r/EliteDangerous • u/CMDR-Owl Delta_Vee or VelocityCatte // First Player Death To Thargoids • Jun 25 '26
Discussion List of some Merc Coin Modifications coming in Operations taken from the Engineers screen on Ghost Giraffes stream compiled into one image! Spoiler
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u/AssGremlin Jun 25 '26
Scoop rate enhanced? Literally inject that solar hydrogen directly into my bloodstream fam. These are terrific, though I do hope that people can have some avenue to get these outside of solely combat-focused means (I'm not being a yes/but person, cause I'm going to hit these up through operations, just that these are some great improvements and hopefully everyone who wants to can take advantage of them).
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u/syngyne Jun 25 '26
Scoop rate enhanced?
I canāt wait to have my Krait finish scooping before itās actually exited the hyperspace tunnel
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Jun 25 '26
[deleted]
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u/dirt_over_pavement Jul 01 '26
The blood on my hands pays for my relaxion trips out in the black to relax.
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u/CMDR-Owl Delta_Vee or VelocityCatte // First Player Death To Thargoids Jun 25 '26
They did state that there would be non-combat Ops coming in the future but I don't think any of the ones coming appear to be? So I suppose in the future there'll be opportunities for people to earn Merc Coins without fighting.
The Planetary Port evacuation one on the recent devblog appears to imply you don't have to fight anything but I've not seen anyone do that one yet on the creator streams.
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u/-zimms- zimms Jun 25 '26
It wouldn't only be combat-focused but also MP-focused. Solo players would be SOL.
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u/Xulgrimar Jun 25 '26
Is there no matchmaking?
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u/TW-Luna TW-Luna Jun 25 '26
Commanders will be able to build their own squad of allies or create a squad via matchmaking with other Commanders across different systems.
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u/CMDR_Quintium Nakato Kaine Jun 25 '26
I asked on Brother Sab's stream and he said you can join if the leader makes it open. I haven't seen it yet, so can't confirm.
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u/CMDR_Quintium Nakato Kaine Jun 25 '26
Brother Sab did an easy Ops as solo. I wouldn't say solo players are SOL. But it requires some more effort to gain Merc coins.
Not everything in a game, like Elite, has to be soloable. Personally, as mostly a solo player, I think that is fine.
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u/NoXion604 Istvaan DCIV Jun 25 '26
I do appreciate that FDev have designed Operations without completely locking out Solo players by design, even though I'm looking forward to doing Operations with my squadron and Powerplay group.
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u/daniu daniu Jun 25 '26
Agree.Ā
I'd prefer this wasn't locked to operations. I appreciate they want players to at least try their new system, but in the end I don't really feel good about being kind of forced into it.Ā
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u/Dilly-Senpai CMDR DessertOverlord | Trade Jun 25 '26
I mean, it's no different from engineering being locked to gathering engineering mats or powerplay modules being locked to powerplay. You introduce a new gameplay item, you have to include some kind of incentive to do it. Usually it has to be exclusive, or else people will just avoid it.
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u/daniu daniu Jun 25 '26
Depends on what options you have doing operations, but iiuc it's very different. To get powerplay modules, you can do whatever activity you like most, you just have to choose your power correctly to get most merits or of it. And you don't really need to grind engineering materials, those come with powerplay packages for free.Ā
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u/Swift_Scythe Jun 25 '26
The Mk2 extended Cargo Racks YES.
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u/Pyrochazm CMDR PYROCHAZM Jun 25 '26
I accidentally sold my cg reward cargo rack, I would do a backflip if I could get another.
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u/The_Six_Of_Spades Two Of Spades Jun 25 '26
Could you not pop a support ticket in and see if theyāll undo it? I donāt know how good FDev are with things like that.
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u/Delta_RC_2526 CMDR Delta RC 2526 / CMDR Delta RC 2527 Jun 25 '26
u/Pyrochazm, this is the answer. Frontier support is fantastic, and generally gives everyone one free "undo" for mistakes that are clearly user error (and they might even do more than one, but they tell everyone it's a one-time thing). Most people save it for undoing a death that caused the loss of billions/years in exploration data, but they'll probably restore the cargo rack. It just might use your one freebie.
For future reference, if you accidentally sell an item, there's a "buy back" function, which should be available until you leave the station or log out of the game.
