Elite Dangerous is a vast space sim where you pilot a spaceship, engaging in trading, exploration, combat, exobiology, or mining across a 1:1 scale Milky Way. This guide provides a thorough yet concise roadmap for new players, covering the starter system, early progression, exobiology, mining, common mistakes, the in-game Codex, and a brief end-game overview so that you can plan your goals and enjoy everything else the game offers.



The game can be challenging for some, leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no idea of what to do. So I hope this guide helps prevent such scenarios and every new player who stumbles upon this guide, will find the answers they need to progress and evolve in this game. Also, everything in this guide is just one of many ways you can start and play this game. It is by no means the most optimal, best, quickest, or easiest way. These things all depend on who you are, but I believe it should get most people on-board quickly.

• Location: A restricted zone (Dromi, Matet, Otegine, Orna, etc.) for new players (up to 10 hours or until you leave).
  
• Purpose: Learn flight, missions, and systems in a safe, low-PvP environment.
  
• Key Stations: Provide missions, outfitting, and markets for early progression.

• Access: Main menu or in-game Training section.
  
• Content: Covers flight controls, docking, combat, and hyperspace jumps.
  
• Why It’s Important: Teaches critical mechanics like landing and supercruise. Practice manual docking, as auto-dock can fail.
  
• Common Mistake: Skipping tutorials, leading to crashes or confusion.

• Key Controls (customizable in Options > Controls):
  
  • Pitch, Roll, Yaw: Orient your ship (mouse/keyboard or controller).
    
  • Thrust: Forward/reverse (W/S or triggers).
    
  • Supercruise: Faster-than-light travel within systems (J key).
    
  • Hyperspace Jump: Inter-system travel (J key after targeting).
    
  • Landing Gear: Toggle for docking (L key).
    
  • Power Distribution: Balance Systems (SYS), Engines (ENG), and Weapons (WEP) (arrow keys/D-pad).
• Flight Assist: Enabled by default for easier control. Toggle off (F key) for advanced maneuvers later.
  
• Common Mistake: Boosting inside stations or forgetting docking permission, causing collisions or fines.

• Where: Access the Mission Board (Starport Services > Mission Board).
  
• Recommended Missions:
  
  • Data Courier: Deliver data between stations. Safe, no cargo needed, pays 10,000–50,000 credits.
    
  • Transport Missions: Carry small cargo (1–4 tons). Sidewinder has 4-ton capacity.
    
  • Avoid: Combat, smuggling, or mining missions until skilled.
• How to Complete:
  
  • Accept a mission (e.g., deliver data to Otegine).
    
  • Undock: Request permission via Contacts (left panel), then exit.
    
  • Plot a route using the Galaxy Map (left panel, 1 key).
    
  • Enter supercruise, approach the target station, and dock (request permission within 7.5 km).
    
  • Turn in the mission for credits.
• Common Mistake: Accepting missions beyond your ship’s jump range or cargo capacity.

• What: Scan organic life (plants, fungi) on planets for credits and exploration rank.
  
• How:
  
  • Equip an Artemis Suit (~150,000 credits, available later or at stations).
    
    • This is the only suit which comes with a Genetic Sampler
  • Find planets with thin atmospheres (System Map, “Landable” with atmosphere).
    
  • Land, deploy in an SRV (Surface Recon Vehicle), or walk on foot.
    
  • Scan three samples of the same species with the Genetic Sampler (keep distance to avoid duplicates).
    
  • Sell data at Universal Cartographics in stations.
• Starter System Opportunities: Limited planets have organic life; check nearby systems like Matet.
  
• Payout: 1–5 million credits per valuable species (e.g., Bacterial Mats).
  
• Tip: Use the Codex (see below) to track species and locations.
  
• Common Mistake: Landing on high-gravity planets (>1G) without practice, risking ship damage.

• Goal: Earn ~100,000–500,000 credits to eventually buy yourself a desired ship.
  
• Upgrades (via Outfitting):
  
  • Frame Shift Drive (FSD): Increases jump range).
    
  • Power Plant/Distributor: Supports better modules.
    
  • Fuel Scoop: Refuel by skimming stars (essential for exploration/exobiology).
• Next Ship: Save for a Cobra MkV (1,989,461 credits, multi-role for trading, exploration, exobiology, or light combat) or Hauler (52,720 credits, exploration-focused).
  
• Common Mistake: Running out of money, because you bought modules that are less important. Prioritize FSD, Fuel Scoop, and make sure to have enough for a rebuy (insurance, 5% of ship value) in case your ship explodes and you die.
  
• Tip: Sell exploration or exobiology data for extra credits.

• Access: Right panel (4 key) > Codex.
  
