Hey! I’ve been playing Elite: Dangerous for a while, and I‘ve decided to start writing articles about my favourite aspects of the game! My first path into Elite was exploration. I had no idea what the hell I was doing. I decided to go exploring in a Dolphin of all things. Unengineered. I took it to Sagittarius A* and Colonia on my first trip. No, I don’t know how or why I did it, but I did. After being able to manage that, I consider myself a pretty well seasoned Explorer! I wrote a short article detailing my favourite exploration ships, and I’d love to hear your feedback on them. Are there any ships I left out? Any that are overrated? Let me know your thoughts!
Ships Top 10 Exploration ships!
- Thread starter KathyMiller
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The article is well done. I agree with most of your conclusions. I personally did Distant Worlds II in a fully engineered Asp Explorer with a jump range of 65+ while carrying everything I would need for this 5-month trip including 2 SRV's, 2 AFMU, etc. I prefer the ASP Explorer because I like the turn rate better on this ship than the Anaconda while circling a star to fuel scoop. A use a long range DBX for hopping around the bubble.
Nice article, certainly useful to those who are starting exploration and are possibly overwhelmed by the amount of choices and options available!
After about 2000 hours in game, I have come to some conclusions about exploration that are very different to what I thought at the beginning of my trip.
Jump range is no longer a priority to me. Nice to have, but exploration to me is slow and deliberate, with lots of landings, and not getting somewhere asap and in the least amount of jumps.
Nowadays, I would consider the following to be my favourite exploration ships:
5 - Diamondback Explorer: cheap and good for a starter. Nowadays I use it as a bubble shuttle, because of its speed: it's more a ship to get there asap, rather than a ship I want to travel with. My first solitary experiences away from civilisation were in it. Good memories!
4 - Dolphin: possibly the most pleasant ship to fly for me. It handles beautifully, with no overheating problems, it is so pleasant. It's the comfy explorer (which sounds a bit of an oxymoron). It cannot be higher in my list because of the next ship.
3 - Hauler: Odyssey unlocked its potential for me. It's a magnificent exploration ship for Exobiology. Extremely fast (Enhanced Thrusters boost well above 600 m/s), a massive 45ly jump, and its extremely small footprint make it land absolutely everywhere. Only the Sidewinder is smaller, and without the utilities a Hauler can carry. After having flown Asps, Kraits, Saud Krugers, I came to the conclusion that the Hauler is not just for new starters, but something that you come to appreciate more as you mature.
I left my AspX behind to use the Hauler, and it was the ship that made me finally realise that an exploration ship has to be able to jump AND to land. Its only defect is the limited visibility.
2 - Asp Explorer: the quitessential explorer to me. It has the looks of a working ship, no fashion statements there, a magnificent canopy that leaves nothing to imagination, a long jump range (if one wants it), and enough module space to cover a number of exploratory activities without fear of being left stranded somewhere.
1 - Type-7: the ugly duckling, that overheats when I sneeze, and so big boned that Medium landing pads do not want it (because of its big forehead). With some loving care, the heating issues do not present themselves, and suddenly this ship, with its amazing maneuvrability becomes the jewel of my collection. It has a jump range that exceed my needs, nowadays (>50ly), it has an excess of module space that lets me carry whatever I want, plus some more, and that signature Lakon canopy I love so much in an explorer.
Also, its footprint is smaller than that of the most popular Krait Phantom, so that's a bonus for me when it comes to landings. It's definitely my ship for very long trips, my home away from home.
After about 2000 hours in game, I have come to some conclusions about exploration that are very different to what I thought at the beginning of my trip.
Jump range is no longer a priority to me. Nice to have, but exploration to me is slow and deliberate, with lots of landings, and not getting somewhere asap and in the least amount of jumps.
Nowadays, I would consider the following to be my favourite exploration ships:
5 - Diamondback Explorer: cheap and good for a starter. Nowadays I use it as a bubble shuttle, because of its speed: it's more a ship to get there asap, rather than a ship I want to travel with. My first solitary experiences away from civilisation were in it. Good memories!
4 - Dolphin: possibly the most pleasant ship to fly for me. It handles beautifully, with no overheating problems, it is so pleasant. It's the comfy explorer (which sounds a bit of an oxymoron). It cannot be higher in my list because of the next ship.
3 - Hauler: Odyssey unlocked its potential for me. It's a magnificent exploration ship for Exobiology. Extremely fast (Enhanced Thrusters boost well above 600 m/s), a massive 45ly jump, and its extremely small footprint make it land absolutely everywhere. Only the Sidewinder is smaller, and without the utilities a Hauler can carry. After having flown Asps, Kraits, Saud Krugers, I came to the conclusion that the Hauler is not just for new starters, but something that you come to appreciate more as you mature.
I left my AspX behind to use the Hauler, and it was the ship that made me finally realise that an exploration ship has to be able to jump AND to land. Its only defect is the limited visibility.
2 - Asp Explorer: the quitessential explorer to me. It has the looks of a working ship, no fashion statements there, a magnificent canopy that leaves nothing to imagination, a long jump range (if one wants it), and enough module space to cover a number of exploratory activities without fear of being left stranded somewhere.
