Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Pip management is an important skill to practice with early on, since it directly affects the short term performance of different systems on your ship. Effective pip management is critical for high level PVP & PVE combat, while also providing significant advantages to Traders and Explorers who want to evade or protect against attack. Understanding what your pips are doing, and when to shift them has a direct and meaningful impact on your ability to function in Elite Dangerous.

Pips are indicated on your distributor gauge at the bottom right hand side of your cockpit. This small indicator is divided into three separate blocks for the main systems on your ship. Each block represents a capacitor bank within your power distributor.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:29 Distributor UI
1:07 Power Shifting
1:30 Capacitor Blocks
1:50 Capacitor Effects
2:36 Capacitor Strain
3:16 Distributor Load
3:47 Considerations
6:00 Defensive Distributor
7:00 Offensive Distributor
7:40 What I Do
8:33 PIP vs Power Management
9:05 Conclusion