An Elite Dangerous ship build.

Goals

Create a ship to:

1. Subsurface (using a Sub-Surface Displacement Missile), surface (Abrasion Blaster) and core (Seismic Charge Laucher) mine asteroids.
2. Reach distant stations and outposts to sell refined minerals at the best price. This goal requires a medium ship but is not relevant if you have a fleet carrier. 
3. Be manoeuvrable enough to efficiently mine rotating asteroids. Subsurface mining a rotating asteroid is particularly challenging. This goal precludes most large ships. 
4. Laser mine when a prospector limpet shows the asteroid contains desirable minerals. A large ship with its copious cargo capacity is better suited for laser mining. However, this goal can help before purchasing one or when being opportunistic.
5. Survive a pirate attack long enough to outrun them or escape to supercruise. This goal does not include mining in a resource extraction site. It is more for accidents or logging back in during a mining session.
6. Unlike previous builds, can require unlockable modules.

Build

Links: EDSY and Coriolis (have your preferred one open as you read the guide for easy reference)

Once again, the Python is the best general-purpose medium ship. Its additional size six slot over a Krait Mk II gives 64 T of extra cargo space when the Krait’s greater speed and agility are not needed. It has ample hardpoints for mining tools and optional internal slots for limpet controllers.

This build is not a good choice for mining in resource extraction sites. The Python cannot equip a fighter bay. The build would need to sacrifice some hardpoints for weapons, limiting the types of mining it could do.

Mining:

1. Mining tools: This build has two mining lasers and one of everything else.
2. Weapon Focused Power Distributor: Most mining tools cannot be engineered. However, a Weapon Focused Power Distributor allows Mining Lasers to fire longer. This reduces the time it takes to deplete an asteroid, meaning faster laser mining.
3. Collector Limpet Controllers: Three collector limpets per large mining laser is a good “rule of thumb” for efficient fragment collection. This build has the slots for lighter, separate limpet controllers instead of a single multi-limpet controller.
4. Cargo space: Use the larger slots for Cargo Racks and the smaller slots for limpet controllers and a refinery. The 196 T cargo space should be enough to exhaust the ammunition of the mining hardpoints.
5. Refinery: Most mining is for a specific mineral, so this build uses a 2A Refinery. You do not need a large Refinery unless you mine for multiple minerals simultaneously.
6. Detailed Surface Scanner: A Detailed Surface Scanner probes rings for hotspots or to see hotspots revealed previously.
7. Fuel Scoop: Used to get to remote mining locations or sell at distant stations and outposts.

Defence:

1. Prismatic Shields: Unless you slow down by hitting asteroids, this ship only needs shields when attacked. A Prismatic Shield Generator provides the best protection.
2. Poor Armour: This build eschews bulkheads and hull reinforcements for agility and other internal modules.
3. Run: This ship does not fight. It runs, using its shields to protect it long enough to high wake out or jump to supercruise. It boosts up to 474 meters per second with a full cargo hold, outrunning all NPC pirates.

Variations

1. Mining tools: Adjust the hardpoints as needed. For example, if you plan to core mine only, replace the Sub-Surface Displacement Missile with a second Seismic Charge Launcher. Firing two provides no benefit, but switching from one to the other after exhausting the first’s ammunition keeps you mining longer.
2. Lazy Engineering: You could use the guardian hybrid versions instead of engineering the Power Plant and Power Distributor. The Guardian Hybrid Power Distributor will not allow the Mining Lasers to fire as long. The Guardian Hybrid Power Plant will generate more heat, making fuel scooping harder. However, neither are critical for this build and it saves the engineering materials and effort.
3. Sensors: If you want more visibility on pirates when you jump into a ring, consider upgrading the sensors to a class A.
4. Short Range: Replace the 4A Fuel Scoop with a 4E Cargo Rack if you have a fleet carrier or will otherwise not be jumping far.

Tactics

1. Fire groups: Have one fire group for laser mining. Put the Prospector Limpet Controller on one button and both the Collector Limpet Controller and Mining Lasers on the other. Putting both collector limpets and mining lasers together means collector limpets are released when you fire the mining lasers. Create fire groups for different mining activities, such as one with a Pulse Wave Analyzer and Prospector Limpet Controller, then one with an Abrasion Blaster and Seismic Charge Launcher.
2. Mining: Mining is covered by guides from elsewhere. Mining with team- or wingmates can make the otherwise repetitive mining more enjoyable.
3. Pip management: Mining is best with four pips to weapons and two in engines. You should not need shields. Just be careful not to outrun or crash into your prospector limpets.

An Elite Dangerous ship build.

