Thanks for the Tip with the Zeus at the end, as it somewhat means an akward spot for the C1 I feel like. As for upgrading from my starter ship the cutlass seems overall more "all-rounder" even tho the freelancer has those 20+ SCU. Then again grinding for a Freelancer MAX seems fun with the Cutty for a bigger Hauler AND then having both as an option.

I run a cutty black s my medium daily driver. I used to use a Freelancer but found the cutty to be a little more versatile and better suited to messing around with friends and I have a bigger ship for my designated cargo hauling. I'm excited to see the Zeus when they drop, have an upgrade from the cutty waiting in buyback.

I always maintain there's a fourth ship in this bracket. The RAFT (at the same price point as the C1) tops the others in cargo lifting, but trades away combat applicability for a stronger cargo focus.

Thanks for the nice roundup! I upgraded to the C1 and while I do like it, the landing footprint is almost a deal-breaker. I've flown the Cutlass extensively and I think it's still the best all-rounder in this category until the engines fall off. The Freelancer is just too long and narrow for its own good. The Freelander MAX will hold an Ursa. It's a little tight but not as tight as the Roc in the base lancer.

Good breakdown. I do all the different Merc missions. I was hyped for the C1 loaner on my Zeus CL. Packed a Cyclone loaded with a 1SCU box and a 2 SCU box on the deck, and the biggest problem is the footprint. It's as wide a s dang Corsair for crisakes. I've got the same pack in the Black and lots of small troubles just don't come up. Can't wait for that Zeus.

Thanks, that was interesting. I currently fly a Freelancer MAX, having upgraded from the base model. I'd agree, the base Freelancer is difficult to use when ROC mining: the MAX will comfortably hold a ROC DS (a really under-rated vehicle), or, if needed, an Ursa.

I'm flying a C1 because I bought a Zeus ES but I really like the Freelancer. I really am looking forward to it being updated.

My personal favourite in this size category is still my Kickstarter ship, my Freelancer MIS. It's a beast of a ship and for rookie players, the base model is even a bit more durable for now. And with the STV in-game, you can do just about everything with a Freelancer. Currently in the SC lore, there was a 200i that was basically Origin's small touring ship, that lost out in an in-house competition against the original 300i. Since the odd-numbered 3-digit ships have been "single-seaters" and the even-numbered have been multi-crew, a Freelancer-sized 200i series would be cool. Make it like an up-sized hybrid of the 85x with design cues from the 300i and 400i. Pilot and co-pilot sitting side-by-side, plus seats for 2+ passengers right behind.

It surprises me how many SC ship "reviewers" ignore or miss some of the critical advantages that a Freelancer has over all other medium size ships ... 1. Dual size-M computers - no other ship of the same or smaller size has this (not even the Drake Herald data runner, which has data storage not computers). This will be critical when AI-blades and PDC auto-turrets enter gameplay - the Freelancer rear turret will be fully automateable. 2. Escape Pods - the four Freelancer beds are all escape and recovery pods - launched from the ship when it's in imminent danger of destruction or capture, they'll allow crew to be recovered uninjured and not needing cyber-prosthetics for respawn. 3. Ablutions/shoilet - the Cutlass simply doesn't have one, and the future gameplay will have a heavy reliance on personal hygiene for NPC interactions and trading etc. 4. Remote manned turrets - the rear pair of seats in the Freelancer cockpit are remote gunner stations for the two cheek-turrets as an alternative to them being pilot controlled (the right hand front seat will be the missile operator's seat). 5. Secure personnel entrance - Freelancers have the ladder (AND AIRLOCK) entrance on the port side between the forward cargo bay and galley cabinet. On-ground, this can be used to control and restrict personnel entry and exit. Cutlasses used to have this but it was removed in the 2017 rework (along with the porta-potty toilet in the cargo bay). 6. Airlocked docking collar bay - very few non-capital sized ships have this (many have the docking collar, but not the airlock bay). It is located in the ceiling of the central cargo bay. 7. VTOLs - in the Freelancer launch and concept sale video, the main thrusters and wings were shown to rotate in the same way as the Cutlass and Prospector main thrusters. CIG have never stated if this will be actuated for final release or not. It is technically still on the table until they give us a hard confirmation one way or the other. 8. Range - the Drake Cutlass in SC Lore is a short range ship for in-system militias and police. The Freelancers are long range express hauliers. Chris Roberts has stated many times on video that Cutlasses will have to refuel after every inter star-system jump, and Freelancers will be able to jump between several star systems before refuelling. In-system, we already know that Freelancers have bigger QT tanks than Cutlasses, but final balancing against the Spirit and Zeus series' is awaited.

