Mining
Mining is the primary way to earn credits early on. Use /mine in any planet channel or asteroid belt channel to extract ore from that body.
How It Works
Each /mine command rolls a random amount of ore based on the planet type or asteroid belt richness. The result goes directly into your cargo hold. If your cargo is full, mining is blocked until you sell or jettison cargo.
Mining has a 30-second base cooldown between actions. After a successful mine, a Mine Again button appears — click it for a quick re-queue without retyping the command.
Your mining output is affected by your ship and fitted modules. Upgraded lasers increase yield, rapid cycle modules reduce cooldown, and scanners can trigger rare discoveries. See Ships & Modules for details.
Planet Types & Ore Tables
Different planet types yield different resources. Rarer ores come from harder-to-reach or more hostile worlds.
| Planet Type | Common Resources | Rare Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky | Iron, Copper, Silicon | Titanium |
| Scorched | Iron, Titanium, Platinum | Crystal Ore |
| Temperate | Iron, Copper, Silicon | — |
| Gas Giant | Helium Gas, Hydrogen Gas | — |
| Ice World | Ice Crystal, Silicon | Hydrogen Gas |
| Barren | Iron, Silicon, Copper | — |
| Volcanic | Titanium, Platinum, Crystal Ore | Dark Matter |
Volcanic worlds are the richest sources of high-value ore. Barren worlds exist in most systems but yield little of value.
Asteroid Belts
Every system may include one or more asteroid belts. Belts have a richness rating from 1–5 — higher richness multiplies ore yield. Belt ore types include Iron, Copper, Silicon, Titanium, and Platinum.
Ore Reference
| Ore | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore | Base Metal | Abundant everywhere, low value |
| Copper Ore | Base Metal | Common, moderate value |
| Silicon Ore | Base Metal | Common, moderate value |
| Titanium Ore | Refined Metal | Rarer, good value |
| Platinum Ore | Precious Metal | High value |
| Crystal Ore | Exotic | High value, volcanic worlds only |
| Dark Matter | Exotic | Very rare, volcanic worlds only |
| Anomaly Fragment | Exotic | Rare discovery only (requires scanner) |
| Ancient Relic | Exotic | Very rare discovery only (requires scanner) |
| Ice Crystal | Ice | Ice worlds |
| Helium Gas | Gas | Gas giants |
| Hydrogen Gas | Gas | Gas giants and ice worlds |
Proxy System Penalty
If you're mining in a proxy system (a system mirrored from another guild), your yield is reduced to 70% of normal. Proxy systems are visually marked with a 📡 prefix on their category name.
For maximum yield, travel to the system's home guild server.
Rare Discoveries
When mining with a scanner module fitted, there's a chance of triggering a rare discovery — a bonus on top of your normal ore. These range from dark matter pockets and ancient relics to abandoned cargo crates and fuel leaks. Better scanners increase the frequency of these events.
Rare discoveries are highlighted in your mining results with a ✨ marker. See Ships & Modules for the full list of possible discoveries.
Tips
- Volcanic planets offer the best ore variety and value, but they're rarer.
- Asteroid belt richness matters — a belt rated 5 yields significantly more than a belt rated 1.
- Keep an eye on your cargo capacity with
/inventory. A full hold wastes cooldown ticks. - Sell frequently if you're in a busy market; prices decay as more ore floods in.
- Upgrade your lasers early — even Mk1 Lasers pay for themselves quickly.
- Fit a scanner if you want a shot at rare discoveries and high-value anomalies.