The video provides a detailed first impression of the Drake/Grey’s Shiv in Star Citizen 4.3.2, highlighting its unique scavenged design, impressive acceleration, and potential as a nimble combat ship with solid weaponry and armor. While the host favors the Shiv over the Cutlass Black and is excited about its gameplay prospects, he remains curious about its final durability and role once fully tested.
In this first impressions video, the creator introduces the Drake/Grey’s Shiv, a new ship recently added to Star Citizen following CitizenCon. He notes that Grey is a new manufacturer positioned just below Drake in terms of ship quality, likening the Shiv to a “jalopy” with parts seemingly scavenged from other ships, such as Valkyrie thrusters. The host expresses enthusiasm for the ship’s unique and cool name, as well as its aesthetic, which he prefers over the Cutlass Black, another Drake ship, despite some color preferences.
The video features a detailed walk-around and inspection of the Shiv’s exterior and interior. The creator points out various design elements like the mirrored exterior, a single entrance, and a small missile rack that he believes is different from the Cutlass Black’s setup. He appreciates the level of detail in the ship’s interior, including a combat bucket (a small sink) and an engineering terminal, highlighting the industrial and functional design. The host also discusses the ship’s weaponry, noting the presence of size two missiles and multiple ballistic hardpoints, and speculates on its combat role.
Flight testing reveals that the Shiv has impressive acceleration and boost capabilities, with the creator emphasizing the importance of acceleration (“quick”) over top speed (“fast”) in gameplay. He compares the ship’s G-forces and maneuverability to other ships like the F8 Lightning and the Cutlass Black, using tools like SP Viewer and Urkl for data analysis. Though some data discrepancies exist, the general consensus is that the Shiv is quite nimble and responsive, making it a potentially strong contender in combat situations.
The creator also delves into the ship’s durability and health pool, comparing it with the Cutlass Black and the Anvil Vanguard Warden. While the Shiv has a higher total health pool due to more breakable parts, the Cutlass Black’s vital components appear sturdier, suggesting the Shiv might be less durable overall. However, the host points out that the Shiv’s armor and thrusters could make it surprisingly tanky, and he is curious whether it will function as a glass cannon or a more balanced combat vessel once fully tested in gameplay.
In conclusion, the host expresses a positive overall impression of the Drake/Grey’s Shiv, praising its design, speed, and potential combat effectiveness. While he remains uncertain about its final role and balance—whether it will be a fragile but powerful glass cannon or a tougher gunship—he clearly prefers it over the Cutlass Black and is excited to see how it performs in the live game. He hints at possibly upgrading to the Shiv from the Cutlass Black and looks forward to more in-depth testing and balancing in the future.