Star Citizen gives players an entirely new star system with worlds and planets to observe with endless missions and objectives to complete. With a breathtaking amount of exploration, this universe gives us a peek into what the future of air and space combat may look like. The large roster of fighter ships in Star Citizen can be daunting for players looking to make their first purchase in this category - this guide should help players narrow down their choices and choose one depending on a few different factors. Whether the user is a solo player looking to spare money, or part of a group that takes on the Stanton System, this guide will have a great option.

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Aegis Gladius

Star Citizen Gladius Fighter

After a range of tweaks and tuning over the game's development, the Gladius has found itself in a good place within the meta. This small and nimble fighter is extremely difficult to hit when in a gunfight. As long as players use this maneuverability to avoid incoming gunfire they can easily take out larger ships that lack this speed and agility. If players are looking for an extremely tanky ship to dive straight into the crossfire and take on an army, this may not be the ship to do so. However, with 2 shields the user can upgrade these to something slightly stronger to withstand at least a small amount of punishment.

With 3 size 3 hard-points, this fighter comes with some heavy firepower to take on even the strongest of ships. These can be changed and customized to fit the user's needs but even the stock weapons here are a great start for those diving into the criminal or bounty hunter lifestyle (just try to avoid prison).

The Gladius is definitely the staple / go-to fighter for most new players as its price point is very reasonable when compared to its capabilities.

Anvil Hurricane

Star Citizen Anvil Hurricane Fighter

The Anvil Hurricane is sometimes overlooked by those trying to purchase a fighter ship, however, with an extreme amount of firepower and hull HP (Hit Points) it's a very good choice for those traversing the System as a duo. If players venture out alone, this ship is almost definitely not for them, as its primary fire weapons can be slightly lacking. With 2 Size 4 hard-points on the nose, the main pilot does have a decent amount of weaponry to take on enemy ships.

As soon as a second player takes control of the turreted weapons, the Hurricane really starts to shine. Equipped with 4 size 3 hard-points, players will effectively have the firepower of two ships in one - and this fire can be directed at separate targets due to the nature of the separately mounted turret.

There are no parts of the Hurricane that can be destroyed separately from the ship itself. This means players won't have to deal with a change in flight controls mid-battle. There are only a few other ships that have this feature, however, it's likely this will be changed in a future update so players may want to take advantage of this while they can.

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To conclude on the Hurricane, as long as players can find a second pilot, this ship will easily outclass many other ships in this category and is much less expensive than some other ships like the Aegis Vanguard.

Aegis Vanguard Warden

Aegis Vanguard Warden

Last (but definitely not least), is the Aegis Vanguard Warden. This huge fighter is tanky, yet surprisingly nimble when compared to other fighters in this class and size. The potential firepower is absolutely unmatched, especially with a second player in the turret. With a size 5 hard-point and four size 2 guns built in the nose, the pilot has some extreme potential to take on both player enemies and bots. The manned turret has a pair of size 2 guns and missiles that can hold four size 3 and eight size 2 missiles.

It's hard to find another 2-man ship that compares here, but the Warden's price point does put it in a tricky place when the Hurricane is a third of this price. Unlike the other 2 on this list, the Warden also comes with an interior for storage and beds for both crew but sadly not quite enough space for a vehicle. If players can afford it, the Warden can feel like the unstoppable force all players are searching for.

Star Citizen is now available on PC.

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