Star Citizen – Best Starter Ships/ Packs Ranked (2025)

While having options is always good, it can make choosing your starter ship in Star Citizen a tricky proposition. Some ships look fancy, some seems to have a lot of weapons, while others seem to offer better value for money. How can one choose! Anyway, here is my ranking based after over 8 years of testing and goofing around with Star Citizen.

Before you start!

Step 1: Before you buy a ship, make sure to sign-up using the link in the box below to get some extra in-game cash from the developers:

I skipped this step and missed out since you can’t add a code later. You have to do it when creating your account for the first time.

Step 2: Know that you can upgrade your ship to a more expensive one by buying something called a CCU (an upgrade token essentially). So its not something you are locked into. This is also why you should buy a relatively cheaper ship. Most my top recommendations are under $60. This is a good place to start. You can upgrade later if you want.

Step 3: There are many careers in Star Citizen and you won’t know which one you like. So start with a generalist ship that can do many things instead of a dedicated one.

1. Aegis Avenger Titan (Best Overall)

The Avenger has always been, and still is, my top pick. It is the best starter. So many newer ships have been released, but it is still top dog.

The Avenger offers a lit bit of everything. Some cargo space, some combat capability, is decently fast and manoeuvrable and is not as weak as some of the other starter ships. It’s a jack of all trades type of ship and that is what you need when starting out. With 8 SCU of cargo space, you can make some decent cargo runs or do courier missions. It also comes with a bed which means you can log out without having to land at a space station or planet.

The best part about the avenger is that many of the other starter ships focus on cargo, while Avenger can do both cargo and combat equally well. It also looks very good from the outside although that is a matter of personal preference.

It has direct cockpit access from outside which is fast and prevents being ganked. That’s always nice. But I think the cherry on top really is the Size 4 nose gun which is unique amongst starter ships. This alone opens up so many new gameplay opportunities since you can do proper bounty hunting, combat missions, play space cop.

The only downside of the Avenger Titan is that its an old design so it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the new ships or ships that keep getting upgraded frequently like the Gladius. But that isn’t really a deal breaker since its still fully functional and it will eventually be updated as well. All things considered, its still the best starter in my opinion.

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*All stats subject to change

2. Mustang Alpha (Cheapest Package)

The Mustang Alpha may not be the best ship out there, but it is the best starter package!

Why? Because it is the cheapest which means you can upgrade from it to anything later on. $45 is all you need to ever spend on Star Citizen.

The ship is a perfect starting point as it offers a little bit of everything. It has an amazing cockpit and great visibility. One thing you have to know about Star Citizen is that there are hundreds of ships and the developers can’t keep them all updated. But the Mustang and a few others always get priority because they are the most common ships and the developers want to put their best foot forward.

The Mustang and decent armament for its size and also has cargo capacity (4 SCU) which means you can do cargo or courier missions as well as bounty hunting. Then once you get the hang of things, you can upgrade to another ship using real money or just play the game and earn credits in the game.

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3. Drake Cutter (Best Generalist)

The Cutter benefits from being new. CIG itself is a relatively new studio and they are learning how to build better ships with each passing year. Their newer ships benefit from a more mature design process, better layout and space optimizations, and a bevy of little quality of life upgrades. This refined design process really shines in the Cutter, like it does in the Pisces C8X, as both of them are fairly modern concepts.

The Cutter can fit many of the bikes and even some of the smaller vehicles in the back like the Mule and Cyclone. This makes it rather unique for a ship at this low price point and gives it a lot of utility. The cargo capacity is only 4 SCU but that is still decent for a starter. It does have a small bathroom/ toilet combo which is also a pretty nice feature since you will have to care about those things in the game. The interior is nice and cozy and honestly, the value that the Cutter provides for its price is pretty hard to beat.

Don’t expect to do a lot of combat in this ship, as you likely wont last long against dedicated fighters. But that is true for most starter ships. You do have decent weapons for your size though so its not like you are a sitting duck. Just expect to use the Cutter mostly for visiting planets and moons with a bike in the back and just roaming around or doing some light delivery missions.

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4. Gatac Syulen (Best Alien starter)

What is the point of playing a space sim 900 years in the future if you don’t get to fly alien ships? Luckily, Star Citizen has a LOT of alien ships and they are all pretty cool. They are genuinely unique and different to human ships and I must comment the developers on that.

The cheapest option in this category is the Gatac Syulen. It is an amazing looking ships and it is quite cheap for the amount of effort that went into it. In fact, you can see that this is a 2.7 million ship in the game which you can buy for only $85. That’s pretty good compared to the other options on this list.

