The road to Triple Elite ...

[mpfj]

Finally decided to make the final push to get triple Elite.

I've been Elite in Trade and Exploration for ages but only got to Dangerous in Combat.
But from all the horror stories of "the grind" from Dangerous to Elite, I've been putting if off.

Anyway. I've built myself a combat Chieftain (ship build) and have stayed in my favourite High Res spot in HIP 89478.

After 20 days of "non-grind", I've gone from 1% to 57% ... and having a blast (haha!!).

Spoiler

Time                   Description
2019-12-03 12:13:06    Combat:57%
2019-12-02 22:22:04    Combat:56%
2019-11-30 23:24:02    Combat:56%
2019-11-30 22:28:40    Combat:55%
2019-11-30 08:53:37    Combat:54%
2019-11-29 22:12:16    Combat:53%
2019-11-29 19:10:41    Combat:53%
2019-11-29 18:54:53    Combat:52%
2019-11-29 12:42:29    Combat:50%
2019-11-28 19:02:20    Combat:49%
2019-11-28 18:50:48    Combat:48%
2019-11-28 18:34:08    Combat:48%
2019-11-28 08:13:43    Combat:47%
2019-11-27 22:00:01    Combat:47%
2019-11-27 12:37:54    Combat:45%
2019-11-26 18:39:41    Combat:43%
2019-11-26 18:28:14    Combat:42%
2019-11-26 17:23:11    Combat:41%
2019-11-25 21:27:21    Combat:40%
2019-11-25 18:50:16    Combat:38%
2019-11-25 18:29:56    Combat:37%
2019-11-25 16:58:45    Combat:36%
2019-11-25 16:42:03    Combat:35%
2019-11-23 18:10:54    Combat:35%
2019-11-22 08:20:15    Combat:34%
2019-11-21 22:16:28    Combat:34%
2019-11-21 19:22:00    Combat:31%
2019-11-20 22:14:50    Combat:31%
2019-11-20 19:39:47    Combat:29%
2019-11-20 19:21:52    Combat:29%
2019-11-19 18:45:40    Combat:27%
2019-11-19 18:06:51    Combat:25%
2019-11-19 12:17:37    Combat:23%
2019-11-18 22:51:50    Combat:21%
2019-11-18 20:44:46    Combat:20%
2019-11-18 18:49:08    Combat:16%
2019-11-18 17:54:57    Combat:15%
2019-11-17 18:43:51    Combat:13%
2019-11-17 18:27:09    Combat:13%
2019-11-15 08:19:42    Combat:12%
2019-11-14 21:20:13    Combat:8%
2019-11-14 19:39:39    Combat:7%
2019-11-14 19:35:37    Combat:7%
2019-11-14 18:45:32    Combat:5%
2019-11-13 22:14:34    Combat:5%
2019-11-13 12:47:10    Combat:3%
2019-11-13 08:12:25    Combat:3%
2019-11-12 21:51:11    Combat:3%
2019-11-12 19:19:44    Combat:2%
2019-11-12 17:29:06    Combat:1%

 

[Deleted member 182079]

Wait until you hit Deadly

Then the grind will reveal its true self.

 

[Requiem Mortis]

If you're into Anti Xeno combat Thargoid scouts count as Elite adversaries for experience purposes.

Compromised Nav Beacons are another good source of high level NPC's.

 

[Mayan Fury]

I've just completed triple elite and stayed in a CNB from 47% deadly till elite... it was a long time and roughly about 40 ships rated deadly or elite per each 1%... didn't and doesn't feel like a grind as i do not think like that, just get on with it.

People say about killing scouts is the best way to rank up as they are all rated Elite but i found it took so long and then being caught with corrosion and having to schlop to a station made this way unviable.
CNB's on the other hand are THE best way to rank up as ships will be mostly around the same level as you and you can enter an instance with an endless line of Elite eagles/DBX's/Vipers/couriers coming at ya which can be obliterated in seconds.
Always go for deadly and above and Elite will be yours in no (looooooooooong) time!

