Polaris, Perseus or Hammerhead - Which ship is best for your fleet?

Meet the ships

RSI Polaris - the torpedo corvette with a bay for a small craft
Built by Roberts Space Industries as a corvette-class capital ship, the Polaris was designed to patrol, lead militias, and run strike/S&R missions. It carries a small hangar for one light fighter or utility craft, has living space for long sorties, a med bay and even a small brig. Signature feature: four rotary torpedo bays feeding 28 Size-10 torpedoes for alpha strikes on capitals. As of Alpha 4.3.x it’s flight-ready with in-game stats and facilities (including Tier-2 med beds for remote regen).

RSI Perseus - the ironclad gunship reimagined
Inspired by historic “ironclad gunboats,” the Perseus started life in the late 2520s for UPEN blockade duty, later revived for the modern era. Its concept centers on four massive Size-7 cannons plus twenty Size-5 torpedoes for shredding sub-capital targets, with two small remote turrets for supplementary fire. It’s a large heavy gunship (max crew 6 in RSI’s materials) and, at the time of writing, remains in active development rather than flyable. 

Aegis Hammerhead - the anti-fighter screen
The UEEN’s favorite screen ship for convoys and carriers, the Hammerhead is a fast, sub-capital patrol gunship bristling with six manned quad turrets (24× Size-4) optimized for anti-fighter and anti-ordnance work; it also carries racks for Size-3 missiles. It’s built to hold a position and sweep space clean of small craft rather than to duel bigger hulls. It’s been flight-ready since Alpha 3.3.0. 

Different tools for different fights

• Polaris - anti-capital torpedo boat with hangar, built for high alpha.
  The Polaris’ raison d’être is coordinated torpedo salvoes against large hulls, followed by disengage/rearm cycles using its generous cargo for spare ordnance. The 28× S10 torpedoes let a small crew threaten frigates and above. Its small hangar multiplies utility (fighter screen, scout, med evac), and the onboard med bay/brig make it a mobile HQ on campaigns. Think: strike leader/escort commander that can also host a single fighter or shuttle. 

• Perseus - anti-capital / anti-large ship bruiser, gun-centric.
  Where Polaris leans on torpedoes, Perseus leans on big direct-fire guns (S7s) that keep pressure on sub-capitals without the rearm cadence of torpedoes. Its 20× S5 torpedoes add a spike when needed, but its identity is “sit on target and hammer armor” rather than “in-n-out” strikes. Best as a blockade anchor, station picket, or ambush gunship that punishes anything bigger than a fighter. (Still a concept/in-production ship.) 

• Hammerhead - anti-fighter gunship / fleet screen.
  The Hammerhead’s six manned turrets create an overlapping 360° bubble of fire. It’s not meant to face capitals head-on; it protects the ships that do (or cleans up bombers before they drop). In fleets, park it slightly off the beam of your heavy assets and let it erase small craft and inbound ordnance. It’s the best pick here if your problem is “too many fighters.”

Quick spec table

🔹 RSI Polaris

🔹 RSI Perseus

🔹 Aegis Hammerhead

Summary snapshot

Stats change as Star Citizen evolves; these reflect current/official materials and the live data where available.

Which one should you take?

• Solo/Small org wanting capital-kill leverage? → Polaris.
  Pair it with a light fighter in the bay for scouting/screen, keep logistics humming (spare torps in the 576 SCU), and coordinate salvo timing. It’s a force projector that scales with teamwork. 

• You enjoy gunnery duels and attrition on big hulls? → Perseus.
  The S7s make it a bully versus large ships without burning torps on every target. Great for blockades and choke points once it releases. 

• Your fleet dies to swarms of light craft? → Hammerhead.
  Park it as a screen. The coverage and sustained turret fire shred fighters/bombers and intercept ordnance so your heavies can breathe. 

In a nutshell

• Polaris is a capital-class corvette that marries alpha-strike torpedoes with a small hangar and full campaign amenities (med bay, brig, living space). It functions as a compact flagship or strike leader that can kill above its weight. 

• Perseus is a large heavy gunship that emphasizes huge caliber guns with a reserve of S5 torpedoes—ideal for sustained pressure on sub-capitals and blockade duty. It’s still in development. 

• Hammerhead is a large patrol gunship specialized in anti-fighter and anti-ordnance with six quad turrets. It’s the fleet bodyguard, not a capital duelist. Flight-ready and widely used today.

Notes on evolving stats

Star Citizen is in active development; ship matrices, loadouts, and performance (e.g., SCM speeds, shield classes, weapon sizes) can change between patches. When planning a purchase or fleet role, always re-check the RSI Ship Matrix for the most up-to date information robertsspaceindustries.com