Elite Dangerous currently has over 40 playable ships, each with distinct strengths, weaknesses, and optimal use cases. From the humble Sidewinder that every new commander starts in, to the enormous Federal Corvette that represents the pinnacle of Federation military power, the roster covers every role in the game. This is Ricardo’s comprehensive 2025 ship guide — a breakdown of every significant ship class, what it does well, and who should fly it.
Starter Ships: Sidewinder, Eagle, and Hauler
Every Elite Dangerous commander begins in a Sidewinder Mk I. It is not impressive — 4T of cargo space, minimal hardpoints, paper-thin shields — but it is free to rebuy after destruction and teaches the fundamentals of the flight model effectively. The Sidewinder is a starting point, not a destination. The Eagle Mk II and Imperial Eagle are the first serious combat upgrades for new pilots, offering excellent agility and reasonable firepower at low cost. The Hauler, meanwhile, is the first step toward dedicated trading — its oversized cargo capacity for its price makes it the cheapest serious trading ship in the game.
The Cobra Family: Cobra Mk III, Mk IV, and Mk V
The Cobra Mk III is perhaps the most iconic ship in Elite Dangerous. A genuine multirole vessel, it can trade, fight, explore, and smuggle with competence across all four activities. No ship at its price range is more versatile. The Mk IV is a heavier, more armoured variant that sacrifices speed for durability — excellent for commanders who want a Cobra that can take punishment in Medium RES combat. The Mk V is the newest addition: more combat-focused, with improved hardpoints and module space, representing the cutting edge of Cobra development.
The Viper Family and the Vulture
Vipers are the dedicated combat ships of the accessible ship tier. The Viper Mk III is fast, aggressive, and lethal in the right hands. The Viper Mk IV is slower but significantly more survivable. Neither is cheap to run in continuous combat due to repair costs, but both are excellent combat tools. The Vulture stands apart — at its price point it offers Large hardpoints and extraordinary agility, making it a favourite for experienced pilots who want serious firepower in a manoeuvrable package. Many veterans argue the Vulture is the best credits-per-purchase combat ship in the game.
Medium Ships: Krait, Chieftain, Python, and Mamba
The medium ship tier is where Elite Dangerous gets truly interesting. The Krait Mk II is the gold standard for versatile combat — good hardpoints, fighter bay, reasonable cargo, and strong shields. The Alliance Chieftain prioritises manoeuvrability and combat effectiveness, making it the choice of pilots who value dogfighting performance over versatility. The Python is the archetypal medium trading ship: enormous cargo for its size class, decent combat capability, good jump range. The Mamba is a luxury combat vessel — extremely fast, aggressive, and visually spectacular, with the profile of a racing craft. The FDL (Fer-de-Lance) is the apex of the medium combat class: large hardpoints on a medium hull make it devastatingly powerful in experienced hands.
Large Ships: Anaconda, Cutter, Corvette
The three prestige large ships represent the pinnacle of player aspiration in Elite Dangerous. The Anaconda is the most versatile large ship — it can mine, trade, fight, and explore, and with engineering it becomes exceptional at all four. It is available to any commander with enough credits. The Imperial Cutter requires Duke rank in the Empire — when you get it, you gain the best large trading ship in the game, with cargo capacity that makes every other freighter look inadequate. The Federal Corvette requires Admiral rank in the Federation and is the most powerful dedicated combat large ship available — a flying fortress that can engage multiple Python-class ships simultaneously.
Specialist Ships: Mining, Exploration, and Support
Beyond the combat-trading-exploration generalists, Elite Dangerous has a growing roster of specialist vessels. The Diamondback Explorer and Caspian are purpose-built exploration ships with exceptional jump ranges. The Type-11 Prospector is the dedicated mining vessel. The Beluga Liner and Dolphin are passenger transport ships for rare and luxury passenger missions. The Keelback doubles as a light fighter carrier with combat capability. Each specialist ship represents a commitment to a specific playstyle that rewards deep investment.
The Newest Ships in 2025
The 2025 additions to Elite Dangerous’s roster — the Panther Clipper, Type-11, Cobra Mk V, and Caspian — each bring distinct capabilities. The Panther Clipper brings legendary freighter status to the modern game. The Type-11 gives miners their first purpose-built vessel. The Cobra Mk V updates a classic for modern combat. The Caspian raises the ceiling on exploration range. Ricardos Gaming has dedicated review videos for each of these new arrivals on the channel.
Full Ship Reviews on Ricardos Gaming
This post gives an overview of the full ship roster, but detailed reviews of individual ships — including specific build recommendations, engineering priorities, and credit cost analysis — are available across the Ricardos Gaming blog and YouTube channel. The channel covers ship comparisons, head-to-head analyses between competing vessels, and regularly updated build guides as the meta evolves with each Elite Dangerous update.
