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The subject of this article is from the Atlas Rises update.
The information from this article is up-to-date as of 23 July, 2018.
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Pirates scanning the player.

Pirates are hostile NPC characters.

Summary

Pirates are hostile NPC characters in the form of starships that attack the player, and sometimes NPC freighters.

If a player's standing with the controlling faction of the system they are in is high enough, other NPC starships may come to the aid of the player if they are attacked by pirates. Non-hostile NPC starships may also defend freighters attacked by pirates.

Detection

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Pirate Scanner

Pirates only attack in systems of medium or high conflict level.

When in space, the circular meter will sometimes appear full and begin to drain. When it reaches zero, a pirate attack may be triggered. Sometimes however, a bounty, or freighter attack event is triggered instead.

Entering a planet's atmosphere before the detection is completed will stop the countdown, but it will begin again the next time the player goes to space. However, if the player enters atmosphere after the pirates engage combat, the pirates will follow them.

Avoiding Pirates

If the player wants to avoid a pirate attack after being detected, they can use their communicator to speak to the pirate ships before they attack. The player can choose to give their cargo or units to the pirates, attempt to bargain, or call for help if they have a defense chit.

If the pirate has already engaged combat, the player can activate their pulse drive to fly to a safe distance in order to enter hyperspeed and escape.

If a pirate scan is not complete and you're close to a planet atmosphere or space station, you can plan a timed evasive maneuver and cause the pirate scan to fail. This is completed by entering a planet atmosphere or space station just as the scan countdown is completed. If timed correctly you will receive an indication that the pirate scan failed.

To keep pirates uninterested in you, traveling with non-valuable items is a safer way to travel. After a scan, pirates may choose to ignore you.

Rewards

Destroying pirate ships may reward the player with units or resources such as Lemmium, Herox and Tropheum, as well as increased standing with the current system's faction. Also, the shields of the player's starship are completely recharged once combat ends.

Rewards for defending freighters from pirate attacks must be claimed by speaking to the freighter's captain.

Bounty Hunting

Players can chase pirates by taking bounty hunting missions in the Mission Board.

Playing as a Pirate

Players can choose to engage in piracy themselves by attacking a freighter or other ships in a space fleet. Doing this will alert Sentinel Drone Starships, who will engage in combat with the player. Selected ships display their cargo in the same way as resources do. Upon destruction, the ship will release any cargo it holds and the player who destroyed the ship will collect it.

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