So, as you (probably) know, Tissue Sampling in bulk is an incredibly efficient way to clear Thargoid-populated systems. But, how do you grab them in enough quantity quickly enough to make a difference? After many hours of trial, error and occasional explosion, I've managed to nail down a strategy that reliably produces me 180-200 samples per hour working alone. And in the interests of humanity, here's the result of my hard work!
THE SHIP:
s.orbis.zone
The main idea is an Imperial Cutter with a fast-regenerating shield that can tank the Scout you'll be sampling and as many corrosion resistant cargo racks and research limpets as possible. With the ablility to launch 10 limpets at once and 80 slots for samples + 64 extra limpets/overflow space, it can gather a large amount of tissue samples quickly.
In terms of your own options, you'll want to choose Gimballed Enhanced AX Multi-Cannons, as they're the best way to clear Scouts. Additionally, a Caustic Sink can replace the Heat Sink if you've got access to one.
For players who lack engineering materials, the only critical parts that need unlocking/engineering are the shields and the CRCRs. Everything else can just be taken up to G2/3 or whatever is available.
EDIT: I have discovered that this Anaconda build Sampler Anaconda is significantly more efficient in terms of raw samples/hour. However, it is slower and more fragile if something goes wrong and you encounter more dangerous Thargoids, although this is fairly unlikely. The strategy to be used with it is the same.
THE STRATEGY:
Load up with a full hold of limpets and fly to the Control system you're trying to help clear. If you're hyperdicted by Interceptors on the way, just outrun them - if you're hyperdicted by a Glaive, you can just tank its fire until your drive finishes rebooting - it won't fire another missile until your drive is ready to engage, which is too late to stop you escaping. Alternatively, your multicannons should be able to kill it should you want to fight.
When you get there, drop into normal space and wait a few minutes for a "Frame Shift Anomaly Detected" warning and a ghost contact to appear on your radar. (Whilst you're waiting, go into Settings-Graphics-Display and set Frame Rate Cap to 30 FPS. Annoyingly, this is the only known way to mitigate a glitch that causes up to three-quarters of your limpets to return with no sample.) This contact is the Interceptor - you don't want it to notice you! Boost away until it disappears off your radar, then come to a stop again.
Wait another minute or two for a second anomaly warning. These are the Scouts you want to sample. Two of them will spawn - kill one, and launch all your research limpets at the other. Sit fairly still with 4 pips to SYS whilst the Scout flies around, firing more limpets whenever they come back.
Periodically, another pair of Scouts will spawn. Kill them with your AXMCs.
Continue sampling until you have filled your acceptable quota or ran out of limpets. You can only take as much as you have corrosive cargo racks if you want to avoid taking any damage, but if you're bold you can go beyond this - I regularly go up to 120+ samples with a very low risk to my thrusters, FSD or shields, but doing this has a high risk of breaking your cockpit canopy!
NOTE: Never only go a few samples beyond your safe limit. If your cargo hatch is damaged but not destroyed in one hit by module corrosion, you'll be at risk of the hatch malfunctioning and dropping some of your samples - and if that happens when you're flying back to the carrier, you can't pick them up and they're gone for good.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE SAMPLES:
You'll need to store or sell the samples to a fleet carrier in the general area, since it's not practical to try and move a sampling ship 80+LY to a rescue ship every run. This means that if you don't own one yourself, you'll need to join in with someone who does. The targets change as systems are recaptured and the Thursday updates happen, so check relevant forum threads or Discords to find out where other sampling groups are working - or just pick a weaker system and try to strike out on your own!
ANOTHER OPTION - AFK SAMPLING:
Tisssue sampling can be quite monotonous for some, so they may find it worthwhile to automate it. Although you can fairly easily deal with a single scout by means of using a rubber band or similar methods to hold down the trigger and fire research limpets, if you allow more Scouts to continue jumping in they will likely overwhelm your ship's shields and destroy you. So, using the normal method isn't an option - but, you can do this in AXCZs! Since Thargoids only drop into AXCZs around the main marker, a Scout lured 30-50km from the CZ can be safely sampled automatically without significant risk. Just leave your ship for half an hour each time to fill up!
THE SHIP:
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone
In terms of your own options, you'll want to choose Gimballed Enhanced AX Multi-Cannons, as they're the best way to clear Scouts. Additionally, a Caustic Sink can replace the Heat Sink if you've got access to one.
For players who lack engineering materials, the only critical parts that need unlocking/engineering are the shields and the CRCRs. Everything else can just be taken up to G2/3 or whatever is available.
EDIT: I have discovered that this Anaconda build Sampler Anaconda is significantly more efficient in terms of raw samples/hour. However, it is slower and more fragile if something goes wrong and you encounter more dangerous Thargoids, although this is fairly unlikely. The strategy to be used with it is the same.
THE STRATEGY:
Load up with a full hold of limpets and fly to the Control system you're trying to help clear. If you're hyperdicted by Interceptors on the way, just outrun them - if you're hyperdicted by a Glaive, you can just tank its fire until your drive finishes rebooting - it won't fire another missile until your drive is ready to engage, which is too late to stop you escaping. Alternatively, your multicannons should be able to kill it should you want to fight.
When you get there, drop into normal space and wait a few minutes for a "Frame Shift Anomaly Detected" warning and a ghost contact to appear on your radar. (Whilst you're waiting, go into Settings-Graphics-Display and set Frame Rate Cap to 30 FPS. Annoyingly, this is the only known way to mitigate a glitch that causes up to three-quarters of your limpets to return with no sample.) This contact is the Interceptor - you don't want it to notice you! Boost away until it disappears off your radar, then come to a stop again.
Wait another minute or two for a second anomaly warning. These are the Scouts you want to sample. Two of them will spawn - kill one, and launch all your research limpets at the other. Sit fairly still with 4 pips to SYS whilst the Scout flies around, firing more limpets whenever they come back.
Periodically, another pair of Scouts will spawn. Kill them with your AXMCs.
Continue sampling until you have filled your acceptable quota or ran out of limpets. You can only take as much as you have corrosive cargo racks if you want to avoid taking any damage, but if you're bold you can go beyond this - I regularly go up to 120+ samples with a very low risk to my thrusters, FSD or shields, but doing this has a high risk of breaking your cockpit canopy!
NOTE: Never only go a few samples beyond your safe limit. If your cargo hatch is damaged but not destroyed in one hit by module corrosion, you'll be at risk of the hatch malfunctioning and dropping some of your samples - and if that happens when you're flying back to the carrier, you can't pick them up and they're gone for good.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE SAMPLES:
You'll need to store or sell the samples to a fleet carrier in the general area, since it's not practical to try and move a sampling ship 80+LY to a rescue ship every run. This means that if you don't own one yourself, you'll need to join in with someone who does. The targets change as systems are recaptured and the Thursday updates happen, so check relevant forum threads or Discords to find out where other sampling groups are working - or just pick a weaker system and try to strike out on your own!
ANOTHER OPTION - AFK SAMPLING:
Tisssue sampling can be quite monotonous for some, so they may find it worthwhile to automate it. Although you can fairly easily deal with a single scout by means of using a rubber band or similar methods to hold down the trigger and fire research limpets, if you allow more Scouts to continue jumping in they will likely overwhelm your ship's shields and destroy you. So, using the normal method isn't an option - but, you can do this in AXCZs! Since Thargoids only drop into AXCZs around the main marker, a Scout lured 30-50km from the CZ can be safely sampled automatically without significant risk. Just leave your ship for half an hour each time to fill up!
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