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

Finally decided to make the final push to get triple Elite.

I've been Elite in Trade and Exploration for ages but only got to Dangerous in Combat.
But from all the horror stories of "the grind" from Dangerous to Elite, I've been putting if off.

Anyway. I've built myself a combat Chieftain (ship build) and have stayed in my favourite High Res spot in HIP 89478.

After 20 days of "non-grind", I've gone from 1% to 57% ... and having a blast (haha!!).

Spoiler

Time                   Description
2019-12-03 12:13:06    Combat:57%
2019-12-02 22:22:04    Combat:56%
2019-11-30 23:24:02    Combat:56%
2019-11-30 22:28:40    Combat:55%
2019-11-30 08:53:37    Combat:54%
2019-11-29 22:12:16    Combat:53%
2019-11-29 19:10:41    Combat:53%
2019-11-29 18:54:53    Combat:52%
2019-11-29 12:42:29    Combat:50%
2019-11-28 19:02:20    Combat:49%
2019-11-28 18:50:48    Combat:48%
2019-11-28 18:34:08    Combat:48%
2019-11-28 08:13:43    Combat:47%
2019-11-27 22:00:01    Combat:47%
2019-11-27 12:37:54    Combat:45%
2019-11-26 18:39:41    Combat:43%
2019-11-26 18:28:14    Combat:42%
2019-11-26 17:23:11    Combat:41%
2019-11-25 21:27:21    Combat:40%
2019-11-25 18:50:16    Combat:38%
2019-11-25 18:29:56    Combat:37%
2019-11-25 16:58:45    Combat:36%
2019-11-25 16:42:03    Combat:35%
2019-11-23 18:10:54    Combat:35%
2019-11-22 08:20:15    Combat:34%
2019-11-21 22:16:28    Combat:34%
2019-11-21 19:22:00    Combat:31%
2019-11-20 22:14:50    Combat:31%
2019-11-20 19:39:47    Combat:29%
2019-11-20 19:21:52    Combat:29%
2019-11-19 18:45:40    Combat:27%
2019-11-19 18:06:51    Combat:25%
2019-11-19 12:17:37    Combat:23%
2019-11-18 22:51:50    Combat:21%
2019-11-18 20:44:46    Combat:20%
2019-11-18 18:49:08    Combat:16%
2019-11-18 17:54:57    Combat:15%
2019-11-17 18:43:51    Combat:13%
2019-11-17 18:27:09    Combat:13%
2019-11-15 08:19:42    Combat:12%
2019-11-14 21:20:13    Combat:8%
2019-11-14 19:39:39    Combat:7%
2019-11-14 19:35:37    Combat:7%
2019-11-14 18:45:32    Combat:5%
2019-11-13 22:14:34    Combat:5%
2019-11-13 12:47:10    Combat:3%
2019-11-13 08:12:25    Combat:3%
2019-11-12 21:51:11    Combat:3%
2019-11-12 19:19:44    Combat:2%
2019-11-12 17:29:06    Combat:1%

Lol, i got to deadly 50% and hit a wall... i worked out it was like an hour for 1% or so i suppose i should cheese it with a krait and AX weapons with 0 skill but meh...

i wish you got more rank & reward for having a 45 min slog fest vs an elite Conda in a Sidewinder (or Dolphin in my case) yet its only worth ~0.05% rank IIRC

 

[mpfj]

Well, I've got a few months till Cyberpunk 2077 drops ... gotta have something to keep me entertained

 

[Codger]

As I understand it, Deadly is the half-way mark, with just as many kills ahead of you as behind. Fun huh? I'm also Dangerous Elite Elite, so I know the feeling!

 

[Snowymonk]

I am on the same journey.
Having returned from DW2 with my combat rating deliberately being kept low so that NPCs were conveniently low if I ever encountered them, I pushed for triple elite.

Ship of choice Thargoid scout busting Krait MkII.

Managed to hit Deadly on the 18th October.
two hours (ish) most nights and I am currently 50% towards Elite.

