Cargo holds at the ready! Once again, we're asking you to take part in one of the internet's favourite pastimes: ranking things. To win a prize, take a selection of ships and rank them from best to worst at trade-readiness. This time, we're doing things a bit differently, so please read carefully.
We're looking for image submissions only for this bounty. Use Tier Maker or an equivalent service to make your tier list, and submit it as an image to this bounty along with any explanatory text you feel might increase your chances of winning a prize. This time, we intend to combine all of your tier lists into a definitive master tier list, and so we want you to use five tiers only: S-Tier, A-Tier, B-Tier, C-Tier, and D-Tier. With S-Tier being excellent and D-Tier being unsuitable. It's not essential, but we'd also appreciate it if you included the names of the ships, rather than just the images.
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These ships are the most efficient for trading, boasting massive cargo capacity and excellent jump range. They excel in long-range trading and can generate significant profits.
Imperial Cutter
Cargo Capacity: Extremely high.
Features: A true titan of trade, the Cutter has the largest cargo capacity in the game. It's durable and well-defended, but expensive and requires a lot of playtime to unlock.
Strengths: Cargo capacity, strong defenses, high speed.
Weaknesses: High cost, low maneuverability.
Anaconda
Cargo Capacity: Very high.
Features: Though also a combat ship, the Anaconda has an exceptional jump range and can be outfitted for long-range trading with significant cargo capacity.
Strengths: Exceptional jump range, versatile.
Weaknesses: Expensive, average maneuverability.
A Tier - Great
These ships offer an excellent balance between cargo, defense, and maneuverability. They are strong choices for those looking for high performance at a more reasonable cost.
Type-9 Heavy
Cargo Capacity: Very high.
Features: A true cargo hauler, the Type-9 Heavy is dedicated to transporting goods. Though slow and hard to maneuver, it compensates with immense cargo capacity.
Strengths: Excellent cargo capacity.
Weaknesses: Slow speed, poor maneuverability.
Type-7 Transporter
Cargo Capacity: High.
Features: A robust mid-sized ship with a large cargo hold, ideal for medium-range trading. It’s more affordable than the Type-9.
Strengths: Good value for money, solid cargo capacity.
Weaknesses: Limited maneuverability and vulnerable in combat.
B Tier - Good
These ships are effective for trading but come with limitations in either cargo capacity or range, making them solid intermediate options for traders working their way up.
Python
Cargo Capacity: Moderate to high.
Features: Highly versatile, the Python excels in trading within smaller stations. It has decent defenses and is great for short-range trading routes.
Strengths: Versatility, can land at outposts.
Weaknesses: Lower cargo capacity than higher-tier options.
Type-6 Transporter
Cargo Capacity: Moderate.
Features: A budget-friendly option for those expanding their trade operations. Good for short to mid-range trade runs with decent capacity.
Strengths: Affordable, easy to maneuver.
Weaknesses: Limited cargo capacity compared to larger ships.
C Tier - Adequate
These ships are functional for trade but have significant limitations, such as small cargo holds or limited range, making them less efficient for long-range trade routes.
Asp Explorer
Cargo Capacity: Moderate.
Features: Known for its exceptional jump range, the Asp Explorer is more often used for exploration but can be adapted for trading, especially for high-value goods.
Strengths: Jump range, versatility.
Weaknesses: Limited cargo capacity.
Cobra Mk III
Cargo Capacity: Low.
Features: Good for those just starting out in trade. It has a decent combination of speed and cargo capacity but is more of an all-rounder than a dedicated trade ship.
Strengths: Speed, low cost.
Weaknesses: Low cargo capacity.
D Tier - Inadequate
These ships have limited performance in trade, with low cargo capacity, poor range, or are simply designed for other purposes.
Adder
Cargo Capacity: Very low.
Features: A low-cost ship with some cargo capacity. Suitable for beginner traders but far from ideal for those looking to maximize efficiency.
Strengths: Low price.
Weaknesses: Very limited cargo capacity.
Sidewinder
Cargo Capacity: Very low.
Features: The game’s starting ship, extremely limited for any significant trading. It can carry only a few goods and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Strengths: Zero cost (starting ship).
Weaknesses: Virtually useless for trade.