Goals

Create a ship that:

1. Relies on fixed weapons. Unaffected by chaff and with a higher damage output than comparable gimballed weapons, fixed weapons force the commander to earn kills by better piloting and shot timing.
2. Unlike previous builds, can require unlockable modules.

Build

Links: EDSY and Coriolis (have your preferred one open as you read the guide for easy reference)

The Fer-de-Lance’s close, centred hardpoints, collectively called “convergence”, and manoeuvrability make it ideal for fixed weapons. It is the archetypical dedicated combat ship. With styling reminiscent of the Flash Gordon era, its V8-like engine purr is unmistakable.

There are few comparable ships. The Mamba’s hardpoints are further apart, making landing all weapons on small targets difficult. It sacrifices the required agility for speed. The Vulture, Chieftain and Federal Assault Ship all have good hardpoint placement but are lighter ships.

When outfitting, use the two top medium hardpoints for Plasma Accelerators, not the lower ones. The two lower medium hardpoints are too wide. Use them for Rail Guns.

I demonstrate an early version of this build in a Low Intensity Conflict Zone below. The build shown in the video, about two years old complete with Horizons era graphics, had Long Range Rail Guns with Multi-Services for rapid, long range tagging and Bi-Weave shields. My pip management is also lacklustre.

Offence:

1. Plasma Accelerators: As with the Python mission build, Plasma Accelerators are equally wonderful and frustrating weapons. They do a mix of thermal, kinetic and absolute damage. This mix means they damage shields and hull similarly. It is hard to mitigate their damage via increasing resistances. Plasma Accelerators have an “Armour Piercing” value of 100, meaning they do full damage to all existing playable ships. However, Plasma Accelerator shot speed is slow, requiring deflection shooting. Their reload times are long, and ammunition is limited and expensive. They generate lots of heat, making repeated firing dangerous, and pull a lot of energy from the Power Distributor.
2. Efficient blueprint: Using the Efficient blueprint on Plasma Accerlators counters their heat and power problems while giving a slight damage increase. It means reload times constrain Plasma Accelerator use, not heat, so you can use them like more common weapons. They become beginner friendly.
3. Rail Guns: Like the Plasma Accelerators, Rail Guns do thermal and kinetic damage and have an “Armor Piercing” value of 100. They require a short warm-up before firing but are “hit scan” weapons, meaning they hit whatever the gunsight points. They are similar to Guardian Gauss if you are used to sniping Thargoid Interceptor hearts.
4. Short Range blueprint: Rail guns’ damage is comparatively low. Short Range increases their damage by around 75%, turning them into viable weapons. It limits their range, but this build already has to get close to be effective.
5. Rail Gun experimental effects: Feedback Cascade disrupts the use of shield cell banks. Hitting a target’s shields using a shield cell bank damages the shield cell bank and decreases its regeneration time. Super Penetrator damages all modules on the shot’s trajectory on a breach, not just the first one. It is particularly effective when hitting the front or back of a target, usually when soloing.
6. Thermal Conduit experimental effect: Plasma Accelerators with Thermal Conduit do more damage the hotter you are. Balancing heat and the resulting damage versus damage output is a challenging but rewarding metagame for this build.
7. Power (Pip) management: Getting the most from the Fer-de-Lance requires active pip management, such as putting pips to engines when pursuing enemies, then into systems when not firing. Continuously firing the three Plasma Accelerators requires three pips in weapons. Otherwise, I use one pip in engines and the rest spread equally between systems and weapons.
8. Graphics: This build demonstrates the different graphics used to show engineered weapons, such as the blue Feedback Cascade rounds or the sun-like plasma globes from hot Thermal Conduit Plasma Accelerators. Apart from looking cool, they help show which weapon hits or misses or when experimental effects occur.

Defence:

1. Prismatic shields: Assuming you are not engaging too many wings or small ships, ammunition will usually run out before shields. A reinforced Prismatic Shield Generator with Hi-Cap is ideal.
2. Resistances: Two Thermal Resistance Shield Boosters with Thermo Block counteract shields’ innate weakness to thermal weapons. The build is effectively immune to explosive and kinetic weapons.
3. Chaff sparingly: Use chaff if you engage a wing, must disengage, or shields are low. Otherwise, your shields should protect you.
4. Speed and agility: This build can boost to 540 meters per second. While not as fast as the Mamba build, it will still outrun most ships when things get hairy.