• Uses:
  
  • Galactic Records: Tracks discovered systems, planets, and species (e.g., Earth-like worlds, bacterial life).
    
  • Career Progress: Monitors ranks (Combat, Trade, Exploration, Exobiology) and suggests activities.
    
  • Rumors and Reports: Offers lore, hints about high-value systems, or rare phenomena (e.g., Guardian ruins).
    
  • Exobiology Tracking: Lists discovered organic species, their value, and locations.
    
  • Guides: Provides tips on mechanics like trading, mining, or combat.
• How to Use:
  
  • Check Discoveries for exobiology targets or valuable systems.
    
  • Use Career to track mission progress and ranks.
    
  • Review Articles for gameplay tips or lore.
• Tip: Cross-reference Codex exobiology data with Canonn.science[canonn.science] for optimal scan routes.
  
• Common Mistake: Ignoring the Codex, missing high-value targets or progression tips.

• Requirement: Gain confidence in navigation, docking, and missions; earn ~100,000–500,000 credits.
  
• Fuel Management:
  
  • Check fuel in the right panel (4 key). Refuel at stations or use a Fuel Scoop.
    
  • Contact the Fuel Rats (player rescue group) if stranded. Use https://fuelrats.com
• Common Mistake: Jumping to systems without stations or beyond your FSD range.

Mix and match based on your playstyle:

• Trading:
  
  • Description: Buy low, sell high across stations.
    
  • How: Use the Galaxy Map’s trade data or https://inara.cz for profitable routes.
    
  • Ship: Cobra MkV (versatile, 18-ton cargo) or Type-6 Transporter (cargo-focused).
    
  • Tip: Focus on boom-time delivery missions for high payouts.
• Exploration:
  
  • Description: Scan stars, planets, and systems for data.
    
  • How: Equip a Detailed Surface Scanner and Fuel Scoop. Target high-value planets (Earth-like, water worlds).
    
  • Ship: Cobra MkV (decent jump range) or Diamondback Explorer (long-range).
    
  • Tip: Use Road to Riches[spansh.co.uk] for high-value scan routes.
• Combat:
  
  • Description: Hunt bounties or fight in Conflict Zones.
    
  • How: Target “Wanted” NPCs at Nav Beacons or Low RES. Equip weapons/shields.
    
  • Ship: Cobra MkV (agile, multi-role) or Viper MkIII (combat-focused).
    
  • Tip: Start with weak NPCs (e.g., Sidewinders) to build skill.
• Exobiology:
  
  • Description: Scan organic life on planets for credits and rank.
    
  • How: Land on thin-atmosphere planets, use the Artemis Suit and Genetic Sampler.
    
  • Ship: Cobra MkV (versatile for landing) or Hauler (cheap, long-range).
    
  • Tip: Check the Codex or Canonn.science[canonn.science] for species locations.
• Mining:
  
  • Description: Extract valuable minerals (e.g., Painite, Low-Temperature Diamonds) from asteroids for profit.
    
  • How:
    
    • Equip a Mining Laser (1–2 tons, ~6,000 credits), Refinery (~10,000 credits), and Collector Limpets (~2,000 credits each).
      
    • Find Pristine Metallic Rings, e.g., Hyades Sector DR-V c2-23).
      
    • Deploy in a Resource Extraction Site (Low RES for safety), fire lasers at asteroids, collect fragments with limpets.
      
    • Sell at stations with high demand (check https://inara.cz).
  • Ship: Cobra MkV (decent cargo and hardpoints for mining) or Adder (budget option).
    
  • Payout: 500,000–2 million credits per hour with good technique.
    
  • Tip: Watch YouTube tutorials for mining techniques (e.g., laser mining). Avoid piracy-heavy areas early.
    
  • Common Mistake: Forgetting limpets or mining in depleted rings.

• Recommended Systems: Eravate, LHS 3447, or Diaguandri (mission-rich, good outfitting, mining opportunities).
  
• Why: Diverse missions, exobiology planets, and nearby mining rings.
  
• Tip: Join a player group (e.g., via Discord) for wing missions or mining advice.

• Missions: Focus on high-paying missions (100,000–1 million credits) like passenger transport, mining, or exobiology scans.
  
• Factions: Build reputation with local factions for better rewards (check Mission Board for rep icons).
  
• Common Mistake: Ignoring fines. Pay at Interstellar Factors to avoid station lockouts.

• Budget Ships (~1–5 million credits):
  
  • Cobra MkV: Multi-role excellence for trading, exploration, exobiology, mining, or light combat (~350,000 credits).
    
  • Diamondback Explorer: Exploration/exobiology-focused (~1.9 million credits).
    
  • Viper MkIII: Combat-focused (~140,000 credits).
    