I tried to make this clear, but I still hope you like it.
I have a problem... I admit it... it's a bit embarrassing but I admit it, here, with the rest of my friends Commanders... I love trading and I love Lakon Spaceways Type Ships. For me there is no other way to do trade... at least to do trade with an authentic roleplay, hahahahahha.
Excellent cargo capacity and durability, making it the best choice for large-scale trading operations.
Large-size landing pad.
A-Tier - Great
Type-8 Transporter
Great cargo capacity and fuel efficiency, and great SCO, ideal for medium-scale trading operations.
Medium-size landing pad.
B-Tier - Good
Type-7 Transporter
Good balance between cargo capacity and maneuverability, suitable for medium-scale trading.
Large-size landing pad.
C-Tier - Adequate
Type-6 Transporter
Decent cargo capacity and relatively affordable, making it a good option for beginners in trading.
Medium-size landing pad.
D-Tier - Poor
Type-10 Defender
Primarily a combat ship, but can be used for transport with some limitations due to its lower cargo capacity compared to other Type ships.
Large-size landing pad.
Sorry, I'm sure everyone can see pretty quickly that it's a pretty particular Tier List... but that's what this is all about, right? making “our list”, hahahahahaha.
Those ships are really expansive, specially the Imperial cutter. But all of them have a great cargo space and this help to make the trips more profitable, other importante things are the defences that are mainly the shields and hulls.
The only however is the Type - 9 that has a bad manoeuvrability
A - Tier (Python | Clipper | Krait MK II | Type-8 | Type 10 | Beluga Liner | Type - 7 | Type-6)
In this tier we have great trading ships with medium sizes like Python, Clipper and Krait Mk II for exemple, but also big ships like Type-10, it has great cargo and defence but it is so expansive in compassion for what it has that it isn't worth to be in the S-tier
B - Tier (Asp Explorer | Keelback | Asp Scout | Orca | Aliance Crusade | Aliance Challenger | Aliance Chieftain | Krait Phantom | Federal Dropship)
The ships here were made for have the transportation as the main function but they have a nice cargo capacity, some ones are expansive but do the job.
C - Tier (Adder | Cobra Mk III | Hauler | Dolphin | Cobra Mk IV)
The ships are small ships, but keep in mind they aren't so good because they can't make much profit but they are perfect for who is starting in the game.
D - Tier (Diamondback Explorer | Diamond Scout | Imperial Eagle | Federal Corvette | Eagle | Federal Assault Ship | Federal Gunship | Imperial Courier | Fer-de-Lance | Mamba| Python Mk II | Sidewinder | Viber Mk IV | Viber Mk III | Vulture )
How you can see those are combat ships, normally they aren't of good use for trading because of the small cargo, they will have good defence against pirates but for pirates attack you you must have valuable goods.
? - Tier
Why are you reading this? Can't you see it is a Thargoid interceptor, you destroy it, don't fly with!!!
I'm not very much into trade but when I'm doing some courses, I always choose 1 of those ships:
S - best of best
Those are my absolutely favorite ships for trading, large Imperial Cutter and medium Python Mk.1.
Imperial Cutter - My personal favorite for the large ships, for any task except planet exploration (because of large landing area). It has the highest cargo capacity and very good for defense. Why did I put it on the second place in A tier? Because at the beginning it's difficult to unlock and cost a lot of money (over double price of the Type-9). To unlock it, you need at least rank 12 in the Empire so it requires a lot of mission grinding.
Type-9 - It's one of the largest ships in game but also with (almost) the highest storing capacity. It's slow, yes, but you only need that speed when reaching the station, the ship mass doesn't affect the supercruise travel and heavy hull makes it very suitable ship for escaping pirates. And it's the good replacement for the Imperial Cutter if you don't have it unlocked and bought yet.
Python - Similar to Cutter, when I need to trade resources on stations without large landing pads, that's where the trading Python is being used. It is good in general at being a multitask ship but it is also very suitable for trading because of its large optional internal slots.
A - best of large
So except Type-9 and Cutter, I put here also Anaconda. If you feel a bit too defenseless in Type-9, you can get yourself an Anaconda. It doesn't have that much cargo capacity but it's definitely better at defending itself because of the incomparably larger hardpoints.
