Hey all, i'm an entry level elite player and the best combat ship i've got is an ADDER. Yeah not very good, i've decided im just gonna grind (as you do) using the passenger lounge and save up for a really nice ship for combat or bounty hunting in general, price isn't really a problem at this point, but im gonna start seriously bounty hunting soon because i've recently been leaching off mates or leaching off the pigs and it isn't the biggest payout, plus my ship explodes on the drop of a hat. And if you've got any other tips for ship outfitting for combat, i'd really appreciate it if you could give me some. Thanks
rootsrat
Volunteer Moderator
Viper Mk3 would be a step in the right direction. It's a dedicated fighter, really cool to fly! Cobra Mk3 is an all-rounder, but copes quite well in combat, especially bounty hunt. Vulture is the ultimate small bounty hunter.
This advice is based on the fact that you have an Adder class ship currently, so I have not posted about the more expensive options - but obviously after Vulture there are other capable ships, but they are big and expensive
Good luck in your endeavours!
Fly safe, Cmdr o7
Ship choice aside, if you're looking to get into more combat then I heartily recommend watching Vindicator Jones' combat videos, to be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QlW7L8XZcVBmRvpScs8kA/playlists
In particular his Combat Tutorials and RAW playlists, but really just watching any of his stuff and how he plays can be beneficial. Even just getting the basics of when to engage / disengage and advantageous positioning down will really help a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5QlW7L8XZcVBmRvpScs8kA/playlists
In particular his Combat Tutorials and RAW playlists, but really just watching any of his stuff and how he plays can be beneficial. Even just getting the basics of when to engage / disengage and advantageous positioning down will really help a lot.
I'd agree with the Viper 3 recommendation it's a fine combat ship small, fast, decent agility and firepower, also as mentioned tactics play a large part of BH especially at entry level for example leave wings alone as they can cause trouble for larger more powerful ships simply because you;re going to engage them one at a time.
Keep away from HazRES and compromised nav beacons as the "pigs" are your friends, always wait for the scan to finish before firing, know when to run (it's usually before you think you should!), always remember it's not just the rebuy it's the loss of hard earned bounties so cash them in before your luck runs out.
I use a Viper 3 for CZ as it doesn't have the enemy ganging up on you like a larger more powerful ship and it's small, fast, cheap, expendable....... engineered it's even better!
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/vip...VI..EweloBhAWEA4QFMCGBzANokICMF9A===&bn=Viper
Keep away from HazRES and compromised nav beacons as the "pigs" are your friends, always wait for the scan to finish before firing, know when to run (it's usually before you think you should!), always remember it's not just the rebuy it's the loss of hard earned bounties so cash them in before your luck runs out.
I use a Viper 3 for CZ as it doesn't have the enemy ganging up on you like a larger more powerful ship and it's small, fast, cheap, expendable....... engineered it's even better!
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/vip...VI..EweloBhAWEA4QFMCGBzANokICMF9A===&bn=Viper
Just out of interest Ceekay what are the best higher end BH ships? I personally prefer the FDL but with engineering anything is now possible. Recommendations for 80mil plus?
Lol just choked on my coffee. Rep for that awesome name. That is making me giggle writing this.
FAS or FGS come to mind if you have the rank for them, but in that price region the FDL is pretty much the pinnacle of BH.
It works best for big game hunting but I'm having a blast with a 5 PA Python, elite Conda is dust in about 7 salvos/30 seconds, outside of large targets it's not that practical but it sure is a lot of fun!
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/pyt...A.EweloBhBmVZApgQwOYBsEhARgnoA&bn=Python PAx5
The FAS with fixed pulse (mix of rapid fire efficient) coupled with it's agility make it a very efficient BH machine.
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/fed...hBGA2EoFMCGBzANokMK6A=&bn=FAS 31 03 17 (EDMC)
The FGS with 3 x PA and 4 x pulse turret makes a great MC ship but works fine single player
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/fed...MCQ5VYBfgPOpyJweACAAA=&bn=FGS 3PA+4rfL (EDMC)
The FDS can armour up massively and do a fine job of BH but it does lack the agility of the FAS and the firepower of the FGS, I prefer it as a medium armed trader but it can be a solid BH ship
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/fed...AA.EweloBhBGA2EAcICmBDA5gG2SGF9A===&bn=FDS 6D
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/pyt...A.EweloBhBmVZApgQwOYBsEhARgnoA&bn=Python PAx5
The FAS with fixed pulse (mix of rapid fire efficient) coupled with it's agility make it a very efficient BH machine.
