EVE Online: How to play - step by step EVE Online guide, tips
On this page, we suggest how to start playing EVE Online in a few simple steps.
Last update: 22 September 2021
On this guide page to EVE Online, you will learn how to take the first steps in the vast world of New Eden.
- Step 1: Create a character
- Step 2: Tutorial
- Step 3: Career Agents
- Step 4: Skills, character development
- Step 5: Ship fitting
- Step 6: Earning ISK
- Step 7: Market
Step 1: Create a character
First, you need to create a new character belonging to one of the four main factions (empires) of EVE Online: Amarr, Caldari, Gallente, Minmatar. On the different screens of the character creator, you will also be able to choose a Bloodline, a School, and modify your appearance.
Learn more about creating a character in EVE Online on the page: Character creation.
Step 2: Tutorial
After entering the world of New Eden, you will be greeted by Aura and automatically start the advanced tutorial which is worth completing - especially when you are new to EVE Online. In the course of several simple missions, you will learn the basic gameplay mechanics (flying a ship, approaching a target, blocking a target, attacking), and you will get the first rewards.
Step 3: Career Agents
After completing the tutorial of EVE Online, you will be able to talk to Career Agents who can assign you different missions and familiarize you with certain types of gameplay. Each task will reward you accordingly (ISK, items, skill books).
There are four career paths to choose from, but we encourage you to complete all:
- Business Career Path;
- Exploration Career Path;
- Industry Career Path;
- Military Career Path.
Learn more about Career Agents in EVE Online by reading this page: Career Agents.
Step 4: Skills, character development
In EVE Online, players can develop their characters in many different ways to better adapt them to the role they play in the New Eden. It should be noted here that you are not forced to develop your character only in one direction. For example, even though your character focuses mainly on trade, they can also be a great pilot.
Learn more about character development in EVE Online and check the list of skills that are worth developing at the beginning on the Skills, character development page.
Step 5: Ship fitting
After completing the extensive tutorial of EVE Online and doing all the mission chains offered by Career Agents, you should have a few ships in your hangar and a large amount of ISK, which you will be able to spend on their armament.
Before you start arming any ship, think about what you want to do. Once you've chosen your career path, you'll be able to start buying individual modules and arming the ship.
Recommended ship fitts for beginners can be found on the Starting ships, basic configurations page.
Step 6: Earning ISK
In EVE Online, players are not in any way limited by the storyline in how they want to earn ISK (InterStellar Kredits).
The list of professions that are recommended for beginners is as follows:
- Completing missions;
- Exploration;
- Mining;
- Trade;
- Hauling;
- Salvager;
- Hunting for pirates (Ratting).
More information on individual professions in EVE Online can be found on the page: Jobs.
Step 7: Market
Market in EVE Online follows the rule of supply and demand. All the items that you will find there were created by players. Therefore, prices of items on the Market are changing very dynamically.
If you want to know how to navigate the in-game Market in EVE Online, how to search for items or how to buy and how to sell goods, check out Market and Market - how to sell? pages.