B - best of medium
We have here Python and two Type ships.
Type-8 - This is the newest ship in this game. Currently you can buy it only for the ARX, a premium value in the game at a very high cost, but in a few months it will become a standard ship to be bought for the normal credits so for now it will stay behind Python. I highly recommend you to get one of these because of its very high cargo capacity (over 400 tones which is currently, afaik, the highest amount of all medium type ships). I think it can be a really good replacement for the old boi Python Mk.1 in the future if you don't want to spend your ARX now.
Type-7 - Let's be honest, it's not the best ship for cargo hauling, but it's VERY cheap (only around 1mil. To compare, Python costs around 50mil.), which makes it the perfect starting medium trading ship after you will leave the comfort zone of small ships. But let's be honest, you want to get Python or Type-8 as soon as possible 😅
C - best of small
In general I don't recommend trading with small ships but everyone has to start with something huh?
Diamondback Explorer - It's not only a decent small cargo ship, but also a speedy one with a high jump range. And I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't really fly with small ships so that's the only thing I could put here 😥
Sidewinder
The legendary Sidewinder ship. Every journey has to start with something, and this mate will help you get into this crazy galactic universe. It's not really good at... anything, but I'm sure you can have together a lot of memorable times 🫡
S-Tier (Excellent) Imperial Cutter: Has extremely high carrying capacity, strong defenses, and high speed but is expensive and has low maneuverability Anaconda: Has very high carrying capacity, exceptional jumping range, and is versatile but is expensive and has average maneuverability
A-Tier (Great) Type-9 Heavy: Has very high carrying capacity but has low speed and poor maneuverability Python: Has high carrying capacity and is versatile. Has good defenses and a decent jumping range but is expensive and has average speed
B-Tier (Good) Type-7 Transporter: Has high carrying capacity and is affordable but has poor defenses and a limited jumping range Asp Explorer: Has moderate carrying capacity. It has excellent jumping range and is versatile but its carrying capacity is limited for trade
C-Tier (Average) Cobra Mk III: Its carrying capacity is moderate, it is versatile and affordable but its carrying capacity is limited and its defenses are average Adder: Its carrying capacity is moderate. It is versatile and affordable but its carrying capacity is limited and its jumping range is average
D-Tier (Unsuitable) Sidewinder: Its carrying capacity is very limited and its defenses are poor Eagle: Its carrying capacity is very limited and its defenses are poor
These ships all have high cargo capacity, Imperial Cutter is fast and is tied with the Type-9 for the most cargo space at around 700+. The Federal Corvette also has a respectable cargo amount, although it's probably a bit on the expensive size. Python has less cargo but is a medium ship and therefore able to land at more places than the other two ships due to landing pad size.
A-Tier
These ships are great also but but don't have as much cargo as the S-Tier. The Type-9 also has 700+ cargo and many people swear by it, but I personally don't like it's very sluggish maneuverability and low speed. Anaconda is also a great choice, it's a more of an all around ship than just a pure cargo hauler though. Type-7 is great for it's cost, although it's now overshadowed by the Type-8. The Dolphin is the best cargo capacity for small ships, and it's speed and low running temperature make it a great smuggler.
B-Tier
They have okay cargo capacity and will work for specific circumstances or for something like rare commodities but are overshadowed by the tiers above.
C-Tier
These have low capacity but make okay starting cargo ships
D-Tier
The Hauler is not good at hauling much. The DBX is an explorer but can haul some cargo, it's a bit slow for the amount it can haul though.
For a good trades traves one main thing to have is a good shield because there is a lot of pirates around the bubble, so I must have in mind a nice and resistant ships. There is nice medium and small ships for who are starting in trading but it won't last long and wont give you good profits so Clipper, Type-9 and 10 e Anaconda are the best ships you can get!
I've tried to make a list based on my personal experience! The Imperial Cutter is my favorite ship, it's great for almost everything in the game, so it will always be my top recommendation.
The new release, the Mandalay, has a chance of being a good ship, from the specs that have been released recently, but I don't think it's essential. At least she's beautiful!
I'd like to highlight the ships that are pretty bad in general, which are the ones in my D rank. They're incomplete and often fragile or extremely slow. They can be used in specific professions, but they still won't be the best choices.