Your First Bunker Mission

New Player Guide

Your First Bunker Mission

Bunker missions are one of the best ways to learn FPS combat in Star Citizen.

They are also one of the fastest ways to learn that shooting the wrong person has consequences.

A bunker mission usually sends you to a ground facility where you need to clear hostile NPCs, protect friendly forces, or complete an objective inside or around the bunker.

For new players, bunkers are useful because they teach:

  • Personal gear preparation
  • Flying to ground locations
  • Landing near facilities
  • FPS controls
  • Target identification
  • Healing
  • Looting
  • Crime stat avoidance
  • Mission completion
  • Getting out before the area becomes hostile

They can be profitable, fun, and a little chaotic.

They can also go sideways quickly if you arrive with no helmet, no ammo, no med pens, and the combat discipline of a startled raccoon.

This guide will walk you through your first bunker mission step by step.

What Is a Bunker Mission?

A bunker mission is a ground-based FPS contract.

You will usually travel to a security outpost, underground facility, or bunker location and deal with hostile NPCs.

Depending on the mission type, you may need to:

  • Clear hostiles
  • Defend friendly security
  • Assist local forces
  • Eliminate a specific group
  • Search the facility
  • Recover items
  • Survive long enough to leave with your dignity

For this beginner guide, we are focusing on a simple hostile-clearance bunker mission.

The basic loop is:

  1. Accept the mission
  2. Travel to the bunker
  3. Land nearby
  4. Enter carefully
  5. Identify hostiles
  6. Avoid shooting friendlies
  7. Clear the area
  8. Loot if safe
  9. Leave before trespass or turrets become a problem

Simple.

Except for the bit where everyone is shooting.

Why Bunkers Are Good for New Players

Bunkers are a great next step after cargo and bounty missions.

Cargo teaches you logistics.

Bounties teach you basic ship combat.

Bunkers teach you how to survive on foot.

They are useful because they help you practise:

  • Equipping personal gear
  • Using weapons
  • Reloading
  • Healing
  • Taking cover
  • Identifying targets
  • Managing ammo
  • Looting bodies
  • Avoiding crime stat
  • Recovering after mistakes

They also give you access to loot, including weapons, armour, ammo, med pens, grenades, and other useful gear.

A good bunker run can pay you and restock your kit.

A bad bunker run can put you in hospital wearing regret.

Both are educational.

Before You Take a Bunker Mission

Do not take a bunker mission in normal clothes.

Do not take a bunker mission with no helmet.

Do not take a bunker mission with a pistol, one magazine, and confidence.

Confidence is not armour.

Before accepting your first bunker contract, make sure you have:

  • Undersuit
  • Helmet
  • Light or medium armour
  • Backpack
  • Rifle
  • Matching ammo
  • Med pens
  • Food and drink
  • Multi-tool
  • Tractor beam attachment
  • Optional med gun
  • Optional sidearm
  • A ship you can land nearby

Medium armour is a good beginner choice.

It gives decent protection and enough storage for ammo and supplies without being too heavy.

Recommended Beginner Bunker Kit

A simple bunker kit could look like this:

Equipped

  • Undersuit
  • Helmet
  • Medium armour
  • Backpack
  • Rifle
  • Sidearm, if available
  • Multi-tool with tractor beam
  • Med gun, if you have one

Carried

  • Rifle magazines
  • Med pens
  • Food
  • Drink
  • Extra ammo
  • Spare utility items
  • Space in backpack for loot

You do not need expensive armour.

You do not need rare guns.

You need a basic kit you can afford to lose.

Bunkers are not the place to wear your favourite fashion set unless you are emotionally ready to donate it to the floor.

Med Pens and Med Guns

Bring medical supplies.

A common med pen hotkey is:

4

Med pens are quick and simple. They can help you recover from damage and keep fighting.

A med gun is more capable and can be very useful, especially if you are doing FPS missions often or playing with others.

Depending on your keybinds and setup, you may be able to use the med gun on yourself or others.

Before entering a bunker, know how to:

  • Pull out your med pen
  • Use your med pen
  • Pull out your med gun, if you have one
  • Heal yourself
  • Put your weapon away safely
  • Get back into the fight

Do not wait until you are bleeding behind a crate to learn how healing works.

That is poor timing.

Very common, but poor.

Finding a Bunker Mission

To find a bunker mission:

  1. Open your MobiGlas
  2. Go to the Contracts tab
  3. Look for Mercenary missions
  4. Choose a beginner-friendly bunker or hostile-clearance contract
  5. Read the contract carefully
  6. Accept it
  7. Track the mission

Look for lower-risk missions first.

Do not take the hardest mercenary contract you can see just because the payout looks juicy.

The payout is larger because the problem is larger.

And the problem has guns.