It has great range – much higher than other starters – and very good visibility. In fact, it is one of the best looking cockpits in the game! The cargo capacity could be higher, but it is also decent at combat so you have a multipurpose ship here instead of a specialist. Its just that it is in a gorgeous, alien looking package.

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5. Anvil C8X Pisces Expedition (Best Runabout & Explorer)

The Pisces is a neat little ship that doesn’t really focus on any specialization but it is great for seeing the verse, exploring, going from A to B for doing missions etc. It is an unlikely starter up ship but it is one that will serve you rather well if you play with friends. It is a versatile starter with some cargo capacity, two extra seats for your buddies, some offensive capability and the ability to carry boxes around for courier missions.

The fact is that CIG has been consistently improving with the ships they have been building over the years. Practice makes perfect after all. The Pisces will probably do even more in the future as it is tied to exploration gameplay. But if you just want a generalist ship that can carry you around to do courier missions or to just take int he sights while providing decent defence and extra seats, then this is great option.

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6. Consolidated Outland Nomad (Best Hauler)

If you know you don’t want a generalist ship and want to do cargo hauling, the Nomad is your best bet.

The Nomad is one of the more modern starter ships and it falls somewhere between the absolute starters and super starters like the Freelancer in terms of hauling capacity. It is a cargo hauler at its heart, but it does it with a different style. Think of it as a pick up truck. It has an open flat bed at the back where you put the cargo and then just fly around. It felt odd to me at first but it grows on you. It has the feeling of being out there in the great wilderness with a ship that is slightly less utilitarian than the Freelancer and has more soul.

With 24 SCU of cargo, Nomad is almost a super starter. It also has a tractor beam which can be used for quicker loading and unloading. If you are into space trucking, then this is the starter ship for you.

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*All stats subject to change

7. RSI Salvation (Best Salvager)

If you know you don’t want a generalist ship and want to do salvaging, then pick the Salvation.

The thing with these generalist ships is that they will make you more money than the generalists, but you will be locked into just one professions. So that is a trade off you have to consider but I personally recommend one of the generalist ships to new players.

The Salvation is really good at what it does. It has a nice cockpit view, can salvage decent amounts and make you good money. It actually might kickstart your money making in the game as salvage is one of the easier money makers right now.

Its actually a pretty good deal as long as you are certain you want to do salvaging.

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*All stats subject to change

8. Drake Golem (Best Miner)

If your heart is set on mining, then the Drake Golem is where its at.

The Golem can’t do other stuff like bounty hunting or combat but it is a very good at one thing: mining rocks.

Mining is in a pretty decent place right now and you can make a lot of money just chilling in the blackness of space, firing your laser at rocks instead of other ships.

I would advise you to buy a generalist ship at first so that you are not locked into mining, but if you have already decided you like mining, then the Golem can give you a nice cash boost since its a good money maker.

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8. Anvil Arrow (Best Combat)

No peace, just war.

Are you sure you are jus tin it for the combat? Don’t care about mining or salvaging or space trucking or any of that stuff?

Then the Anvil Arrow package has been added by CIG just for you!

What it lacks in size, it makes up for in punch. Its one of the best light fighters in the game and can easily beat much bigger foes. It can’t do much else other than fighting though so only get this if you just want to do pew-pew in the early game.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised to see the Arrow in a starter package because the Arrow is one of the best fighters in the game. It is so manoeuvrable, it can take out targets several times its size just by flying circles around them.

That being said, combat is not an easy skill to master. You will need dozens of hours of practice for PvP. PvE is definitely easier.

Combat is very fun and satisfying and you can make good money with bounty hunting. Which is why I rate this package highly even though its not a generalist ship.

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*All stats subject to change

Super starters ($100+ packages)

Super starters is the term I use for packages that are more than $100. I don’t really recommend them to new players but here are my thoughts anyway. Its not that they are bad, they are actually better than the starters, its just that you can anyway upgrade to them later on instead of spending real money on them.

1. Drake Cutlass Black (Super Starter)

The Cutlass is another excellent choice and the only reason its not #1 is because it is slightly more expensive than the other starters. It offers the same versatility as the Avenger, but everything is just a bit bigger and better. You have decent cargo, decent combat capability, a bed to log out. But perhaps the best feature is that you have some room in the back to carry a ground vehicle! That opens up a lot of new game play possibilities and that is just too good of an incentive to pass up.

That is why I have classified it as a super starter. That means it is not technically a starter ship but rather a step above it which would definitely appeal to those who are willing to spend just a tiny bit extra. Personally, I think it is totally worth it for what you get but you can just earn it in-game as well.

