TEST Mining Guide Supplement 3.11
This Supplement was created to have a place to write about other topics related to Mining or give additional context, depth, or observations about different mechanics mentioned in the Guide. Discussions about the different stats of components are not meant to be complete technical overviews and are instead written to quickly highlight advantages and disadvantages of each. As with the Guide itself, this Supplement will evolve over time as new patches are released and new information is gained. If something is wrong, please note it in a reply below so it can be corrected.
Upgrading Ship Components
Components in Star Citizen come in a variety of sizes,
classes, and grades. Frequently flown ships should be equipped with the best components possible. It is a given that a miner will initially and primarily seek to upgrade the ship’s stock Mining Head to something more practical and powerful. After this has been accomplished, miners that consistently go out into the verse will eventually reach a point where money is no longer an issue. It’s time to start thinking about further upgrades to a ship’s systems for a more comfortable and safer experience. New ship components are expensive up front but pay dividends in responsiveness, ship survivability, and travel time. Before buying a component it may be a good idea to see its impact on the ship through a fitting tool such as
Erkul’s DPS Calculator.
Testing by SC community members such as
SubliminaL show that different Power Plants and Coolers do not seem to have much, if any, real impact on ship performance above what stock components can give with the exception of EM and IR signature changes at this time. This is due to how the ships ‘pipes’ currently operate and the inability to make them larger. Regardless, this Guide will go through those components, pointing out different aspects and recommend one and an alternative or two.
Prospector Upgrades
Current top Grade components for each class
All component stats spoken of in this Guide can be viewed on Erkul.games
Before beginning, one of the most important factors to consider is the Power Draw Request Time(PDRT) of the component. This is the time it takes for the component to go from zero to its maximum rated output of cooling, power, etc. This is important because components with a lower PDRT begin operating at their fullest capacity faster. In addition, lower PDRTs allow a player to recover from EMP bursts and distortion weapon related shutdowns much faster.
For the Prospector the first upgrade should be a new Quantum Drive. The stock Size 1 Goliath(Ind. Grade C) component is very poor overall having long spool, calibration, cool down, and travel times. There are several good choices available depending on application. The VK-00(Mil.Grade A) is the fastest quantum drive available but consumes the most fuel and has a PDRT of over 12 seconds making it the worst in that regard. The long PDRT also affects its calibration and spool time as well. The Spectre(Stl. Grade A) drive is almost as fast as the VK-00 but suffers the same fuel consumption drawback making long range flight without frequent stops all but impossible. Unlike the VK-00 the Spectre has a PDRT of only 5 seconds and can do so without raising its EM/IR signature significantly. On the opposite end of the Spectrum is the Colossus(Ind. Grade B) drive which has the best fuel economy for its class but is also the slowest traveling. As long as non-volatile ores are mined, this drive would be a great fit for a frontier mining operation which would prize its low fuel consumption. The final two quantum drives offer the best mix of attributes: The Atlas(Civ. Grade A) and the FoxFire(Com. Grade B). The FoxFire only slightly beats out the Atlas with a PDRT of 3 seconds and spool time but is a slower, more fuel efficient, drive. The Atlas stands out as a drive with a great mix of attributes in quantum speed, average fuel consumption, PDRT of 5 seconds, and spool time. Choose the VK-00 or Spectre for the fastest hauls, the Atlas for best balance, and FoxFire for quick action.