Read the Contract Carefully

Before accepting, check:

  • Where is the bunker?
  • What planet or moon is it on?
  • Does the mission mention friendly security?
  • Does it warn you not to harm allies?
  • Are there turrets?
  • Is the location restricted?
  • Is it lawful or unlawful work?
  • How much does it pay?
  • Are you geared for FPS combat?

Some bunker missions involve friendly NPCs.

Some do not.

Some are lawful.

Some are not.

Some locations may have turrets that will attack criminals, trespassers, or hostile ships.

Read the mission.

The contract is trying to warn you before the bunker does it with bullets.

Track the Mission

After accepting, make sure the contract is tracked.

Tracking gives you mission markers so you can find the bunker.

If you accept a mission and cannot see where to go, check tracking before assuming the game is broken.

Although, yes, the game might also be broken.

Star Citizen enjoys making both explanations feel possible.

Flying to the Bunker

Once the mission is tracked:

  1. Retrieve your ship
  2. Take off
  3. Enter NAV mode
  4. Quantum travel toward the mission location
  5. Approach the planet or moon
  6. Fly down toward the bunker marker
  7. Slow down as you get close
  8. Watch for terrain, turrets, and structures

If the bunker is on a moon or planet, visibility may be poor.

Use ping if needed.

A common ping key is:

Tab

Ping can help you see terrain and structures in the dark.

This is important because moon surfaces are very good at pretending to be farther away than they are.

Landing Near the Bunker

Do not land directly on top of the bunker.

Do not park in front of turrets unless you know they are friendly.

Do not land so far away that you need to run for ten minutes.

Find a practical landing spot.

A good landing spot is:

  • Close enough to reach the bunker easily
  • Far enough from obvious danger
  • On reasonably flat ground
  • Not directly in front of turret fire
  • Easy to find again
  • Safe enough for takeoff

After landing:

  1. Turn off your engines
  2. Check your gear
  3. Make sure your helmet is on
  4. Close your ship
  5. Head toward the bunker

Closing your ship is good practice.

Leaving your ramp open is a bold invitation to the universe.

The universe has poor manners.

Before Entering the Bunker

Before going inside, do a quick check:

  • Weapon equipped?
  • Ammo loaded?
  • Spare magazines available?
  • Med pens equipped?
  • Helmet on?
  • Armour on?
  • Backpack equipped?
  • Tractor beam available?
  • Mission marker active?
  • Friendly NPCs expected?
  • Turrets behaving?

Take a moment.

Rushing into a bunker without checking your kit is how you become part of someone else’s loot run.

Friendly NPCs vs Hostile NPCs

This is the most important bunker lesson:

Do not shoot friendlies.

Some bunker missions include friendly security forces or non-combatants.

The mission may specifically tell you to clear hostiles while avoiding harm to allies.

If you shoot friendly NPCs, you may receive a crime stat.

That can lead to:

  • Security attacking you
  • Bounty hunters coming after you
  • Prison
  • Mission failure
  • A very silly explanation in Discord

Before firing, identify the target.

Look at:

  • Armour colour
  • Behaviour
  • Mission markers
  • Whether they are shooting you
  • Whether they are security
  • Whether the mission tells you they are hostile

If in doubt, hold fire for a moment.

One careful second is better than a murder charge.

Target Identification

New players often panic and shoot anything that moves.

Do not do that.

Inside bunkers, target identification matters.

Hostiles may look different from friendly security, but it can be hard to tell at first.

Use cover, slow down, and identify before shooting.

Ask yourself:

  • Is this NPC marked hostile?
  • Are they aiming at me?
  • Are they wearing hostile armour?
  • Are friendlies nearby?
  • Does the mission tell me to avoid allies?
  • Am I about to shoot someone because I got startled?

That last one is common.

Star Citizen is very good at making players commit crimes through surprise.

Basic FPS Controls

Your keybinds may vary, but common FPS basics include:

1 = Primary weapon
3 = Sidearm
4 = Med pen
5 = Multi-tool
R = Reload
C = Crouch
Space = Jump
Shift = Sprint
Right click = Aim down sights
Left click = Fire

Depending on your setup, you may also have controls for leaning, going prone, changing fire mode, using grenades, or interacting with attachments.

Before entering combat, practise:

  • Drawing your rifle
  • Aiming
  • Reloading
  • Crouching
  • Using med pens
  • Switching weapons
  • Pulling out your multi-tool

You do not need to be an FPS god.

You do need to know which button stops you from holding snacks during a gunfight.

Use Cover

Bunkers have corridors, crates, doors, stairs, railings, and rooms.

Use them.

Do not stand in the open trading shots like you are testing armour durability for science.