By far, the hardest grind of the three ranks

 

[Marbat]

I'm also Dangerous, almost Deadly but only do combat now and then. Almost Elite in Trade but took a break from that and now on a voyage to get Elite in Exploration. I like to break it up a bit I guess.

 

[Zieman]

After 20 days of "non-grind", I've gone from 1% to 57% ... and having a blast (haha!!).

I remember I got up to 59% Deadly from low teens Dangerous as a byproduct of doing missions. Those missions were cargo & data deliveries during the very first Thargoid station attacks, when I also rescued some folk from the burning stations. Mission spawned enemies trying to stop those missions were Dangerous-Deadly-Elite variants. Ranked nicely for both Empire & Federation too.

 

[Deleted member 182079]

I've just completed triple elite and stayed in a CNB from 47% deadly till elite... it was a long time and roughly about 40 ships rated deadly or elite per each 1%... didn't and doesn't feel like a grind as i do not think like that, just get on with it.

People say about killing scouts is the best way to rank up as they are all rated Elite but i found it took so long and then being caught with corrosion and having to schlop to a station made this way unviable.
CNB's on the other hand are THE best way to rank up as ships will be mostly around the same level as you and you can enter an instance with an endless line of Elite eagles/DBX's/Vipers/couriers coming at ya which can be obliterated in seconds.
Always go for deadly and above and Elite will be yours in no (looooooooooong) time!

Well.. I started actively working towards combat Elite from about 65% Deadly, and it definitely felt like a grind to me alright Everyone's different obviously. And I wouldn't have done if I weren't eager to start training up an SLF pilot to Elite - they're greedy buggers and take credits but also 50% of rank so I mostly avoided them until I hit triple Elite.

I did also switch from CNB to AX from about half way through because the problem with CNB's are the bullet sponges - it takes a lot longer to take out even the smaller ships, depending on your outfitting of course; I also found that far fewer ships were Deadly/Elite than I hoped, but so is the game's RNG nature.

While it's true AX requires regular trips to the nav beacon (to 'discover' all relevant USSs) and repair trips, I found it less tedious (only ever so slightly) as all Scouts are Elite and you get between 5-8 in an instance, which takes only a few minutes. Corrosion is a non issue if you fit a few Guardian HRPs, as the corrosion resistance stacks nicely. Asterope is the best place to do this by the way, you have literally dozens of USSs and the station is very close (and includes all amenities incl. shipyard).

 

[Gun Star]

I'm currently at 63% deadly. The last bounty hunting CG I made almost 10% towards it. Its a long road, but will get there eventually.

 

[CMDR Harada]

It takes some dedication for the Combat Elite rank. Figure about 8-9k kills. All the other ranks seem to be a bit too easy. Maybe a weekend or two.

I did my last few weeks at a CNB. You can burn Eagles/Vipers/Cobras by the fistful in a properly engineered combat ship. As mentioned, it's the best way to find Dangerous/Deadly/Elite targets. You don't get 'points' for the low level scrubs, if I remember correctly. A HazRES or CZ doesn't give as many of the high level opponents.

 

[Mayan Fury]

Well.. I started actively working towards combat Elite from about 65% Deadly, and it definitely felt like a grind to me alright Everyone's different obviously. And I wouldn't have done if I weren't eager to start training up an SLF pilot to Elite - they're greedy buggers and take credits but also 50% of rank so I mostly avoided them until I hit triple Elite.

I did also switch from CNB to AX from about half way through because the problem with CNB's are the bullet sponges - it takes a lot longer to take out even the smaller ships, depending on your outfitting of course; I also found that far fewer ships were Deadly/Elite than I hoped, but so is the game's RNG nature.

While it's true AX requires regular trips to the nav beacon (to 'discover' all relevant USSs) and repair trips, I found it less tedious (only ever so slightly) as all Scouts are Elite and you get between 5-8 in an instance, which takes only a few minutes. Corrosion is a non issue if you fit a few Guardian HRPs, as the corrosion resistance stacks nicely. Asterope is the best place to do this by the way, you have literally dozens of USSs and the station is very close (and includes all amenities incl. shipyard).