  • Adder: Budget mining/exploration (~90,000 credits).
• Modules:
  
  • Prioritize A-rated FSD, Power Plant, and Thrusters.
    
  • Add Fuel Scoop, Detailed Surface Scanner, and SRV Bay for exobiology/exploration.
    
  • Add Mining Laser, Refinery, and Collector Limpet Controller for mining.
    
  • Use Chaff or Shield Boosters for combat.
• Common Mistake: Buying a ship without credits for outfitting or rebuy (insurance). In this case just earn some more, because ships without upgrades are horrendously bad.

• Short-Term Goals:
  
  • Earn 5–10 million credits for a mid-tier ship (e.g., Asp Explorer).
    
  • Unlock engineers (e.g., Felicity Farseer in Deciat) for module upgrades.
    
  • Mine Painite or scan exobiology targets using Codex data.
    
  • Visit Sol (requires Federation rank).

• Running Out of Fuel: Equip a Fuel Scoop and check fuel levels.
  
• High-Risk Missions: Avoid combat, smuggling, or complex mining early on.
  
• Crashing While Docking: Keep speed <100 m/s and practice manual docking.
  
• Spending All Credits: Reserve credits for rebuy. Losing a ship without funds resets you to a Sidewinder.
  
• Ignoring the Codex: Missing exobiology or mining targets.
  
• High-Gravity Landings: Avoid planets >1G until skilled, especially for exobiology.
  
• Mining Errors: Forgetting limpets or mining in depleted rings.
  
• Early PvP: Stick to Solo/Private Groups to avoid experienced players.

End-game is player-driven, with goals like:

• Engineering: Upgrade modules for massive boosts (e.g., 50+ ly jumps, enhanced mining lasers).
  
• Fleet Carriers: Own a mobile station (~5 billion credits).
  
• Thargoid Combat: Fight aliens with specialized ships (e.g., Krait MkII).
  
• Exobiology: Discover rare species or map uncharted planets.
  
• Mining: Run large-scale operations in high-demand systems.
  
• Exploration: Reach distant systems like Beagle Point.
  
• Tip: Focus on mid-tier goals (e.g., Cobra MkV, 10 million credits) first.

These tools enhance gameplay:

• Inara.cz: Ship builds, engineer guides, market data, mining demand. https://inara.cz
  
• Coriolis.io: Plan and simulate ship builds for mining, exobiology, or combat. https://coriolis.io
  
• Canonn.science: Exobiology and exploration guides, including species locations. https://canonn.science
  
• Road to Riches: High-value exploration scan routes. https://edtools.cc/explorer
  
• Elite Dangerous Codex: Official community hub for lore and guides. https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/codex
  
• Cmdrs-toolbox: Offers many guides and solutions to tackle various scenarios in the game in an efficient way.https://www.cmdrs-toolbox.com
  
  • For example making A LOT of credits with Exobiology. https://www.cmdrs-toolbox.com/billionaires-boulevard

Additional Tips

• Game Mode: Choose Open (PvP risk), Solo (NPCs only), or Private Groups (friends only).
  
• Community: Join the Elite Dangerous Discord or Reddit for co-op and advice.
  
• Patience: Experiment with the Cobra MkV’s versatility in mining, exobiology, or trading.

In this guide and tried to give a sense of direction for new players who might be overwhelmed or stuck. However, there is no definitive way to play. Here I have compiled a rough check list to help players get started, but you are more than welcome to start out however you want.

• Complete tutorials.
  
• Earn 100,000 credits via data courier missions in the starter system.
  
• Select a ship which fullfills your first role (Exploration, Combat, Mining, Trading etc..)
  
  • Drop the Sidewinder it is not good nor worth investing in.
    
  • Cobra MK V is a good all purpose ship if you want to try multiple things.
    
  • The Vulture is an amazing ship focused on combat.
    
  • The Diamondback Explorer is fantastic for exploration.
• Try exobiology on nearby planets, sell data for credits.
  
• Leave for Eravate or LHS 3447.
  
• Focus on mining (Painite), trading, exploration, or exobiology to earn 5–10 million credits.
  
• Unlock engineers.
  
• ...by this point, everything else will come to you naturally.

Note: There are a variety of ships and prices, start small and build up. This isn't a competition or a race. Play at your own pace and enjoy it.

Below you'll find more guides which I have made that could help new players.
However, use the Guide feature offered by Steam, as there are many users who create guides and many are better than others.

Perhaps someone has a better approach to starting the game or explains things in a manner that is more easily understood. Either way, I hope this guide fulfilled it's intentions of helping you and the following guides below can add to it. Enjoy the game!

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3486237159

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

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3489843602