Shields can save your life, but only if you're careful - a good laser barrage can puncture even the toughest shields. Don't misunderstand the meaning of fully charged shields: In the Z-95 Headhunter, for example, fully charged shields will absorb only a couple of laser shots before shorting out. Keep the maximum capacity of your starfighter's shielding in mind, and understand how much it's going help if you take a hit. As a general rule, don't fly toward the enemy head-on just because your shields seem to be in good shape and his aren't. He can fire at you and take out your shields faster than you might expect, and even if you manage to kill him, there's a good chance his buddy will be there to finish you off. So no matter what sort of craft you may be piloting, you'll want to use your maneuvering skills to avoid laser fire at all costs. In short, shields don't last long and recharge dangerously slowly.

If you're in a real bind, press Shft-F10 repeatedly to pump all laser power to your shields - it will drain your lasers but may be the edge you need if you're being overwhelmed. Take the extra moment to try to get out as fast as possible, and use concussion missiles, since your lasers will be depleted of power.