Exobiologist

Exobiologist is a career that involves On Foot scientific activities. A Genetic Sampler of the Artemis Suit is used to collect samples of alien species. The data can be sold to Vista Genomics. Your ship should be equipped with a Detailed Surface Scanner to find exobiology. This career is recognized by the Pilots Federation.

Ranks

Exobiologist Elite icon

The exobiologist can advance in rank by giving complete biological samples to Vista Genomics. The "Profit from Organic Data" of each transaction counts towards rank progression.

The rank thresholds post-update 14 are provided by Aunty Sledge in 2023.^[1] Most are confirmed, some are estimated.

Rank	Total Profit Required	Cosmetic Unlocks
Directionless	0	Artemis Suit Body Suit Livery (Vibrant Green)
Mostly Directionless	22,500,000	Artemis Suit Torso, Arms, and Legs Livery (Vibrant Green)
Compiler	83,475,000	Artemis Suit Helmet Livery (Vibrant Green)
Collector	210,560,000	Artemis Suit Body Suit Livery (Vibrant Blue)
Cataloguer	532,800,000	Artemis Suit Torso, Arms, and Legs Livery (Vibrant Blue)
Taxonomist	1,144,000,000	Artemis Suit Helmet Livery (Vibrant Blue)
Ecologist	2,262,600,000	Artemis Suit Body Suit Livery (Vibrant Red)
Geneticist	3,996,000,000	Artemis Suit Torso, Arms, and Legs Livery (Vibrant Red)
Elite	8,425,000,000	Artemis Suit Helmet Livery (Vibrant Red)
Elite I	12,969,000,000
Elite II	17,425,000,000
Elite III	21,925,000,000
Elite IV	26,320,000,000	Between 26,316,968,829 and 26,321,968,829.
Elite V	30,553,600,000	Note: Some commanders have been reporting the listed promotion figure as out of date. More info needed. <<Between 30,909,860,900 credits and 30,925,860,900 credits - put another way, 30,917,860,900 credits, give or take 8 million, as of July 3311>>.

Sample Values & Details

Vista Genomics redemption values for samples obtained with the Genetic Sampler are listed below. Values are fixed, but samples that qualify as "First Logged" will reward quadruple (x4) the sample's base value as a bonus, on top of the base value. Also listed are the Clonal Colony Range(CCR), the minimum distance a player must travel before there is sufficient genetic diversity to scan a second or third sample, as well as any primary attributes that can help determine on what type of planet they will usually be found. Credit values in italic may be outdated.

More information in Exobiology Sample Values and Details or Potential Samples by Planetary Type

