Basics

Starting PvE combat in the early game

If you fly with Keyboard and Mouse, don’t use the default layout, as it underrepresents pip management and lateral/vertical thrust. See the Improved control bindings preset for Keyboard & Mouse.

When you are still new to the game, flying a Viper Mk.3 or smaller, and not very familiar with the game's mechanics, you can still go right at it. Before you start, make sure you have enough for a couple rebuys (See right hand panel, home tab, bottom left).

It is recommended to visit “Resource Extraction Site (High)” (shortened as HighRES), found in planetary rings in almost all populated systems. Here you can follow the local security forces (commonly called “System Authority Vessel”, “Federal Security Service”, etc), as they will quickly dispatch any pirate vessels they find. All you need to do is tag whatever they are shooting, and you will get the full bounty payout. Be sure to do less damage than the most prominent single security ship, to avoid the pirate switching its focus to you. Be sure to not damage clean ships: at the start it is recommended to always target and finish scanning and making sure the target is wanted, before you initiate fire.

Doing this will give you a feel for what to expect, given the ship type and combat rank of an NPC. The overall ranking is applicable across all areas of PvE combat.

Don’t focus on making vast amounts of money at this stage. Instead focus on learning to control your ship properly, reading the radar, and learning the basic mechanics. Then gradually expand into more advanced tactics such as strafing & boosting, subtargeting, pip management, etc.

Starting to pick your own fights

After you have done some kill-stealing from the cops, subsequently gained some knowledge about the game mechanics and also had the chance to upgrade your ship to the Viper Mk 3 fit from the recommended progression or better, you can start picking your own fights.

Just going after pirates without immediate system security backup in a HighRES is a good start, or accepting pirate assassination missions (stay away from assassination missions targeting civilians, or those designed to be completed in a full wing, marked by the blue wing icon).