Mining basics

Pick a way in

You can try hand mining with a multitool and OreBit attachment, or join a crew using a mining ship. A ROC is a ground vehicle for suitable gem deposits; a Prospector suits solo ship mining, while a MOLE gives a crew several mining stations.

Our pick for a first session: join somebody experienced and learn one role. You will understand the equipment much faster after a real run than after buying a list of upgrades.

Read the rock before firing

Scan the deposit. Look at its composition, mass, resistance and instability. These describe both the opportunity and the difficulty. Check the difficulty against your actual equipment. A valuable rock that you cannot control is a poor beginner target.

For an MSI run, agree who calls the fracture, who operates each laser and where the material is going. One person should coordinate power changes; several pilots improvising at once makes learning harder.

Control, then collect

Bring the energy into the working window and adjust gradually. Overcharging can cause a damaging explosion. Reduce power early if the charge begins running away. After the fracture, inspect the pieces and collect suitable fragments using the ship’s extraction mode.

Choose a modest practice target, then repeat it. Our goal for the first run is a controlled fracture and a successful return, not a headline cargo value.

Finish the job on paper as well

Before launch, agree the refinery, transport plan and payout basis. Compare the refinery’s displayed cost, time and yield before committing. Keep a note of what each job contains and who will collect it. For MSI shared runs, refined yield is the basis of our payout discussion.

Quality matters when materials are intended for crafting. Tell the crew whether you are gathering to sell or filling a specific build requirement. Do not assume a screenshot of a rich rock represents a repeatable hourly income.

Watch RisboTheBlade

These are Risbo’s own videos, embedded with creator credit. The titles identify the patch they cover; compare the equipment and controls with your current game.