Basic maneuvers | Travelling Elite: Dangerous Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

After the description of the weaponry, it's time to cover the three basic maneuvers, helpful with the Newton's flight model. Having the six axis on which you can move makes a lot of possibility to do the things unthinkable for the airplane pilots.

Strafing on circle

This kind of strafing should be known to everybody who ever played some shooters. Here you will be strafing vertically rather than horizontally. It can be used whilst chasing the enemy and works much better than the usual 'tailing'.

Keeping our sight point on the target start strafing down whilst picking up the nose to track the opponent. Stay in the blue range of the optimum speed to keep the ship's maneuverability. Strafing down gives you better view on the enemy than you would get whilst strafing up (the pulpit would block your visual) it is also easier to chase the enemies as they usually behave in the same way.

180° Turn (with the power steering)

This works the best when someone is tailing you and some quick decisions have to be made.

1. Start picking up the nose while moving forward to start flying at the semicircle.
2. When your ship will be already angled by 45°, lower down the engines power to zero, keep on picking up the nose and start strafing up.
3. When you will be almost upside down, don't stop on picking up the nose and start smoothly strafing down to speed up the turn.
4. When the enemy will be in your gun point, start circle strafing. If the enemy moves in the same direction, you can reverse to get on his tail.

In the case of seeing this maneuver being performed by the enemy, start circle strafing whilst flying backwards. This should save you from being tailed.

180° Turn (no flight correction)

The 180° turn may be more complex when not using any flying support. But it is faster if done properly.

1. When tailing by the enemy, turn off the power steering and use the afterburner to increase the distance between you two. Pick up the nose so that you weapons are facing the enemy's ship.
2. When the enemy is in your sight, you will have to options to choose from: either to keep on flying backwards whilst shooting or you could turn back on the power steering and start circle strafing. The second option would be more suggested in that matter to enable yourself chasing the enemy.

The described maneuver gives the possibility of shooting the enemy; first face two face, and later on, by tailing him. Controlling the ship without using any power steering may be tricky but it is worth it.

The key to success is of course, the practice. The intuition is important too, but the experience will enable you to use different tactics whilst on combat. These short description should be used as no more than an inspiration and an introduction to the very basics. Try not to be predictable and don't be ashamed of fleeing when necessary.

When the computer will take control over the ship, a new 'auto dock in progress' communicate will appear. You can leave it for a while as this is a long and automatic process. After the docking, the game will play the Johann Strauss's The Blue Danube Waltz which is a reference both to the old Elite games as to the 2001: Space Odyssey, the movie by Stanley Kubrick.