The next upgrade should be to the Power Plant and although the stock plant is more than adequate it can still be better. As
SubliminaL points out in his video having an overabundance of power is unnecessary and does not give any additional benefit. Instead having an adequate supply plus some extra overhead should be the goal. The stock Size 2 Trommel(ind. Grade D) fulfills this and no upgrade is truly required. However its PDRT is atrocious at almost 19 seconds. The Genoa(Ind. Grade A) suffers the same problem but has a slightly better PDRT of 16.25 seconds. Using Erkul, the LuxCore(Com.Grade B) can be ruled out completely due to a complete lack of power and is only shown in the above table for completeness. Personal testing shows that the ship will drift, drop, or even turn off completely due to insufficient power while mining. In the same vein, the Eclipse(Stl. Grade A) is the lowest that a player should equip as this has just enough power to run all ship systems with a Helix Mining Head activated. Even still, the ship may begin to drift as power is taken from the thrusters to power other components if they are overclocked or the shields are charging. Its greatest attribute though is its very low EM/IR signature and a PDRT of only 1.25 seconds. The Lotus(Civ. Grade A) comes with more than enough power to run all ship systems, even if all are overclocked. Its PDRT is only 1.25 seconds less than the Genoa though. Finally, the JS-400(Mil. Grade A) gives more than enough power but has the third fastest PDRT of 10 seconds making it a viable option no matter how the ship is fit. It does however have the 2nd largest EM/IR emissions of any of the power plants here and will raise the ship’s signature accordingly. Overall the JS-400 or Eclipse power plants are the best depending on the player’s desired build with the Lotus coming in as a decent alternative.
Shields should be the third upgrade. There are several shields that are viable as upgrades. The main factors to look for are physical absorption %, regeneration delays, and HP regenerated. Shields other than Industrial shields will only absorb 50%-95% physical damage. The stock Size 1 Bulwark(Ind. Grade C) along with others in its class can absorb 70%-98% physical damage. This can be anything from ballistics to rock explosions making the industrial shield a good first choice. The Palisade(ind. Grade A) while being better has a few downsides in the form of a low HP regeneration rate and a long PDRT. Its regeneration delay values are manageable and the shield gives the largest buffer in terms of overall shield HP. The next three shields are all viable in their own right. The FR-66(Mil. Grade A) has the highest HP regeneration value and very good regeneration delay values. It has the 2nd best PDRT as well and a total shield HP pool 2nd only to the Palisade. Its only weakness is that it will boost the ship’s EM/IR signature significantly. The Mirage(Stl. Grade A) has a low HP pool but a lightning fast regeneration delay for damaged shields coupled with a very strong HP regeneration value meaning it can take a hit and be at full strength quickly. Note that the delay for a downed shield face is quite long. The PDRT is the fastest of all the shields. Finally the 7SA Concord(Civ. Grade A) has the same HP pool as the FR-66 and the same HP regen rate as the Palisade. Its regeneration delays are average and its PDRT is not bad. Making this the best bang for the buck a miner can get. Finally, the Jaghte(Com. Grade B) while being on the list for completeness should not be used. It has an exceedingly low HP pool coupled with a very low HP regeneration rate. Its PDRT is the highest of all the shields here and its regeneration delays are among the highest. This Guide recommends a Palisade or Mirage with the FR-66 and 75A Concord being close seconds. Miners should carefully consider which attributes are most important to their particular playstyle and choose a shield based on this.
As with Power Plants,
SubliminaL points out that upgrading the Cooler purely for overall capacity will not provide any additional cooling above what the ship needs to work due to how the ‘pipes’ are set up. Still, a good reason to change the stock Size 2 Snowfall(Ind. Grade B) cooler is to reduce the ships overall EM/IR signature or even to have a lower PDRT which will bring the cooler to full capacity faster. The Snowpack(Ind. Grade A) will give the largest EM/IR signature bloom making the Prospector more of a target. It does however have the lowest PDRT of 10 seconds. The only reason to upgrade to this cooler is for the increased capacity It provides no other benefit at this time. The Cryo Star EX(Civ. Grade B) ties with the Nightfall(Stl. Grade A) for the longest request time of 15 seconds. Its EM/IR signature bloom is very low and only beaten by the Nighfall which while having a lower capacity has the lowest signature bloom for this size cooler. The Absolute Zero(Com. Grade B) and Avalanche(Mil. Grade A) have a request time of 12.5 seconds putting them between the Snowpack and Cryo Star EX/Nightfall. The Absolute Zero has an EM/IR bloom just above the Cryo Star EX making it a viable alternative to it while also having slightly increased capacity. The Avalanche’s EM/IR output and cooling capacity 2nd only to the Snowpack’s. Any of the coolers would do well meaning that its up to the player to decide what best fits the build and how much aUEC is to be spent.
