Star Citizen guide #06: earning your first 100,000 aUEC

aUEC is the in-game currency. Your first 100,000 credits let you rent a better ship, buy real armor or get started in a career. Here are the safest ways to get there without taking big risks.

Beginner-friendly methods

• Chain deliveries in one area: small payouts, but zero risk, and you learn the game along the way.
• Freight hauling with a small cargo ship: a good time-to-earnings ratio once you’ve mastered the freight elevator and the tractor beam.
• Hand mining: with a multitool and its mining attachment, you collect gems in caves and on some moons. Almost no upfront cost.
• ROC mining: a small mining vehicle, sold in game, for harvesting gems on the ground. More profitable than hand mining, if you have a ship to carry it.
• Bunkers: FPS missions in underground facilities. Decent pay, and you can sell part of the loot (weapons, armor) at shops that buy it.

Risk and reward

• Delivery: very low risk, modest pay. Ideal for your very first hours.
• Freight: low risk in Stanton, higher in Pyro. Steady income.
• Mining (hand, ROC): low risk, earnings depend on ore quality.
• Bunkers: medium risk (you can die and lose your gear), decent pay, plus loot.
• Salvage with a Vulture: very profitable, but you have to buy the ship first (or fly with a friend who owns one). A logical next step (see the salvage guide).

Exact amounts change with every patch: rather than a number that will be wrong next month, remember the logic. Start with what costs nothing, then reinvest in a tool (a ROC, a cargo ship, a Vulture) that multiplies your earnings.

Recommended gear

• Medium armor and a helmet, to survive bad surprises.
• A few MedPens (Hemozal) and a multitool.
• A backpack, to bring back more loot or gems.

💡 Beacon tip: don’t buy anything with real money to save time: aUEC can be reset during a big update while the game is in Alpha. Play for fun, and the credits will follow.

Read next: Best missions to start with · Mining 101 · Buying and renting a ship in game

Written for Star Citizen Alpha 4.10.2 (October 2026). The game changes with every patch: if something has moved, tell us in a reply and we’ll update the guide.