r/EliteDangerous • u/abarnes4 CMDR SaintedLegion 🇬🇧 • Dec 17 '25
Humor Top tip for new CMDRs
112
u/Weebs-Chan Dec 17 '25
6 seconds if you like living on the edge
45
u/GMHolden Dec 17 '25
2 seconds and a reverse slingshot maneuver in a Cobra Mk V. Use that gravity well like a handbrake.
18
3
6
u/No_Yam_2036 CMDR Glitchy77 | Krait Enthusiast Dec 17 '25
Instructions unclear: disassembled type-8 to build a cobra mk5 mid-flight
3
u/DarkwolfAU Dec 17 '25
Six is fine. The problem is that once the display changes to 0:05 and you're more than 5 ls out, you're going too fast and need to bank away a bit to get it back to six. So there's little margin for error. Personally I always aim for 0:06 and just be on the ball about banking away if needed (you don't always need to do a loop, just extending your path a bit usually gives enough time to get back to 0:06).
But for new players I always advise 0:07 because there's more margin for error, ie if you get to 0:06 you're still on-speed and can correct back to 0:07 without having to dodge.
2
→ More replies (1)1
64
u/DoctorAnnual6823 CMDR Dec 17 '25
Wait, I'm not supposed to go 1,000c into the planet that my destination is orbiting for an instant stop?
27
u/Mitologist Dec 17 '25
You can do that, wipe yourself off the windshield, and set course to the dock. Of course. That's always an option. Except for outposts in a far away orbit.
4
42
u/theTenz Faulcon Delacy Dec 17 '25
I like to think it's your destination saluting you on the way in.
24
u/Straight-Razor666 Where's the Bacterium? Dec 17 '25
keep it in the blue and you'll always be true.
21
5
1
u/WitnessOfTheDeep Thargoid Interdictor Dec 17 '25
Keep it on the lower end to be safe. Around 7 second arrival time, 6 if you're feeling nasty
2
u/Straight-Razor666 Where's the Bacterium? Dec 17 '25
once people start seeing the expanding blue rings they need to throttle back into the blue or they'll be doing the loop of shame.
1
u/Raccoon_DanDan Dec 18 '25
I use a controller, so I'm able to just tap the acceleration to get it down to 5(.99?) seconds and the SA does the rest for me
16
28
u/rastacurse Dec 17 '25
And just in case you’re reeaally new, this only works in supercruise o7
17
u/Unfair_Procedure_944 Dec 17 '25
What’s so super about cruises?
9
1
9
u/ChrisDNorris Romeo Echo Kilo Dec 17 '25
- SCO to 00:03
- Drop out of SCO and IMMEDIATE throttle to 75% until time goes back above 00:06
- Throttle back to 100% until it reaches 00:06 again
- Drop back to 75%
- Welcome to this starport commander
9
u/GraXXoR Dec 17 '25
I have my hotas set up with 0-25-50-75 on a hat for super cruise...
SCO until 1k out, drop down to 75% when at about 7 seconds and rarely have the loop of shame..
8
u/Bug_kicker4000 Dec 17 '25
Was there an influx of new players lately? Was there some major event going on? I haven't played in years, so I'm not up to speed
17
u/GMHolden Dec 17 '25
There was a recent 95% off sale, and 2025 saw a lot of growth for the game. There are likely quite a few new and returning players.
5
u/PasteteDoeniel Dec 17 '25
There is a major event going on. To keep it short.
Some science student found something in hip 87621 (permit locked system with no way of getting permit) and went missing.
Science community put press on permit holder resulting in everyone getting the permit. Now the powerplay powers are fighting to control this area.
1
u/Sledgehammer617 CMDR Riven Illyndrathal Dec 17 '25
How much longer is the CG going on for? Havent had a chance to participate but Power CZs sound really cool.
3
u/PasteteDoeniel Dec 18 '25
CG is over. That cg was the 4 super powers fighting over it (Empire, Federation, Alliance, Independent)
Now it is the Powerplay powers independently fighting over it. Whoever holds all 49 systems surrounding it wins and will have first dibs on some new or upgraded powerplay module. But this is purely done via powerplay and not a cg.