Use cover to:

  • Break line of sight
  • Reload safely
  • Heal
  • Check corners
  • Control enemy approach
  • Avoid being shot by multiple enemies at once

A simple beginner rhythm:

  1. Move to cover
  2. Peek
  3. Identify target
  4. Fire controlled shots
  5. Return to cover
  6. Reload or heal if needed
  7. Move again

Slow is smooth.

Smooth is alive.

Alive gets paid.

Do Not Sprint Everywhere

Sprinting is useful when travelling.

Inside a bunker, sprinting everywhere can get you killed.

If you sprint into a room, you may:

  • Miss enemies
  • Startle yourself
  • Run past cover
  • Fail to identify friendlies
  • Get caught reorienting
  • Accidentally run into multiple hostiles

Move with purpose.

You do not need to crawl through every hallway like a tactical documentary, but you should not play bunker missions like a shopping centre speedrun.

Healing During Combat

If you take damage, get to cover before healing.

Do not stand in the open using a med pen while enemies continue shooting you.

A simple process:

  1. Take damage
  2. Move behind cover
  3. Check surroundings
  4. Use med pen or med gun
  5. Reload if needed
  6. Re-engage

If your health is low, healing is more important than finishing the kill immediately.

Dead players have very poor damage output.

Clearing the Bunker

Once inside, work through the bunker carefully.

The mission may show a percentage or count of remaining hostiles.

As enemies are reduced, additional markers may appear for the remaining targets.

This can help you find the last few enemies.

Be careful near:

  • Stairs
  • Elevators
  • Corners
  • Lower levels
  • Doorways
  • Clusters of NPCs
  • Bodies that may hide weapons or loot
  • Friendlies moving through the same area

Do not assume the bunker is clear until the contract completes.

One remaining NPC can still ruin your tidy little victory lap.

Completing the Mission

The mission should complete once the required hostiles are eliminated or the objective is finished.

You should receive:

  • Contract completion notification
  • Credits
  • Reputation progress
  • A timer or warning if you need to leave
  • Access to more missions over time

After the contract completes, do not immediately relax completely.

Check:

  • Are there still NPCs nearby?
  • Are you injured?
  • Do you need to reload?
  • Is there a trespass timer?
  • Is your ship safe?
  • Do you want to loot?
  • Do you have enough time to leave?

A completed bunker is safer than an active bunker.

It is not always safe.

Looting the Bunker

Bunkers can be excellent for loot.

You may find:

  • Weapons
  • Ammo
  • Med pens
  • Armour
  • Grenades
  • Utility items
  • Loot crates
  • Consumables
  • Mission-relevant items

To loot, open inventory near bodies or containers.

A common inventory key is:

I

You may see nearby corpse markers or loot containers.

You can move useful items into your backpack, armour, or local inventory depending on where you are and what is available.

Useful early loot includes:

  • Ammo for your weapon
  • Med pens
  • Rifles
  • Sidearms
  • Grenades
  • Armour pieces
  • Backpacks

Do not get greedy if the area is dangerous.

Loot is nice.

Surviving with the loot is nicer.

Using the Tractor Beam for Loot

Your tractor beam can help move weapons, bodies, boxes, and awkwardly placed items.

Sometimes weapons or items may end up in strange places, especially in low gravity or after combat.

A tractor beam can help you:

  • Pull a weapon closer
  • Move bodies
  • Shift loot
  • Retrieve items from awkward positions
  • Carry things back to your ship

This is another reason to bring a multi-tool.

The tractor beam is not just for cargo.

It is also for becoming a professional loot goblin with better posture.

Be Careful With Grenades

Grenades can be useful.

They can also turn a clean bunker run into an incident report.

If you loot grenades, be careful.

Do not throw them near friendlies.

Do not throw them in tight spaces unless you understand the risk.

Do not throw one because you panicked and forgot what key you pressed.

Grenades are powerful.

They are also very funny until they are not.

Trespass Timers

After completing a bunker mission, you may receive a timer to leave the area.

If you stay too long, you may be considered trespassing.

That can lead to:

  • Turrets attacking your ship
  • Security becoming hostile
  • Crime stat problems
  • A very confused death
  • Losing your loot

If the game tells you to leave within a certain time, listen.

You may have enough time to loot, but do not lose track of the timer.

The loot box is not worth your ship getting deleted by angry architecture.

Usually.

Returning to Your Ship

Once the mission is complete and you have finished looting:

  1. Reload your weapon
  2. Heal if needed
  3. Check your backpack
  4. Leave the bunker
  5. Watch for remaining threats
  6. Return to your ship
  7. Board quickly
  8. Power on
  9. Take off carefully
  10. Leave the area

Do not celebrate by boosting directly into the ground.

That is not an extraction.

That is a punchline.

After the Mission

Once you are away from the bunker, head to a station or safe location.