I ultimately binned my Freelancer and replaced it with a Cutlass Black. A part of me loves the Freelancer and I'd love to own one but it is in dire need of a major update/overhaul along with a complete redesign for the cockpit. Despite my love of the Cutlass and Freelancer though I think the simple reality is that the Zeus will more or less render the Cutlass, Freelancer and Spirit obsolete outside of their specialist variants such as the Spirit Bomber. Insofar as medium ships are concerned, I'd quite like to see something from either Anvil or Aegis. I've seen a community brochure for a community designed ship that is completely modular that occupies a size slot similar to these vessels (I forget the name of it off hand) but were to be brought to the game I'd probably leap on it without a second thought.

I think the cutlass black and freelancer are both better choices especially for their several entrances and the multiplayer turrets feature. The c1 is really a solo player choice only. Plus the cutlass has some great features like: the side doors, the amazing missiles loadout (like the freelancer) and this amazing tuba engine noise... =)

thanks for another awesome video @CasaBlack all those 3 ships are great at what they do.... and also good at what they aren't designed to do.... I've flown all of the Freelancer, Cutty and the 2 available variants of the Spirit... what I've learned from my experience with each is that, the Cutty 1) base variant, is extremely versatile for doing all manner of mission types... while 2 crew is all you'll need until engineering comes online, the turret gunner and pilot combo is more than sufficient for bounties and rescues, even cargo hauling... while a 3rd person or co pilot will only serve to add to the benefits of having someone keeping an eye out.... those side doors are a life saver and the fact you can fit 2 Cyclones onboard front to back, or carry 1 cyclone and 6 troops in the drop seats at the back... make it a very handy ship, couple that with the ability to fit x48 size 1 missiles makes it a pseudo missile boat too... while size 1's dont usually do a lot of damage, size 1 EM missiles can be useful for taking out shields on larger ships.. 2) Red, loses the benefits of a larger cargo and multi role capability for med beds, and a place to fit a PTV in the back.... plus loses the missiles in favour of the most awesome thing in the Cutty line... Flashy lights and loses top turret for a copilot controlled search light... it's a win imo 3) Blue.... well loses the cargo for the people freezer 9000's and flashy lights but retains the missile loadout on par with the Black... 4) Steel... is literally the Black, but instead of cargo, of the Black, you got jumpseats.... guns and more guns with some more guns on top... oh and extra guns.... I would say it's more the poor man's Valkyrie... or the Valk that you dont ferry vehicles only people into the field.... but like all the cutty's lose an engine... in gravity you might as well just wait for rescue.... used to be way more survivable but now it's making more sense... my Cutty Black used to go out on mission, fly back to station with no wings, no engines and 1 gun and a damaged turret and ramp and doors falling off... sometimes that happened before combat, other times from either take off or a very heavy handed landing.... the Freelancer 1) base variant i'd say my only gripe with this variant is the wing on the top, as it blocks the view of the turret... the lack of view in the cockpit is not great but it's not as bad once you get used to it.... cargo isn't bad to get started with... I'd recommend mules or STV's if loading vehicles... 2) DUR... wasn't a fan of this one, more akin to the issues with the base... but longer range... less missiles if i recall too 3) MIS... this.... lots of missiles more combat focused.... and lots of missiles... can fit similar loadout of vehicles as the base and DUR.... 4) MAX... while the MIS is the better version if you like a lot of missiles, the MAX is my favourite FL variant tbf, more room for cargo or vehicles and can carry an Ursa.... but like all the FL variants the wing is the biggest deal breaker, and the handling imo just prepares you for your trip into RSI territory with the Connie classes... as the FL and the Connie's imo handle pretty much like the pooped out a boa constrictor hugging an elephant... if they had the wing retract when turret was occupied or powered it would make it a lot more fun... not to say i never enjoyed flying either of them... I have fond memories from the FL and Cutty's.... trolling my mate in the Freelancer, and convincing him we were near the ground so he's good to drive out the back in the Cutty around Yela, and him crying at how long he's taking to fall 3000m to the ground 😛 the Spirit 1) A1 I like the idea of a retrofitted bomber from a civilian chassis... the ship is remarkably durable too... lost half of it and it still had redundant systems to fly, albeit a little listing to one side, but you can make it to get repairs... can hold a STV or grav... but damn bombs are expensive.... 48K is about what you pay for 4 size 10 Colossus bombs for the A2, 58K is for x10 size 5 A1 bombs, that was the moment i knew I might be getting rid, the confirmation time was when i tried dropping bombs and doing carpet bombing over an area... and the bombs didn't drop as they should.. but can drop 5 at a time though but wow the price... 2) C1, has almost the same sort of survivability as the A1, but instead of that top turret you have a tractor beam.... retractable too... is useful... I enjoyed flying it but for cargo you may as well go with the max at that point, lose the tractor, gain more space... the only real issue i have with the Spirits myself is the 1 entry/exit.... one of the main reasons why the MSR imo gets a downvote, which is a pity as i like the Crusader ships... the Zeus mk2 when that comes out I think I will be using my buy backs to grab them and try which one i prefer.... though looking at it, the CL or the MR might be the ones i'd lean towards... however I also have both Apollo's on my buy backs, so once that's done.. I'm going to have some deciding to do... and obviously by then I should have amounted enough to grab a Galaxy or the Odyssey which the latter is more something I'm preferring, as it seems to be a huge upgrade compared to the Carrack... imo