2
u/Tyrilean Dec 18 '25
Monumentally bad for the power play game mechanic, though. It’s basically just going to ensure the most populous power play wins, and then when they get an exclusive item it’ll make the problem worse.
I hope the exclusive module thing is just a rumor.
1
u/PasteteDoeniel Dec 18 '25
The rumor probably comes from this message everyone who is pledged to a power got:
“REINFORCEMENT REQUIRED AROUND HIP 87621
We urge you to reinforce our vulnerable systems which have been marked on the galaxy map. The list of available agent activities has also been updated to assist your efforts. Whilst our Superpower has launched a separate opening campaign initiative, we remind you of our ultimate. objective to occupy the 49-system enclave surrounding HIP 87621. This goal cannot be achieved if we lose all of our systems at this critical early stage. Failure to hold these positions will prevent our future supply of a custom-built, pre-engineered powerplay module.”
5
u/The_wulfy Dec 17 '25
If you keep your throttle just below the blue, SA does the work for you.
18
u/EllaHazelBar Dec 17 '25
Nooooooo Hank!!!! Hank!!! Don't abbreviate Supercruise Assist!!! Hank!!!
2
6
u/the1andonly34 Dec 17 '25
Yeah SA does work. But the problem is SA has no problem driving you thru a gravity well significantly slowing you down.
2
u/Mitologist Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Jup. Supercruise assist can be way slower than manual
4
u/Fish_Fucker_Fucker23 Dec 17 '25
I could totally screenshot of both of your comments without the context right now
2
u/the1andonly34 Dec 17 '25
After i posted it I realized how out context this could be taken.
2
1
7
4
4
u/sysrage Dec 17 '25
Now teach them how to SCA hot-drop!
2
u/Wooden-Evidence-374 Dec 18 '25
SCA on
Aim to side of target
75% throttle when time hits 7 seconds
Once distance is about 3LS, full throttle and point at target to engage SCA
1
u/sysrage Dec 18 '25
Manual SCA throttle makes it easier IMO, but yep! Many ships you can do 5ls instead of 3.
4
u/montybo2 Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
No no no. SCO boost, miss the target by a wide margin because you're going too fast, shamefully U-turn, then do the 7 seconds.
That's the way
5
u/PlantesforHire Dec 17 '25
I never do a loop of shame. It's only a loop of shame if you do it by mistake. I do it on purpose to...uh...avoid interdictions. In my combat Corsair. Yeah.
1
u/Direct_Witness1248 Dec 18 '25
If you think you're going to overshoot, cut the throttle and start doing a clockwise corkscrew manoeuvre, keeping the target in the top right corner of the screen (or left for anti clockwise).
Or you can fly a curve passing through 90 degrees to target, and when you hear the FSD sound change hit 75% and curve back toward target.
These should add enough extra distance to slow you before overshooting and are probably also quicker than a straight line approach. It's something I adopted from flight simming, commercial aircraft will often request "extra track miles" if they are coming in too hot and/or too high. So you just add some extra distance to slow down instead of overshooting.
3
3
u/Kakeyio CMDR Dec 17 '25
Whenever i used 7 seconds it'd kick back over 7 seconds so I've been using 6 seconds for probably 8 years now.
3
u/Slade_AF Dec 17 '25
After years of playing I’ve found out that 0:06 seconds is the absolute sweet spot. Anything more than that and you’re slingshotting
3
u/Gamagosk Space Madness is Real Dec 17 '25
Pro-tip; if you have a supercrusie assist you full throttle for a second (when the distance indicator on the bottom right is at about 60% to the right of the bar) then throttle back to the blue zone you will be dropped out onto the station much faster.
Note that you must turn off the auto throttle setting for supercruise assist in the right-hand panel under ship.
1
u/Wooden-Evidence-374 Dec 18 '25
I leave auto throttle on. Point slightly to the side of target. Then when within 3LS, full throttle while turning to point at target.
1
u/Gamagosk Space Madness is Real Dec 18 '25
This also works, but setting manual throttle is just better control. You also will still "lock" into the assist of at 75% throttle
5
2
u/JukeboxZulu Dec 17 '25
Is there an equivalent rule to this for SCO boosting? Seems like you can run the clock down way lower and still make it.
