Although there are plenty of ships for solo players to utilize, Star Citizen seems to excel when played with friends or other players in the verse. This guide will help players choose a multi-crew ship that allows a group of players to take on missions as a collective without the need to bring multiple vehicles. Over the last few updates, these ships have seen a serious boost in productivity due to buffs given to turreted weapons and should be considered when playing with a group.
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Drake Cutlass Black - Affordable
The Cutlass Black is easily the most affordable multi-crew ship on this list, both in-game and through the pledge store. As well as this, the ship is accessible by purchasing one of the game’s starter packs. This allows for an additional discount on the ship.
The Cutlass comes in a few different models, but the Black variant is the most versatile for multi-crew gameplay. With great storage space, players can easily partake in the cargo-hauling gameplay loop, although there are definitely better options in this category. The 4 size 3 weapons for the pilot give the Cutlass the ability to take on difficult targets with a single crew member, however, the additional size 3 turret gives the team additional firepower. The co-pilot seat allows for additional combat capabilities as the pilot can focus on flying while the second player uses missiles to dish out massive single-shot damage.
For those looking to get started in the Multi-crew space, this is a great place to start, however, as such a versatile ship, the cutlass suffers from the infamous Shakespeare phrase “jack of all trades, master of none”. If players are looking for a more tailored experience, there are definitely some better options at a larger cost.
Drake Cutlass Black - 1,385,300 aUEC
RSI Constellation Series - Utility
The RSI Constellation Series brings a range of ships that are kitted out for a few different jobs. It’s very much down to the player which ship they prefer and what they want to do in the verse. This ship suffered in early development as it is incredibly good on paper but struggles when put into practice.
With a few crew members, players can take on everything Stanton has to offer with the versatility found with the Constellation ships. Each one has decent firepower with additional turrets to take on formidable foes. The Constellation does feature a unique Merlin fighter that can be deployed in the heat of combat. This can be found at the rear of the ship and is very easy to pilot, even for new players.
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The ramp access at the rear also has plenty of room for a land vehicle such as the HoverQuad, allowing for exploration of each planet and easy access to bunkers that may have their turrets on high alert.
RSI Constellation Andromeda - 3,548,000 aUEC
Aegis Hammerhead - Combat
In multi-crew combat, there is a single ship that simply stands out from the rest. The Aegis Hammerhead is an iconic gunship with 6 turrets featuring 4 size 4 weapons each (great for eliminating multiple fighter ships). This easily makes the Hammerhead the most deadly ship to engage with or against.
The large size can be an easy target for bombers, but the unstoppable firepower here is almost unbeatable. A good pilot who understands the slim profile can use this to avoid some enemy gunfire, but its large size still makes for an easy target either way. Luckily the 2 size 3 shield generators help to keep this ship in combat for extended periods.
Whether it’s an army of Gladius’ or an Idris capital ship, the Hammerhead will not hinder in stopping the enemy. This said, The Hammerhead does require a full crew to get the most out of its deadly firepower, Without the full crew, the ship can be left vulnerable to a specific angle. Compared to other ships of this size, the price is fairly reasonable, and no other ship even comes close to the DPS potential.
Aegis Hammerhead - 12,459,900 aUEC
Retaliator - Bomber
The Aegis Retaliator is a bomber specialized for taking out targets from extreme ranges using the onboard missile system. With size 9 torpedoes there are only a handful of ships that can withstand the firepower of the Retaliator. This can also be unloaded on ground targets making for some extremely cinematic flyby shots.
With the additional turrets for other crew members, players can get the most out of this ship with a minimum of 4 crew making it one of the best ships to take into a fight if the crew is only small and not prepared for a Hammerhead or Carrack.
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The price of the Retaliator makes it extremely competitive when compared to something like the Hammerhead as it’s only half the price. If players are unable to pool together enough aUEC for a larger ship, this one is a great option and will definitely fulfill the needs of the team. Unfortunately, as this is quite a large ship, it can suffer from a lack of maneuverability, however, a good pilot can easily to the ship in advantageous positions to make the most out of the high-range damage.
Aegis Retaliator Bomber - 4,031,700 aUEC
Caterpillar - Cargo
The Caterpillar allows players to partake in the cargo-hauling gameplay loop and benefit from the amazing revenue generated from this process. Other ships such as the Starlifter can provide a larger cargo space, but the Caterpillar is equipped with some amazing weaponry to fend off any attackers who may want to steal the precious loot on board.
With a crew of 4, this ship really excels and allows for maximum protection/profit - as well as lots of hands to help move cargo if necessary. The modular design will allow for lots of customization in the future, as for now, the 576 SCU of storage space will give the team the ability to carry an excessive amount of cargo to allow for efficient runs.
Drake Caterpillar - 4,686,600
Aegis Reclaimer - Salvage
Salvaging will be a new gameplay loop included in the 3.18 update. This will allow players to clear up destroyed ships by reclaiming their debris and selling it to vendors or other players to repair ships.
Unfortunately, the salvaging claw is not yet operational, but this will be a feature included in a future update allowing for extra salvaging techniques. With 2 separate salvage operators and turrets, the team operating this ship can quickly build up a good amount of loot to sell while staying relatively safe.
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This cargo can also be sold to players directly to save time. This ship is among the many things players are excited to use with the 3.18 update and it will only become more valuable over time.
Aegis Reclaimer - 15,126,400
Anvil Carrack - Best in Class
The Anvil Carrack has been classed as the best ship throughout the game’s development - to the point where it could be classed as a sub-capital ship due to its size, and versatile capabilities.
The onboard medical bay allows players to restore their health and vitals as well as set the ship as a spawn point. Whenever the player dies, they will return to the Carrack instead of spawning back at their starting location. This can save a good amount of time and convenience making it one of the main reasons players choose this ship over other options. There are also plenty of crew facilities to allow the crew to log off here and store their belongings.
The Carrack features a hanger bay allowing for an additional vessel, such as the Pieces, to be stored and utilized when the full weight of the Carrack may not be necessary. The 4 size 4 turrets can deliver enough firepower to take on some of the most difficult missions, especially when considering the additional ship that can be deployed.
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In general, this ship is great for combat, exploration, storage, and many other tasks found in the verse. With a full crew (although not as deadly as something like the (Retaliator or Hammerhead) the Carrack can easily take on some of the biggest ships in the game such as the Idris. However, as one of the most expensive ships currently available players will have to do a good amount of saving to get their hands on this one.
Star Citizen is available on PC.
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