creator evaluates whether prospector mining on Ariel in Star Citizen is worthwhile following the ore redistribution in patch 4.7. Ariel features a diverse mix of ores including quantanium, orite, corundum, heestanite, tin, and aluminum, with quantanium and orite being the only high-value ores. However, the abundance of low-tier ores like tin and aluminum dilutes the overall value, making it challenging to find significant quantities of the more lucrative ores. The creator uses the Helix One mining tool with double focus three modules, which proves effective, but the scarcity of high-value ores limits its impact.
During the mining session, the creator encounters a lot of low-value ores such as corundum, tin, and aluminum, with very little quantanium. Despite this, orite is found in decent quantities and yields a respectable payout. The creator experiments with mining techniques and gadgets to maximize the yield, successfully breaking down and collecting a substantial amount of ore. The session ends with a cargo hold nearly full, mostly with lower-tier ores but supplemented by some orite, resulting in a total haul worth over 430,000 UEC.
One of the key takeaways is that Ariel’s large ore pool works against miners aiming for high-value materials because it results in frequent encounters with low-tier ores. The absence of harvestable resources, however, makes scanning cleaner and easier compared to other moons, which is a positive quality-of-life aspect. The mining setup used is well-suited for the moon’s ore distribution, but the limited presence of valuable ores like quantanium reduces the overall efficiency for credit-focused miners.
The verdict given is nuanced: for players focused on maximizing credits per hour by mining high-value ores, Ariel is not recommended. Other locations like Aberdine offer more reliable access to quantanium and orite, making them better choices for efficient profit. Conversely, for players seeking to gather low-tier materials for crafting or mission requirements, Ariel is highly valuable due to its abundance of aluminum, corundum, and tin. In this context, Ariel serves as a reliable source of essential crafting materials despite its poor credit yield.
The creator invites viewers to share their own experiences and opinions about mining on Ariel and the current state of patch 4.8.1, including whether recent updates have improved or worsened gameplay. They also encourage engagement through comments and likes, highlighting the ongoing community discussion around mining strategies and game updates. Overall, the video provides an honest, experience-based assessment that helps players decide if Ariel fits their mining goals in Star Citizen.