EVE Online’s universe offers a plethora of activities, and gas harvesting stands out as a lucrative venture, especially for those interested in the production of boosters or Tech III cruisers. Here’s a comprehensive guide to gas harvesting in EVE Online, covering what you need to get started, how to harvest efficiently, and tips to maximize your profits.

Understanding Gas Harvesting

Gas harvesting involves collecting valuable gas clouds found in various parts of space, primarily in wormhole space but also in nullsec, lowsec, and some specific highsec regions. These gases are used in the production of combat boosters and in the invention process for Tech III ships and components, making them highly sought after.

Getting Started with Gas Harvesting

1. Skills:
   • Gas Cloud Harvesting: The primary skill you need, allowing you to operate gas harvesters. Each skill level allows for one additional gas cloud harvester, up to a maximum of five at level V.
   • Spaceship Command Skills: Depending on your choice of ship, you might need specific skills. For Venture pilots, Mining Frigate is beneficial.
2. Equipment:
   • Venture: The Venture frigate is an excellent starting point for gas harvesters due to its innate bonuses to gas harvesting yield and its ability to fit two gas harvester modules. It also has a bonus to warp core strength, making it harder to catch.
   • Gas Harvester Modules: These are fitted onto your ship and are used to extract gas from clouds.
   • Survey Scanner: Useful for determining which gas cloud in the site has the highest concentration of valuable gases.
3. Finding Gas Sites:
   • Use your ship’s onboard scanner with Core Scanner Probes to locate gas sites. High-value gas sites are more commonly found in wormhole space, marked as «Unknown Parts of Space» in your probe scanner.

Harvesting Efficiently

1. Scan Down Sites Quickly: The faster you can locate and start harvesting a site, the better your efficiency. This is especially true in wormhole space, where sites are contested, and the risk of PvP encounters is higher.
2. Prioritize Valuable Gas Sites: Learn which gases are most valuable (e.g., Fullerite gases in wormhole space) and prioritize those sites to maximize your profits.
3. Keep an Eye on Local and D-scan: Always be aware of potential threats. In wormhole space, there is no local chat, so frequent use of your Directional Scanner (D-scan) is crucial to staying safe.
4. Use a Mobile Depot: A mobile depot allows you to refit your ship in space. For example, you can swap out propulsion modules for additional gas harvesters once you arrive at the site.

Advanced Tips

1. Skill and Ship Upgrades: As you advance, consider training for and acquiring ships like the Prospect, which is a Tech II version of the Venture with better bonuses and the ability to fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device.
2. Bookmark Sites: Bookmark both the entrance to the gas site and a safe spot within the system for quick navigation and evasion.
3. Fleet Operations: Consider harvesting gas as part of a fleet, with scouts and protection to increase efficiency and safety, especially in higher-risk areas.
4. Market Research: Gas prices can fluctuate. Keep an eye on market trends and store your harvested gas until prices are favorable.

Safety Precautions

• Wormhole Space is Dangerous: Always assume you’re being watched. Be ready to flee at the first sign of danger.
• Cloaking Devices: For ships that can equip them, cloaking devices offer an additional layer of security, allowing you to hide while scanning down sites or waiting for a cloud to respawn.

Gas harvesting can be a rewarding venture in EVE Online, offering both excitement and significant profits. Whether you’re a solo player venturing into wormholes or part of a dedicated gas harvesting fleet, there’s plenty of opportunity in the vast expanses of New Eden.