COMBAT / VISUAL FIELD GUIDE
Begin ship bounty hunting
Choose the right target, practise the fight and leave enough to get home.
01
STEP 1 OF 12
Rehearse before taking a contract
Use Arena Commander to practise targeting, firing, countermeasures and disengagement without turning the first PU bounty into a controls lesson. Check those bindings in Options.
Our preparation recommendation: return to the same ship for several sessions. Record repair and rearm cost, not just the contract’s headline reward.
- 1
Rehearse targeting in a simulator
From the main menu open Arena Commander and select an available single-player combat practice mode. Choose an available ship, launch and practise following one target.
What you should seeYou can identify the target display and fire without spending a PU ship claim or losing your carried kit.
RSI Multiplayer Game Options, updated 27 Jul 2026That did not happen
If the ship is unavailable in that mode, select an eligible one. Arena Commander rentals do not become PU ships.
Working weapons and shieldsCountermeasuresFuel reserveService budget
Read the complete guide as text
The same published instructions in one readable view. Use the steps above for controls and practice panels.
Rehearse before taking a contract
Use Arena Commander to practise targeting, firing, countermeasures and disengagement without turning the first PU bounty into a controls lesson. Check those bindings in Options.
Our preparation recommendation: return to the same ship for several sessions. Record repair and rearm cost, not just the contract’s headline reward.
Rehearse targeting in a simulator
From the main menu open Arena Commander and select an available single-player combat practice mode. Choose an available ship, launch and practise following one target.
Expected result: You can identify the target display and fire without spending a PU ship claim or losing your carried kit.
If it did not work: If the ship is unavailable in that mode, select an eligible one. Arena Commander rentals do not become PU ships.
Prepare one repeatable combat lesson
SC Nomads drill: practise one target selection, one short firing pass and a controlled separation in an offered Arena Commander combat session. Choose PvE deliberately. An offline practice session is not a PU contract and does not establish a bounty reward.
Keep the same affordable ship and loadout while learning. Find the weapon, shield, fuel and damage displays before departure. Carry only equipment you can replace. Do not fit a larger hull to solve an input you have not yet learned.
Verify the named combat controls
Target selection and auto-targeting; weapon preset/fire; countermeasure selection/deployment; master mode
Read the original targeting, SCM and firing cards below, then check their assigned actions on your device. Find the countermeasure controls by name and test their response in practice. Do not assume a missile warning means a countermeasure was deployed.
Expected result: You can name the selected contact, active weapon state and your own escape input without searching during a fight.
If it did not work: If a control behaves differently, stop the drill and inspect the current assignment. Do not repeatedly fire or deploy consumables while diagnosing the wrong action.
Field note: Different input? Open Options > Keybindings, choose your device, then Advanced Controls Customization. Read the named action before changing it. Submit corrections through this guide’s normal edit proposal.
Choose a target, location and commitment you understand
CIG distinguishes game-controlled PvE bounties from player-target PvP. A player may evade you or receive help. Read the actual objective and do not infer PvE, legality or ease from a reward or category name.
Read issuer, destination, time limit if present and offered reward. Verified and Unverified describe offer categories, not a promise of safety. SC Nomads first-run recommendation: choose a nearby objective with a known service stop and enough time to return. Decline an unclear objective before committing.
Our risk check: compare the destination with your experience of terrain, atmosphere, visibility and local traffic. A surface marker is not permission to dive at it. Keep clear of terrain while identifying the target. If the offer is unavailable, recheck eligibility and location instead of assuming a fixed unlock ladder.
Open mobiGlas and find Contracts
mobiGlas (Toggle) > CONTRACTS
Press F1, then select the app labelled CONTRACTS. Choose Verified or Unverified at the top, open a mission category and select an offer to read its detail panel. CIG’s documented layout puts the app at the fourth button from the left; use the name if your layout differs.
Expected result: You see an offer with an issuer, task and reward, plus any displayed deadline. Browsing has not accepted it.
If it did not work: If F1 opens nothing, check the named mobiGlas toggle in your saved bindings. If the device itself is missing or nonfunctional, use the dedicated mobiGlas troubleshooting source before accepting a timed job.
Brief the job before accepting
Contract Manager > offer details
State the target, required result, destination and your return stop. If a fee or other commitment is shown, read it before accepting. Choose another offer if you cannot explain the task.
Expected result: You have a specific objective and a recovery plan, rather than only a headline payout.
If it did not work: Do not accept a player bounty for an NPC lesson. Ask an experienced guide when the offer does not clearly identify the intended gameplay.
Find the first Guild qualification, not a player hunt
The extracted 4.10.1 mission text names Tracker Training Permit Certification, issued by the Bounty Hunters Guild for a Very Low-Risk Target. This is a dated source example, not a guarantee that the offer is available to your character today.
