What this is about
There are two kinds of energy in a fight. The first is your speed: it decides how tight and how fast you can turn, and it is less after every turn. The second is the power distribution between thrusters, shields and weapons – it can be changed in the cockpit at any time.
The situation
Any fight lasting longer than two passes. Short fights are decided by position; long ones by who budgeted his energy better.
What the opponent does
He budgets too – usually without noticing. Anyone who never switches to shields loses them earlier; anyone who never goes to thrusters gets out of nothing.
What you do
Budgeting speed: do not turn faster than necessary. Boost is a reserve, not a state. After every hard manoeuvre go briefly straight to get speed back – but never so long that he can aim at it.
Distributing power: there are three sensible base settings:
- Thrusters when you have to leave or need angle.
- Shields when you know you will be hit – on the run-in, in an overshoot, when breaking off.
- Weapons when you have the firing solution and can hold it.
And a fourth: reset when the situation is unclear. A balanced distribution beats the wrong one.
Follow-up
The switch belongs to the manoeuvre, not between manoeuvres. Weapons before the run-in, shields during the pass, thrusters when breaking out – three key presses tied to three moments you already know.
How the opponent answers
He switches too, or he uses exactly the moment when you are on weapons and your shields are thin. Changing the distribution makes you vulnerable somewhere – that is the price.
What you need
The four power functions blind, and an eye on your own speed. Nothing more.
Power distribution is bound by default to the function keys, each group with increase, decrease, maximum and minimum. Plus the speed limiters.
| Game action | Default keyboard/mouse | Default joystick | Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engines - Increase (Tap) | f6 | not bound by default | single press |
| Shields - Increase (Tap) | f7 | not bound by default | single press |
| Weapons - Increase (Tap) | f5 | not bound by default | single press |
| Reset Assignments | f8 | not bound by default | single press |
| Toggle Power - Shields | O | not bound by default | toggle |
| Toggle Power - Weapons | P | not bound by default | toggle |
| Toggle Power - Thrusters | I | not bound by default | toggle |
| Speed Limiter - Enable / Disable | not bound by default | not bound by default | toggle |
| Speed Limiter - Step Up (tap) | Left Alt + Mouse wheel up | not bound by default | single press |
| Speed Limiter - Step Down (tap) | Left Alt + Mouse wheel down | not bound by default | single press |
Game default binding, game version 4.10.0-hotfix (55227). If you rebound it yourself, your binding applies.
Anything marked “not bound by default” you have to bind yourself in the game settings – we do not guess a key.
HOTAS/HOSAS: the joystick column is the default binding of ONE stick. On two sticks you assign pitch, yaw, roll and lateral strafe yourself – which axis a manoeuvre needs is listed in the HOTAS / HOSAS section.
Typical mistakes
- Never switching. The most common waste in the whole fight.
- Constant boost. In the end you have none when you need it.
- Staying on weapons while being hit. The firing solution is gone, and the shields with it.
- Switching in the middle of a turn. The glance at the keys costs more than the distribution gains.
Exercise
- Goal
- Change the power distribution in a fight without looking and without losing the nose.
- Preparation
- A partner as opponent, agreed beforehand. Go through the four functions blind once on the ground first.
- Task
- Three rounds of two minutes. Round 1: power to thrusters, only evade. Round 2: to shields, take hits. Round 3: to weapons, attack. Then switch freely in a fight and say out loud after each switch why.
- Success criterion
- You change the distribution at least three times in a fight and can justify every change.
- Partner
- required
- Functions needed
- Engines - Increase (Tap)
- Shields - Increase (Tap)
- Weapons - Increase (Tap)
- Reset Assignments
- Toggle Power - Shields
- Toggle Power - Weapons
Next step
Once you budget your energy you have capacity left to watch more than the one opponent: situational awareness.