Variations

1. Focused or Long Range Plasma Accelerators: Changing the blueprint on the Plasma Accelerators to one that increases shot speed is tempting. This change makes aiming easier. However, the increased heat build-up means repeatedly firing the Plasma Accelerators will quickly overheat the ship, causing lots of module damage. These blueprints risk turning the build into a single engagement build.
2. Phasing Sequence: If you prefer not fighting at high heat levels needed to leverage Thermal Conduit, consider Phasing Sequence (10% damage bypasses shields). 
3. Automated Field Maintenance Unit (AFMU) and Heat Sinks: If you regularly use high heat levels, consider swapping one of the Hull Reinforcement modules for an AFMU. This module can repair damaged modules between fights, increasing longevity. Replace a Heavy Duty Shield Booster with a Heat Sink for fast cooling, if needed.
4. FSD Interdictor: Swap out the FSD Interdictor if you are not doing assassination missions or Power Play merit farming.
5. Advanced Plasma Accelerators and Imperial Hammers: The Power Play versions of both weapons are interesting but not better. Advanced Plasma Accelerators have a higher rate of fire. Imperial Hammers are better if you must land an experimental effect. However, you must land all three shots to get the increased damage output.
6. PvP builds: PvP is not my expertise. However, this build is not too far from a PvP build. You can use different experimental effects on the Plasma Accelerators, such as Dispersal Field (reduce gimballed weapons accuracy) and Target Lock Breaker (break target lock). 

Solo Tactics

1. Different fire groups: Place the Rail Gains and Plasma Accelerators in separate fire groups. You rarely fire the hit scan rail guns and deflection shooting Plasma Accelerators simultaneously.
2. Favour larger or less agile targets: Fixed weapons are harder to aim. The slow shot speed of Plasma Accelerators makes them impractical at long ranges. Choose targets that emphasize the build’s strengths. The Long Range Sensors can help find them.
3. Close range brawler: Get close to the target, throttling up if they are far away, then down into the blue once they are in range. The closer you are, the less time your target has to dodge. Leverage the default jousting behaviour to line up a rail gun shot then a plasma shot each pass. If you cannot get a plasma shot off, pre-turn to reveal the target’s larger-profile top or below view. Getting behind a target and matching their speed is ideal but challenging to maintain.
4. Same weapons against shields and hull: Unlike most ship builds, this build does not require using different weapons against shields and hulls. The Plasma Accelerators and Rail Guns have the same damage profile against both.
5. Patience: Fixed weapons are more difficult to use than gimballed weapons. Plasma Accelerators have a long reload time, so only take shots when confident. You will improve with time. 
6. Heat management: The Thermal Conduit experimental effect on the Plasma Accelerators gives you an option to increase damage output at the expense of heat and resulting heat damage. To increase your heat and, therefore Plasma Accelerator damage output, alternate rail gun and plasma rounds. If you do not hear heat warning sirens, your heat is too low. 
7. Watch ammunition: All weapons on this build require ammunition, and Plasma Accelerators have a low ammunition capacity. For example, this build should have enough when soloing a low-intensity conflict zone but may be insufficient for soloing medium- or high-intensity ones. While synthesizing it is possible, the material cost is high. The Plasma Slug experimental effect is not worth it due to the Fer-de-Lance’s small fuel tank. 
8. Shorter sessions: Many previous builds allowed an almost constant stream of fighting, like the Healing Krait Mk II PvE healing build. This build shifts to more intense sessions with frequent breaks between them. 

Team or Wing Tactics

1. “Damage dealer” role: Fixed weapons are less reliable than gimballed for damage output. Therefore, this build is better suited to damage dealing than tanking. A teammate can draw an enemy’s attention, allowing you to get above or below the target. This angle reveals their larger, easier to hit profile. Go full Thermal Conduit if your team engages one too many larger ships.
2. Anti-shield cell bank: Teammates will appreciate you using the Feedback Cascade experimental effect against enemies using shield cell banks. 

Goals

Create a ship to handle solo mission running, usually to move minor faction influence or increase superpower reputation. This build needs to:

1. Land at stations and outposts. This effectively requires a medium-sized ship.
2. Handle cargo loads of at least 196 T. This size is the largest a non-wing cargo mission requires. It also makes a viable, if suboptimal, medium pad trader.
3. Complete non-cargo missions, including smuggling, theft and scanning, in space and on planet surfaces. This means various limpet controllers and a planetary vehicle hanger. 
4. Defeat pirates likely sent after a high-rank pilot. These are usually large, sluggish targets like Anacondas or Federal Corvettes. This requires weapons and shields, unlike many weapon-less and shield-less builds.
5. Handle high-end assassination missions against the same targets as mentioned above. If you can defend against elite pirates, why not add a few assassination missions? This requires an FSD interdictor and, possibly, a wake scanner.
6. Gather engineering materials, such as from High Grade Emission signal sources or scanning wake signals at Distribution Centres. This is a bonus use emerging out of the above requirements.