Open the named qualification offer
Contract Manager > Verified > Bounty Hunting
Use the shared Contracts opening card above. Look for Tracker Training Permit Certification and check that the issuer is the Bounty Hunters Guild. Read its target, location, fee and conditions before Accept Offer; then confirm it appears under Accepted.
Expected result: The accepted details identify your own qualification target.
If it did not work: If the offer is absent, inspect your Guild standing and available prerequisites. Do not substitute a player-apprehension offer or assume another region must show the same board.
Match the permit target before using the combat drill
Accepted qualification > named target and last known location
In the accepted qualification, note the named criminal and last known location. Use the existing target-identification and combat steps below against that objective.
Expected result: The selected contact matches the accepted permit target.
If it did not work: If the contact or mission state is unclear, withhold fire. A nearby hostile is not proof that you found the qualification objective.
- Offer and issuer checked
- NPC objective distinguished from PvP
- Actual cost and conditions read
Distinguish an NPC target from a player target
Bounty offers can involve PvE or PvP. Read the target and mission details instead of assuming that a low reward means an easy NPC fight.
Before firing, verify the target name and your objective. A target marker, nearby ship and lawful target are not automatically the same thing.
Read the bounty before travelling
Open the accepted bounty and note its target, location and objective. Decide how you will leave before approaching its marker.
Expected result: You know which target is relevant and what would count as completing this mission.
If it did not work: A nearby ship or red marker alone is not a substitute for the contract details.
Inspect the selected target
Check the auto-targeting state. Hold T to toggle it if needed, then inspect the contact it selects while you face the relevant ship. Read the selected contact before firing.
Expected result: The target display identifies the contact you intend to engage, matching the mission.
If it did not work: T is the latest-known auto-targeting toggle, not a guaranteed direct reticle lock. In Options, Keybindings, Advanced Controls Customization, inspect targeting actions if your selection behaves differently.
Read the selected target and your own ship separately
SC Nomads HUD drill: distinguish the selected contact name and range from your own weapon, shield and damage information. The exact layout varies by hull and build. A target marker is not confirmation that your shots hit, that the contact is lawful to attack or that the objective completed.
For one controlled pass, watch the active weapon preset and its displayed ammunition or readiness state. Compare aiming feedback with the selected contact and observed response. Do not use an assumed universal pip color, fixed range or damage number as proof of a hit. Keep enough attention on terrain and your own ship to leave.
Diagnose a failed firing pass
Active weapon preset/fire and current HUD readouts
Use the existing first-engagement card for firing. If there is no useful result, separate first, then inspect combat mode, weapon selection, readiness, ammunition, power and selected contact. Change one thing before the next practice pass.
Expected result: You can distinguish no weapon firing, shots missing and your ship taking damage as different problems.
If it did not work: If the display remains unclear or damage continues to rise, end the attempt. A new key press or target explosion is not proof that the underlying problem was fixed.
Agree who flies, who shoots and when to leave
SC Nomads crew briefing: a solo pilot must choose a ship and objective manageable from that seat. An empty turret adds no human gunner. With crew, assign pilot and occupied gun stations before launch; confirm each station has working controls and a clear view.
Call the target name and location before the pass. The pilot announces turns and withdrawal; the gunner reports loss of firing angle, ammunition or visibility. Do not have the pilot leave the flight seat for a repair during an uncontrolled engagement.
Approach with space to slow and separate. Reassess if additional contacts arrive, terrain blocks your escape, a warning appears or your own ship loses capability. Escape is a decision, not a guaranteed shortcut: clear obstacles, inspect the current mode and travel requirements, and use the flight lesson you practised.
Set an abort call before entering
Crew communication and assigned flight controls
Agree one clear withdrawal call. Identify a direction away from terrain and traffic and a service destination before committing. Tell the gunner when you separate; reassess ship condition once clear.
Expected result: Both players understand whether the next action is attack, separation or return.
If it did not work: If you lose communication, target identity or control, stop the attack and recover a predictable flight path. Do not chase a fleeing player into a situation you cannot assess.
Keep an exit plan during the fight
Suggested drill: observe the target, enter a controlled firing pass, check your own ship and separate when you lose the advantage. Tell a gunner which target you have selected and when you intend to leave.
Check completion in Contracts before spending time on nearby wrecks. Refuel, repair and restock at services before the next attempt; a win can leave you poorly equipped for the next fight.
Enter combat mode before the first pass
Check the HUD master-mode label. If in NAV, hold B to change to SCM and wait for the transition. Confirm your weapons and shields show their ready state before committing.
Expected result: The cockpit shows the intended combat state, not quantum navigation.
If it did not work: If the ship is still transitioning or damaged, create distance and inspect the state rather than assuming the key press completed it.
Make a controlled first engagement
Keep the selected target in view and use left mouse to fire the active weapon preset in short periods. Watch your own ship condition. Our beginner exercise is one pass followed by a deliberate reassessment.
Expected result: You can tell whether you are hitting, missing or losing control, and can still disengage.
