Despite still being in the Alpha phase, Star Citizen already has a lot of ships available, and having to choose one ship from all these options as your starter ship in the verse is indeed confusing.
Although Cloud Imperium Games always allows upgrading from one ship to another by paying the price difference, it’s best to use others’ experience rather than discovering everything on your own, and that’s where we’re heading with this article, just on the verge of Alpha 3.23
RSI Aurora MR
Most Economic Entry To Star Citizen
- Pledge Price: $45 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 0
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 3,000 HP
- Weapons:
- 2x Size-1 CF-117 Bulldog Laser Repeaters
- 2x Size-1 Empty Slots For Cannons/Gatlings/Repeaters
- 2x Size-1 Marksman-1 Missiles
Most Star Citizen players began their career in the verse either with an RSI Aurora or a CO Mustang, as these ships are still the cheapest entry to the game.
Aurora is indeed a great economic ship for newcomers to experience what Star Citizen is about before starting to explore all the ships and discover what’s good for what.
Although MR might not be the best Aurora, it still allows you to dip your toe on most parts of the game. It allows you to take part in low-level dogfights and even upgrade your weaponry. It allows you to explore the verse at a decent speed, with a bed in the back that makes quick logouts pretty much easier. And despite lacking a cargo space, the small space between its doors allows you to carry tiny supply boxes in delivery missions.
If you haven’t played Star Citizen yet, and just want an entry to the game, count Aurora MR as the top choice of this list. And keep in mind, If you find Star Citizen a great game for your taste, there is always a chance to upgrade your Aurora MR to something better, or just buy new ships using in-game currency.
Origin 100i
A Luxurious Transport For Classy Citizens
- Pledge Price: $65 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 2 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 3,000 HP
- Weapons:
- 2x Size-3 M5A Laser Cannons
- 2x Size-2 StrikeForce-2 Missiles
If you always prefer style over substance, then an Aurora could never represent your high prestige. In this case, you probably won’t be afraid of spending a little more to be one of those classy Origin owners.
The 100i is the most affordable luxury ship in Star Citizen that also serves as a great entry to the game. After all, your first flight in the game will have a crucial effect on your opinion of the verse and the game. Hopefully, Origin 100i will significantly increase that quality, when compared to something as rough as an Aurora.
Similar to Aurora, Origin 100i allows you to try out most major activities in the verse, and it does come with more powerful weapons, aiding you to take down even Medium-Threat targets after getting the hang of ship combat.
Other than the above, Origin 100i features a gorgeous hab area that you can easily fall in love with, making it one of the highly enjoyable ships for explorations. And don’t forget, it’s much faster and smoother than an Aurora.
CO Nomad
Classy Mid-Size Ship For Explorers
- Pledge Price: $95 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 24 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 4,500 HP
- Weapons:
- 3x Size-3 CF-337 Panther Laser Repeaters
- 8x Size-2 StrikeForce-2 Missiles
If you want to take things a little bit further from smaller freight ships, you can think of getting a Nomad. Coming with a larger hab area and decent cargo space, Nomad not only allows you to step out of your comfort zone but also helps you to carry smaller ground vehicles around, which is a huge plus for exploring planets or mining at a smaller scale.
As a bigger freight ship, Nomad also comes with a remote tractor beam, allowing you to load things on and off into the cargo space much easier, without wasting time getting off the pilot seat.
However, one thing that Nomad falls short of is the ship’s lack of maneuverability, which affects the quality of flying inside the atmosphere, and makes it difficult to remain effective in combat.
Gatac Syulen
A Ship To Show Off You Are Different
- Pledge Price: $85 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 8 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 3,000 HP
- Weapons:
- 3x Size-3 CF-337 Panther Laser Repeaters
- 12x Size-2 Ignite-2 Missiles
There are people who want to look classy, and there are people who want to look different. Gatac Syulen is a ship for the latter. Designed and manufactured by alien engineers, Syulen is a ship that will leave you in awe every time you get on and off it.
The design language is so strong that you wouldn’t believe how a ship of this size has its own cargo space, hab area, and pilot area, each placed on a different level. This is a ship for those who enjoy beauty, without worrying about other things.
Gatac Syulen is the most missile-rich starter ship of its size, which makes it quite capable of dogfighting. The ship is also quite easy to maneuver in space, which gives it another advantage in dogfights.
Misc Freelancer
A Worker-Class Mid-Size Freight Ship
- Pledge Price: $125 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 66 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 18,000 HP
- Weapons:
- 4x Size-3 M5A Laser Cannons
- 4x Size-3 Arrester-3 Missiles
- 4x Size-2 Ignite-2 Missiles
- 2x CF-227 Badger Laser Repeaters (Manned Turret)
If you don’t care about how your ship looks, then Misc Freelancer is a better option compared to Nomad, only if you want to spend some more cash for a ship that is 100% worth its value.
Usually, Freelancer is considered a decent upgrade from a single-crew ship to a mid-size freight ship capable of operating by more than one player. It has much larger cargo space that can fit larger ground vehicles, or be used for smaller-scale cargo hauling, such as carrying your refined materials to a TDD center.
