Where you shoot an enemy ship does matter due to subsystem targeting and ship geometry. Hitting critical modules (e.g., power plant, thrusters) can disable or destroy a ship faster than reducing hull integrity to 0%.

Ship design affects vulnerabilities, such as exposed canopies or thrusters, and defensive strategies depend on positioning and build.

I will do my best to explain everything that is needed to become an outstanding pilot during combat.

• Subsystem Targeting: Modules like the power plant (destruction causes explosion), thrusters (disables mobility), FSD (prevents escape), or canopy (causes depressurization) can be targeted via the subsystems menu. These are more efficient than hull damage.
  
• Armor and Hardness: Ships have a hardness value (e.g., Sidewinder: 20, Corvette: 70). Weapons with lower piercing than hardness deal reduced damage (e.g., a 20-piercing pulse laser does ~30% damage to an Anaconda’s 65 hardness).
  
• Ship Geometry: Exposed modules (e.g., Chieftain’s thrusters, Viper’s canopy) are easier to hit from specific angles, varying by ship.
  
• Damage Types: Thermal (lasers) excels vs. shields, kinetic (multicannons) vs. hulls/modules, explosive (missiles) vs. external modules.
  
• Chaff: Disrupts gimballed/turreted weapons, making fixed weapons or precise aiming critical.

• Attack: Use the subsystems menu to target power plants or thrusters. High-piercing weapons (e.g., railguns, plasma accelerators) are ideal for modules.
  
• Positioning: Stay behind or above/below enemies to avoid their weapons and hit vulnerable modules (e.g., rear thrusters).
  
• Defense: Protect weak points (canopy, thrusters) by keeping them out of enemy' line of sight using lateral/vertical thrusters or flight assist off (FA-off).
  
• Build: Engineer weapons for piercing (Focused) and hulls for resistance (Heavy Duty) to counter vulnerabilities.

Below is a table of all 42 playable ships. It details vulnerable areas and defensive strategies based on module placement and ship design.

• Vulnerabilities: Most ships are weakest at the canopy (front/top) or thrusters (rear). Target these with high-piercing weapons (e.g., railguns, plasma accelerators).
  
• Defensive Strategies: Small ships rely on agility, medium/large ships on shields or hull. Position to keep weak areas (canopy, thrusters) out of enemy fire.
  
• Subsystem Targeting: Prioritize power plant for kills, thrusters for immobilization, or FSD for bounties. Use subsystems menu to lock targets.
  
• Engineering: Boost weapon piercing (Focused) and hull resistance (Heavy Duty) to mitigate weaknesses.
  
• Combat Zones: Stay on edges, not center, to avoid aggro. Ally with larger ships to split enemy focus.

• Use fixed weapons (e.g., railguns) for precise module targeting, especially vs. chaff users.
  
• Keep throttle in the blue zone (50% speed) for max maneuverability when targeting/evading.
  
  • PvE: Let security forces engage first to avoid aggro.
  • PvP: Use FA-off and take advantage of unpredictable maneuvers.
• Protect weak points with lateral/vertical thrusters and positioning to keep enemies in your line of sight.
  
• Engineer for specific roles: shields (Reinforced), hulls (Reactive), or weapons (Overcharged).

In order to be highly efficient during combat, one must know more than how to fly straight. Managing your PIPs is crucial for adapting to the situation.

If you are curious how the PIP system works and what difference it makes to have 2 PIPs in SYS compared to 3 PIPs in SYS, here's a guide for you:

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3492581988

Or do you have your ship and you're ready to do combat, but engineering is becoming a pain in the ....., clench those cheeks no longer and check out this guide on efficient use of blueprints:

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3489358284

I hope my guides help. Having seen so many people be upset about the lack of tutorials, I aim to touch on the details the game doesn't explicitly tell you and things for which nobody has yet made a guide.