Elite Dangerous Type-6 Mining Build: The Ultimate Guide for Max Profit

Imagine cruising through space, the asteroids looming in front of you, ready to yield millions of credits in valuable minerals. You've meticulously planned your mining route, your Type-6 outfitted for maximum efficiency. But suddenly, you hit a snag — your cargo hold is full, your refinery jammed, and you're stuck fending off a pirate attack. Could this have been avoided with a better build? Absolutely.

The Type-6 Transporter, often overshadowed by its larger counterparts, has immense potential for miners looking for a balance between cargo capacity and affordability. In this guide, we delve deep into how to set up a Type-6 for mining, breaking down the key components to maximize your mining runs without running into common pitfalls like overloading, refining issues, or security concerns. This is not just another generic guide. You’ll find insights that veteran players might use to refine their tactics, giving you an edge in the market.

1. The Core: Modules You Can’t Ignore

To kick things off, it’s crucial to understand the core internals of your Type-6 that make mining smooth and profitable. The following modules are vital for any miner, regardless of their experience:

• Refinery (Class 3A or 3C): Never skimp on a good refinery. Choose one with at least 6 bins to avoid bottlenecks during longer mining trips. This will save you countless hours and help process more resources.

• Collector Limpets (Class 3A): These will automatically gather materials for you. Invest in high-quality limpets because losing time chasing fragments yourself will significantly reduce your efficiency.

• Prospector Limpets (Class 1D): The better your prospector limpets, the higher your yield from each asteroid. Always carry a few extra as they tend to break.

• Mining Lasers (Class 1D or 2D): Two small mining lasers are ideal for the Type-6 since you’ll be focusing on laser mining. You won’t need larger lasers, which draw more power but don't drastically improve yields in smaller ships like the Type-6.

2. Cargo Capacity vs. Shield Strength: Striking a Balance

Here’s where things get tricky. Most players tend to stack cargo racks, but the real challenge is finding a balance between being able to hold enough minerals and protecting yourself from pirates or sudden NPC attacks.

Strategy Tip: Equip a mid-range shield generator, such as a 3A Shield, combined with lightweight alloy hull reinforcements. This keeps you safe during quick trips to nearby resource-rich rings, but won’t compromise too much cargo space.

On the other hand, if you prefer to risk it for greater returns, swap out the shield for additional Type-6 Cargo Racks (Class 3 or 4) and rely on speed to escape combat. Your mining hauls will be larger, but the risk is substantial.

3. Power Distributor and Power Plant: Optimizing Power Usage

Your Type-6 Power Plant should ideally be a Class 3A or 3B, enough to support all of your essential mining and defensive modules without draining too much energy. The Power Distributor (Class 3D) should prioritize pips to weapons when mining but redistribute to shields if pirates show up.

Pro Tip: Disable unnecessary modules when not in combat, such as frame shift drive and fuel scoop, to preserve power for critical mining operations.

4. Defending Your Cargo: Should You Fight or Flee?

With a Type-6, combat is not your strength. But what you can do is plan your defense. Equipping a Chaff Launcher or Heat Sink can buy you enough time to escape when under attack. Use your ship's agility to your advantage and plot quick escapes to nearby stations or asteroid clusters for cover.

For those with the credits to spare, a Fighter Hangar can be added if you’re venturing into particularly dangerous space. However, this is generally not recommended unless you’re mining in low-security zones or open play where PvP encounters are frequent.

5. Supercharging Your Profits: Asteroid Field Strategy

Now that your ship is optimized, it's time to focus on mining strategy. Not all asteroid fields are created equal. The most profitable fields contain low-temperature diamonds (LTDs), void opals, and painite.

Best Locations:

• Pristine Metallic Rings are your best bet for high-value minerals. Systems such as Borann A2 are famous for LTDs, while Painite can be found in places like Delkar 7. Avoid depleted reserves as they yield far fewer resources.

Pro Tip: Use EDDB.io or Inara.cz to locate the most profitable mining spots near your location. Be sure to check for updates, as mining spots shift frequently due to player activity.

6. Advanced Mining Tactics: Subsurface and Deep Core

While laser mining is effective, don’t overlook subsurface and deep core mining. These techniques yield the most profit per asteroid. Equip Seismic Charges and Subsurface Displacement Missiles to maximize your haul. Once you’ve mastered deep core mining, your Type-6 will rake in credits faster than you can spend them.

• Seismic Charges: Carefully placed charges can break apart asteroids rich in valuable minerals. It takes practice, but the payoff is immense.
• Subsurface Missiles: These allow you to extract minerals from deep within asteroids. Again, practice makes perfect.

7. Landing the Big Sale: Where to Sell

Don’t settle for the first station you come across. Research station economies and sell your minerals at High Demand Outposts or Stations. Use third-party tools like EDDB to find where to sell for maximum profit. Some systems offer much higher prices for certain commodities, so a short extra trip might double your profits.

Final Thought: Speed Isn’t Everything

Many miners make the mistake of rushing their runs to squeeze in more trips. But with the right build and strategy, your Type-6 can handle larger hauls without needing constant pit stops, meaning you'll mine more in fewer runs. Quality over quantity should be your mantra. Take your time, target high-value minerals, and make every trip count.