Greetings, Commanders! If you’ve just stepped out of the tutorial and found yourself sitting in the cockpit of a brand-new Sidewinder, wondering what to do next, then this guide is for you. Elite Dangerous drops you into a vast and open galaxy with very little hand-holding, and that can be overwhelming. In fact, it’s at this early stage where many players hit a wall and give up. But fear not — the freedom is exactly what makes Elite Dangerous so rewarding. This guide is the first in a series dedicated to helping you move forward with purpose, using real gameplay examples from a reset commander to help you find direction and growth.

Finding Your Bearings in the Galaxy

After completing the tutorial missions, your journey truly begins. The problem? You’re now free to go anywhere, do anything, and no one tells you what’s next. The Sidewinder — the starter ship — is functional but extremely limited in terms of cargo space, jump range, weaponry, and survivability. It’s not a ship you’ll want to stay in for long. But it is a tool, and with the right knowledge and direction, it becomes the foundation of your legacy in the stars.

As a new player, you’ll face a multi-layered learning curve. You’ll need to get comfortable with:

• The ship controls (and there are many!)
• Navigating the ship’s interface, which includes system maps, galaxy maps, mission boards, and more.
• Maneuvering the ship through space — whether it’s supercruise, hyperspace jumps, docking, or combat.
• On-foot gameplay and Surface Recon Vehicle (SRV) driving if you’re using the Odyssey expansion.

Elite Dangerous is about taking initiative, and setting your own course. To do that, you first need a solid plan to earn credits and gradually transition from just surviving to thriving.

Choosing the Right Game Mode

One of the first choices you’ll face is which game mode to play in. Elite Dangerous offers three options:

• Open Play — You share the galaxy with other real players. You can trade, wing up, or fight — including potentially being attacked by other commanders. While this might sound risky, player attacks are fairly rare. Many players, including the commander in this guide, prefer open play for its immersive and dynamic experience.
• Solo Play — You exist in the same galaxy, with the same missions and system states, but you won’t encounter any other human players. This can be a more relaxed way to learn without risk of PvP encounters.
• Private Group — This is like solo play, but you can invite specific friends to play together in a safe environment.

For new players, either Open or Solo play will suit most preferences. Open offers unpredictability and community interaction, while Solo provides a secure space to learn and grow without interference.

Carving Out Your Career Path

One of Elite Dangerous’ most powerful draws is its open-ended career system. You’re not tied to a profession. You can change at any time. Your “career” simply determines how you interact with the galaxy, and there’s a wide array of long-term goals you can chase:

• Elite Rank in Combat, Exploration, or Trading
• Mercenary Rank (on-foot combat)
• Exobiologist Rank (planetary life scanning)
• Power Play Participation — Align with a superpower and unlock permits, modules, and unique ships.
• Fleet Carrier Ownership — A mobile base requiring extensive credits and planning.
• Participation in the Thargoid War — An evolving storyline with high-level gameplay.

You could focus on exploration, bounty hunting, mining, smuggling, passenger transport, piracy, or a combination of all of these. It’s entirely up to you.

A Fresh Start: Tiberius Valerian’s Journey Begins

This guide series follows a real in-game character — Commander Tiberius Valerian — who has been reset to the beginning. He starts with a stock Sidewinder, 250,000 credits, and a fresh career path at Chamberlain’s Rest in HIP 9795. Tiberius’ long-term goal? To reach Elite rank in exploration — a daunting but fulfilling ambition.

But before that’s possible, he needs to set smaller, immediate goals:

• Earn credits by completing missions.
• Align with the Federation to begin increasing his superpower rank.
• Unlock the Sol system permit, allowing access to Earth and the cradle of humanity.
• Upgrade his ship into something more capable for deep-space exploration.

By breaking down this large goal into manageable parts, Tiberius (and by extension, you) can stay motivated and focused while progressing.

What’s Next

In the next installment of this series, we’ll follow Tiberius Valerian as he embarks on his first missions, covering:

• Navigating the mission board
• Choosing the best early-game missions
• Building reputation with superpowers
• Using the Galaxy and System maps to plot effective routes

We’ll also explore how to spot the most profitable opportunities and how to avoid beginner traps.

Keep an eye out for the companion mode video, which will continue Tiberius’ journey in real-time. If you’re serious about getting a strong start in Elite Dangerous, you won’t want to miss it.

So buckle in, Commanders. Train hard, fly right — and prepare to explore the galaxy on your own terms. See you in the black.