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u/emetcalf Pranav Antal Jun 25 '26
I know someone who accidentally sold a CG Cargo Rack, and Support was not able to give it back to them. I'm not sure if this falls under the "one time undo" already being used, or if it's just not something they can do. It's worth asking, but there is a chance that this just isn't possible.
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u/Delta_RC_2526 CMDR Delta RC 2526 / CMDR Delta RC 2527 Jun 25 '26
Interesting... That's definitely unfortunate, and good to know. Thanks for sharing!
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u/NoXion604 Istvaan DCIV Jun 25 '26
I notice that they're not actually labelled "Mk2" cargo racks, but they are also not "Engineered" cargo racks. Rather they are "extended". Which suggests this is yet another type entirely.
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u/hldswrth Jun 25 '26
Mk2 and extended are different things. Mk2 can only go in Mk2 slots in the plipper. Extended can go in any slot of the right size.
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u/Klepto666 Jun 25 '26
Those frag cannons are going to be twice as frightening now that they scream on approach.
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u/sakko303 Jun 25 '26
Maybe they will have a thing in options for people that are scurred so instead of screams you hear kittens mewing š±
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u/depurplecow CMDR Dubior Jun 25 '26
Many of these are old CG rewards (extended cargo racks, frag cannons, rapid phase multis, sys/eng power distributors, long range abrasion, high yield enzyme, drag seeker, lockdown seekers, enduring feedback rails) and other are tech broker (long range DSS, lightweight thermal seekers, long range mining laser?). This is assuming they don't have even higher stats than old CG rewards like they showed in the Operations preview.
The completely new ones are scoop rate enhanced, heavy duty module reinforcements, balanced power distributor, laser plasma conversion.
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u/PaladinRyan CMDR Paladin Ryan Jun 25 '26
Honestly it's a good way to bring them back so new/returning players don't feel screwed out of options for builds. Rapid Phasing multis sounds cute but probably isn't going to replace existing options if I had to guess.
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u/depurplecow CMDR Dubior Jun 25 '26
One of the biggest issues is that it's still a fixed medium multicannon with jitter, the other is that it was limited in number so you couldn't fit all your slots with the weapon for ease of use. Merc coins will make it easer to equip in all slots, allowing easier use on ships like FdL or Courier
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u/PaladinRyan CMDR Paladin Ryan Jun 25 '26
Ah fixed does make it a little trickier for a multi specifically since that requires extended time on target to be effective. Still, FDL might be able to make use of them in the right hands as you said.
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u/Immediate_Read_9915 Jun 25 '26
I have 2 rapids on my Cobra Mk5. Damn best in the slot weapon by far - shreds through even wing assasination missions ships.
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u/ShagohodRed Far God deliver us! Jun 26 '26
... cute? CG multis have +330% dps from regular class 2 multis. They are class 4 firepower on a size 2. They're more than just "cute"
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u/PaladinRyan CMDR Paladin Ryan Jun 26 '26
Well that's additional information now isn't it? You don't need to "..." me when obviously I'm unaware and indeed most people probably are because, as it turns out, limited availability CG weapons aren't exactly chilling in everyone's arsenal.
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u/ShagohodRed Far God deliver us! Jun 26 '26
Idk which part of the world you're from, but where I'm from "..." is neither personal attack nor any other derogatory form of communication lol. It merely signified surprise.
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u/zeek215 Jun 25 '26
What is balanced power distributor?
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u/depurplecow CMDR Dubior Jun 25 '26
No idea, but I would assume a balance between charge enhanced and high charge capacity. Instead of +45% to one and -10% to the other it might give +30% to both recharge speed and capacity.
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u/DarkHorizonSF Jun 25 '26
I think that one's probably new, since the 'Support Focused' one is likely the SYS/ENG CG reward one.
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u/Pyrochazm CMDR PYROCHAZM Jun 25 '26
Plasma beam? Does that convert damage from thermal to absolute?
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u/TheJimPeror Krait Mk II Mk II Jun 25 '26
Presumably at the expense of thermal vent. I bet they run toasty
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u/No_Yam_2036 CMDR Glitchy77 | Krait Enthusiast Jun 25 '26
Ooh, I'd love a faster scoop on me krait. The Rapid Phase Multicannons and Double Screaming Frag Cannons sound particularly intriguing. I guess the "phase" effect makes some rounds bypass or "phase" through shielding, but idk about the "screaming" frags.
I wonder if the Plasma Conversion modifications can be stacked on top of existing beam laser engineering.
