Exploring for Profit: A Guide to Making Money in Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous, a popular space simulation game, features a complex economy where players can earn credits through various activities such as trading, mining, combat, and exploring. While each activity has its own advantages and disadvantages, exploring can be incredibly profitable if done correctly. In this guide, we will explore the different ways to make money through exploration in Elite Dangerous.
Firstly, it is important to understand the basics of exploration in Elite Dangerous. When exploring, players travel to uncharted systems, scan celestial bodies for data, and sell that data for a profit. The amount of credits earned depends on several factors such as the quality of the discovery and the distance from the nearest discovered system.
The best way to start exploring for profit is to equip your ship with the necessary tools. The two essential pieces of equipment are the Discovery Scanner and the Detailed Surface Scanner. The Discovery Scanner is used to scan a system for any celestial bodies, while the Detailed Surface Scanner is used to scan individual planets, moons, and other celestial bodies for valuable information.
Once you have the necessary equipment, it’s time to start exploring. It’s important to note that the farther away from the populated systems you travel, the higher the chance of discovering new and valuable systems. Some of the most profitable systems to explore are those that contain Earth-Like Worlds, Water Worlds, and Ammonia Worlds. These rare celestial bodies can earn explorers millions of credits per discovery.
To maximize profits, it’s important to plan your route efficiently. One way to do this is to use third-party tools such as the Elite Dangerous Star Map or EDSM. These websites allow you to plan your route based on specific criteria such as the distance from populated systems or the type of celestial bodies you’re looking for.
While exploring, it’s essential to scan every celestial body in a system for maximum profit. When you arrive at a new system, use your Discovery Scanner to scan for any celestial bodies. The range of the scanner will determine how much of the system you can scan with one scan. Once you’ve scanned the system, use your Detailed Surface Scanner to scan each individual celestial body for valuable data.
When you’ve finished exploring a system, it’s time to sell your data. To do this, travel to any station with a Universal Cartographics facility. Sell your data to the Cartographics Agent, and you’ll earn credits based on the value of your discovery.
Exploring for profit can be a risky endeavor, as you’re traveling through uncharted territory with no guarantee of making a profit. However, there are several ways to mitigate this risk. Firstly, never go exploring without enough credits to cover the cost of any potential repairs or fuel. Additionally, outfit your ship with weapons in case you encounter hostile ships. Finally, prioritize scanning systems that have already been discovered by other players. These systems are more likely to contain valuable discoveries, and their proximity to populated systems means quicker access to a Universal Cartographics facility to sell your data.
In conclusion, exploring for profit is a lucrative way to earn credits in Elite Dangerous. By equipping your ship with the necessary tools, planning your routes efficiently, scanning each celestial body, and selling your data to a Universal Cartographics facility, you can earn millions of credits through exploration. While there are risks involved, proper planning and precautions can minimize those risks and maximize your profits. Happy exploring!
