Welcome to another edition of Best Ways to Make Money in EVE Online. This week we’re going to dive into the game’s lucrative trade routes, where you can make massive profits without the need for extraordinary knowledge or equipment. All you need is a keen eye for a good opportunity, and the ability to grasp it quickly enough.
Trading in EVE Online
Let’s take a quick step back in time to 2016. After a long, bloody war between the Dominion and the Republic, the galaxy is finally recovering from the carnage. The markets have changed, and with them, the way players make money in EVE Online. Gone are the days of mining and piracy: While those tactics still exist, they aren’t what you’d call “sustainable” sources of income in today’s economy. When combined with the growing popularity of contract farming, which we’ll get into later, players can now make a massive living simply by trading in EVE Online.
Polar Regions Are the Key
If you’ve been paying attention to the news in recent months, you may have noticed that while quite a few lucrative resources have dried up due to less traditional funding methods, one resource has skyrocketed in value: Frozen North. Its price per unit has increased by over 500% in the last year, and it’s predicted to hit even more spectacular numbers in the next few months.
In case you’re wondering, “frozen north” is a colloquialism for the polar regions of Antares and Ursa Minor, which are filled with valuable minerals that can be used to manufacture advanced technologies and components for starships. In the next few months, you can make a killing by taking delivery of large cargo crates full of these minerals. You won’t even need to go into orbit around the planet to be able to complete a deal.
Be Careful Where You Hide Your Ship
Just like any other game, EVE Online has its share of cheaters. The difference is that in EVE, those cheaters can make a lot of money by abusing the game’s trading mechanics. So to make sure you don’t get “cursed” with poor performance due to unknown factors like excessive asteroid damage or mining losses, it’s a good idea to find a nice, secluded spot where you can lay down and camp for a while. Doing this not only gives you time to recover but also means you have to hunt down and destroy any drones or NPC ships that come near your location.
Once you’re set up in your ideal corner of space, it’s time to get to work. The first step is to register your ship on the market. This is pretty straightforward: All you need to do is find a notepad and some old-fashioned penmanship. Then, after you’ve written down the name of your ship in the game, click “Check Vehicle Availability.” You’ll see a list of all the traders currently in your constellation. When you find one who is willing to make a deal with you, click “Open Dialogue.” The other party will then see your ship’s specifications and agree to a price that you’ve both settled on. Once that’s done, it’s time to move!
The second step is to load up on cargo, which brings us to our next point.
Make Friends With A Freight Forwarder
If you’ve ever played Transport Tycoon™, then you know how valuable cargo is in that game. You can’t manufacture cargo boxes in-game, but you can hire NPCs to do it for you. When you have plenty of cargo ready to be shipped, it’s time to find a freight forwarder in your region and establish a schedule of loads. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to be picky about which freight forwarders you work with, as they can be quite the shady bunch. Some may even try to scam you!
Working with a reputable partner is essential, so make sure you deal with someone who has good standing in their community. Once you’ve found a good partner, it’s time to set a price for your first load and get to work. Then, whenever you have another load to ship, simply use the “Schedule Carriers” button to put in a request. They will then contact you when other carriers are free and willing to make a deal. You can also put in a request for a particular ship class if you have a limit in mind.
Contract Farming
One of the cheapest and most effective ways to make money in EVE Online is contract farming. The idea is fairly simple: Instead of playing the game and looking for opportunities to make a deal, you can outsource the work to someone else who will search for you. When a good offer comes in, you can then negotiate the terms of the contract and get the work done as quickly as possible. The more you negotiate, the better the deal you can get. This can be a very effective way to make money, provided you keep careful track of all your expenditures and don’t get tricked into thinking profits are just around the corner.
The Bottom Line
EVE Online can still be a lucrative game to play, even if you don’t fit the abovementioned examples. There are still ways to make money simply by playing the game, whether it’s through mining, pirating, or trading. The key is to find a way to make money that you can rely on and won’t get rid of easily. If you want to make a quick buck, go for one of the abovementioned methods, or try your hand at contract farming if you’re looking to get in on the action near or in-station.