Star Citizen is an amazing sandbox for players to delve into and discover a new star system called Stanton. With an entirely new system on the way, now is a great time for new players to try their luck in Star Citizen.
After a few hours of playing, it becomes clear that the player needs money (aUEC) to purchase new items such as armor, weapons, and ships. This guide will cover a few of the best ways to make money in Star Citizen depending on the player's initial funding.
Mercenary and Bounty Hunting
- 200,000 - 600,000 aUEC per Hour
Mercenary missions and bounty hunting are some of the most entertaining ways to make money in Star Citizen. Although this will require some initial funding for a weapon and armor, it won't take much for players to begin their careers in this sector.
To begin, the player will need to complete an initial mission to prove to the Bounty Hunters Guild local security authorities that they are equipped to deal with targets of higher difficulty. Once this initial mission is complete, the player can begin with the Very Low-Risk Targets (VLRT) all the way up to Extreme Risk Targets (ERT) that reward 25,000 aUEC upon completion. This will require a specified fighter ship, as the enemies here are rather difficult.
As for Mercenary Missions, this involves a range of tasks from boarding an 890 Jump to eliminating enemies on foot in bunkers. To begin, players should accept the "A Call to Arms" mission, as this will reward them with money for each enemy killed with a crime stat.
For each location and planet, there is a separate security service - microTech has MT Protection Services, Crusader has Crusader Security, and so on. By focusing on one of these factions, the player can build up a reputation relatively quickly and start earning larger rewards much faster.
Delivery Missions
- 100,000 - 200,000 aUEC per Hour
Delivery missions may initially seem slightly dull, but they are a great way to begin navigating the star system and learning the intricacies of the player's starter ship. As the player levels their faction rank (e.g. Unified Distribution Management) they will unlock missions that reward 45,000 aUEC.
These missions are far more exciting than the ones initially available in Star Citizen as they involve the infiltration of a bunker. The player must eliminate any enemies present and bring the packages inside to a designated location. These can be completed relatively quickly compared to other delivery missions as long as the player can clear the bunker in a short space of time.
It's great to see this progression in the game as it gives the player a purpose for completing these early missions past the initial reward. Although this may not be the most effective way of obtaining aUEC, it can give the player a good opportunity to reach the 1 million mark and start obtaining some specialized ships.
Cargo Hauling
- 200,000 - 800,000 aUEC per Hour
Cargo hauling, although not a main mission through the contract manager, is one of the best ways to make money in Star Citizen. However, this does require some serious preparation to make the most out of the gameplay loop.
There are a few ships that can maximize profits in this endeavor, but the Hercules and Caterpillar are easily the best for the job. Players should familiarize themselves with the best Cargo ships in Star Citizen to see which one best suits their needs.
The in-game economy is constantly changing meaning players will need to stay up to date with which commodities will net them the most profit and where to buy and sell them. They should also keep in mind that other players will likely be looking for the same trade routes making this a rather competitive gameplay loop to engage with. These players may not be friendly either, so they'll have to be ready for a fight if needed.
There are some great guides on YouTube that can help the player better understand how this system works. It is incredibly sophisticated and there are a few intricacies to be aware of before jumping into cargo hauling.
Mining (On foot and Using a Ship)
- 250,000 - 500,000 aUEC per Hour
Mining can be a difficult gameplay loop for new players to enter due to its steep learning curve and mechanics that are hard to master. Unlike other missions in Star Citizen, mining isn't immediately available to the player, or accessible due to a rather expensive entry fee.
There are two main ships players can buy that are great for mining. The MISC Prospector, and the ARGO Mole. Both have the equipment that facilitate the ability to mine and store the quantanium commodity. However, they are used in different ways.
The Prospector is fantastic for those playing Star Citizen alone. The pilot can control the ship as well as the mining arm to complete every part of the process by themselves. If players find they are in a team, the Mole is a great alterative as it features 2 mining arms operated by dedicated operators. The Mole also has a much larger cargo hold of 96 SCU meaning the crew can refine more materials at once.
Although the Mole does come with some great equipment, the prospector will need some serious upgrades before it is a viable money-making option. As such, though this is one of the best ways to make money quickly in Star Citizen, it's one that only those with a little starting capital will be able to engage in.
Star Citizen is available on PC.