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Newcomer / Intro Combat Ship
- Thread starter hawknerd
- Start date
I can't link my (novice) type combat builds for some reason, but you could do worse than try a Vulture, Fer de Lance or, rank and credits permitting, a Federal Corvette. However, there are a myriad of better fighter CMDRs than me 
If you haven't unlocked Engineers (and a few Powerplay goodies and Guardian grave robbing), you won't get a good combat ship
Ok, seriously? For unlocking the engineers, you won't need a combat ship - you'll need a multirole at least, since most engineers require something different than combat, and a few will require you to travel around a bit, with or without cargo.
My current "go anywhere, do anything" ship is a Krait Mk.II. One possible loadout - but I tend to switch them around. More shields for combat, the FSD booster and fuel scoop for long range, cargo rack and limpets for collecting mats or specific missions.
If I cut her down to "no engineering or special modules", let's see what we get. Not really bad, but also nothing I'd use to travel around unlocking Engineers.
Ok, different option.
1) Since you have the money, no need to do a R2R. So get a DBX and do the Pleiades trip to unlock Felicity.
2) With Felicity unlocked, you could get a Vulture set up for (local range - but that's the same with all the fighters, no legs) Bounty Hunting. If you want to use gimbals, it's up to you. If you want to use energy weapons, you'll have to compromise somewhere else, as the Vulture is a bit power starved otherwise. Keep the DBX, though - you'll need a cargo ship for a few more of the first tier engineers.
3) Unlock the remainig first tier engineers.
4) With them unlocked, you should have everyone you need to make a first stab at the above Krait Mk.II. Just upgrade everything as far as you want to go.
Ok, seriously? For unlocking the engineers, you won't need a combat ship - you'll need a multirole at least, since most engineers require something different than combat, and a few will require you to travel around a bit, with or without cargo.
My current "go anywhere, do anything" ship is a Krait Mk.II. One possible loadout - but I tend to switch them around. More shields for combat, the FSD booster and fuel scoop for long range, cargo rack and limpets for collecting mats or specific missions.
If I cut her down to "no engineering or special modules", let's see what we get. Not really bad, but also nothing I'd use to travel around unlocking Engineers.
Ok, different option.
1) Since you have the money, no need to do a R2R. So get a DBX and do the Pleiades trip to unlock Felicity.
2) With Felicity unlocked, you could get a Vulture set up for (local range - but that's the same with all the fighters, no legs) Bounty Hunting. If you want to use gimbals, it's up to you. If you want to use energy weapons, you'll have to compromise somewhere else, as the Vulture is a bit power starved otherwise. Keep the DBX, though - you'll need a cargo ship for a few more of the first tier engineers.
3) Unlock the remainig first tier engineers.
4) With them unlocked, you should have everyone you need to make a first stab at the above Krait Mk.II. Just upgrade everything as far as you want to go.
Sorry but I meant to unlock specific engineers as I have already started unlocking engineers and just want a combat ship to unlock a couple of engineers which involve combat. But thanks for the detailed post.If you haven't unlocked Engineers (and a few Powerplay goodies and Guardian grave robbing), you won't get a good combat ship
Ok, seriously? For unlocking the engineers, you won't need a combat ship - you'll need a multirole at least, since most engineers require something different than combat, and a few will require you to travel around a bit, with or without cargo.
My current "go anywhere, do anything" ship is a Krait Mk.II. One possible loadout - but I tend to switch them around. More shields for combat, the FSD booster and fuel scoop for long range, cargo rack and limpets for collecting mats or specific missions.
If I cut her down to "no engineering or special modules", let's see what we get. Not really bad, but also nothing I'd use to travel around unlocking Engineers.
Ok, different option.
1) Since you have the money, no need to do a R2R. So get a DBX and do the Pleiades trip to unlock Felicity.
2) With Felicity unlocked, you could get a Vulture set up for (local range - but that's the same with all the fighters, no legs) Bounty Hunting. If you want to use gimbals, it's up to you. If you want to use energy weapons, you'll have to compromise somewhere else, as the Vulture is a bit power starved otherwise. Keep the DBX, though - you'll need a cargo ship for a few more of the first tier engineers.
3) Unlock the remainig first tier engineers.
4) With them unlocked, you should have everyone you need to make a first stab at the above Krait Mk.II. Just upgrade everything as far as you want to go.
Ah, that generic combat fit... my Ballroom Blitz goes through NPCs like a shark in the kiddie pool. PvP is a completely different beast, though. In theory, I should have enough shields, speed and maneuverability to run. In practice, my theories (different ships) didn't work out the last couple of times I ran up against good PvP players 
.
However, I probabyl wouldn't take that loadout into a CZ - too much friendly fire will get you killed, or at least chased out.
.However, I probabyl wouldn't take that loadout into a CZ - too much friendly fire will get you killed, or at least chased out.
Ok, I don't know what/who you have available. For pure combat, I prefer the Mamba.
This is a loadout of mine that comes pretty close to a "universal" loadout.
I also saved another loadout from a pretty good PvP player I found very interesting.
This is a loadout of mine that comes pretty close to a "universal" loadout.
I also saved another loadout from a pretty good PvP player I found very interesting.
Ah, that generic combat fit... my Ballroom Blitz goes through NPCs like a shark in the kiddie pool. PvP is a completely different beast, though. In theory, I should have enough shields, speed and maneuverability to run. In practice, my theories (different ships) didn't work out the last couple of times I ran up against good PvP players
However, I probabyl wouldn't take that loadout into a CZ - too much friendly fire will get you killed, or at least chased out.