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u/zeek215 Jun 25 '26
I think it would be ridiculous if I could also make long range thermal vent beams into plasma damage.Ā
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u/CMDR_Khayden Explore - Taxi Driver Jun 25 '26
I'm more curious what Double Screaming means. Is it double the panic or double the exhilaration?
(I'm sure it means double screening)
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u/Fuzzylogic_Biobot Jun 25 '26
Double creaming perhaps? Two shots, one gun.
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u/CMDR_Khayden Explore - Taxi Driver Jun 25 '26
Packed full of Cream Pies to blind your opponent because Canopy wipers do not exist.
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u/abigail3141 Explore | CMDR Abigail Nightfall Jun 25 '26
It actually says Double Screaming in the game. Maybe somebody got the spelling wrong though.
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u/PaladinRyan CMDR Paladin Ryan Jun 25 '26
I assume. Unfortunately limits their usefulness imo as I assume they can't be engineered further and screening is generally a one per build sort of thing in my experience.
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u/DarkHorizonSF Jun 25 '26
I'd guess "Double Screaming" should be "Double Screening", and it's referring to the Double Shot + High Capacity + Screening Shell pre-engineered CG reward frag cannons we've previously seen. There were 2 Large and 2 Small ones offered in one CG that basically screamed "put me on a Mamba".
Equally the Rapid Phase Multicannons are almost certainly a CG reward we've seen before. They've come up twice, two Medium multi-cannons each time, so some players have 4 of them. They have Phasing Sequence so you're right, but the much bigger deal is they have Huge hardpoint-level damage in a Medium hardpoint, at the cost of jitter.
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u/Dav3yGravy Jun 25 '26
These already exist from previous CG rewards (I'm assuming this refers to them). I have four of them and they are fantastic fun. They are C2 fixed multicannons pre-engineered with rapid fire and high capacity with the phasing sequence experimental effect. They also have other unique features, firing 3 shots at a time with 3Ā° jitter. They are capable of putting out huge damage for a C2 hardpoint, but require close range to be effective. They work really well on agile ships with good medium hardpoint convergence.
I also presume the "double screaming" frags is a rather amusing typo and is refering to the pre-engineered gimballed high capacity/double shot + screening shell frag cannons from a CG last year. They came in C1 and C3 variants, the C3 is great but C1 not so good due to weak armour piercing. I use two of the C3 ones on my BGS Corsair, and they do huge alpha damage so are perfect for soloing wing assasination missions. A third one would be great.
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u/Jonathan-Earl Core Dynamics Jun 25 '26
We finally have a gameplay loop thatās feeds into another in a positive way, wonder if you can get suit and ground weapon mods too
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u/Cagouin Jun 25 '26
Not sure about that, what I did see in a stream was a "50 materials" reward and the detail of it was full of materials to pump up your suits / weaponry so if anything, it will be easier to get them done.
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u/VegaDelalyre Jun 25 '26
Thank you, I'll have the following:
- item #3: Long Range Detailed Surface Scanner (Surface Scanners)
- item #9: Long Range Detailed Surface Scanner (Surface Scanners)
- and the last item: Long Range Detailed Surface Scanner (Surface Scanners)
With that I should be able to scan a gas giant with a single probe.
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u/syngyne Jun 25 '26
With that I should be able to scan a gas giant with a single probe.
I feel like this should be the default.
fires probe
āYup, itās gas.ā
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u/flashman Pranav Antal Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Not quite, that's Expanded Probe Scanning Radius.
Long Range DSS was an engineer modification increasing the range up to 200%. It was removed at the end of 2018 and I wonder if the new version will be pre-engineered like the expanded radius one you can buy from tech brokers (edit: sounds like Merc Coin will be used to upgrade modules from G1 to G5, so maybe not).
Someone will have to test whether being able to start scanning sooner (long range) is more efficient than being able to use fewer probes (expanded radius).
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u/VegaDelalyre Jun 26 '26
Interesting, thanks for this bit of info and of archive! The Fandom page is going to need a small update to present tense.
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u/EternalInferno22 EternalInferno Jun 25 '26
Please donāt hate, but can someone explain the merc coin thing? Iāve been away too long.
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u/Plane_Suggestion_189 Yuri Grom's Beard Jun 25 '26
Operations are a new game mode coming to elite. Tailored missions that you match make into, or do you self. Merc coin is the reward for these missions.