A full Stealth build is fully viable for a Prospector looking to sneak around and get away fast. It’s only real downsides are fuel consumption, a small shield capacity, and borderline acceptable power output. A full Industrial build is the opposite, it will broadcast the player’s position from a great distance but is very robust in the face of an initial attack and has power to spare. Its other downsides are slow PDRT components, a low quantum speed and slowly charging shields. With the exception of the quantum drive a full Military build is much cheaper than an Industrial one with not much loss of performance. Generally, the same downsides that an Industrial Build has apply here too. A Civilian Build offers the best overall mix of attributes with excellent prices giving players the best ‘bang for buck’ overall with no real downsides. Finally, a full Competition Build should not be attempted. The Power Plant and Shields are too weak but the Quantum Drive and Coolers would work. A mix is best with these components. Before committing to a build, plug it into
Erkul’s DPS Calculator to see how it’ll perform.
Mole Upgrades
Current top Grade components for each class
All Component Stats spoken of in this Guide can be viewed on Erkul.games
As with the Prospector the first upgrade to consider is the ship’s Quantum Drive. First of all, the PDRT on all of the listed quantum drives except the XL1(Mil. Grade A) are 10 seconds with the XL1 being 12.5. The stock Size 2 Huracan(Ind. Grade B) is slow, slower than even the Prospector’s stock drive. Its long spool time of 8 seconds can leave it vulnerable to getting away from interdictions and a 37.5 second cooldown doesn’t help. It is the most fuel efficient though allowing the player to reach far away places and return without having to refuel. As with all Military quantum drives the XL1 is the fastest of the Size 2 drives, heads and shoulders above its next closest competitor for speed in the Spicule(Stl. Grade A). This speed is countered by the drive’s fuel hungry nature as it will consume 3-4 times the amount that a Civilian, Industrial, or Competition drive. However for hauling Quantanium back to sell or getting away from an interdiction ambush there is no better drive. The Spicule is very similar to the XL1 in that it has a very high fuel consumption rate despite being over 90,000km/s slower. Its redeeming feature is its low EM/IR signature bloom but this isn’t worth much as the entire ship already looms large on sensors. The Hemera(Civ. Grade A) offers the best mix of speed, fuel consumption, and spool time making it a viable choice over the XL1 if non-volatile ores are going to be the most frequent cargo. Finally, the Sun Fire(Com. Grade B) can be considered an alternate to the Hemera. The drive may only have ¾ the speed but uses even less fuel, just above the Huracan, and has the fastest cooldown of any drive listed here. Overall, if Quantanium is going to be frequently mined then choose the XL1. If not, then choose a Hemera or Sun Fire. The Spicule offers no great advantages over the others.
Shields are important to any mining vessel as protection against enemy forces and against the rocks themselves. The Mole comes stock with two Size 2 5MA Chimalli(Civ. Grade C) Shield Generators. All Size 2 shields only absorb 50%-95% physical damage unlike the Size 1 Industrial shields which can absorb more. The 7MA Lorica(Civ. Grade A) is a slight upgrade over the stock shield in HP and regeneration rate. It also has a slightly better downed regeneration delay of only 12 seconds as opposed to the Chimalli’s 15. This comes at a small cost of a slightly longer PDRT. The Haltur(Com. Grade B) is a flat downgrade in all regards. It has far less shield HP, a worse downed regeneration delay, and a worse regeneration rate. This shield should never be used and is only shown on the table for completeness. The Rampart(Ind. Grade A) shares a couple aspects with the Lorica but has a much higher HP pool making it the best shield for ‘buffer’. The Rampart has the same 173 HP regeneration rate and the same downed regeneration delay of 10 seconds. However it has a PDRT of 13.5 seconds putting it in the middle of all the shields on PDRT. The FR-76(Mil. Grade A) shares the same HP pool as the Lorica at 24,793 but has the 2nd largest regeneration rate at 310 hp/s, beaten only by the Umbra(Stl. Grade A) with 346hp/s. The FR-76 has the shortest downed regeneration delay of only 8.25 seconds and a PDRT of 7.5 making it an overall better shield to equip than the Lorica and putting it in competition with the Rampart. Finally the Umbra. The Umbra has the largest shield regeneration rate of 346 hp/s and a blistering fast PDRT of 2.25 seconds. Its shield HP however is only half that of the Lorica or FR-76 and it has a very poor downed regeneration delay time of 21 seconds.