Genus	Species	Value (CR)	CCR	Traits
Aleoida	Arcus	7,252,500	150	CO2
Aleoida	Coronamus	6,284,600	150
Aleoida	Gravis	12,934,900	150
Aleoida	Laminiae	3,385,200	150
Aleoida	Spica	3,385,200	150	Ammonia
Amphora Plant	N/A	3,626,400	100	Metal rich body; HIGH TEMP 1400+K; no atmo.
Anemone	Blatteum Bioluminescent	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Croceum	3,399,800	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Luteolum	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Prasinum Bioluminescent	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Puniceum	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Roseum	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Roseum Bioluminescent	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Anemone	Rubeum Bioluminescent	1,499,900	100	B or O-Class Stars
Bacterium	Acies	1,000,000	500	Neon
Bacterium	Alcyoneum	1,658,500	500	Ammonia
Bacterium	Aurasus	1,000,000	500	CO₂
Bacterium	Bullaris	1,152,500	500	Methane, Ice World
Bacterium	Cerbrus	1,689,800	500	Water, SO₂
Bacterium	Informem	8,418,000	500	Nitrogen
Bacterium	Nebulus	9,116,600	500	Helium
Bacterium	Omentum	4,638,900	500	Nitrogen, Volcanism
Bacterium	Scopulum	8,633,800	500	CO₂, Volcanism
Bacterium	Tela	1,949,000	500	Helium, Volcanism, SO2, Neon Rich
Bacterium	Verrata	3,897,000	500	Water, Volcanism, Neon Rich
Bacterium	Vesicula	1,000,000	500	Argon
Bacterium	Volu	7,774,700	500	Oxygen
Bark Mound	N/A	1,471,900	100	near nebula (SNR), HIP 86352 2-Da,
Brain Tree	Aureum	3,565,100	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Gypseeum	3,565,100	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Lindigoticum	3,565,100	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Lividum	1,593,700	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Ostrinum	3,565,100	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Puniceum	3,565,100	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Roseum	1,593,700	100	Guardian Sites
Brain Tree	Viride	1,593,700	100	Guardian Sites
Cactoida	Cortexum	3,667,600	300	Orion-Cygnus Spiral Arm
Cactoida	Lapis	2,483,600	300	Outer Scutum Spiral Arm, Ammonia
Cactoida	Peperatis	2,483,600	300	Inner Scutum Spiral Arm
Cactoida	Pullulanta	3,667,600	300	Perseus Spiral Arm
Cactoida	Vermis	16,202,800	300	Norma Spiral Arm, Water Based Rocky World.
Clypeus	Lacrimam	8,418,000	150	Water based rocky world.
Clypeus	Margaritus	11,873,200	150	H²O
Clypeus	Speculumi	16,202,800	150	CO2
Concha	Aureolas	7,774,700	150
Concha	Biconcavis	16,777,215	150
Concha	Labiata	2,352,400	150	CO2
Concha	Renibus	4,572,400	150	CO2, H2O
Crystalline Shard	N/A	3,626,400	100
Electricae	Pluma	6,284,600	1000	White Dwarfs, Neutron Star
Electricae	Radialem	6,284,600	1000	White Dwarfs
Fonticulua	Campestris	1,000,000	500	Argon
Fonticulua	Digitos	1,804,100	500	Methane, Ice World
Fonticulua	Fluctus	16,777,215	500
Fonticulua	Lapida	3,111,000	500	Nitrogen
Fonticulua	Segmentatus	19,010,800	500	Neon, Neon-Rich
Fonticulua	Upupam	5,727,600	500	Argon-Rich
Frutexa	Acus	7,774,700	150	CO₂
Frutexa	Collum	1,639,800	150
Frutexa	Fera	1,632,500	150
Frutexa	Flabellum	1,808,900	150	Ammonia
Frutexa	Flammasis	10,326,000	150	Rocky world, ammonia
Frutexa	Metallicum	1,632,500	150	CO2, Ammonia
Frutexa	Sponsae	5,988,000	150
Fumerola	Aquatis	6,284,600	100	Argon, Rocky Ice World
Fumerola	Carbosis	6,284,600	100	CO_2, Geysers, Methane, SO2
Fumerola	Extremus	16,202,800	100
Fumerola	Nitris	7,500,900	100	Argon rich, methane
Fungoida	Bullarum	3,703,200	300	Argon
Fungoida	Gelata	3,330,300	300	CO₂
Fungoida	Setisis	1,670,100	300	Ammonia, Methane
Fungoida	Stabitis	2,680,300	300	H2O
Osseus	Cornibus	1,483,000	800	CO2,
Osseus	Discus	12,934,900	800	Geological Activity
Osseus	Fractus	4,027,800	800
Osseus	Pellebantus	9,739,000	800
Osseus	Pumice	3,156,300	800	Argon, Methane
Osseus	Spiralis	2,404,700	800	Ammonia
Recepta	Conditivus	14,313,700	150
Recepta	Deltahedronix	16,202,800	150	SO2
Recepta	Umbrux	12,934,900	150
Sinuous Tuber	Albidum	3,425,600	100
Sinuous Tuber	Blatteum	1,514,500	100
Sinuous Tuber	Caeruleum	1,514,500	100
Sinuous Tuber	Lindigoticum	1,514,500	100
Sinuous Tuber	Prasinum	1,514,500	100
Sinuous Tuber	Roseus	1,514,500	100
Sinuous Tuber	Violaceum	1,514,500	100
Sinuous Tuber	Viride	1,514,500	100
Stratum	Araneamus	2,448,900	500
Stratum	Cucumisis	16,202,800	500
Stratum	Excutitus	2,448,900	500	CO²
Stratum	Frigus	2,637,500	500
Stratum	Laminamus	2,788,300	500	Ammonia
Stratum	Limaxus	1,362,000	500	CO₂
Stratum	Paleas	1,362,000	500	Ammonia, CO₂
Stratum	Tectonicas	19,010,800	500	High Metal Content Planets, CO2, O2, SO2, Ammonia
Tubus	Cavas	11,873,200	800	CO₂
Tubus	Compagibus	7,774,700	800	CO2
Tubus	Conifer	2,415,500	800
Tubus	Rosarium	2,637,500	800	Ammonia
Tubus	Sororibus	5,727,600	800
Tussock	Albata	3,252,500	200	CO2
Tussock	Capillum	7,025,800	200	Argon
Tussock	Caputus	3,472,400	200
Tussock	Catena	1,766,600	200
Tussock	Cultro	1,766,600	200	Ammonia
Tussock	Divisa	1,766,600	200	Ammonia
Tussock	Ignis	1,849,000	200	CO2
Tussock	Pennata	5,853,800	200
Tussock	Pennatis	1,000,000	200	CO₂
Tussock	Propagito	1,000,000	200
Tussock	Serrati	4,447,100	200	CO2
Tussock	Stigmasis	19,010,800	200	SO2
Tussock	Triticum	7,774,700	200
Tussock	Ventusa	3,277,700	200
Tussock	Virgam	14,313,700	200	H2O