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/fed...hBGA2EoFMCGBzANokMK6A=&bn=FAS 31 03 17 (EDMC)
The FGS with 3 x PA and 4 x pulse turret makes a great MC ship but works fine single player
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/fed...MCQ5VYBfgPOpyJweACAAA=&bn=FGS 3PA+4rfL (EDMC)
The FDS can armour up massively and do a fine job of BH but it does lack the agility of the FAS and the firepower of the FGS, I prefer it as a medium armed trader but it can be a solid BH ship
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/fed...AA.EweloBhBGA2EAcICmBDA5gG2SGF9A===&bn=FDS 6D
From a shear credit perspective, nothing I've ever owned makes BH credits faster than my Corvette. (you did say 80mil plus range...)
Just tried yet another FDL, and stripped it and sold it shortly thereafter. Yes, fun to fly. Yes it will kill anything. Eventually. But it takes too long IMO. My Python kills faster than a similarly equipped FDL.
I'd copy Ceekay's monster Python, but I cannot seem to find enough large targets to justify putting up with trying to shoot those annoying smaller ships with PAs.
If I had to get rid of the Corvette and my Python, I would probably go back to a FAS. Modestly engineered that is one bad little ship, and a hoot to fly. But I think I have come up with a better solution: I will keep my current Python as it is, an armed trader, and build another one configured only for combat for those times when I want to fly something smaller than my Corvette yet still make lots of credits in a CNB or haz res.
But if all I want is some fun, I'll follow Madrax's advice. Haven't done that in a long time...
Just tried yet another FDL, and stripped it and sold it shortly thereafter. Yes, fun to fly. Yes it will kill anything. Eventually. But it takes too long IMO. My Python kills faster than a similarly equipped FDL.
I'd copy Ceekay's monster Python, but I cannot seem to find enough large targets to justify putting up with trying to shoot those annoying smaller ships with PAs.
If I had to get rid of the Corvette and my Python, I would probably go back to a FAS. Modestly engineered that is one bad little ship, and a hoot to fly. But I think I have come up with a better solution: I will keep my current Python as it is, an armed trader, and build another one configured only for combat for those times when I want to fly something smaller than my Corvette yet still make lots of credits in a CNB or haz res.
But if all I want is some fun, I'll follow Madrax's advice. Haven't done that in a long time...
Start small. Work up to purchase the vulture (get the viper mkwhatever to hold you over). Once you trick that ship out, that can be your go to bounty hunting ship until you make enough for the FDL. The vulture is a beast with two large hardpoints, and a great shield. Also its a very nimble ship. It can mow through any small ship, or even medium ship thats not a fighter (if your good at staying on their tails). And it can harass medium dedicated fighters (but you better be a good pilot).
This will hold you over until you get the FDL. Which, to me, is the bigger brother of the vulture. I had the option to upgrade my vulture to the FDL this past weekend, but i decided to get the python instead, because it was a significant upgrade from my FDS. And i didnt want to part ways with my vulture, because thats my baby.
This will hold you over until you get the FDL. Which, to me, is the bigger brother of the vulture. I had the option to upgrade my vulture to the FDL this past weekend, but i decided to get the python instead, because it was a significant upgrade from my FDS. And i didnt want to part ways with my vulture, because thats my baby.
All this is true.
The vulture is a beast, and if you engineer it you can use it for many things, use coriolis and get creative.
If you like the fighter feeling then it's maybe the best ship (especially non engineered).
Watch some youtubes on the fighter and you'll see good pilots making a joke of clipers, anacondas and pythons.
A lot of people complain about its power managdement, but again coriolis combined with priority managdement, you'll never have real problems.
The best part is, that with this ship you'll learn how to use mobility and movement in combat, instead of relying on shield/hull stats and dps for combat. At some point you'll meet highlvl ships and they'll smother you in seconds if you don't know how to fly
Non-engineered I'll take a FAS over a Vulture anyday. Twice on Sundays. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. More firepower and the PP/PD to back it up. Very maneuverable, especially once you learn how to fly it in combat. This is just one person's opinion though.
Any decent pilot can take out most NPC ships one-on-one, with maybe the exception of Deadly or Elite rated ones, as those can be engineered, and if you are not, some can be a handful. I had to start unlocking engineers as my rank increased as I was starting to get interdicted by larger/more powerful ships and I wanted the option to turn and fight once in a while.