As with other aspects of the ship, Freelancer offers a better shield and better weapons compared to Nomad, but the only thing it lacks is a classy look. Also, the maneuverability of Freelancer is a bit underwhelming.
Anvil Arrow
Top-Notch Single-Seat Fighter
- Pledge Price: $90 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 0
- Bed Log: Not Available
- Shield: 1,500 HP
- Weapons:
- 2x Size-1 YellowJacket Ballistic Gatling
- 2x Size-3 CF-337 Panther Laser Repeaters
- 3x Size-2 Ignite-2 Missiles
- 3x Size-2 Dominator-2 Missiles
If all you are aiming for in Star Citizen is space combat, then you should never miss out on the verse’s most maneuverable ship, designed by one of the best combat ship manufacturers in the game.
No matter how experienced you are in Star Citizen, you will always have a spot for Anvil Arrow and Aegis Gladius among your list of top single-seat fighters in the game. These ships are purely designed for dogfighting, and improving your flying skills in critical situations.
Looking at the statistics, you might not find Anvil Arrow as magical as we are making it look here, but the more your knowledge and skills of the game improve, the more you will fall in love with this small but capable fighter.
Aegis Avenger Titan
An All-In-One Ship For Starters
- Pledge Price: $75 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 8 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 3,000 HP
- Weapons:
- 1x Size-4 AD4B Ballistic Gatling
- 2x Size-3 CF-337 Panther Laser Repeaters
- 4x Size-2 Ignite-2 Missiles
Going back to the single-crew, smaller ships again, Aegis Avenger Titan is one of the best starter ships out there that is capable of giving you a true flying experience as you gain more skills as a pilot.
You can think of Avenger Titan as a solidly built version of Aurora that comes with a decent cargo hold, a small bed in between, and a comfortable cockpit that serves incredibly well for dogfights.
Avenger Titan is a combat-focus starter ship, but it also allows you to easily switch to exploration or doing delivery missions if you are not into fights. This is an all-in-one ship that will take your starter experience to the next level.
Drake Cutlass Black
Most Affordable Multi-Purpose Ship
- Pledge Price: $125 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 46 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 6,000 HP
- Weapons:
- 2x Size-3 Mantis GT-220 Ballistic Gatlings
- 2x Size-3 CF-337 Panther Laser Repeaters
- 8x Size-3 Arrester-3 Missiles
- 8x Size-2 Tempest-2 Missiles
- 2x CF-337 Panther Laser Repeaters (Manned Turret)
If you are looking for a perfect fit for the gap between a small exploration ship like Avenger Titan and a mid-size freight ship like Freelancer, Drake has got you covered!
Cutlass Black has long been one of the greatest all-in-one ships in Star Citizen, capable of doing almost everything in the verse. Need something to carry vehicles? Get a Cutlass Black. Looking for an affordable multi-crew fighter? Get a Cutlass Black. Seeking a decent cargo space to deliver things? Get a Cutlass Black!
This ship has everything you need on a decent scale, which is incredibly useful for both starters and experienced players. If your max crew size is around 2 or 3, Cutlass Black will become your beloved base of operations.
Anvil C8X Pisces Expedition
A Quick And Tiny Ship For Explorations
- Pledge Price: $60 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 4 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 1,500 HP
- Weapons:
- 2x Size-1 CF-117 Bulldog Laser Repeaters
- 2x Size-1 Omnisky-3 Laser Cannons
- 2x Size-1 Marksman-1 Missiles
We already talked about Anvil’s specialty in manufacturing fighters, but they are also good at one more thing: designing ships that you can live with for eternity!
No matter if it’s something as colossal as Carrack or as tiny as C8X Pisces, Anvil knows how to make a ship that looks classy and works excellently at the same time.
Choosing between Anvil C8X Pisces and Drake Cutter is not easy, as they all tick almost everything that you would want from a small starter ship. A decent cargo space and a smooth flying experience. However, there is one big shortcoming with C8X Pisces, and that’s the lack of a bed.
C8X Pisces is indeed a bit faster and smoother than Cutter when it comes to the flying experience both in and out of the atmosphere, but that comes at the cost of low QT fuel capacity.
Drake Cutter
Most Efficient Starter Ship
- Pledge Price: $60 (Starter Pack)
- Cargo Space: 4 SCU
- Bed Log: Available
- Shield: 1,500 HP
- Weapons:
- 2x Size-2 CF-227 Badger Laser Repeaters
- 4x Size-1 Spark-1 Missiles
Our ultimate suggestion for a starter ship in Star Citizen is none other than the lovely Drake Cutter. If you prioritize efficiency over other aspects, Drake Cutter should be your top choice.
The amount of QT fuel that this small ship offers is enough to go from Crusader to Hurston ten times without the need for a refuel. The weapons are decent enough to get rid of minimal threats. The cargo space is capable of handling small boxes of 1-SCU or 2-SCU sizes. And more importantly, it does come with a comfortable hab area and a bed.
Drake Cutter is all you need for a small beginning in the Star Citizen. You never feel like you are missing a big basic feature on this ship, and that’s the main reason why flying with a Cutter is quite enjoyable.