Thargoid	Spires	2,247,100	100	Thargoid Spire
Thargoid	Mega Barnacles	2,313,500	100	Thargoid Spire
Thargoid	Coral Tree	1,896,800	100	Thargoid Spire
Thargoid	Coral Root	1,924,600	100	Thargoid Spire

Basics of exobiology

Prerequisites

Exobiologist is an integral part of exploration. The Full Spectrum System Scanner (FSSS) and the Detailed Surface Scanner (DSS) are essential. All ships are equipped by default with a FSSS. The DSS is optional, but required to detect exobiology on the surface of an astronomical body (planet or moon). Many exobiological organisms exist in rough and hilly terrain. Thus it is more convenient to conduct exobiology in a small and fast ship which can easily land in small landing spots. For example the Imperial Courier, Dolphin and Diamondback Explorer can land anywhere but the roughest terrain due to their small footprint. The Nomad SLV is by far the most adapted ship to land in very rough terrain. The Imperial Courier can go 800m/s with large shields. The Asp Explorer has a nice cockpit view for skimming the surface. Use a FSD SCO to quickly travel to and from the surface. Fast ships make it easier to skim the surface for bios. They can cross the planet and if you can't find a sample then leave the planet and go to the next one. A shield generator protects the ship's hull if you misjudge your landing speed and hit the ground.

Every small ship has limited internals and tradeoffs. The Dolphin has the most internals, but it is weak for any combat. The Dolphin can be equipped with a big fuel scoop and a class 4 FSD booster for a decent jump range. It can also be equipped with an SRV bay and A class 4 shield. The Adder is only useful for short ranges, and it needs carrier support. The Viper Mk IV is better for long-range without a carrier.

The Nomad is a highly recommended nimble SLV. You can launch it from a compatible medium or large ship with an Mk I or Mk II Vessel Hangar. It can easily land on small spots, summits and rugged terrain. The MK II Discovery Scanner detects biological signals from the cockpit.

If you have a Drake-Class Carrier then you don't need to worry about fuel scooping, jump range or an Auto Field-Maintenance Unit to repair damaged modules.

The Artemis Suit is essential, because only this suit has a Genetic Sampler. It can be purchased at stations or outposts in the Pioneer supplies store. Occasionally, in such stores you can find level 2 or 3 suits. Sometimes they are pre-installed with engineer modifications, but not all modifications are equally useful. The basic keyboard mapping for the sampler/scanner is 5.

Search for specific places

Familiarize yourself with the locations of specific species. Either you could fly in a random order to explore everything in a row, or search with Inara or EDSM for the parameters (star class, gravity, atmosphere), star system and planet and fly to the specified destination. You could also use the star class filter on the Galaxy Map.

It is best to search for exobiology species away from inhabited star systems or on astronomical bodies suitable for atmospheric landing that have not yet had First Footfall (displayed on the system map when hovering over an astronomical object). The reward for being the first to sample a life form will be 5x the normal amount.

If you plot around to discover a sector, in the galaxy map go to User Data mode and disable the filter to show only unvisited stars.

Biologicals group in a certain area - if a star sector has a group of biologicals, the chances are high that other stars in the neighbourhood will have the same types and groups. Bookmark systems with good exobiology planets and look around the bookmarked areas.

Find a planet

In the system view, check planets with an atmosphere (it shows a blue atmosphere around the planet icon) and that it's landable (quarter arc icon around the top left of a planet). The 3rd tab on the right of Planetary Information under Features at the bottom will list if there are biologicals.

Fly towards the sunny side of the planet to map that so that it's easier to land there later. If the planet is over ~4000 Ls away from a star, be aware that the star light will start to faint. It may make it harder to spot some species, but will not be an obstacle for an experienced exobiologist.

Map the planet with the surface scanner. Shoot the probes at the white targets on the 4 corners and one at the back to map the whole planet. If there are multiple biologicals select 1 with the least surface area. Chances are high that the signals will overlap so that you'll find all the signal sources around the same place.