1 - Type-7: the ugly duckling, that overheats when I sneeze, and so big boned that Medium landing pads do not want it (because of its big forehead). With some loving care, the heating issues do not present themselves, and suddenly this ship, with its amazing maneuvrability becomes the jewel of my collection. It has a jump range that exceed my needs, nowadays (>50ly), it has an excess of module space that lets me carry whatever I want, plus some more, and that signature Lakon canopy I love so much in an explorer.
Also, its footprint is smaller than that of the most popular Krait Phantom, so that's a bonus for me when it comes to landings. It's definitely my ship for very long trips, my home away from home.
Very well done!
My first 'real' ship was an Asp Explorer and I loved the thing. However, I started playing around with engineering and settled on a fully-engineered DBX which I've used primarily for Fuel Ratting (although it's been a while).
I'm toying around with the idea of engineering an AspX again simply because of the versatility of all of the internal compartments.
I agree with @HRDiagram regarding jump range... it's not as important to me as it used to be. So, losing a few light years on my range if I switch to the AspX isn't going to bother me like it once did.
Regarding the Anaconda... I've bought one. Twice.
I just can't do it. I despise the cockpit view... it looks and feels like I'm 'driving' an oil tanker.
I'm actually half-seriously considering engineering an exploration Python. I'm fairly certain I won't... but....
Do it! Do it! Maybe someday someone will succeed. It could be you.
Nice article, well written.
But FSD engineering is not that hard is it.
o7 cmdr Miller
and keep up the good work
But FSD engineering is not that hard is it.
o7 cmdr Miller
and keep up the good work
The longest I have jumped in one stretch is 5000ly and that was because I accidentally missed my carrier ride. 2 things occurred to me on that run…. Jumping isn’t that terrible, and thank God I’m in a Phantom.
A few months later, I’m material grinding the shard biologicals, hitting up guardian sites, just over all engineer stuff where you occasionally forgo the flight back and just slam into the ground…. Best aspect of the AspX… cheap rebuy
just recently…. My hatred of too many jumps dampened, but still pushing out to 55ly a hop, I decided I would take my trade cutter for a run to see some thargoid barnacles. I could pack anything my heart desired and it felt AMAZING.
But the very first time I landed on a planet, still looking up everything in a fit of panic when something unexpected happened like losing my ship and having no way to get back to it and luckily finding “ship recall” just as the gas in the SRV went out… it was my anaconda that came down like an Angel on wings of fire to rescue me. Mind you, I did not know that dying in SRV meant instant ship return. I thought it meant port to a station and a ship rebuy at the time. Regardless…. I fell in love with the conda there and then… but as my brain won’t let me remove her guns…. She explores distant combat zones my vet only gets to dream about.
And while all of these ladies have a part of my heart for deep space travel… the majority belongs to the Baluga. Every option, back up with back up, decent jump range, SRV, fighter bay, everything you could want on a long trip and more. And if Picard were taking a ship on a 5 year mission in Elite, I think he would Choose the Luga. Or the cutter. There are arguments for both.
my smalls and medium ships are my work horses. My big ships are for being out there for fun. If they can’t land there, I’m not interested in driving around it any way.
A few months later, I’m material grinding the shard biologicals, hitting up guardian sites, just over all engineer stuff where you occasionally forgo the flight back and just slam into the ground…. Best aspect of the AspX… cheap rebuy
just recently…. My hatred of too many jumps dampened, but still pushing out to 55ly a hop, I decided I would take my trade cutter for a run to see some thargoid barnacles. I could pack anything my heart desired and it felt AMAZING.
But the very first time I landed on a planet, still looking up everything in a fit of panic when something unexpected happened like losing my ship and having no way to get back to it and luckily finding “ship recall” just as the gas in the SRV went out… it was my anaconda that came down like an Angel on wings of fire to rescue me. Mind you, I did not know that dying in SRV meant instant ship return. I thought it meant port to a station and a ship rebuy at the time. Regardless…. I fell in love with the conda there and then… but as my brain won’t let me remove her guns…. She explores distant combat zones my vet only gets to dream about.
And while all of these ladies have a part of my heart for deep space travel… the majority belongs to the Baluga. Every option, back up with back up, decent jump range, SRV, fighter bay, everything you could want on a long trip and more. And if Picard were taking a ship on a 5 year mission in Elite, I think he would Choose the Luga. Or the cutter. There are arguments for both.
my smalls and medium ships are my work horses. My big ships are for being out there for fun. If they can’t land there, I’m not interested in driving around it any way.
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The Dolphin is fantastic, and still my favourite. I love the Hauler as a bubble hopper - but I find that the jump range suffers extremely when it comes to bringing anything heavier than a feather cushion on board.
I feel similarly about the Beluga than you do about the Type-7. I’ve never known such a clumsy ship in regards to overheating. Every time I jump, that big bertha overheats. EVERY TIME. Surprisingly good manoeuvrability, a pleasure to fly, but the most dramatic ship I own. I‘ve read great things about the T-7, and I’ve seen it be used to save refugees from a burning station fantastically. Who’da thunk that the space brick would make for a great exploration shuttle?
