Daniel Raymond from Ray’s Guide reviews the RSI Hermes as a light heavy freight cargo ship, praising its efficient cargo grid and competitive price but criticizing its limited vehicle transport due to a narrow rear door and challenging tractor beam design. He compares the Hermes to other cargo ships across different weight classes, highlighting its strong position in 2026’s “year of the heavy haulers” while anticipating significant shifts in cargo ship rankings with upcoming releases.
In this video, Daniel Raymond from Ray’s Guide introduces the RSI Hermes as the first new ship release of 2026, marking the beginning of what he calls the “year of the heavy haulers.” He highlights that 2026 will see the arrival of several large cargo ships like the Ironclad, Ironclad Assault, Hullbe, Railin, and Galaxy, contrasting this with 2025’s cargo ship offerings such as the Gollum Ox, Prowler Utility, Asgard, and Polaris. Daniel also touches on the lore behind the ship’s name, explaining that Hermes is the Greek equivalent of Mercury and speculates on potential future ship names following a mythological theme.
Daniel critiques the Hermes’ designation as a blockade runner, suggesting that the Prowler Utility is more deserving of that title due to its specific features. He then reviews the ship’s layout and functionality, noting a rear entry ramp suitable for large crates and a roof-mounted tractor beam on rails. However, he finds the tractor beam difficult to use because it only has two fixed positions, making precise cargo handling challenging. He also observes that tractor beams in the current game patch seem more erratic than before, inviting viewers to share their experiences.
A significant disappointment for Daniel is the Hermes’ inability to carry rover-sized vehicles like the Ursa, despite its ample internal storage. He attributes this limitation to the narrow door frame at the rear of the ship, which was not widened during development, unlike other ships in its size range that can accommodate multiple rovers. This design choice reduces the ship’s versatility for ground vehicle transport, a notable drawback in his assessment.
Daniel then moves into a detailed comparison of cargo ships by categorizing them into weight classes based on cargo capacity, from courier vehicles to super heavy freight. Using a scoring system that considers grid capacity, grid efficiency, vehicle capacity, loading ease, and price, he ranks the Hermes within the light heavy freight category (257 to 512 SCU). The Hermes scores highest in this class with a composite score of 7.5, outperforming competitors like the Starfar and Carrick, thanks to its efficient cargo grid and competitive price point.
Finally, Daniel looks beyond the Hermes’ category to compare it with larger heavy freighters like the Polaris and Caterpillar, noting that only the Hercules scores higher when adjusted for efficiency. He also mentions the Raft as the current middle freight champion but expects its value to decline as it becomes less available. Concluding, Daniel emphasizes that the Hermes is well-positioned for now, but with many heavy haulers arriving in 2026, the cargo ship rankings are likely to shift significantly. He also announces ongoing giveaways of heavy hauler ships and VR headsets for his channel members.