In this comprehensive mining guide for Star Citizen 4.2, Loud Guns provides an in-depth overview of ship mining using the Argo Mole, Misque Prospector, and Drake Golem. The video starts by outlining the mining cycle: launching your ship, scouting and scanning for valuable rocks, mining by breaking down large rocks into smaller pieces, safely returning to base, and refining the raw materials into sellable commodities. The guide emphasizes that mining is a well-developed gameplay loop with opportunities for solo and multi-crew play, and it remains a valuable profession both for earning in-game currency and for future crafting and base-building demands.
Loud Guns categorizes minable materials into tiers based on their value, with S-tier materials like Quantanium, Rite, and Stellaron being the most sought after, followed by Tier 1 and Tier 2 materials, and finally low-value Tier 3 materials that players generally want to avoid. He stresses the importance of location choice, recommending surface mining on moons such as Selin for better cluster density and material variety, while also cautioning about popular hotspots attracting pirates. The website regalith.rocks is highlighted as an essential tool for locating specific mineral-rich areas and refining strategies based on material composition and rock properties like density, resistance, and instability.
The guide then delves into the specifics of mining ships and equipment. The Prospector is praised for solo mining with its versatile loadout options, while the Golem offers compact size and a larger laser but limited customization. The Mole stands out as a multi-crew powerhouse with three size-two lasers and high cargo capacity, ideal for coordinated mining operations. Loud Guns discusses various mining lasers and modules, explaining their effects on rock resistance, instability, and charge windows, and recommending loadouts tailored for different playstyles and rock types. Gadgets like the Seabir and Optimax are recommended for further enhancing mining efficiency, alongside essential personal gear for protection against threats.
Practical mining techniques are demonstrated using the Prospector, including scanning for rocks, analyzing their composition and breaking them down carefully to maximize yield while managing laser power and charge levels. The guide covers strategies for handling high-risk materials like Quantanium, which has a timed instability mechanic requiring careful planning. Returning to base involves evasive maneuvers to avoid pirates, unloading ore for refining, and selecting the optimal refining process to maximize profits. Loud Guns also introduces advanced mining operations involving remote cargo ships for faster turnaround times and multi-crew coordination to tackle larger rocks more efficiently.
In conclusion, Loud Guns expresses his passion for the industrial side of Star Citizen and encourages viewers to explore mining not just as a money-making activity but as a core gameplay loop with long-term potential. He highlights the evolving player-driven economy and the future arrival of larger mining ships, urging players to learn and enjoy mining with friends. The video closes with thanks to the community and an invitation to support the channel, reinforcing the idea that mining is both a rewarding and social experience within the Star Citizen universe.