Because the Mole can equip 2 shields, combinations are available that can help mitigate each other’s weaknesses. Because of the Lorica’s only average stats compared to others it should be discarded as a possibility. The Haltur, again, for the same reasons leaving only the Umbra, Rampart, and FR-76. For maximum shield HP 2 Ramparts can be used but they will leave the ship vulnerable once the shield is depleted completely because of each shield’s poor hp regeneration. To somewhat mitigate this a Rampart and FR-76 can be used together. The FR-76’s high regeneration will be able to keep up with some of the incoming damage and the Rampart’s large HP pool will absorb a great deal of punishment. A Rampart/Umbra may work as well but the Umbra’s high downed regeneration delay would leave the Rampart standing alone in a prolonged battle. If an EMP is expected this is a good shield to have due to its low PDRT but it shouldn’t be used due to its low HP pool. 2 FR-76s, even with their power max shield HP may make a good combination with an especially high regeneration, good PDRT, and somewhat high HP. This will be best in short intervals. An FR-76 and Umbra should not be used due to the low overall shield HP that would be available to the ship and 2 Umbra shields should not be used for the same reason despite the high regeneration rate. The ship’s cargo requires more protection. Therefore, the best options would be 2 Ramparts, 2 FR-76s, or a Rampart and FR-76.
As explained above with the Prospector, upgrading the Cooler purely for overall capacity will not provide any additional cooling above what the ship needs to work due to how the ‘pipes’ are set up. Having a better PDRT or reducing its EM/IR signature, however, are still viable goals. The Mole’s Stock Size 3 Thermal Core(Ind. Grade C) honestly doesn’t need to be upgraded. It already has a low PDRT of 10 seconds which is the same as the Chill Max(Ind. Grade A). In addition the Chill Max’s EM/IR signature factors are bigger than the Thermal Core’s. The Civilian Cryo Star XL(Civ. Grade B) can provide adequate cooling so long as the ship is not being taxed in a fight or performing sudden stops. It has the lowest EM/IR signature factors but a PDRT of 15 seconds leaving the ship more vulnerable to EMPs. The Blizzard(Mil. Grade A) is in the middle with a PDRT of 12.5 seconds and similar average EM/IR signature factors. Overall for a ship which already stands out and can not hide like a Prospector could, any of these coolers will work.
Finally the last upgrade should be to the power plant. Like the Cooler at the time, upgrading the Power Plant beyond its stock Size 3 Ginzel(Ind. Grade C) will only provide a benefit in PDRT and raise or lower the ship’s EM/IR signature. The TigerLillyCiv. Grade A) has the lowest EM/IR factors of the three Size 3 power plants listed and has a PDRT of 15 seconds. It has over half the power of the stock power plant but can still provide for all the ship’s systems. The Durango(Ind. Grade A) has the highest output of any S3 power plant at the cost of having the longest PDRT of 16.25 seconds and the highest EM/IR signature factors. Finally, the JS-500(Mil. Grade A) comes in as having the best PDRT of only 10 seconds and stands in the middle for EM/IR factors. This power plant will provide more than enough power for the ship’s systems as wel.
Due to missing Size 3 Stealth Power Plants and Coolers as well as missing Competition Size 3 Power Plants and Coolers a full Stealth build is not viable, nor is a full Competition build. A full Industrial, Military, or Civilian Build is feasible but a mix of them would be most viable. For the quantum drive an XL1, Hemera, or Sun Fire would have the most impact depending on distance traveled, frequency, and the desire to save money. For shields, a combination of two different ones would work best according to player taste. For coolers, the Chill Max or Blizzard would be most viable. Finally, the power plant, the JS-500 has the best attributes of the three. Choose carefully as each component being a size larger than those found on the Prospector will cost much more. If price is no obstacle then go full Military or Industrial. Civilian builds will be the most cost effective with a mixed build coming in somewhere between a Civilian and Industrial build.
