Key principles for safe routes

Before jumping into example routes, these are things to check so your chosen route is safer:

1. Security status
   Prefer high-sec systems (sec status ≥ 0.5) wherever possible. Low-sec and null-sec increase risk dramatically.
2. Avoid known risk chokepoints & busy gank gates
   Certain gates/systems are “hot” for gankers because of trade hub proximity, popular outbound freighter traffic, etc. Examples include Niarja, Uedama, etc. These see a lot of ganking. Use community killboard / dotlan data to see ship/pod losses over time.
3. Use avoidance lists & manual route checking
   Set up an autopilot avoidance list for systems / constellations you know are dangerous. Always eyeball the route before hauling.
4. Prefer NPC stations at midpoints
   Frequent stops at NPC-stations let you log off, dock safely, and weigh up risk vs reward along the route. If there are long stretches with no stations in low/null, those are risk zones.
5. Avoid high activity during dangerous transitions
   The exit from low/null into high-sec, or jumping into a low-sec chokepoint, is often the riskiest stretch. Plan for that: have scouts, bookmarks, expos to gate camps.
6. Use shortest “safe” path over absolute shortest
   Taking a few extra high-sec jumps is often better than risking a low Sec jump through a known camp. The time trade-off vs potential loss often favors being safer.

---

Example route strategies

Here are some route strategy types & example routes (hypothetical) showing how to trade-off risk vs distance.

Strategy Type	Good when…	Characteristics	Example strategy / route
Mostly high-sec, minimal risk	You want safety and hauling high value cargo.	More jumps, but all or almost all high-sec, avoid low-sec unless absolutely necessary.	For example, from Jita → Amarr: instead of cutting through a low-sec shortcut, route through high-sec Emperor’s Gate, Rens, etc (routes known to be less dangerous). Use dotlan or in-game map with “avoid low-sec” ticked.
Hybrid route (some low-sec)	You’re hauling lower value, want to cut jumps/time, accept some risk.	Use low-sec only in parts where gates are less camped; avoid big chokepoints; time travel carefully.	E.g. from a nullsec base → high-sec exit point, then through low-sec for a few jumps to reach your high-sec destination. Pick less-used low-sec systems.
Jump freighter / null logistic ops	Large volume, corp/alliance supply, you have cyno alt etc.	Use safest high-sec exits, plan midpoints that have NPC stations, avoid high-sec exits that are very busy. Scouts monitor schedule, use avoidance bookmarks.	For example, choose a high-sec exit system close to a trade hub, but not in the hub, and follow the safest gate connections into high-sec. Then from that exit to the destination via high-sec only.
Using shortcuts & events	There are special gates or “stargate events” that cut down jump count.	These are good if you accept some risk (may be low-sec). Use when you want to save time and have safety backup.	E.g., the Stargate Trailblazers gates introduced shortcuts such as Hykkota ↔ Ahbazon, which reduce many jumps but go through low-sec. EVE Online

---

Known Dangerous Systems / Gates to Watch

Here are systems often cited by players as risky:

• Niarja — a well known chokepoint between Amarr/Jita. Many freighter ganks happen here.
• Uedama — big gate/hub; popular with gankers.
• Osmon / Apanake — mentioned in community posts as dangerous for hauling.

---

Sample “safe-route” from Jita to Amarr

As an example, say you want to haul from Jita (The Forge) to Amarr (Domain). Here’s a safer route plan:

1. Use dotlan / the in-game map to plot “shortest” but then turn on “avoid low-sec / avoid certain constellations” to see high-sec alternatives.
2. Possible safer path might go:
   • Jita → Perimeter → Tash-Murkon → Lonetrek → Sinq Laison → Derelik → The Citadel → Amarr
     or some variation that avoids low-sec chokepoints.
3. Avoid going through systems like Niarja if possible. If you must pass through, minimize the time spent there: approach via insta-dock bookmarks, have web-alt ready, check local and intel, possibly send scout ahead.
4. Use station undock bookmarks & gate bookmarks so you can respond / move from a distance if needed.