# New explorer here - when is a good time to upgrade to the Astero? **URL:** \ **Category:** New Citizens Q&A\ **Tags:** wormhole\ **Created:** [December 21, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819 "2024-12-21T12:45:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SensorVII](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/sensorvii/32/443358_2.png) [@SensorVII](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/SensorVII)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/1 "2024-12-21T12:45:45Z")
Hello, I have returned to the game after giving up several times over the years, but this time I’m hooked. I prefer the solo gameplay of wormhole exploration because it doesn’t seem to ask a lot of me, and gives me enough risk/reward to feel satisfying at the end of the day. Currently I fly the cheapest probe fit possible, when I first started, I didn’t even bother with a cloaking device because I found it superfluous. Now, I’ve gotten a couple 100 Million ISK hauls from wormhole dives, and I’m starting to look at my options for ship upgrades. The obvious answer is the astero, but when I look at the benefits versus the price tag… I simply can’t justify it. 74 Million for a hull that surely has some improvements, but if I can pull 200M from a wormhole dive in a probe - should I even bother with the Astero? That’s a lot of hull to pay off if I get camped, which happens often. What are your thoughts and opinions? Should I wait until I have more skills under my belt? Or just skip straight to a stratios later on? ---
**Author:** ![Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/uriel_the_flame/32/490165_2.png) [@Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Uriel_the_Flame)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/2 "2024-12-21T12:48:27Z")
When it is financially viable and the benefit is worth it. Going cheap and not caring if you lose them is a legit method (so in that case maybe `never` is the good answer for you). As often with EVE: “It all depends”. Remember the golden rule: `never fly what you can't afford to lose or replace`. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SensorVII](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/sensorvii/32/443358_2.png) [@SensorVII](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/SensorVII)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/3 "2024-12-21T12:52:53Z")
That makes a lot of sense. Personally, I love zipping around in the probe, might keep doing it for a while! ---
**Author:** ![Thork\_DeLaroche](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/thork_delaroche/32/446812_2.png) [@Thork\_DeLaroche](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Thork_DeLaroche)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/4 "2024-12-21T13:10:49Z")
> [@SensorVII](#): > > Personally, I love zipping around in the probe Then why do it in a more expensive ship that you’re more likely to lose? If you get your jollies in a probe then keep doing it until you’re so sick of it that you actually consider mining in a Venture. Then _maybe_ go for an Astero. Just make sure you consider that ship gone as soon as you undock… and don’t pretend, mean it. ---
**Author:** ![SensorVII](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/sensorvii/32/443358_2.png) [@SensorVII](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/SensorVII)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/5 "2024-12-21T13:28:22Z")
> Mining in a Venture The horror!!! ---
**Author:** ![Geo\_Eclipse\_Oksaras](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/geo_eclipse_oksaras/32/500781_2.png) [@Geo\_Eclipse\_Oksaras](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Geo_Eclipse_Oksaras)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/6 "2024-12-21T13:34:55Z")
Upgrade if you feel its necessary. If you are having fun flying a probe, better your skills with it and keep exploring ---
**Author:** ![Gerard\_Amatin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/gerard_amatin/32/481361_2.png) [@Gerard\_Amatin](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Gerard_Amatin)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/7 "2024-12-21T14:50:34Z")
It’s a good time to upgrade to the Astero when you’re looking to kill other explorers and are capable of fitting a covert ops cloak. I’ve rarely used the Astero as explorer, I prefer the T2 explorers instead as they’re faster, safer and cheaper for non-combat exploration. ---
**Author:** ![Kezrai\_Charzai](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/kezrai_charzai/32/394578_2.png) [@Kezrai\_Charzai](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Kezrai_Charzai)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/8 "2024-12-21T15:18:59Z")
> [@SensorVII](#): > > should I even bother with the Astero? That’s a lot of hull to pay off if I get camped The time to upgrade to an Astero is when you can afford to lose one and can replace it without even caring. On my first character, I blew my bankroll on fitting out my first new BC, loaded it with great guns thinking “Man this baby is gonna _rock_!”, and then lost it my first time out to a combo of e-wars I wasn’t expecting and wasn’t prepared for. Since then my criteria for going to a hull with a much higher cost/benefit ratio has been: 1. Has it been quite a while since I was killed at this activity by some ‘surprise’ mechanic I wasn’t prepared for? 2. Does the full cost of the ship represent less than 5% of my current ISK? Actually, preferably less than 3%. 3. Is it likely to pay for itself before I lose it? If the answer to all three is Yes, then it’s time to try a new ship and fit. If any of them say No, then upon Reviewing the Situation, I think I better think it out again. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/original/4X/e/8/6/e867a58b8b2b7b0bf0f7c79deb8f60e9d7c49ac1.jpeg "Ron Moody-Reviewing the Situation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96rC4X_KWl4) ---
**Author:** ![Syzygium](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/syzygium/32/510263_2.png) [@Syzygium](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Syzygium)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/9 "2024-12-23T16:08:05Z")
> [@SensorVII](#): > > What are your thoughts and opinions? Use a T2 fitted CovOps for pure hacking tours. If you want to use an “expensive” ship just for the fun of using it, I’d alway suggest to have a _lot_ more ISK on your wallet then it would cost to replace it. So if you lose it you aren’t ruined and just shrug it off or go to Jita and “right click + buy all” without breaking asweat. ---