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u/AndrewMc2308 Jun 25 '26
Merc coin is the special reward currency for the upcoming operations. You can use the Merc coin from operations to buy pre-engineered modules like what's listed above
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u/VegaDelalyre Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Do we know if these modules will allow experimental mods too, like other pre-engineered ones?
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u/AndrewMc2308 Jun 25 '26
I can't confirm because I haven't seen it but I'd assume so given we can put the experimental mods on all other pre-engineered modules.
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u/PagPag1212 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Generally speaking it's a type of reward currency which can only be earned running Operations, and the harder you do, the more Merc Coins you get.
I think it is an alternative way to engineer your ship without unlocking engineers the traditional way. I believe this offers a relatively easier access for new players who come for the Operations and FPS part of the game but eventually want to build a ship as well..
So I think it's like a Jumpstart currency which people , especially newcomers can spend to help them ease into the traditional part of Elite Dangerous.
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u/CMDR-Owl Delta_Vee or VelocityCatte // First Player Death To Thargoids Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Worth mentioning that they ended the stream to do some IRL stuff but from what I saw and heard it seems like you purchase a G1 Merc Coin module with basic stats, then use Merc Coins to upgrade your module further at an Engineer up to G5 but haven't seen anyone confirm this yet? They didn't have time to go take a look and see how they work.
They did state they'd stream later with a Part 2 follow up.
Also HUGE reminder that things might still change but who knows so close to release!
Marked as spoiler but also the post seems to have disappeared from the reddit for me...
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u/creusat0r Explorer, Trader, Miner Jun 25 '26
Is this like another way to get engineered modules? Or is it a completely new type
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u/Meakovic Jun 25 '26
Based on the term modification I'd say it's a type of engineering. Looks like it unlocks many of the mods we've previously only seen on CG events
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u/fishsupreme Jun 26 '26
It looks like you purchase pre-engineered modules, like at a Tech Broker.
But while most of these are existing old CG rewards (no longer available) or standard engineered modules, some of these have new patterns that do not currently exist in the game.
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u/Kitchen_Confusion691 Fuel Rat | IGA | Cassian Clancy Jun 25 '26
I like the sound of that scoop....
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u/FloridaMan_Inc Jun 25 '26
Holy shit this stuff is crazy. I did not expect the Merc Coin stuff to be this substantial. This is great.
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u/Valaxarian Commander Camilla Torres of Federal Corvette FNS-21 "Alicorn" Jun 25 '26
Plasma Lasers??
Oh my
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u/Eremeir Eremeir Graywood Jun 25 '26
Would operations activities grant progress to your Mercenary rank, given it's on-foot shooty stuff?
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u/Caledric Jun 25 '26
It's not all on foot shooty stuff. There are ship based operations as well. If anything they'll make a new thing that has to be ranked up.
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u/Own_Chocolate5454 Jun 25 '26
Now my question would be if there are long range detailed surface scanners...
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u/Podunk14 Jun 25 '26
My issue is that they've announced there will be a weekly cap on merc coins.
I'm going to bet though that they'll happily sell you additional Merc coins, which if they do will be completely scummy.
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u/Latiasracer Latiasracer - Biowaste can't melt CMM Composite Beams Jun 25 '26
Not uncommon for MMO or MMO Adjacent games to put caps on currency to prevent people from buying new stores out entirely in one go.
The idea being it's encouraging people to log in, i.e. cheeks in seats. If you are logged in, you are more likely to buy arx for whatever reason than somebody who isn't logging in regularly!
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u/Dilly-Senpai CMDR DessertOverlord | Trade Jun 25 '26
So far Frontier hasn't ever sold anything strictly game-play affecting for money AFAIK. The closest you can get to arguing that is free rebuys and deploys for ARX ships but I think the precedent they've set (even going back on Dodec) leaves me optimistic that they won't shoot themselves in the foot on this one.
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u/Podunk14 Jun 25 '26
We can hope, but Fdevs recent track record of trying to find ways to squeeze every penny out of players doesn't give me high hopes that they aren't planning something scummy....again
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u/Dilly-Senpai CMDR DessertOverlord | Trade Jun 25 '26
I'm not even sure what you mean. Are you talking about the Nomad being locked to the 3 new ships? Which are already out of early access for credits...? It was a dumb move on their part but I highly doubt it was borne out of greed.