Really?.. I would go with the opposite in that scouts are the bullet sponges and what with them whizzing about as if on some alien drug making tracking and shooting a long ol slog .. and you may well mitigate some corrosion with guardian tech but you won’t get all of it before you take damage so the need to traipse back and forth to a station to repair is ball ache plus, as you mentioned (which I forgot!), traipsing back and forth to the nav beacon to reveal the signal sources and then finding them 6klyrs away or further makes scout killing (for rank grinding mind..) totally unviable.

CNB’s are THE way to go.

If you enter an instance and find yourself up against gunships/clippers/Type 10’s/conda’s you can just leave and come back (almost immediately) to find the instance populated with the aforementioned (wet paper bag built) Eagles/DBX’s/Vipers/Couriers.

The only time it will take more than 5 seconds to destroy them is when they deploy chaf… god I hate that mechanic with a vengeance

 

[Deleted member 182079]

Well.. I started actively working towards combat Elite from about 65% Deadly, and it definitely felt like a grind to me alright Everyone's different obviously. And I wouldn't have done if I weren't eager to start training up an SLF pilot to Elite - they're greedy buggers and take credits but also 50% of rank so I mostly avoided them until I hit triple Elite.

I did also switch from CNB to AX from about half way through because the problem with CNB's are the bullet sponges - it takes a lot longer to take out even the smaller ships, depending on your outfitting of course; I also found that far fewer ships were Deadly/Elite than I hoped, but so is the game's RNG nature.

While it's true AX requires regular trips to the nav beacon (to 'discover' all relevant USSs) and repair trips, I found it less tedious (only ever so slightly) as all Scouts are Elite and you get between 5-8 in an instance, which takes only a few minutes. Corrosion is a non issue if you fit a few Guardian HRPs, as the corrosion resistance stacks nicely. Asterope is the best place to do this by the way, you have literally dozens of USSs and the station is very close (and includes all amenities incl. shipyard).


Really?.. I would go with the opposite in that scouts are the bullet sponges and what with them whizzing about as if on some alien drug making tracking and shooting a long ol slog .. and you may well mitigate some corrosion with guardian tech but you won’t get all of it before you take damage so the need to traipse back and forth to a station to repair is ball ache plus, as you mentioned (which I forgot!), traipsing back and forth to the nav beacon to reveal the signal sources and then finding them 6klyrs away or further makes scout killing (for rank grinding mind..) totally unviable.

CNB’s are THE way to go.

If you enter an instance and find yourself up against gunships/clippers/Type 10’s/conda’s you can just leave and come back (almost immediately) to find the instance populated with the aforementioned (wet paper bag built) Eagles/DBX’s/Vipers/Couriers.

The only time it will take more than 5 seconds to destroy them is when they deploy chaf… god I hate that mechanic with a vengeance

Krait Mk2 with 4 AX MC turrets and a weapon of your choice, hulltanked and shielded, makes mince out of them pretty quickly. Anyways, I'm done with grinding now, happy with the decal and all but if I ever reset my account, I won't grind for rank again. Took me a while to find enjoyment in combat (think I went exploring for a bit shortly after, lol).

Also, Asterope is really ideal. Plenty of NHSS 5's within 50ls from nav beacon and station. It's almost as if it was designed for AX grinding...

 

[Speedcuffs]

Finally decided to make the final push to get triple Elite.

I've been Elite in Trade and Exploration for ages but only got to Dangerous in Combat.
But from all the horror stories of "the grind" from Dangerous to Elite, I've been putting if off.

Anyway. I've built myself a combat Chieftain (ship build) and have stayed in my favourite High Res spot in HIP 89478.

After 20 days of "non-grind", I've gone from 1% to 57% ... and having a blast (haha!!).

