The video provides a detailed comparison between the newly rebalanced Aegis Gladius and the upcoming L-12 Wolf, highlighting the Wolf’s superior speed, maneuverability, stealth, and unique ballistic weaponry, contrasted with the Gladius’s greater durability and weapon flexibility. While the Wolf appears faster and more agile but fragile, the presenter expresses interest in testing its in-game performance despite preferring the Gladius’s familiar design.
The video begins by discussing the recent rebalance of the Aegis Gladius ship in the 4.3 patch cycle of Star Citizen, alongside the upcoming release of a new ship, the L-12 Wolf by Cougar Intergalactic. The presenter notes that the 4.3 PTU patch is effectively the first release candidate, suggesting the live patch may arrive sooner than expected. The Gladius was nerfed, likely in preparation for the Wolf’s arrival, as there is often a ship rebalance before a new ship release. The video aims to provide a detailed comparison between the updated Gladius and the not-yet-in-game Wolf, using available stats from the ship performance viewer and ERO.
In terms of speed and maneuverability, the Gladius received a slight boost in SCM speed but a reduction in maximum navigation speed and pitch maneuverability, which could impact PvP dogfighting performance. The Wolf, by comparison, is faster in SCM and maximum navigation speed and more maneuverable, especially in pitch and roll. Overall, the Wolf appears to have superior flight characteristics, making it potentially more agile and quicker than the Gladius.
Regarding durability, the Gladius’s total hull HP was reduced by about a thousand points, but its vital part configuration was simplified, with the nose no longer considered a vital part and the body’s HP slightly increased. This change could be a defensive buff since the body is better protected. The Wolf, however, has a higher total hull HP but a weaker vital body part, suggesting it is a fragile yet nimble ship. The Wolf is also described as a ship that cannot sustain many hits, emphasizing its speed and evasiveness over toughness.
The stealth and component comparisons reveal that the Wolf has a significantly lower radar cross-section than the Gladius, indicating better stealth potential. Both ships share identical core components such as shields, coolers, radar, power plant, and quantum drive. Weapon-wise, the Gladius offers more flexibility with three size-three hardpoints and more missile racks, while the Wolf has fewer missile racks and specialized ballistic weapons—two size-four relentless L21 Gatling guns with higher alpha damage, larger ammo capacity, and longer range compared to the Gladius’s mantis Gatling guns. These weapons are powerful but still a work in progress in the game.
In conclusion, the presenter finds the Wolf an interesting and promising new ship, faster and more agile than the Gladius but more fragile. The unique ballistic weapons and stealth potential add to its appeal, though there are still unknowns about how ballistic weapons and armor will function in-game. The design of the Wolf is sleek but somewhat confusing in orientation, unlike the Gladius, which has a more recognizable shape. While the presenter personally prefers the Gladius’s design, they intend to test the Wolf extensively once it is available to see how it performs in real combat and how many can fit inside.