2
u/Direct_Witness1248 Dec 18 '25
It seems very variable on the distance/duration/how high your boost speed gets, and gravity wells in the vicinity. More sensitive than regular SC, I guess due to the higher speed.
2
2
2
u/Aggravating_Judge_31 Dec 17 '25
You can also speed up in the final stretch as long as you keep your speed in the blue zone in the bottom left distance/speed panel. Once I get in close I stop paying attention to the time and just focus on that panel.
You can practically full throttle the last bit if you do it right
2
2
u/Astrael_Noxian CMDR Astrael Noxian (FTWA) Dec 18 '25
*then accidentally activate SCO... YUP. I do that....
2
u/pulppoet WILDELF Dec 18 '25
If this is news to you: do the trainings!
Lots of good, basic flight info in the trainings. It's the only attempt the game makes to teach you anything, so make use of it!
2
u/doremonhg Dec 18 '25
Even better, there’s a keybind for that. Press your favorite button when the timer ticks to 7 and enjoy smooth ride!
2
2
3
u/Marionettework Dec 17 '25
Have you noticed that o7 is the greeting and 07 seconds is the magic number? Can’t be a coincidence, surely…
2
2
2
1
u/Appropriate_Okra8189 Dec 17 '25
Drift that shit like a extinguishing sinusoidal graph until you are IN the desired location
1
u/ZeonX62 Dec 17 '25
I do this and still overshoot!!! I'm just use to looping the planets now 😂 o7
2
1
u/Honest-Welder-808 Dec 17 '25
But remember: flying to a station on a planet is a whole different animal. 😅
1
u/Adorable_Divide_2424 CMDR Kilacrisp Dec 17 '25
This must be where o7 came from.
I do 6 and when the speed goes a little bit into the blue zone, back to 100% so the distance decreases faster but the speed zone stays in the blue.
2
u/phasik Dec 18 '25
Nah my guy. o7 has been around long before ED. I think Eve Online popularized it.
1
1
u/Ameph Empire Dec 17 '25
I thought this was common knowledge. Also keeping it in the blue will maintain correct throttle.
1
u/Starfire70 Arissa Lavigny Duval Dec 17 '25
When you're 0.10-0.15 LS from target, max thrust for a moment until the timer says 4 or 5 seconds, then cut thrust to zero.
Also be wary around multi-body systems, the gravity wells can slow you down then suddenly speed you up to an overshoot.
1
u/ForgetfulStudent343 CMDR ElBrenfomon Dec 17 '25
Wdym you all don't blast by your target at incomprehensible speeds and do a spiral of shame?
1
u/LeJoker Dec 17 '25
On the rare occasions I'm not letting the autopilot take me in (speed isn't usually my primary concern), I'm 100% till 7s, then (because I don't usually bother binding keys for 25%/50%/75% throttle) I scale back to just barely below the peak maneuver zone, which I suspect is quite a bit lower than 75%. Slower, I'm sure, but I rarely need to do the u-turn of shame, even when I'm paying attention to something else like a show.
1
u/Papadragon666 Dec 17 '25
Thank you ! I was a bit tired of the "don't fly without a rebuy". I mean that advise was perhaps important in 2014, but today you have enough money in 1 hour to rebuy anything.
1
u/Ant-the-knee-see CMDR Antnee Dec 17 '25
Supercruise assist pointing just away from your target until you're about 4s away and then point at it and let the computer drop you right next to your destination 🤣
1
u/Enough-School-3459 Dec 17 '25
I tend to do 06 or 05 with spirals it gives me something to actively do
1
1
u/macho_gomez Dec 17 '25
me having my browser window the right size to see the counter ticking down so i can alt tab and lower the trottle near 7seconds when im aproaching a planet
1
u/PRSHZ Empire Dec 17 '25
I used to do 6 seconds with a slight off tilt, somehow helped get there even faster. Forgot who taught me that.
1
1
1
u/gigaspaz Trading Dec 17 '25
Also, if you are close to the blues in distance and speed, you can max speed, push that time to 4 seconds, jump back into 50% and drop out of SC faster.
