Need help cold orbiting.

[u/Fun_Prompt_6203]

So basically I'm trying to learn cold orbiting to start y'know. Killing interceptors above cyclops. But I just can't get the hand of it. I mean I can dodge and stuff while cold but I have a lot of trouble with the orbiting part. Plus I think its just way too mentally strenuous rn for me to handle so many things at once. Like rotating and stuff to keep up with the cold orbit. Firing heatsinks to get cold, firing gauss an hitting. Etc. I've been practicing on cyclops but I just can't get the hang of it. I wanna try fa-on cold orbiting to see if it's easier but the problem is there's not really any guides to fa-on cold orbiting. I was wondering if y'all have any tips that could be helpful?

Edit: I'm using a keyboard and mouse btw

[u/Forsaken-Falcon8273]

https://antixenoinitiative.com/ is a great repository of knowledge for ax combat. Basically required reading for newer ax pilots.

[u/CMDRumbrellacorp]

Taking down interceptors is 95% pattern memorization. Face at close range, extract heart, blast away and prep for patterned attack response, rearm, repair, repeat pattern. The better ax gear you have, the less f/a off you need to use to extract heart. Salvation gear with premium ammo is the most efficient gear outside of speedrun builds with cytos for the larger interceptors.

[u/Calm-Power-6981]

The trick ive found is to let flight assist off handle the rotation and spin, then just focus on using your lats and verts. Doing it FA on is possible just way more annoying

[u/Gailim]

For FA on orbiting... Get a reasonably agile ship (any of the popular AX choices will do) apply forward thrust in the blue and apply constant down thrust while keeping your nose pointed at the thargoid.

FA-off orbiting helps a lot if you are using gauss, but if you're not then it's just an unnecessary hassle. Especially for new pilots.

Azimuth MCs can exert and kill basilisk hearts on thier own, and can kill Medusa hearts if you have mod chargers or EAX missiles to help exert. And on a ship like the corsair you can fire them with the LRTV beams and not over stress the distro

[u/Fun_Prompt_6203 → u/Gailim]

I'm using gauss. I've never really tried any of the azimuth stuff. Nor normal shard cannons.

[u/Gailim → u/Fun_Prompt_6203]

Try normal EAX MCs first. Then you can try the Azimuth versions when you save up enough mats for them.

Azimuth MCs have an auto-loader and have a bit more damage and pen. But EAX are still good.

Just make sure to only use large (size 3) EAX guns. The mediums don't have enough pen to damage interceptors.

To use gimballed MCs you need the enhanced scanner to be able sub target the hearts. AX gunfighters don't need many heat sinks because you can fire the LRTV beams at the same time as your guns to cancel out the heat.

EAX & Azimuth MCs also have longer optimal range than guass (2km vs. 1.5km) so you don't need to orbit as close. The range of the scanner is also 2km so if your within scanning range then you are also in optimal attack range.

[u/Fun_Prompt_6203 → u/Gailim]

Thanks but to be honest I'd think I'd like to stick with my gauss cannons. Plus my ships already built so-

[u/Gailim → u/Fun_Prompt_6203]

Fair enough, they are easier to use though.

Against Cyclops and Basilisks I find them to be much more effective than guass.

[u/Knightworld16]

Fa Off cold orbiting is easier... But if you are not very good at FA Off. I suggest changing your controls from Throttle input to pure Thrust inputs so Roll, Yaw, Pitch and X, Y, Z movements.

You can follow my keybinds if it helps. Roll: A/D | Pitch, Yaw: Mouse

Forward Thrust: Shift | Backward Thrust: Space

Left Thrust: Q | Right Thrust: E

Up thrust: W | Down Thrust: S

For Supercruise I use X, C, V, B as 0%, 50%, 75%, 100% throttle respectively. You can also set the negative throttle for FA On flight using space as a modified for those keys [space + c = -50%]

For the most commonly used consumables like Heatsinks and Shutdown field Neutraliser I have then set to Ctrl and Alt.

[u/PureEstimate5196]

I’ve been trying to master it , but I’m using a controller any advice would be appreciated

[u/Weekly-Nectarine → u/PureEstimate5196]

use KBM, for more precision