Build

Links: EDSY or Coriolis (have your preferred one open as you read the guide for easy reference)

The Python is an excellent choice. It can land on a medium pad but has ample optional internal slots, high firepower and strong armour. A Krait Mk II lacks a class six slot, hurting its cargo carrying capacity. Combat-focused medium ships lack sufficient internal space, such as the Fer-de-Lance or Mamba.

However, general or multi-purpose builds are more challenging than specific purpose builds. Prioritization is vital because you rarely can do everything. The missions available in your favourite systems or personal preference also may dictate change. 

Utility:

1. Cargo: Cargo racks dominate the optional internal slots, totalling 200 T. This is enough to carry the required 196 T and a few limpets or extra cargo.
2. Operations Multi Limpet Controller: Surprisingly, the cargo racks constrain the optional internal slots. The 3B Operations Multi Limpet Controller provides collector, hatch breaker and recon limpets in a single slot. It facilitates a broad range of missions and material gathering uses. The choice of 3B versus 3C is not clear cut, but I prefer the 3B for its longer range.
3. Assassination: The 3A Frame Shift Drive Interdictor and 0A Frame Shift Wake Scanner allow pulling targets out of supercruise, such as for assassination or theft missions, and following them if they high wake out, respectively. The Expanded Capture Arc blueprint on the FSD interdictor can interdict targets from the side, but Longer Range can also be effective. Long Range on the Frame Shift Wake Scanner makes it much easier to scan wake signals with such a relatively slow ship, including encoded material gathering.
4. Planetary Vehicle Hanger: SRVs are vital for surface missions or surface material gathering. Carry a spare or both a Scarab and a Scorpion.
5. Advanced Docking Computer: This module is worth it when repeatedly docking or playing when distracted.
6. Power Priorities: The fitted modules exceed the Power Plant’s capacity. This build moves the Planetary Vehicle Hanger, FSD interdictor and Advanced Docking Computer to the lowest priority, meaning deploying hardpoints shuts down modules not needed during combat.

Offence:

1. Broad choice: Just about every weapon loadout is viable. However, given the intended targets, this is a chance to try out something fun and unusual. Adjust to taste or your place in the game’s progression. For example, consider a laser/multicannon build if you fight smaller or more agile opponents.
2. Plasma accelerators: Plasma Accelerators with Efficient are highly effective at damaging large ships. The intended targets cannot dodge, chaff and ECM are ineffective, and plasma’s high Armour Piercing values negate their high armour. Plasma Accelerators are effective against turrets for surface missions but struggle against agile skimmers. Many Plasma Accelerator experimental effects are only consequential in PVP, so Oversized is a good fallback choice.
3. Seeker missiles: This is an arbitrary but fun choice. High Capacity ensures it takes a while to run out of ammunition and the Thermal Cascade experimental effect does something impactful on a shield hit. Useful for smaller targets or at range. Remember that missiles take time to lock on and a have minimum range of 500m. Consider the double engineered versions from a technology broker. Drag Munitions are also a useful option.

Defence:

1. Bi-Weave shields: Nothing special here. This build still has a class six shield generator, despite the temptation to use a smaller shield to free up larger slots for cargo racks.
2. Weak without shields: This build lacks hull and module reinforcements. It is vulnerable when its shields drop, particularly to explosive damage. Flee if outnumbered or outgunned.

Variations

1. Swap surface capability for longer operational range: Replace the planetary vehicle hanger with a 4A Fuel Scoop, then use the Plasma Slug experimental effect on the Plasma Accelerators. This change gives the build a longer reach, useful for long-distance cargo missions or accessing engineers. It also extends the build’s combat life and reduces ammunition costs. Use this variation if you have an alternate ship for surface missions.
2. Plasma accelerators: Focused is an alternate blueprint, unincreasing their shot speed and, therefore, accuracy. However, heat management may be a problem.

Solo Tactics

1. Choose when to fight: Apart from assassination missions, fighting is optional in most missions. NPC interdictions are easily escapable. However, combat can be fun or lucrative. Redeeming bounty vouchers improves minor faction influence. This build is not a dedicated combat ship but gives you options.
2. Ignore lighter ships and fighters: Plasma accelerators will have difficulty hitting faster or more agile targets. Ignore them. Missiles can help but it takes a lot of missiles to take down even a small target.
3. Batch missions to the same location for efficiency: For example, if you have a cargo mission delivering to a particular station, look for missions going to the same station to minimize travel time.
4. Batch similar mission types for efficiency: For example, elections often spawn missions to capture cargo from other ships. Repeating the same mission type means you will not forget limpets and your time efficiency will increase.