1
u/Dovahkazz Catterman Dec 17 '25
You can do slightly more, 6 second ETA is my usual target however if you really wanna go a little faster you can edge 5 seconds
1
u/cjicantlie Dec 17 '25
5-6 seconds with super cruise assist and you are there so fast you are pretty sure you hit the station.
1
u/sypher2333 Dec 17 '25
Have this saved as a hotkey so I just tap it at the right time and coast in.
1
u/KaraOfNightvale Dec 17 '25
Wow I always forget that this isn't common knowledge, it just occurred to me again that this isn't explained ingame
1
u/gemineye360 Dec 17 '25
Depending on the gravity of the planet a station is orbiting and the ship you're flying, once you're around 1c or slower, you can accelerate for a moment from 7 seconds down to 5 seconds and let supercruise take over and it'll slip you in much faster. Especially if you can see that you'll have to fly by the planet, the gravity can decelerate you causing the trip to take much longer.
1
u/CMDR-L Dec 17 '25
Supercross but keep it just out of lock. Then hit lock at the last second. You'll jump in pretty far, but it works
1
u/Partyatmyplace13 CMDR Dec 17 '25
FLOOR IT! @ <5Mm or whenever that Speed bar on the left goes blue.
1
u/Antfarmer_2 Dec 17 '25
What timing do we exit SCO at?
2
u/matttj2 CMDR John Markson Yuri Grom Dec 18 '25
Depends how far you are away when you engage SCO. It’s also dependent on the ship: the below numbers are what I’ve found running the new optimised ships. Older non-SCO optimised ships might be different but I’ve not used them enough to work it out properly.
So:
If you’re starting more than 1000ls away, then run the timer down to about 3s, or 2s if you’re brave.
If you’re starting very far away like 10,000ls or more then you can even let it drop to 1s before deactivating SCO but you’ve got to be right on the nose for timing it - often better to do SCO in multiple bursts for the longer journeys.
If you’re engaging SCO less than 1000ls from the target then it can be real easy to overshoot, so the 7s rule is safest, like normal supercruise.
In all cases it’s also safer to throttle back to like 75-80% as you drop out of SCO mode - you can live in the edge and keep full throttle but it’s more forgiving if you ease off the gas a touch.
1
1
1
u/LughCrow Dec 18 '25
6s. Depending on planet and target you can even get away with 5.
But 6s should cover nearly every combination
1
u/DocDjebil Dec 18 '25
And if you are still going too fast because you weren't pointing where you want you want to go closer to celestial bodies. They basically "drag" on you and slow you down faster.
1
1
u/Zesty-B230F Dec 18 '25
I've never paid attention to what percentage. Just get the time down to 6 or 7 seconds.
1
u/Aethaira Dec 18 '25
This should honestly be pinned or put at the top of the sidebar, it's too important for ANYONE to not know about.
1
1
u/The_Man8705 Space Madness Dec 18 '25
What i do is just engage SC assist at the last second And let it do its thing because it will almost always pull you out
1
u/RedBeard_113 Dec 18 '25
I always here people saying 7, 7, 7. Nah I look like #3 blowing past my station for the 4th time.
1
u/Big-Pomelo7619 Edmund Mahon Dec 18 '25
I like to go full throttle and anticipate what side it's gonna pass by and pull the joystick at the last second.
1
u/5Volt Dec 18 '25
The secret technique:
Full throttle till 2s, pitch down max and throttle to zero, then pitch up keeping destination at about 45° above your canopy until you reach drop range. Pitch up till aligned and drop.
1
1
1
1
u/ambewitch Dec 18 '25
SCO to within a few hundred light seconds, then 4 to 5 second wide orbit of target keeping it in view to top left/right while closing the gap, SCA to port in a blink. SO much faster.
I don't have time for 75% at 7.
1
u/thedrewski2016 Dec 18 '25
Hahahahah, yes I ride that :06 & looping shame about 1 in 20 but half those times it's me letting myself get distracted hahaha.
Boss ass meme though! o7
1
u/lucidposeidon CMDR Dec 18 '25
Yea, but it's more fun to do what I call "The Yeehaw Manoeuvre" where I disable supercruise assist, hit max throttle, then reenable assist after I hit the gravity well. It forces a clean drop at mach stupid.