If it did not work: If the target outruns your tracking or damage is rising, break off. If no weapon fires, inspect the active preset, ammunition, power and mode.
Check the actual objective outcome
After the engagement, read the bounty state and inspect fuel, ammunition and damage before selecting another offer.
Expected result: The mission confirms the outcome and your ship is fit for the next leg.
If it did not work: A disabled or exploded contact does not prove all mission conditions were met. Follow any remaining target or handoff requirement.
- Target identified
- Contract complete
- Ship damage checked
- Service cost recorded
Verify completion, then pay attention to the return
SC Nomads closeout: compare the accepted objective with its actual completion state before looting or choosing another offer. Check the displayed reward outcome and your balance; write down any discrepancy rather than counting the advertised reward as money already received.
When sharing, use the accepted mission share option and have each party member accept and verify their own entry before the fight. Merely occupying a turret does not confirm that the mission was shared. Do not promise a crew payout from an unconfirmed result.
CIG service procedure: land at a service location, remain in the pilot seat, open mobiGlas and select Landing Services. Choose required repair, restock or refuel services and confirm. Re-read condition and supplies after service; the request alone is not evidence that everything was restored.
Check a return-ready ship
Landing Services; mobiGlas binding already shown as F1
At the landed ship service screen, inspect the available work and cost before confirming. Check fuel, ammunition and remaining damage afterward. Record actual service spending alongside the reward you verified.
Expected result: You know whether the next flight is affordable and whether the required work actually completed.
If it did not work: If services are unavailable or do not change the readings, confirm the landing location and service state. Use another suitable service stop only if the ship can safely reach it; do not assume a destroyed component was repaired.
- Objective outcome read
- Crew mission acceptance checked
- Reward outcome checked
- Ship condition rechecked after service
- One next practice goal recorded
Turn one completed qualification into a deliberate next job
The dated permit text qualifies the hunter for VLRT work. A completed target, a paid reward and a newly available offer are separate observations. Inspect each rather than assuming the next tier or every regional employer is unlocked.
Read the result, then choose the next actual VLRT offer
Contracts result; Reputation > Bounty Hunters Guild; Verified bounty offers
After the objective, read the accepted contract result and inspect the Bounty Hunters Guild entry in Reputation. Return to Verified bounty offers and inspect an available VLRT job before accepting it. Read its actual issuer and target again.
Expected result: You have a recorded qualification result and a specific next offer, or a clearly identified missing prerequisite.
If it did not work: If no suitable offer appears, compare its stated prerequisites, location and issuer with your standing. Do not repeat unrelated fights, pay another fee blindly or treat the extraction unlock list as guaranteed access to higher tiers.
Recover the failed step instead of repeating the whole risk
SC Nomads recovery method: record the game build, contract title, target and the last objective that actually changed. Separate a controls problem from a missing target, a failed objective update and a lost ship. A successful firing animation cannot establish server-side mission completion.
For the next lesson, use Arena Commander for tracking and separation, First Flight for the return landing, and Learn with a Crew for station coordination. Compare the Avenger Titan or Cutlass Black reference only to understand your current hull and seats, not as a required purchase. This source review is not a live bounty playtest. This guide combines published controls with SC Nomads practice suggestions; verify the HUD and contract state in your current build.
The marker is present but I cannot identify the required contact.: Hold off firing. Read the current objective and selected contact again. Do not substitute a nearby ship. If the required target never appears, preserve the stuck stage and consult current known issues or Issue Council before repeating.
The contact is gone but the bounty remains active.: Read remaining conditions and crew objective state from safety. Record the discrepancy if nothing advances; do not claim payment or attack unrelated contacts to force completion.
My ship was lost or is no longer safe to fly.: Stop accepting more fights. Use your established recovery location and available transport or ship retrieval process. Check the current claim and replacement terms on screen rather than assuming a cost or timer.
Before you commit
A larger ship creates additional crew and repair demands. It does not substitute for understanding targeting and flight.
PvP needs a separate expectation: another player can flee, bring friends or change tactics. This guide makes no promise of a safe bounty route or fixed difficulty.
Sources & guide information
Sources checked 13 October 2026. Not gameplay verified on Alpha 4.10.2.. Reference information, not a claim of current-patch playtesting.
CIG mission text via community extraction, 4.10.1-LIVE.12660092; checked 21 October 2026, not a gameplay testRSI Daily Life in the Verse, updated 27 Jul 2026RSI Missions and Contracts, updated 22 Jun 2025CIG Getting Started in the Verse, updated 24 July 2026; checked 18 October 2026RSI Vehicle Maintenance ServicesCIG Set up keybindings for your peripherals, updated 17 February 2026; checked 18 October 2026CIG Arena Commander, updated 10 June 2025; checked 18 October 2026RSI Multiplayer Game Options, updated 27 Jul 2026CIG defaultProfile.xml, extracted by Subliminal: 4.9 LIVE defaults compared with 4.10 PTU, checked 13 Oct 2026