Look for the blue color that indicates there are biologicals in the area.

As you approach the planet, switch to combat mode and go to the terrain type where it's most likely to find the biological.

Genetic sampling

ED exobio genetic sampler

Disembark from your ship, walk to the biological and sample it with the Genetic Sampler (by default press 5). You must take 3 samples of the same biological. Each biological type has a different minimal distance between two samples to achieve sufficient diversity. If the samples are too close you'll get an insufficient diversity error. The lights on the Genetic Sampler canister increase with each collected sample.

You can fly around for more biologicals. You can slow down quickly with the landing gear and cargo scoop deployed.

Selection

To collect genomes you need to find worlds with tenuous atmospheres or a non-atmospheric world with the Full Spectrum System Scanner. When detected on a planetary body or after a complete system scan on the System Map choose a specific planetary body. The number of outstanding signals « Biological » will be indicated in parentheses for this body including the life forms. For a particular genus, only 1 type can be available such as 1 type of bacterium or stratum. After discovering a body with biological types of signals, fly to it and map the surface. After mapping, when the Analysis mode is enabled, the planetary body will reveal areas with probable habitats of these life forms in blue. The blue color is not a heat map, but a binary indicator of whether the selected life form can be found in the highlighted aera. More intense shades may be due to graphical settings or the sign of a hilly terrain, due to the larger surface aera that is visible from the ship, and is not related to the density of species.

Switch from Analysis Mode to Combat Mode and back, choose the place with the right topography to land within a blue area. If the species is found not only in mountainous or hilly terrain, it is preferable to land in a flat area, unless the Nomad SLV is used.

Search for types to collect

ED Exobiology SRV

This can be the most tiring stage, since some species are only spotted from a height (e.g. Bacterium). Some that grow in the highlands can be detected using a set of external cameras (e.g. Fungoida) or the MK II Discovery Scanner. However, most of the exobiology species grow in open aeras, which are more easily scouted with a ship, a SLV or a SRV.

If a cluster of species is detected, you can use a SRV or SLV and then go On Foot to collect 3 samples of each with the Genetic Sampler. Each sample, depending on the species, must be separated by a minimal distance of anywhere from 100m to 1 km.

Species	Location
Bacterium	on the flat areas outside of craters - not illuminated by night vision, dark puddles ~200m, become their natural colour ~100.
Cactoida	rocky hills, small round pebbly things
Concha	hilly / rocky, pretty small.
Electricae	on plains
Fonticulua	Flat bits outside craters / rocky terrain - giant mushroom
Frutexa	plains / rockside in mountains / hilly area - fly low - bushes
Fumerola	on rocks on flat areas
Fungoida	on high mountain sides, very small, night vision helps little dots ~200m, more define ~100m
Osseus	on rocky areas of large flat plains. They look like big standing round flat mushrooms. Easy to confuse with rocks, but are much rounder. Night vision helps ~300m
Tubus	on plains - sometimes on rocky terrain
Tussock	on plains / flat areas in mountains - small grasses, fly low

Wait for the sample to register on the screen by the game (Observatory Botanist registers faster) before boarding your ship and searching for the next sample. When you have 3 samples, wait for the Sampler canister replacement animation to finish before sampling again.

Payouts

In order to get the payout from a expedition, one must hand in his samples to Vista Genomics. This often requires travelling back to inhabited space ; extreme caution must be ensured, as in case of the ship destruction, all exobiliology and exploration data that has not been handed in will be lost, thus losing days or weeks of progression. Playing in Solo mode or private groups prevent interdictions from hostile players.

Higher payouts are given when you are the first one to hand in a sample : any first logged sample will grant a pay out of 5 times the base value (base value + 400% First Logged bonus), when handing it in to Vista Genomics. First Footfall guaranties that no other commander previously sampled those species. The Fist Footfall bonus can only be claimed by one commander. Planetary bodies are usually already discovered in and around the Core Systems.

Development

The Exobiologist career path and ranks were added with the ED: Odyssey expansion in May 2021. Thus exobiology on planets with tenuous atmospheres requires Odyssey.

Videos

Gallery

An Osseus Pumice
Multiple species of alien flora
Electricae Radialem
ED Exobio Genetic Sampler
ED Exobiology SRV
Exobiology
Tussock Ignis

↑ Elite Dangerous Exobiology threshold rebalance information - by Aunty Sledge - Frontier Forums - Jan 2, 2023

[1] Elite Dangerous Exobiology threshold rebalance information - by Aunty Sledge - Frontier Forums - Jan 2, 2023

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