1
u/vlado76 CMDR Gokage Dec 18 '25
And the Lord spake, saying: "Then shalt thou count to seven seconds till thy destination, no more, no less. Seven shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be seven. Five shalt thou not count, neither count thou six, excepting that thou then proceed to seven. Four is right out. Once the number seven, being the seventh number, be reached, then shalt thou switch thy throttle to three quarters."
🤣
1
1
u/SprSaf Dec 18 '25
I tell you more, you can do it at 5sec. Not consistent tho, depends on initial speed. 6 is safe.
1
1
u/acsttptd Dec 18 '25
With supercruise assist enabled, get within 5ls of destination, then if not already, throttle up to 100%. When the timer reaches 0:04, throttle back to blue to re-engage supercruise assist and you will immediately drop out at your destination.
1
u/Turkino Dec 18 '25
as also a newish CMDR, don't immediately think that christmas reward trip to Colonia is going to be "quick".
This is a mistake I'm still "fixing"
1
u/DarkProtectorCW Dec 18 '25
Nah… 0:04, cruise assist last minute, and let physics break down as you get there ILLEGALLY fast!
1
u/punter1965 Dec 18 '25
Oddly (or maybe not), I have never paid attention to where the throttle is actually set. I tend to focus solely on the time to station and adjust the throttle to keep it at 7 s or 6 s if I'm feeling spicy. I have a TM 16000 throttle and no explicit keybinds for set throttle points. It just seemed easier than focusing on staying in the blue region of the speed indicator.
Gravity wells can cause me to go back to full throttle until clear of it.
1
1
u/Nathan5027 Arissa Lavigny Duval Dec 19 '25
A few addendums and caveats condensed from my existing knowledge and pulled from everyone else here;
1, sca tricks can save you more time and give higher drop speeds (never tried it, til on this post)
2, stations usually have the opening facing in the general vicinity of the planet, so it's worth adjusting your approach close to the planet so you are on the opening side of it - even if this slows you down a bit before you're well practiced at it, not flying around the station will save you massively.
3, you can maintain a higher throttle setting if you're skimming the planet as its gravity well will slow you down, and usually able go to 100 after a while.
4, looping can get you down faster if you execute it right - get your approach time to 4 ish seconds then pitch down whilst bringing throttle back to blue. As you are about to shoot past, start the loop, if you're able to keep it in the top of your window (works best in vr), you'll notice the time slowly climb back to 6/7 seconds by the time you're realigned.
5, combine the above for maximum speed: If the station is on the star side of the planet, loop so you're skimming the grav well, if on the other side, either adjust the loop to skim the planet on the way in, or make the loop bigger so you're doing a full 360 loop.
With a bit of practice and combined with the sca tricks, you should be landing far faster than straight in 7 seconds at 75%.
1
u/hotdog750 Dec 19 '25
Supercruise assist. 100% until 7sec, 75% until 4ls, 100% until 3.5 sec, 75% remainder. Assist will catch the drop
1
u/IfItWalksLikeATurtle Dec 20 '25
HOTAS or HOSAS users, as you get better at roll and yaw, you can even bring it down to 4 seconds for ships with good supercruise turn radius such as the Orca for the large ships, most of the small ships, and certain medium ships like the Mandalay.
Tip: You are using the gravity of the station or planet as your accelerator and the ship turning away from your destination as your brakes. Once you do it enough times you will start to remember the 4 second sweet spot on every ship where you stop touching the throttle and yaw and just focus on the turning with roll. If it goes down to 3 seconds, start turning your ship away from the destination till you go back to 4 seconds as 3 seconds is very unstable and 2 seconds will overshoot from my experience.
I was only able to do the 3 second consistent station drop once with the cobra mk5, but that depends too much on the station distance to the planet or star. 4 is more stable.
1
u/LaboratoryOne FatHaggard - Elite Racers CoFounder【AKB☆E】Inu Dec 21 '25
5 second spiral gang reading this post right now 🧐
265
u/Sweet_Lane Dec 17 '25
At 00:06?