i just want a ship with minimum 2 S2 shields and 3 S3 guns + decent cargo and maneuverability... every ship currently is missing something on that^^ Like if i would be fine with 2 S4 hard points, i'd just take the 400i and have a MASSIVE shield...

A fellow mustard paint enjoyer I see

Best medium ship has to be kore because i like it and made this rule up. Best ship is the one that takes you to wherever you want to reach

I very much agree that it's good that there is no clear cut winner in any category. However, you're mistaken here. The Cutty is clearly the best choice. Because Drake.

C1 looks cooler. But I still think the cutty black is easier to land. Fight. And steal. 🤣

The best ship in Star Citizen is Friendship!

The C1 currently I have one you can't use the armor racks in my experience and the gun racks don't open

Love flying the C1 handles great and while the Cutty may have a faster top speed it isn't by much and the C1 gets to it much faster. Freelancer desperately needs a rework and honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they just take the MAX and make that as the base.

Zeus

I got a titan as my starter ship; i don't regret it; it's very fast; it does a bit of cargo; it's good for box missions and some mercenary work... it has good stealth configuration for sneaking around... if you want a jack of all trades starter ship to try a lot of game loops in the titan is the one to get. on the topic of the nullifier ship module; this is going to get abused by griefers; i thought CiG were anti-griefing these days? why give them a dedicated griefing module? The only way to prevent greifing is to run away, give the griefers tools to stop you running and they are guarenteed to kill you.

Drake Cutlass forever

You ignored the ACTUAL best medium ship in Star Citizen, the Constellation Taurus!!! Best multi-role ship in the game.

Cutlass also has 6 drop-ish seats - very useful. In addition to the 3 main seats, would this mean that the Cutty will have a much larger air supply in future to provide for 9 potential occupants, as opposed to 4 and 2 in the Freelancer & C1? Be interesting to see how breathable air is lost & replenished when the Cutty's side doors are opened & closed.

both suck honestly------alone with crosair too. they all have big flaws. while freelaner and cutlass being so ugly - - crosair has high fire power sure. but they are alllll so squishy