In this video, Land Guns provides a focused guide on the best mining ship loadouts in Star Citizen, emphasizing efficient setups to maximize mining output and handle different rock types. While not a full mining tutorial, the video supplements his main mining guide by concentrating on ship configurations, particularly for the Argo Mole, a multi-crew mining vessel that offers superior power and flexibility compared to the solo-focused Drake Golem and MISC Prospector. The Argo Mole’s advantage lies in its ability to equip multiple size two mining lasers, which have higher base power than the size one lasers found on smaller ships, allowing it to tackle larger rocks more effectively.
The core build Land Guns recommends for the Argo Mole, dubbed the “Trident,” centers around a powerful Helix two laser in the central turret. The Helix is the strongest laser available, offering a 30% resistance reduction but requires close proximity to the rock and has a high minimum power level, making it ideal as the primary cracking laser. He pairs this with a Rega C3 passive module to boost power by 25%, alongside two consumable surge modules that temporarily increase power by 50% each, allowing for short bursts of up to 150% power and significant resistance reduction. This setup is also adaptable for the Prospector and Golem, with appropriate laser swaps.
For the Mole’s side lasers, Land Guns suggests complementing the Helix with more precise lasers for secondary breaks. He favors the Hofstede two for its balance of power, resistance reduction, and a large green zone that improves control, enhanced by a passive Focus three module to extend the green zone further. The third laser recommended is the Kline S2, which excels in cutting resistance by 45%, making it invaluable for mining highly resistant materials like Serilium and Larinite. Although the Kline increases instability, this is manageable with skill and is outweighed by its ability to break tough rocks, especially in duo mining setups.
In cases where finesse is more critical than raw power, such as mining unstable Auratite, Land Guns advises swapping the Kline for an Arbor two laser. The Arbor offers the lowest minimum power for fine control and reduces instability by 35%, although it slightly increases resistance, which can be beneficial for unstable rocks by effectively lowering the power applied. He enhances this setup with two Focus three modules to maximize the green zone, making it easier to handle delicate secondary cracks. This configuration is less suitable for the Prospector or Golem but works well on the Mole, where lasers can be quickly swapped out thanks to its large cargo capacity and unlocked ports.
Finally, Land Guns highlights the importance of mining gadgets like the Sabre, which can be attached to rocks to reduce resistance by 50% and increase the green zone, further aiding in difficult breaks. He encourages viewers to experiment with these loadouts, adapt to their specific needs, and join community mining events through his Discord link. The video concludes with a call to support the channel and an invitation to check out the full mining guide for a comprehensive understanding of the mining gameplay loop.
