This Star Citizen mining guide provides a comprehensive overview for players looking to gather materials through mining, covering ships, equipment, techniques, and refining methods. The guide starts by introducing the three main mining ships: the Gollum, Prospector, and Mole. The Gollum is the smallest and cheapest, suitable for beginners or scouting in group mining but has limited upgrade options. The Prospector is favored by solo professional miners, offering customizable mining bags and lasers. The Mole is a multi-crew ship with large cargo capacity and multiple mining lasers, ideal for group mining but can be used solo with some effort.
The guide details recommended mining laser loadouts for each ship, emphasizing experimentation based on personal preference and available credits. For the Gollum, combinations like the RER 3 and Focus 3 modules work well, while the Prospector benefits from lasers like Hoffsteed or Impact paired with specific modules. The Mole typically uses a mix of powerful, medium, and support lasers to handle various rock sizes and mining tasks. It also advises equipping mining gadgets such as wave shift, optimax, bormax, and saber to modify rock properties and make mining easier.
Before heading out, players should upgrade their Prospector with Mole mining bags for increased cargo, equip mining gadgets, and prepare for environmental hazards by dressing appropriately. Essential tools include a tractor beam, repair tool, med pens, sidearm, and sustenance. Upgrading ship components like the quantum drive and stealth modules can improve travel speed and reduce detection risk. The guide recommends starting mining on moons around Stanton or asteroid fields, using the star map and personal notes to track ore locations since official data may be outdated.
Mining involves scanning rocks to evaluate difficulty, contents, and stability. Players must carefully manage laser power and distance to fracture rocks without overcharging and causing explosions that damage the ship and waste materials. Fractured rocks break into smaller fragments that require extraction or further fracturing. Mining gadgets can be attached to rocks to reduce difficulty, but require manual setup and activation outside the ship. The guide warns about bugs with unscannable rocks and advises switching servers if issues persist.
Once the ship is full, players unload ore at a refinery, detach mining bags using a tractor beam, and send ore to storage. Refineries offer various refining methods with different yields and costs; players should choose the highest yield option to maximize materials for crafting or sale. Inert ore can be sold separately. Refining jobs take time, during which players can continue mining. The guide concludes by encouraging viewers to share tips, like and subscribe, and thanks supporters, wishing everyone safe flights in the verse.