**Author:** ![Father\_White](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/father_white/32/445253_2.png) [@Father\_White](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Father_White)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/10 "2024-12-24T19:24:49Z")
Theres nothing you’re going to do a blinged out covert ops ship or astero that you’re not going to be able to do in a T1 frigate with a Relic Analyzer 2 on it. Healthy usage of D-scan + patience will give you more survive than a covert ops cloaking device. If you’re actually looking for where to put skill points to get more out of the Exploration play style my advice to you would be either skill into Industry so you can start turning the things you find into rigs. Or hop into one of the bigger explo ships to either prey upon other explorers or start ratting in wormholes. ---
**Author:** ![SensorVII](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/sensorvii/32/443358_2.png) [@SensorVII](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/SensorVII)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/11 "2024-12-28T04:11:14Z")
Thanks for the advice. I have been eyeballing industry, but I can only train so quick. Eventually though, I will get around to more than just pure exploration. ---
**Author:** ![MB\_ThePhotographer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/mb_thephotographer/32/373722_2.png) [@MB\_ThePhotographer](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/MB_ThePhotographer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/12 "2024-12-29T01:40:43Z")
Chk your wallet. > [@SensorVII](#): > > but I can only train so quick. Bank it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Rochard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/john_rochard/32/373864_2.png) [@John\_Rochard](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/John_Rochard)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/13 "2024-12-29T11:45:22Z")
Katia Sae took over 9 years to explore every planet in Eve Online, and did so in one ship. But I don’t recall reading much about the ship or its fit. Maybe someone can post it for you. The feat was a world record, made a lot of publicity for this game, the developers made a monument to Katia Sae in Saiso 3. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/original/3X/d/2/d2cbd64d2e84389cd0cd374d21dce4db4ffe2d96.jpeg "Katia Sae Monument") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI5CaBRB0cM) I figure there must be a build for the nearly invincible ship used. Fly safe o7 ---
**Author:** ![Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/uriel_the_flame/32/490165_2.png) [@Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Uriel_the_Flame)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/14 "2024-12-29T11:52:56Z")
> [@John\_Rochard](#): > > explore every ~~planet~~ system in Eve Online FTFY. ---
**Author:** ![Taiga\_Aivo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/taiga_aivo/32/374844_2.png) [@Taiga\_Aivo](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Taiga_Aivo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/15 "2024-12-30T21:42:20Z")
I used Astero as a main Explorer only on Alpha char - due to built in virus strength bonus and decent fitting. If you can do T2 CovOps Explorers - go for those instead. ---
**Author:** ![Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/uriel_the_flame/32/490165_2.png) [@Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Uriel_the_Flame)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/16 "2024-12-30T21:43:51Z")
> [@Taiga\_Aivo](#): > > I used Astero as a main Explorer only on Alpha char - due to built in virus strength bonus and decent fitting. Did you only use it in hisec / friendly space or something? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Taiga\_Aivo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/taiga_aivo/32/374844_2.png) [@Taiga\_Aivo](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Taiga_Aivo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/17 "2024-12-30T22:31:36Z")
I only explored in WHs as an Alpha char. Not worth scanning in high sec (except maybe for events) and too dangerous to scan in Low. I just keep D-scan open and make a couple of safe spots inside. And also go at least 8-10 jumps away from trade hub. Got killed on it maybe a couple of times but it payed back way more than I invested. Much faster scanning and better virus strength = less time inside and less cans blown up. I don’t think a 2 week old newbee should invest all his money in Astero, but I think it is a decent ship if you understand how not to die stupidly. ---
**Author:** ![Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/uriel_the_flame/32/490165_2.png) [@Uriel\_the\_Flame](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Uriel_the_Flame)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/18 "2024-12-30T22:33:52Z")
> [@Taiga\_Aivo](#): > > safe spots But how does it help when you can’t use cloak? Or you kept pinging between celestials or left the WH when someone else was there? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Taiga\_Aivo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/user_avatar/forums.eveonline.com/taiga_aivo/32/374844_2.png) [@Taiga\_Aivo](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/Taiga_Aivo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/19 "2024-12-30T22:41:04Z")
Depends on who was there and what was left. Also I usually did 1 spot deep within system and another like 200+ km off to Exit WH. To check for bubbles. If trapped - I could ping a bit until timers run out and then just log off on a safe. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/eveonline/original/3X/4/1/41ec4921cbaca7a6f9ea556e7cc20018461eae5e.png) [@system](https://forums.eveonline.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://forums.eveonline.com/t/new-explorer-here-when-is-a-good-time-to-upgrade-to-the-astero/471819/20 "2025-03-30T22:41:13Z")
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