Ballroom Blitz, eh? That was quite the Blockbuster.
This was my Fer-de-Lance build in traveling configuration before I got it engineered.
coriolis.io
Swap the fuel scoop for another HRP or MRP before battle, and if you want more punch swap the turrets for gimbals, personally I like the better firing arcs of turrets so live with the nerf.
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
coriolis.io
Swap the fuel scoop for another HRP or MRP before battle, and if you want more punch swap the turrets for gimbals, personally I like the better firing arcs of turrets so live with the nerf.
Very personal choice really...
The Vulture is an excellent and cheap combat ship. Despite being a small ship with only two hardpoints, they are both large which means that if you are fighting a medium (or even a large) ship, you will still be on a decent footing with the amount of damage you can do.
I really like the iCourier. It's very fast and has decent shields, but having only medium sized hardpoints it is somewhat less effective against medium and large ships. Lots of fun though.
Mamba and FDL are great medium combat ships, very powerful, and getting on for easy mode...
I don't use large ships, so can't really say much about them.
Depending on your current ability and plans for combat, having smaller ships means cheaper rebuys and so less of an inconvenience when you lose them.
Here's some of builds, just to give you an idea...
Vulture
s.orbis.zone
iCourier
s.orbis.zone
Mamba
s.orbis.zone
Obviously actual weapon choice is up to you.
The Vulture is an excellent and cheap combat ship. Despite being a small ship with only two hardpoints, they are both large which means that if you are fighting a medium (or even a large) ship, you will still be on a decent footing with the amount of damage you can do.
I really like the iCourier. It's very fast and has decent shields, but having only medium sized hardpoints it is somewhat less effective against medium and large ships. Lots of fun though.
Mamba and FDL are great medium combat ships, very powerful, and getting on for easy mode...
I don't use large ships, so can't really say much about them.
Depending on your current ability and plans for combat, having smaller ships means cheaper rebuys and so less of an inconvenience when you lose them.
Here's some of builds, just to give you an idea...
Vulture
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone
iCourier
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone
Mamba
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone
Obviously actual weapon choice is up to you.
The Vulture is probably the best combat ship without engineering. This is the build I use:
coriolis.io
The module reinforcements are critical. Don't use an unengineered Vulture without them otherwise you'll be using life support more than you want.
Target the powerplants of all ships from an Asp upwards to shorten the battles.
If you're not worried about the combat rank increase, you can get an easy time with a Krait if you fit a fighter hanger. Before you open fire, set the fighter on the target ship and wait until it has landed some shots and the target ship turns to attack it. The target ship will then prioritise the fighter, so you get a lot of free shots mainly sideways on to do maximum damage. They finally figure out what your doing when they get down to about 30% hull or less, which doesn't leave much for you to face. That's as long as the fighter doesn't pop.
Something like this:
coriolis.io
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
coriolis.io
Target the powerplants of all ships from an Asp upwards to shorten the battles.
If you're not worried about the combat rank increase, you can get an easy time with a Krait if you fit a fighter hanger. Before you open fire, set the fighter on the target ship and wait until it has landed some shots and the target ship turns to attack it. The target ship will then prioritise the fighter, so you get a lot of free shots mainly sideways on to do maximum damage. They finally figure out what your doing when they get down to about 30% hull or less, which doesn't leave much for you to face. That's as long as the fighter doesn't pop.
Something like this:
Coriolis EDCD Edition
A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
coriolis.io
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All but the FSD are important in combat, as long as the FSD has enough range to do an escape jump to another system it is sufficient.
Some good advice here. However: What do you like flying? If you like agile ships with strong thrusters, then Vulture, FAS and Chieftain are all good. If you want a turret then go a big ship. If you want to learn for PvP you might want to start getting comfortable with a FDL, which is the meta combat ship.
There's also a lot of good information on the ships/engineering subforums or the PvP/BGS/PowerPlay sub-forums. The latter can talk about PvP and threads contain ship builds, but doesn't specifically ask for build feedback, which the former does.
There's also a lot of good information on the ships/engineering subforums or the PvP/BGS/PowerPlay sub-forums. The latter can talk about PvP and threads contain ship builds, but doesn't specifically ask for build feedback, which the former does.
Very similar to an FdL in many ways, all of the hard points are on one side which can be handy once you are used to it.
I use a phantom. Has great jump range too. Admittedly, I haven't taken it into CZs yet, but I'm destroying pirates with ease and can sit in HazRez until I'm out of ammo and limpets. I've got efficient beams with thermal vent and multicannons with corrosive and incendiary rounds. Good multirole and unlocked most of my engineers with it. Biweave shields reinforced and stocked up on shield boosts. Love that ship plus it looks cool. I'll get a Coriolis link in a little bit.
Here is my Phantom. It's not 100% engineered yet, but close. It makes ships pop pretty quick in HazRes and is pretty safe in my opinion. It may not be as deadly as a mamba or fdl though, but it does jump over 40LY with a Guardian Booster. The booster can be taken out to fit another class 5 module which I often do when I'm doing missions that don't require such a long jump range.
If you're on a budget a python is a good combat ship and also probably the best mid-sized ship for cargo running. So a win on both counts.
Careful outfitting and engineering can make it one of the best. It's a great investment.
Careful outfitting and engineering can make it one of the best. It's a great investment.