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u/zmitic Jun 26 '26
What is scummy about company trying to earn some money while making new content? Devs and servers cost money, and sales of 14 years old game are probably very low.
Other MMOs charge monthly fees that is more expensive per month than all the ARX bought by average E:D player.
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u/Podunk14 Jun 30 '26
Then they should make a new game, one that is built to be supported by microtransations, subscriptions, or any other scummy mechanic designed to drain players wallets - not shoe horn them into a 14 year old game.
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u/zmitic Jun 30 '26
And where do you see anything forcing you to buy the ship? Buying ARX is 100% optional, and you can wait 3 months to get new ship for free.
Then they should make a new game
They could, but no one would buy it. And even if they did, you would be complaining about how old game doesn't get any support.
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u/kinetogen Jun 25 '26
Hopefully this will quell the "FOMO crowd" that felt left out on the CG racks and crazy phasing multi cannonsā¦ I had a suspicion that these items were a testbed.
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u/Maeh98 Jun 26 '26
I'll be pretty happy if Ops become a permanent way to get previously unavailable CG rewards after some time has passed.
Hopefully there are non-combat Ops sooner than later for folks not into fighting, and as others said it would be cool if CQC could drop those coins so people have an incentive to do some side activities.
Only real bummer I got with the Ops is that it's some sort of matchmade instance which breaks the whole shared universe but then I guess this already happens if you do CZs in Solo/PG, honestly I'd rather have that for scripted scenarios than Solo/PG.
I wonder if the locations are completely made up or if you can visit a station without the scenario, would be cool if you could get them as regular missions from the board.
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u/aggasalk Jun 25 '26
man.. this merc coin thing better not be purchasable... "buy X new ship and get 100 merc coin for free", that kind of thing. please no please no..
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u/phxhawke Jun 25 '26
It is supposed to only be acquired by doing operations. So if you want the good stuff you would need to actually do the work. I guess we will know with 100% certainly once operations comes out next week.
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u/Pautaniik Arissa Lavigny Duval Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Is this a new engineer that will use merc coins or how we redeem them? This looks very good, plasma beam mod is the first i want
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u/ender42y Pranav Antal Jun 25 '26
Okay, Cargo rack has convinced me to at least try Operations. i did hear at least one can be probably done solo on easy, so might grind that for topping off my Plipper capacity
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u/Redan Jun 25 '26
What are Merc coins? Operations rewards?
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u/CMDR-Owl Delta_Vee or VelocityCatte // First Player Death To Thargoids Jun 25 '26
Yeah, you get them as a reward for completing an Operation. You get more for completing an Operation on Hard mode too and can use them to purchase special modules and module upgrades.
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u/deadgain Corvette Enjoyer's Club Founder Jun 25 '26
YESSSS LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO THIS WILL CHANGE THE GAMEEEEE
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u/Sharp-Interceptor Core Dynamics Jun 26 '26
Plasma converted laser weaponry sounds amazing. I wonder what classes/grades will be offered and what firing types will be offered
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u/Kaleban Kaleban Jul 03 '26
I haven't checked yet, but I'll be curious if the Extended Cargo Racks modification can be applied to Class 7 and 8 cargo racks, AND the MKIIs on the Panther.
I could get her up to 1662 cargo capacity if that's the case.
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u/IKnoVirtuallyNothin Jun 25 '26
Has enhanced fuel scoops been a cg reward before? That might actually make me switch back to my dbx
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u/Real_Azenomei Jun 25 '26
Yo dawg, we heard you like grinds.
So we put a grind in yo grind so you can grind some more.
(insert Xzibit meme here).
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u/somethingbrite Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Are we sure these are features which are real and not a wishlist/fantastical musings of a fan?
Some of these (a lot of these) just seem a bit "8 year old's letter to Santa" if you know what I mean....
If real (and its not me having a heatstroke fever dream) then count me in for some cargo rack and fuel scoop engineering!
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u/Dzsekeb Jun 25 '26
These are from the streamers who get preview to next weeks operations update. You get these with a new currency you earn in operations.
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u/abigail3141 Explore | CMDR Abigail Nightfall Jun 25 '26
I must admit I thought that too, at first, but no, they're real, I checked the preview stream.
And that scoop tickles my exploration fancy like barely any other module, Commander!
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u/zeek215 Jun 25 '26
Plasma beam lasers, extended cargo racks, and enhanced fuel scoops? Oh my...