It's no wonder that thousands upon thousands of players are still logging on to play Elite Dangerous. The game is constantly evolving and getting new features for players to explore. Anyone with a hankering for space exploration will love seeing the outer reaches of space.
Of course, there's no way to get through space without a proper ship to fly in. Sadly, not all ships are created equal. Some ships are simply more versatile, have better costs, and will help players find more success.
Upgraded on June 20th, 2021 by Emma Majoros: Elite: Dangerous is the number one spaceship simulator game out there. Players can explore or take over the entire galaxy traveling from planet to planet as pirates, "taxis", cargo couriers, or explorers in the neverending galaxy. The most intriguing part of the game is the plethora of spaceships players can purchase, collect, and use for all sorts of activities. In this article, players will find the top ten medium-sized ships in the game, from multipurpose to full-on killing machines.
10 Federal Assault Ship - 19,814,210 CR
- Type: Combat
- Insurance: 990,710 CR
- Default Top Speed: 215 m/s
- Armor: 540
It can be a pain to get this ship, as it requires a rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, but it's the most versatile of all the Navy vessels. It can jump the farthest of the three ships with a lightweight loadout, making it a particularly defensive exploring vessel (though a bit awkward to manage).
This one can also manage as a solid combat ship, but is likely to be outclassed in this regard. Players love its combat-oriented profile, and it's very user-friendly. Handling is a walk in the park. This ship is fast, easily maneuverable, and it's designed to strike fast and hard.
9 Alliance Chieftain - 19,382,250 CR
- Type: Combat
- Insurance: 969,113 CR
- Default Top Speed: 235 m/s
- Armor: 504
Compared to other similar heavyweight ships, the Alliance Chieftain is far less expensive to purchase. It still manages to offer many of the same capabilities as well, though to a lesser extent. It's viable to use for combat and non-combat builds, so everyone from pirates to traders will find it works well to suit their needs.
This beauty was designed to cause trouble, and avoid it at the same time. Although its weight and size say otherwise, it's perfectly handle-able, and maneuvering is surprisingly easy. This is one of the best combat ships out there for newcomers and pros alike.
8 Krait Phantom - 37,472,254 CR
- Type: Multipurpose
- Insurance: 1,873,613 CR
- Default Top Speed: 256 m/s
- Armor: 324
The Krait Phantom is a flexible ship that sacrifices firepower and internal space to try and make it flexible for use in multiple builds. It's strong enough to manage in combat situations, while still being a solid explorer pulling off farther jumps than Asp Explorer.
Of course, it's also a good combat ship alone, and could make and pirate or bounty hunter proud. Overall, this ship is a Jack of All Trades, Master of None. It can hold its own in combat well, and it has a surprisingly roomy interior with a lot of compartments. If anyone can learn the ins and outs of the Krait Phantom, it will be a loyal and handy asset in anyone's arsenal.
7 Asp Explorer - 6,661,153 CR
- Type: Multipurpose
- Insurance: 333,058 CR
- Default Top Speed: 254 m/s
- Armor: 378
The Asp Explorer manages to be quite flexible due to its capability for long jumps and as well as being well-armed considering it's a medium-sized ship. It might have the word explorer in the name but it's capable of being useful for so much more.
One of the biggest advantages to the Asp Explorer is it won't take a small fortune to be able to purchase compared to many other medium ships. If a player isn't quite sure what ship to purchase, it's hard to go totally wrong with this one.
6 Keelback - 3,126,150 CR
- Type: Combat Freighter
- Insurance: 156,308 CR
- Default Top Speed: 202 m/s
- Armor: 486
The Keelback is a strong choice for anyone on a budget who needs a cargo ship that can survive getting caught in a dogfight. Based on the Type-6 Transporter, this ship is specifically designed for hostile-environment deliveries.
It has a bit less cargo space to gain those defensive and offensive capabilities, but it can be the difference between getting the goods safely home and being blown up in space. Plus, it's hard to find a better medium-sized ship for mining operations.
5 Type-6 Transporter - 1,045,945 CR
- Type: Freighter
- Insurance: 52,297 CR
- Default Top Speed: 223 m/s
- Armor: 324
The big brother of the Keelback, this classic freighter craves some care and upgrades here and there, but with the right attention and talent, the right owner will be gifted a perfect medium-sized beauty to conquer the galaxy.
There is literally not a cheaper ship in this size class than the Type-6 Transporter, which is a serious boon for the ship alone. It's not only a fantastic trader ship, but it's also capable of jumping almost as far as the Asp Explorer. This makes it a potential explorer ship for a fraction of the price. It can even manage to be a solid passenger ship, giving it the kind of versatility other spacecraft only dream of.
4 Mamba - 55,867,041 CR
- Type: Combat
- Insurance: 2,793,352 CR
- Default Top Speed: 316 m/s
- Armor: 414
The price tag might be enough to make jaws drop but sometimes pilots get what they pay for. The Mamba is capable of mounting Class 4 weaponry making it have the strongest firepower possible for such a speedy ship.
The ship might not be flexible like other models but it's about impossible to find a ship that is better for a bounty hunter wanting to take down targets. It can be used for those looking to be pirates or traders, but the cargo capacity will make it incredibly difficult.
3 Fer-de-Lance - 51,567,040 CR
- Type: Combat
- Insurance: 2,578,352 CR
- Default Top Speed: 265 m/s
- Armor: 405
It's near impossible to find a better ship for combat pilots in space dogfights than the Fer-de-lance. This combat-exclusive gem is a veritable powerhouse with four medium and one huge hardpoint. Combat-oriented players often fall in love with this ship, and once there's a connection, it's unbreakable.
The only issue is this intense focus on being a combat vessel makes it impossible to really use for anything else. Still, it is so good at its niche that it is terrifying to have to face one down in battle. If a Fer-de-lance is flying, it's usually best to try and retreat.
2 Python - 56,978,180 CR
- Type: Multipurpose
- Insurance: 2,848,909 CR
- Default Top Speed: 234 m/s
- Armor: 468
The Python combines impressive utility and durability that allows it to be suitable for many roles, even if it is a bit expensive to purchase.
Many players consider it to be a perfectly balanced ship in almost every way in terms of firepower, maneuverability, and defenses. Basically, if players have the credits and want to be able to take on any job, they should buy a Python.
1 Krait MkII - 45,814,205 CR
- Type: Combat Multipurpose
- Insurance: 2,290,710 CR
- Default Top Speed: 245 m/s
- Armor: 396
Every other ship in this size class has to be compared to the Krait MkII. It's like a leaner, meaner version of the Python that comes at a significantly better price.
This ship has seriously impressive capabilities as a miner, trader, and defending anyone that ends up in a firefight. With its speed and impressive jump range, it's the kind of ship that every pilot envies that doesn't have one.