Star Citizen's roster of fighter ships is vast. However, the RSI Scorpius seems to stand out from the crowd with its awesome features, design, and deadly firepower. The heavy fighters in Star Citizen are considered some of the most deadly ships in the game. The Scorpius definitely lives up to its category as one of the best ships to use for high-level bounty hunting and mercenary missions.
In 3.18, the Scorpius will be available for purchase in the game meaning it will become a much more common sight throughout the Stanton system. This guide will cover everything from the deployable wings to the Scorpius' price and running costs - as well as some top tips to get ahead of the curve.
Main Features
Deployable Wings
The wings of the Scorpius are easily the most iconic part of the ship, with an "X" shaped silhouette resembling the "X-Wing" fighter ship from the Star Wars franchise. This alone has quickly made the Scorpius one of the communities favorite ships, particularly in the fighter ship category.
Turret
The turret on this ship is unlike any other seen in Star Citizen. Its firepower can match that of the pilot and has the ability to move around the rear of the chassis to an upper and lower position. Although this isn't particularly helpful mid-combat, it is a great way of positioning the turret in an advantageous position before entering a fight.
Pilot and Co-Pilot Cockpit
The Scorpius features two seats in the cockpit, one for the pilot and another for a player to use the remote turret. This creates an awesome feel and has great visibility for both players.
The ladder at the front is utilized by both players, meaning it can't be used by both at the same time.
External Features
With a gold standard pass, the Scorpius comes with lots of components available for viewing such as the shield generator or the quantum drive.
Players can also find a deployable weapons rack on the exterior of the ship for both the pilot and co-pilot as well as access to the ship's inventory which can keep items safe during ventures out of the ship.
Price and Cost
At a starting cost of 2,879,700 aUEC, players will have to spend a decent amount of their earnings to get their hands on the Scorpius. For novice players this may be a little tricky, however, for those who know how to make money fast in Star Citizen, this shouldn't be too tricky.
When looking at repairing and restoring the Scorpius, players may find themselves spending around 500 - 1000 aUEC, depending on the previous adventures they've been on.
The Scorpius is reliant on making most of its money back on combat contracts. This shouldn't be a problem as it's extremely well-prepped for destroying the enemy, even in Extreme Risk Targets in the Bounty Hunters section.
Ship Handling
The Scorpius handles incredibly well, with a noticeably high roll rate allowing for some extreme turns to evade oncoming fire or to keep the shots on target.
The four deployable wings give it a large surface area to control flight in the atmosphere. This doesn't affect flight when in space combat, but it still holds its own on the cosmic battlefield.
With a top speed of 1,250 m/s, players can really step on the gas to get away from the action and reposition to get an advantage over the enemy.
Combat and Weaponry
The pilot has access to 4 size 3 turrets, each positioned at the end of a wing. These come standard as size 2 gimbaled weapons but can easily switch out for something larger.
The ship can take a similar amount of damage as the formidable Hurricane. However, the wings can be removed after a significant amount of damage leading some pilots to fight with the wings retracted, creating a smaller profile that is harder to hit.
The turret also features 4 size 3 weapons effectively doubling the potential damage output. Although it is possible to fly the Scorpius alone, a player in the turret seat clearly makes the ship far more viable in combat.
The nimble nature of this ship also puts it on par with other heavy fighters and even contends with those in the medium/small category.
Conclusion
The RSI Scorpius is quickly becoming the best heavy fighter ship for use in dogfights. With some changes and upgrades to the ship's loadout, the Scorpius can excel in almost all categories.
The looks of this ship alone are a reason for its purchase. The color scheme and silhouette will become an iconic presence in Star Citizen as more players get their hands on it with the release of the 3.18 update.
For those used to the Anvil Hurricane, the Scorpius may feel like a direct upgrade, depending on the player. The Scorpius definitely comes with a higher risk-reward ratio due to the fragile wings that can easily be removed by top-tier pilots.
Overall, the Scorpius is an awesome addition to a player's arsenal and is among some of the unique ships in Star Citizen that really feel like a step up from previous fighters.
Star Citizen is available on PC.