Combat Rank - Best way to level up?

[Nutter]

I know i'm going to have to hang me head in shame here as I'm not into pew pew...but.

I need to access an Engineer - Lori Jameson - To complete my Super Explorer Anaconda.

What is the critera? I can build any combat ship so not so bothered about that, do I just fly to a HAZ zone and blow everything up? is that the best way to rank?

Thanks in advanced

Also does killing ships in Anarchy rank the same as anything else?

Cheers

Nutter
o7

 

[AreZee]

Your progress relies on your own rank compared to the opponents rank, i.e. you won't get any experience any more if you kill Harmless, Mostly Harmless, Novice and Competent ships, if you are already deadly yourself.

The opponent's ship choice doesn't matter. Best way to level up is either a compromised nav beacon in an anarchy system (more rare) or fighting in a CZ (harder due to military module loadout of ships, but very good respawn). I can't recommend a specific loadout or ship, but I'm enjoying an engineered Federal Corvette.

 

[TomP]

I know i'm going to have to hang me head in shame here as I'm not into pew pew...but.

I need to access an Engineer - Lori Jameson - To complete my Super Explorer Anaconda.

What is the critera? I can build any combat ship so not so bothered about that, do I just fly to a HAZ zone and blow everything up? is that the best way to rank?

Thanks in advanced

Also does killing ships in Anarchy rank the same as anything else?

EDIT: Ninja'd!

Cheers

Nutter
o7

Anarchy has no bearing; the only thing that matters is the combat rank. You get way more points for destroying targets with equal to or greater than your own rank. So, for me, at Deadly, blowing up masters or experts is pretty much a waste of time, so I'm constantly on the look out for elite ships. In other words, you get more points for destroying an Elite Eagle than you do for a Deadly Anaconda. Strange, but true.

EDIT: Ninja'd

 

[Faded Glory]

I know i'm going to have to hang me head in shame here as I'm not into pew pew...but.

I need to access an Engineer - Lori Jameson - To complete my Super Explorer Anaconda.

What is the critera? I can build any combat ship so not so bothered about that, do I just fly to a HAZ zone and blow everything up? is that the best way to rank?

Thanks in advanced

Also does killing ships in Anarchy rank the same as anything else?

Cheers

Nutter
o7

Depends a little bit on your combat abilities. Haz RES and compromised nav beacons tend to have higher ranking ships, so your combat rank can increase faster, but they are also devoid of allies (in the form of system authority) that you can use to wear down opponents and still take the credit for the kill.

Killing ships in anarchy space should count towards your combat ranking, but if you want bounties you will need to use a kill warrant scanner.

Not sure what your current rank is, or what rank you are aiming for, but be aware that destroying lower ranked ships counts progressively for less as your own rank rises, so for example, once you reach Expert rank, destroying a Harmless ranked ship does not count towards your rank progress.

 

[Nutter]

Thanks all +1
I'm half way to Master so looks like i'm way off my explorer Anaconda ah well

Thanks Again
Nutter
o7

 

[Oldric]

killing ships at your combat rank and higher gets you most progress. Carrying a few tonnes of engineer cargo brings a few good ones when out and about doing whatever floats your boat. But you're only going to really move up quickly by doing res ,CZ and compromised nav beacons.

if memory serves about 2000 kills took me to dangerous.

 

[djbully]

Fer-De-Lance makes a great combat ship with 5a shields and 5 x a boosters!

 

[fennster]

I'm ranking up my combat at the moment.

Combat Zones are notably slower than Haz Res currently since I am deadly. In a CZ I can get a bad run of 10 expert or lower ships, wasting time (This is in both Low and High). Where as a Haz RES will give me a good proportion of dangerous or above.

 

[jasonbarron]

I'm ranking up my combat at the moment.

Combat Zones are notably slower than Haz Res currently since I am deadly. In a CZ I can get a bad run of 10 expert or lower ships, wasting time (This is in both Low and High). Where as a Haz RES will give me a good proportion of dangerous or above.

I've noticed that, too. Prior to reaching Deadly I looked at CZ's as the go to spot to increase rank, now it seems like a waste of ammunition due to all the low ranked spawns

I recently pledged to Aisling Duval, too, which has complicated the process; do any of you guys have a hot tip for a good Has Res where I can hunt without being pestered by Hostile powers?

 

[fennster]

I've noticed that, too. Prior to reaching Deadly I looked at CZ's as the go to spot to increase rank, now it seems like a waste of ammunition due to all the low ranked spawns

I recently pledged to Aisling Duval, too, which has complicated the process; do any of you guys have a hot tip for a good Has Res where I can hunt without being pestered by Hostile powers?

On that note, what are the ranks of the hostile ships sent due to PP? I'm considering signing up just to increase the likelihood of conflict.

 

[jasonbarron]

On that note, what are the ranks of the hostile ships sent due to PP? I'm considering signing up just to increase the likelihood of conflict.