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2. MISC Freelancer (Super Starter)

The quintessential Star Citizen starter ship for traders, haulers and space truckers. If you want to get goods form A to B, make a decent amount of money while doing it and retain  some defensive firepower, then this is the ship for you! There are several variants but I recommend the base one or the MAX for even more cargo space. The MIS is for combat and while it is good, combat is not the reason to get a Freelancer. Same with the DUR.

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3. MISC Prospector (Super Starter)

Calling the Prospector a starter ship is a bit of a stretch, but it is a good choice to start off with if you are really into mining. Mining is already in Star Citizen and it is one of the best money makers, so a lot of new players do end up getting a Prospector sooner rather than later. It wont do anything other than mining though, so keep that in my mind.

But if you are into mining, then this is not only a great starting ship, but it will last you for a very very long time and provide you with an excellent source of cash. I expect mining to be one of the main money makers in Star Citizen along with hauling cargo which is why I recommend everyone have at least one mining ship. But the choice to buy it outright as your starter ship or to buy it in-game with in-game currency is totally up to you.

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*All stats subject to change

Runner ups

These are starter packages that didn’t make my list. Just leaving my review anyway. A lot of them were removed by CIG as game starter packages but you can still buy them later.

Crusader Industries Intrepid

The Intrepid has quite a few things going for it. Being new, it comes with a lot of bells and whistles and cool little quality of life improvements. It uses its interior space pretty well and feels more realistic. The main advantage is the big fuel tank which allows it to jump to Pyro. That is quite unique among starter ships.

It also comes with a S4 weapon which is nice but its still not a combat ship. Its a multipurpose ship.

The main reason to get the Intrepid would be if you like thee Crusader aesthetic of if you want a newer, shinier ship instead of the decade old designs from other manufacturers.

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*All stats subject to change

RSI Aurora

The RSI Aurora was once tied for the cheapest starter pack but it has since been removed as an option.

Its cheap, its fragile, it will get you from A to B but it won’t do much else. If you just want to dip your toes into Star Citizen, it might be a decent option. But you will want to upgrade pretty soon. The biggest asset of the Aurora is obviously its price. A couple of years back, CIG had said that almost a quarter of the ships they have sold are Auroras. I expect that ratio has fallen a bit since because of the launch of so many other starter ships, but if you just want to try out Star Citizen with the minimum possible monetary commitment, this is it.

The CL variant is for trading, the ES is the basic cheapest one, LN is for combat and LX is for luxury. I recommend you just go with the CL or ES. For combat, better to get a Mustang Alpha or Avenger Titan instead.

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*All stats subject to change

Origin 300i

While I still recommend the Avenger to others, I personally like the Origin 300 series ships and it was my first starter package way back when. The 300i is the base variants and should probably be your starter pick. The other 300 series variants include a racer, explorer and a fighter for those who wish to specialize. But I would advise you to keep things simple with your first ship and just go for the base 300i model.

The 300 series of ships is sleek and stylish and that might appeal to some. You don’t really overpay for that style and don’t lose any performance which makes them a decent pick and earns them them a high spot on my list. Think of it as a solid alternative to the Avenger Titan for those who prefer its sleeker looks.

The main issue with the 300i is that it is not always available. You will have to buy a cheaper package (like the Aurora) and then upgrade to the 300i when it becomes available.

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Origin 100i

The Origin 100 series are the smaller cousins of the Origin 300 series. To be honest, I was a bit confused when they were released the 100 series as they have a lot of overlap with the 300 series in terms of both performance and price. Which is why it is better to think of them as just as an extension of the 300 series line-up rather than something else entirely. 100i or 135c are good variants for generalists while the 125a is for combat focus.

One unique aspect of the 100 series is that they have the AIR system which means they can go a long while without refueling. This can be a nice thing to have for newbies who want to fly around without having to worry about high gas prices!

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MISC Reliant Kore

MISC is a manufacturer of utilitarian, industrial ships which makes them an ideal choice for those not interested in combat but rather in heavy industry. While they make a LOT of excellent ships, their starter line-up is a bit underwhelming. The main reason, in my opinion, is that they mixed Xian technology with the Reliant series which made these ships vertical instead of having a traditional shape. This makes them much bigger targets in combat and vulnerable.

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• Star Citizen Review (Current State)
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• Star Citizen Frequently Asked Questions
• Star Citizen Referral Code
• Ship Prices & where to buy them

About the Author

Gary (Flanker)

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Gary has been "hard landing" into runways and driving his Mitsubishi Evo off of cliffs since the early 2000s. These days, he spends most of his precious hobby time with his favorite flight, racing and space simulations in VR.He also has an Engineering Degree in Computer Science which helps a lot with his obsession with optimizing PC hardware like CPUs, Graphics Cards, VR Headsets, HOTAS, Racing Wheels etc. for high end sims.