How to Use Abrasion Blaster in Elite Dangerous

You’ve found yourself in the depths of space, a high-value asteroid glittering before you. The potential for riches is immense, but you need the right tool to unlock its secrets. Enter the Abrasion Blaster, an indispensable tool for any dedicated miner in Elite Dangerous. The moment you equip this weapon, the game changes. But it’s not just about firing; it’s about understanding how and when to use it, and how to maximize your efficiency to turn each mining session into a profit powerhouse.

The Setup: Equipping the Abrasion Blaster

Before you can start blasting surface deposits off of asteroids, you'll need to equip your ship with the Abrasion Blaster. This weapon is specifically designed to chip away valuable surface materials. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to set up your Abrasion Blaster:

1. Ship Selection: The Abrasion Blaster requires a hardpoint, and not all ships are equally suited for mining. Ships like the Python, Asp Explorer, and Anaconda are fan favorites due to their large hardpoints and cargo capacity.
2. Installing the Abrasion Blaster: Head to a station that offers outfitting. Select a ship with sufficient hardpoints and install the Abrasion Blaster under the “Hardpoints” section. Make sure to have other mining equipment, such as seismic charges or mining lasers, for versatility.
3. Complementary Modules: Equip a Pulse Wave Analyzer to help you locate asteroids rich in valuable materials. Other essential modules include a prospector limpet controller and a refinery to process the raw material.

First Steps in Space: Locating the Right Asteroids

Now that your ship is armed and ready, you’ll need to locate asteroids with surface deposits worth blasting off. Here’s how to identify the most lucrative rocks:

1. Pulse Wave Analyzer: Use the Pulse Wave Analyzer to scan asteroid fields for glowing hot spots. These glowing areas indicate asteroids rich in materials that can be harvested using the Abrasion Blaster.
2. Visual Identification: Once you’ve identified a glowing asteroid, fly closer and look for surface deposits. These deposits will appear as chunks of material clinging to the asteroid's exterior.

Precision is Key: Firing the Abrasion Blaster

Once you’ve found your target, it’s time to fire up the Abrasion Blaster. Aim carefully at the surface deposits and use your blaster to knock them off. You’ll know you’ve hit the right spot when the material detaches from the asteroid.

• Targeting Surface Deposits: Surface deposits appear as small, glowing nodes. Target them manually, aligning your ship’s reticle with the deposits before firing. This is a manual weapon, meaning precision is essential.
• Firing Technique: The Abrasion Blaster is a short-range tool, so you need to get in close to ensure a hit. If you’re too far away, the blaster’s shots will fizzle out before reaching the deposit.
• Efficiency Tips: When mining, it’s easy to get tunnel vision and focus only on a single asteroid. Keep an eye on your cargo hold and materials to avoid wasting precious mining time on low-value deposits. High-value asteroids are often found in hotspots within planetary rings, so prioritize these areas for maximum yield.

Refining and Collecting: What Comes After Blasting?

After successfully breaking off surface deposits, you’ll need to collect them and refine the materials. Here's what to keep in mind during this phase:

1. Collecting Materials: Use collector limpets to automatically gather the materials you’ve blasted off. These limpets will scoop up the loose fragments while you continue mining other parts of the asteroid.
2. Refinery Process: As you collect raw materials, they’ll be processed in your ship’s refinery. Keep an eye on your refinery’s storage bins to ensure you’re not losing valuable minerals to waste.

How Abrasion Blasting Fits into a Larger Mining Strategy

The Abrasion Blaster is just one part of a comprehensive mining strategy. Successful miners often combine abrasion blasting with seismic charges for deep core mining and mining lasers for general material extraction. Here’s how to integrate these tools:

• Surface Mining vs. Deep Core Mining: The Abrasion Blaster is ideal for surface mining, where you’re primarily targeting surface deposits. However, when you find an asteroid with fissures, you’ll want to switch to seismic charges to crack open the core and extract valuable deep core materials like Void Opals.
• Mining in Hotspots: When selecting a mining location, head to hotspots in planetary rings, especially those labeled for rare materials like Painite or Low Temperature Diamonds. These areas have a higher concentration of valuable materials, making your mining runs far more profitable.

Profiting from Your Mining Hauls

After a successful mining trip, your cargo hold will be brimming with valuable materials. Now, it’s time to convert those materials into profit:

1. Selecting a Selling Location: Different stations offer varying prices for materials. Use tools like Inara or EDDB to find the best stations for selling your materials. Keep in mind that some stations in Boom States or those lacking supply will offer much higher prices.
2. Black Market Sales: For materials like Tritium or Thargoid technology, you may need to sell them on the black market. Be cautious, as smuggling illegal goods comes with its own risks, including fines and possible ship destruction.
3. Brokers and Engineers: Some mined materials are useful for crafting and upgrading your ship. Material brokers will exchange common materials for rarer ones, while engineers can use specific materials to upgrade your ship’s weapons, shields, and drives.

Advanced Tactics: Mastering the Art of Abrasion Blasting

For those looking to take their mining skills to the next level, mastering a few advanced techniques can make a world of difference:

• Time Efficiency: Knowing when to leave an asteroid is just as important as knowing when to mine it. If you’ve blasted all surface deposits and mined out its valuable core, move on quickly to avoid wasting time.
• Fleet Carriers: As your wealth grows, consider purchasing a Fleet Carrier. These massive ships can act as a mobile base of operations, allowing you to store mined materials, restock limpets, and sell directly from the carrier in different systems.
• Mining for Engineers: Some engineers require mined materials for unlocking or upgrading modules. If you're planning on visiting an engineer, make sure to stock up on the materials they need while mining.

Why the Abrasion Blaster is a Game-Changer

So why does the Abrasion Blaster matter so much in Elite Dangerous? Simply put, it allows players to access rare materials that would otherwise be unattainable. In combination with other mining tools, the Abrasion Blaster opens up new possibilities for explorers, traders, and even combat-focused players looking to bolster their ships with top-tier upgrades.

The key takeaway: mastering the Abrasion Blaster isn't just about mining more efficiently—it's about understanding how to fully utilize Elite Dangerous's complex resource system. From setting up your ship to selling your materials at the highest prices, each step offers new opportunities for profit and success.