Now when you want to start taking on a wing of three FDLs, Pythons, or Clippers (or a wing of Elite condas) in a CNB, you might want a slightly bigger ship and/or engineering. I don't care how good a pilot you are, if you are driving a non-engineered anything short of the big three, a wing of FDLs, FGSs, or Pythons will eat your lunch if you are brave enough to stick around. Of course I had to try though...
Any decent pilot can take out most NPC ships one-on-one, with maybe the exception of Deadly or Elite rated ones, as those can be engineered, and if you are not, some can be a handful. I had to start unlocking engineers as my rank increased as I was starting to get interdicted by larger/more powerful ships and I wanted the option to turn and fight once in a while.
Now when you want to start taking on a wing of three FDLs, Pythons, or Clippers (or a wing of Elite condas) in a CNB, you might want a slightly bigger ship and/or engineering. I don't care how good a pilot you are, if you are driving a non-engineered anything short of the big three, a wing of FDLs, FGSs, or Pythons will eat your lunch if you are brave enough to stick around. Of course I had to try though...
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The Corvette simply owns the HRES zones. To the point it can make it boring.
The FDL and the FAS are the best in the medium size category. The FAS is hull tank and the FLD shield tank.
In the small category Eagle (yes, I love it), Viper MkIII and the Vulture. The Vulture simply rips everything apart, though it has a weak jaw, if you get a good hit on the front the canopy goes with a spit.
This is of course my opinion.
If you are in the small ships still, ViperMkIII is really nice, and is the combat school ship. So, I would strongly recommend some time in it. And do yourself a favor and use fix weapons in it.
The FDL and the FAS are the best in the medium size category. The FAS is hull tank and the FLD shield tank.
In the small category Eagle (yes, I love it), Viper MkIII and the Vulture. The Vulture simply rips everything apart, though it has a weak jaw, if you get a good hit on the front the canopy goes with a spit.
This is of course my opinion.
If you are in the small ships still, ViperMkIII is really nice, and is the combat school ship. So, I would strongly recommend some time in it. And do yourself a favor and use fix weapons in it.
Non-engineered I'll take a FAS over a Vulture anyday. Twice on Sundays. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. More firepower and the PP/PD to back it up. Very maneuverable, especially once you learn how to fly it in combat. This is just one person's opinion though.
Any decent pilot can take out most NPC ships one-on-one, with maybe the exception of Deadly or Elite rated ones, as those can be engineered, and if you are not, some can be a handful. I had to start unlocking engineers as my rank increased as I was starting to get interdicted by larger/more powerful ships and I wanted the option to turn and fight once in a while.
Now when you want to start taking on a wing of three FDLs, Pythons, or Clippers (or a wing of Elite condas) in a CNB, you might want a slightly bigger ship and/or engineering. I don't care how good a pilot you are, if you are driving a non-engineered anything short of the big three, a wing of FDLs, FGSs, or Pythons will eat your lunch if you are brave enough to stick around. Of course I had to try though...
For a new player getting into bounties, I was thinking of getting a Vulture, but saw this post. Problem is, Im new and don't know what 'FAS' means. Can you explain?
as far as bh goes anything over a vulture is overkill. not inappropriate, still useful, but overkill.
(experienced pve hunters might argue that even the vulture is overkill, ymmv)
acronym for federal assault ship.
I have asked this same question and have found a lot of helpful advice. But... Everybody has their opinion just as I do about which is best, and you are still the main factor as to what makes the best ship for bounty hunting... For example the Cobra mk 3, fine ship and honestly one of the harder ships for me to kill but if I fly one, I last about 2 mins. I tried the FDL, beast of a ship... but I simply cant fly it to its potential. I have ended up with an engineered Python. Its a beast sure, but the biggest trick to it is that I can fly it. I would advise, taking all this good advice from your fellow CMDRs and try what you can. The Viper mk3 is a good point to start with, I sold my Cobra to go back to the Viper. Also the vulture is really good "as is" for about 20mil... Find your flying style and then find your ship to match.. That's my 2cents
what ever you choose A rated spec its fit out and have 2x its rebuy cost is my advice
and have 2x its rebuy cost is my advice
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Some of us like overkill...
Find your flying style and then find your ship to match.. That's my 2cents
Well said. [up]