The Anaconda was my second ship (excluding sidewinder) as I had purchased it with my exploration data from my Dolphin. I used it in combat, and it served great, until I got a Corvette. I’ve been meaning to refurbish my old Conda into an exploration ship, but I haven’t quite got the heart to remove all of her guns. She’s unfortunately gathering dust, but it does hold a close place in my heart as my introduction to combat.
Why not try a Python? Or maybe use it for a long range passenger hauler role?
Fantastic photo! Here’s mine, pre-ship kit. I need to take some more pics - the Beluga is so underrated!Nice write up but forget the top 10 or even top 5, in your heart you know it, there is only 1.
O7
Very nice, i have a lot of exploration ships from the pre FC era.
Recently i decided to go up to Colonia to unlock the Engineers and visit each new Megaship, this time solo (without FC) in my Annie.
The 7A scoop is nice but i got 2k LY out of the bubble, turned around and went back for the Luga, theres nothing like it.
Forget which Megaship this one was.
O7
I like most the Asp Explorer.
Best view, best supercruise maneuverability - and the last one is quite important for long exploration expeditions
However, AspX has some major drawbacks too: rather cramped internals (cant really fit a size 4 SRV hangar, while still keeping 65+ ly jump range), crappy shields and not at last, really bad brakes. I mean, dont ever boost towards the planet surface in an AspX. Or if you do, be prepared to do a 180 and boost, else a faceplant is almost guaranteed
Conda is the roomiest and the jump range champion, but driving her in supercruise can be a struggle.
Phantom is good too. While it has not as good view or sc maneuverability, but it compensates with internals, shields and brakes.
DBX is really nice. Best non-engineered jump range. And while a size 4 scoop is on the low side, i cant really flaw the DBX.
Dolphin is nice. Sort off. I mean i really hate the view. Those A-pillars are really ruining it for me.
Else, a broken-cool running ship, nice internals - however, i prefer ships that can do 65 ly jump ranges, but as i said, the view is the main off-putting factor here.
Best view, best supercruise maneuverability - and the last one is quite important for long exploration expeditions
However, AspX has some major drawbacks too: rather cramped internals (cant really fit a size 4 SRV hangar, while still keeping 65+ ly jump range), crappy shields and not at last, really bad brakes. I mean, dont ever boost towards the planet surface in an AspX. Or if you do, be prepared to do a 180 and boost, else a faceplant is almost guaranteed
Conda is the roomiest and the jump range champion, but driving her in supercruise can be a struggle.
Phantom is good too. While it has not as good view or sc maneuverability, but it compensates with internals, shields and brakes.
DBX is really nice. Best non-engineered jump range. And while a size 4 scoop is on the low side, i cant really flaw the DBX.
Dolphin is nice. Sort off. I mean i really hate the view. Those A-pillars are really ruining it for me.
Else, a broken-cool running ship, nice internals - however, i prefer ships that can do 65 ly jump ranges, but as i said, the view is the main off-putting factor here.
I saw a wing mate in an AspX boost towards a planet surface on a high gravity planet. It was only about an hour’s trip, but he was a little salty about his lost progress!
After several years of testing many ships as exploration vessels I'm back in my first explorer, the trusty Type-6. I can't say exactly why it is my favorite exploration ship but i love it. With the CG FSD it reaches 64-65 Ly on fumes which is more than enough.
Hey! You caught me on camera doing a trick I like to call, "Trying to land."!
Have you tried your hand at engineering? I took a Beluga on DW2 and she ran like a top. Low emission power plant with secondary thermal spread. Never got above 70% heat, unless I did something stupid.
Nice article! Personally I'd rank the Exploraconda much lower, other than raw jump range and capacity it's a much less pleasant ship to explore in. And conversely I would rank the T6 quite a bit higher - especially now that there's so much emphasis on landings, there's a lot to be said for a small ship that can land about anywhere and lets you look down at the ground on final approach.
+1 to other comments that raw jump range isn't that important in an exploration ship anymore. Sure it might be too limiting to head out in a 15 LY Dropship or something. But between FSD engineering and GFSD boosters most non-combat ships can achieve jump ranges these days that would have been considered extremely long by the standards of the pre-Horizons game.
+1 to other comments that raw jump range isn't that important in an exploration ship anymore. Sure it might be too limiting to head out in a 15 LY Dropship or something. But between FSD engineering and GFSD boosters most non-combat ships can achieve jump ranges these days that would have been considered extremely long by the standards of the pre-Horizons game.
I have found, contrary to current forum zeitgeist, that landings in Odyssey are much less simple due to the new terrain. In Horizons all you had to do was avoid the mountains and you could park almost anywhere. In Odyssey I find that with the new terrain and rock scatter, planets are much more varied in terrain and landings are trickier, especially in large ships. I'm 44k ly's away from inhabited space and found a body last night with 6 bio signs....it took me a good ten minutes to find a spot to park my Cheiftain. Hills and rocks all over the place!
Anyhow, yeah, a view out the bottom would have helped!