All I've seen is deadly and elite interdictions so far. I guess a guy could just hang out in hostile systems. Mostly I've just noticed that it's annoying to try work a res because a common scenario I've seen is engage a Wanted enemy or three and during the fight anywhere from one to five hostile power ships suddenly engage you while your pants are down

 

[insanephoton]

I don't know if you still earn rank from killing skimmers. I do know that when I started my second account, the combat rank was rising fairly rapidly despite the majority of my combat being against skimmers

 

[fennster]

All I've seen is deadly and elite interdictions so far. I guess a guy could just hang out in hostile systems. Mostly I've just noticed that it's annoying to try work a res because a common scenario I've seen is engage a Wanted enemy or three and during the fight anywhere from one to five hostile power ships suddenly engage you while your pants are down

On the slightly 'exploity' side of things is something I considered. Which involves checkpoints in anarchy systems that are at war (or civil), all the ships in there are rated elite, there are a few too many to handle flying solo, but in a wing it would be doable. They are persistent too.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

I don't know if you still earn rank from killing skimmers. I do know that when I started my second account, the combat rank was rising fairly rapidly despite the majority of my combat being against skimmers

That is another way, but what is the average rank of skimmers these days? I'm guessing they are quite low, so only really useful for beginner-mid ranking.

 

[Certacito]

I have been plugging away at combat rank for what feels like forever. For some reason when my team mates go into a RES site, they get NPC ships of around their rank spawning. When I go in, despite being Deadly (86%) I only seem to get bleeding Master ranks. I have been Deadly for about 9 months now and the number never seems to increase! Kill 3 elites, 10 deadly and 7 dangerous NPC and get 1%. In short, it is slow at the last rank

 

[racer1]

I have recently (2.1) reached Elite in combat.

The best place to rank up is compromised navigation beacons. Loads of small, high ranked ships.

I would target only deadly and above wanted NPC. You could target clean ships as well and go even faster, I only thought of this at about 98% deadly and decided I may as well preserve my CMDR soul for the remaining 2%.

I would also only target smaller ships. I ignored python, anaconda, etc as they take too long to kill.

I was in an engineered FAS - it is more maneuverable than the FDL, this is important against the smaller ships. Its weak shields are no issue for the smaller target ships. If you lack the rank FDL is next obvious choice.

I had g5 dirty drives, weap focused PD, a few resistance boosters, 2 large g4 OC pulse lasers and 2 med g5 OC multi cannons one with incendiary and one with corrosive. With hindsight, I'd probably go all g5 OC multi cannon if I did it again, all incendiary except one corrosive.

Don't bother KWSing as it takes too long.

I would manage +2% deadly an hour including 2 re-arms at station - Dala was the system I used. So should equate to approx +4% dangerous, +8% master, +16% expert per hour.

 

[Oldric]

Let them come to you while you get on with something else...Source and return missions have been pure gold for my wingmate, the mission related npc's are invariably above his combat level.

Not everyone's idea of fun I know but a few deranged NPC's stalking us at all times has added a bit of life into the grind for empire rank.

 

[dutchy2000]

To the @OP, any elite rank will do, well except CQC since that is the black headed step child.

To rank up fast, go to a comp nav beacon, everything there will be deadly or above and flying something small so easy to squash. My go to place to rank up my NPC crew member too.

 

[Demonseed]

I have recently (2.1) reached Elite in combat.

The best place to rank up is compromised navigation beacons. Loads of small, high ranked ships.

I would target only deadly and above wanted NPC. You could target clean ships as well and go even faster, I only thought of this at about 98% deadly and decided I may as well preserve my CMDR soul for the remaining 2%.

I would also only target smaller ships. I ignored python, anaconda, etc as they take too long to kill.

I was in an engineered FAS - it is more maneuverable than the FDL, this is important against the smaller ships. Its weak shields are no issue for the smaller target ships. If you lack the rank FDL is next obvious choice.

I had g5 dirty drives, weap focused PD, a few resistance boosters, 2 large g4 OC pulse lasers and 2 med g5 OC multi cannons one with incendiary and one with corrosive. With hindsight, I'd probably go all g5 OC multi cannon if I did it again, all incendiary except one corrosive.

Don't bother KWSing as it takes too long.

I would manage +2% deadly an hour including 2 re-arms at station - Dala was the system I used. So should equate to approx +4% dangerous, +8% master, +16% expert per hour.

Awesome advice! I'm looking to go beyond my stagnant "Dangerous" status and this is exactly what I was looking for! I tried a CZ and went in with my Vulture, which is pretty heavily outfitted and as soon as I started shooting, it's like every NPC in there started blasting at my ship. My shields disappeared in seconds and I barely made it out with the ship intact. I didn't even finish one kill!

 

[Trafalgar Law]

Awesome advice! I'm looking to go beyond my stagnant "Dangerous" status and this is exactly what I was looking for! I tried a CZ and went in with my Vulture, which is pretty heavily outfitted and as soon as I started shooting, it's like every NPC in there started blasting at my ship. My shields disappeared in seconds and I barely made it out with the ship intact. I didn't even finish one kill!

That happens sometimes in combat zones. Fly away from the initial spawn point before picking a side and then attack ships at the edge of the melee.

 

[Thalion Solarstorm]

Add me ingame if you need help in some hazrez - it goes faster in wing + i can heal

Cheers!