Spoiler

Time                   Description
2019-12-03 12:13:06    Combat:57%
2019-12-02 22:22:04    Combat:56%
2019-11-30 23:24:02    Combat:56%
2019-11-30 22:28:40    Combat:55%
2019-11-30 08:53:37    Combat:54%
2019-11-29 22:12:16    Combat:53%
2019-11-29 19:10:41    Combat:53%
2019-11-29 18:54:53    Combat:52%
2019-11-29 12:42:29    Combat:50%
2019-11-28 19:02:20    Combat:49%
2019-11-28 18:50:48    Combat:48%
2019-11-28 18:34:08    Combat:48%
2019-11-28 08:13:43    Combat:47%
2019-11-27 22:00:01    Combat:47%
2019-11-27 12:37:54    Combat:45%
2019-11-26 18:39:41    Combat:43%
2019-11-26 18:28:14    Combat:42%
2019-11-26 17:23:11    Combat:41%
2019-11-25 21:27:21    Combat:40%
2019-11-25 18:50:16    Combat:38%
2019-11-25 18:29:56    Combat:37%
2019-11-25 16:58:45    Combat:36%
2019-11-25 16:42:03    Combat:35%
2019-11-23 18:10:54    Combat:35%
2019-11-22 08:20:15    Combat:34%
2019-11-21 22:16:28    Combat:34%
2019-11-21 19:22:00    Combat:31%
2019-11-20 22:14:50    Combat:31%
2019-11-20 19:39:47    Combat:29%
2019-11-20 19:21:52    Combat:29%
2019-11-19 18:45:40    Combat:27%
2019-11-19 18:06:51    Combat:25%
2019-11-19 12:17:37    Combat:23%
2019-11-18 22:51:50    Combat:21%
2019-11-18 20:44:46    Combat:20%
2019-11-18 18:49:08    Combat:16%
2019-11-18 17:54:57    Combat:15%
2019-11-17 18:43:51    Combat:13%
2019-11-17 18:27:09    Combat:13%
2019-11-15 08:19:42    Combat:12%
2019-11-14 21:20:13    Combat:8%
2019-11-14 19:39:39    Combat:7%
2019-11-14 19:35:37    Combat:7%
2019-11-14 18:45:32    Combat:5%
2019-11-13 22:14:34    Combat:5%
2019-11-13 12:47:10    Combat:3%
2019-11-13 08:12:25    Combat:3%
2019-11-12 21:51:11    Combat:3%
2019-11-12 19:19:44    Combat:2%
2019-11-12 17:29:06    Combat:1%

Happy hunting!
My advice: do a bit of everything suggested on here, mix it up.

 

[Marklar_]

The best way to rank up is to farm high-ranked eagles at checkpoints in Anarchy systems in outbreak. They spawn over and over, are often elite, and go down fast.

The trouble, though, is finding Anarchy systems in outbreak.

 

[ZAKALWEINC8876]

I am 23% Dangerous in Combat, when i can be bothered to grind it i take a Corvette out scout hunting, 4x AX MC's an SLF and decon limpets. Just grind till you run out of ammo doin NHSS 4 really.

I know the crewmember is detrimental, but i have finally found a replacement for Dong King (RIP) and Hermione Hoover isn't going to get to Elite sat in the station all the time!

o7

 

[Snowymonk]

I am 23% Dangerous in Combat, when i can be bothered to grind it i take a Corvette out scout hunting, 4x AX MC's an SLF and decon limpets. Just grind till you run out of ammo doin NHSS 4 really.

I know the crewmember is detrimental, but i have finally found a replacement for Dong King (RIP) and Hermione Hoover isn't going to get to Elite sat in the station all the time!

o7

The problem with Corvettes going against Scouts is the cost of repair.
I had to drop to a medium Krait II so that the repair costs stayed to a reasonable level.

 

[ZAKALWEINC8876]

The problem with Corvettes going against Scouts is the cost of repair.
I had to drop to a medium Krait II so that the repair costs stayed to a reasonable level.

But, but, Void Opals??

o7