Wing or Team Tactics

1. None: This build is for running missions solo. Large ships are better for wing missions. This build does not need other commanders protecting it. You can wing up, such as for casual conversation or sharing trade dividends, but other builds are usually superior for the wing’s purpose.

Goals

Create a ship to:

1. Get the commander to/from on-foot missions introduced with Odyssey. This requirement includes transporting an SRV (for mission support or raw material gathering) and a Detailed Surface Scanner (for finding points of interest).
2. Endure a sustained assault from on-foot enemies. This requirement ensures you can complete mission goals rather than rushing back to defend your ship.
3. Land at every surface settlement, outpost or station, effectively requiring a small ship. 
4. Provide fire support to kill scavengers and other ground enemies.
5. Have a fast boost speed. The build should reach supercruise distance quickly for material farming or escaping hostile ships.
6. Have a reasonable jump range and a Fuel Scoop for travelling to on-foot engineers or distant missions.

Build

Links: EDSY and Coriolis (have your preferred one open as you read the guide for easy reference)

An iconic Elite Dangerous ship, the Cobra Mk III tends to get left behind once bigger or more specialized ships are available. However, its small size, ample optional internal space and speed make it ideal.

If you lack a Diamondback Explorer, this build’s reasonable jump range (30 LY, more with the double engineered 4A FSD), high supercruise manoeuvrability, and ability to land anywhere make it a good “taxi” build. 

Defence:

1. Prismatic Shields: This build will not need shields until it desperately needs them. A Prismatic Shield with Reinforced and Hi-Cap boosted with Guardian Shield Reinforcement Packages provides the highest protection. Engineered Shield Boosters counteract the usual shield thermal weakness. These give just under 1000 absolute shield strength, a behemoth for its size.
2. Overcharged Power Plant: This build uses the Overcharged blueprint on the Power Plant to power the Prismatic Shields and, even then, only if many modules are unpowered when deploying hardpoints. Power priority management is essential.
3. Heat: This build uses the Thermal Spead experimental effect on the Power Plant instead of Monstered to minimize heat when fuel scooping. However, avoiding overheating still requires care.
4. Minimize weight: This is not a combat ship. While it uses a single 2D Hull Reinforcement package, Lightweight Alloy bulkheads maximize its speed.

Offence:

1. Ground attack: The Advanced Missile Racks can provide area explosive damage when your ground mission area is swarming with scavengers or guards. The Cobra Mk III’s two medium hardpoints are surprisingly far apart, compared to a human scale, but usable. No experimental effects are consequential, but Flow Control can help with the power deficit.
2. Beam Lasers: The beam lasers are helpful against skimmers or SRVs but little else. Grade 1 Long Range is all that is required to keep you out of range, but Efficient is also an option. No experimental effects are consequential, but Flow Control can help with the power deficit.

Utility:

1. Double SRV bay: This can transport both a Scarab and a Scorpion or two of your favourite kind of SRV. Dropping down to a 2G does not give any significant advantage.
2. Advanced Docking Computer: Odyssey added the ability to auto-land on planet surfaces. This module allows easy landing when distracted or on uneven terrain near surface points of interest.

Variants

1. Attainability: This build is cheap at only around 12 million credits before any discount. Substituting a regular Shield Generator for the Prismatic Shield Generator and removing the Guardian Shield Reinforcement Package creates a build most commanders can attain.
2. Collection missions: Swap one or both of the 2D Guardian Shield Reinforcement Packages for 2E Cargo Bays. While this build will never be an efficient cargo runner, you could use it for surface collection missions.
3. Mines: Swap the 1E Beam Lasers for 1I Mine Launchers. These can rain mine “bombs” on surface targets. They are not as effective as missiles, but they can be fun.

Solo Tactics

1. Flee: This build runs, not fights. Its prismatic shields protect it long enough for it to escape and, at 600+ m/s boost speed, this build will outrun almost everything. Most enemies will mass lock this build, so the high speed is welcome.
2. Power (pip) management: Place four pips in systems and two in engines when landing to maximize shield protection. Otherwise, do the reverse to maximize boost frequency, speed and agility.

Wing or Team Tactics 

1. Pairing: This build can transport two commanders to and from an on-foot mission location, providing each with an SRV.
2. Rescue: This build can rescue an on-foot commander who has lost their ship or would otherwise wait for an Apex. Use missiles to kill any ground targets, land to pick the commander up, then boost to supercruise before enemy ships take down the shields.