After a bunker run, you should:

  • Repair and refuel your ship
  • Restock ammo
  • Buy more med pens
  • Sell, store, or sort loot
  • Replace lost supplies
  • Check contract payout
  • Check reputation progress
  • Consider whether to take another mission

Bunker missions can chain nicely once you understand them.

Just do not keep taking them while your ammo, meds, and attention span are all running low.

That is how good sessions turn weird.

What If You Get a Crime Stat?

If you accidentally shoot or kill a friendly, you may get a crime stat.

Depending on the charge, this can lead to serious consequences.

You may be:

  • Attacked by security
  • Hunted by bounty hunters
  • Denied services
  • Sent to prison if killed or captured
  • Forced to pay fines if the offence allows it

Some minor offences can be paid off.

More serious offences, like homicide, may not be payable.

If you get crime stat, ask for help before making it worse.

Do not continue the bunker mission like nothing happened.

The game has noticed.

The law is now emotionally invested.

What If You Die in the Bunker?

If you die, you may respawn at your set medical location.

From there, you may need to:

  • Re-equip gear
  • Claim or retrieve your ship
  • Decide whether to recover your body
  • Return to the bunker if possible
  • Accept the gear loss and move on

This is why cheap, replaceable gear matters.

Your first bunker kit should be something you can afford to lose.

If you die in your best armour, the bunker has claimed tribute.

Recovering Your Body

Sometimes you can return to your body and recover gear.

Sometimes you cannot.

Body recovery depends on:

  • Location
  • Mission state
  • Time
  • Server behaviour
  • Whether the bunker remains accessible
  • Whether your body marker appears
  • Whether you can safely return

If recovering your body seems practical, you can try.

If it seems like another death trap, move on.

Do not lose a second kit trying to rescue the first kit unless you enjoy creating archaeology.

Common Bunker Mistakes

Shooting Friendlies

This is the big one.

Identify targets before firing.

Do not shoot security or non-combatants.

Arriving With No Ammo

Bring more ammo than you think you need.

Make sure it matches your weapon.

Forgetting Med Pens

You will probably take damage.

Bring medical supplies.

No Helmet

Wear your helmet.

Bunkers may be on moons, planets, or locations where atmosphere and temperature matter.

Landing Too Close to Turrets

Be careful around bunker defences.

If turrets are hostile, land out of range or behind cover.

Sprinting Into Rooms

Slow down.

Check corners.

Use cover.

Looting Too Long

Watch the trespass timer after the mission completes.

Do not let greed get your ship destroyed.

Bringing Expensive Gear Too Early

Your first bunker mission is not the time for priceless armour.

Use replaceable gear.

Beginner Bunker Checklist

Before accepting:

  • Is it a beginner-friendly mercenary contract?
  • Do I understand the objective?
  • Are friendlies involved?
  • Is the location lawful?
  • Do I have gear?

Before landing:

  • Is the bunker marker visible?
  • Are there turrets?
  • Is there a safe landing spot?
  • Can I find my way back to the ship?

Before entering:

  • Helmet on?
  • Rifle ready?
  • Ammo equipped?
  • Med pens ready?
  • Backpack on?
  • Tractor beam available?

Inside the bunker:

  • Identify targets
  • Do not shoot friendlies
  • Use cover
  • Reload safely
  • Heal behind cover
  • Watch remaining hostile count
  • Do not panic

After completion:

  • Check for trespass timer
  • Loot if safe
  • Do not overstay
  • Return to ship
  • Leave the area
  • Restock at station

SCANZ Recommendation

For your first bunker mission, keep it simple.

Take a low-level mercenary contract.

Bring cheap medium armour, a rifle, ammo, med pens, food, drink, a backpack, and a multi-tool with tractor beam.

Land safely.

Close your ship.

Move slowly.

Identify targets before firing.

Use cover.

Heal when needed.

Loot only when safe.

Leave before the trespass timer becomes a problem.

Do not bring your best gear.

Do not shoot friendlies.

Do not assume the bunker is clear until the contract completes.

Your first bunker mission is a lesson in patience, target discipline, and recovery.

It is not a speedrun.

Unless you are speedrunning prison.

Final Advice

Bunker missions are a great way to learn Star Citizen’s FPS gameplay.

They teach you how to gear up, fly to a ground location, land safely, fight on foot, heal, loot, avoid crime stat, and extract before things go bad.

They can be tense, rewarding, messy, and occasionally ridiculous.

Start with low-level missions.

Bring replaceable gear.

Use cover.

Check your targets.

Leave when the job is done.

If cargo missions teach you patience, and bounty contracts teach you ship combat, bunker missions teach you personal survival.

And personal survival starts with one simple rule:

Before you shoot, make sure you are shooting the right idiot.

Next Guide

Next: Death, Gear Loss, and Claiming Your Ship