The video evaluates the Drake Herald in Star Citizen patch 4.5 as a stealth missile boat, highlighting its impressive speed, stealth components, and missile capacity that enable effective hit-and-run combat despite its fragility. The host demonstrates its versatility in missions, concluding that the Herald is a fun, affordable, and practical choice for new players seeking a balance of stealth, speed, and combat efficiency.
In this video, the host explores the Drake Herald in Star Citizen patch 4.5 to determine if it can function effectively as a stealth missile boat. The Drake Herald is an affordable and fast ship, purchasable for just over 1.2 million AU at the New Deal Tisa Spaceport on Lurville. Despite its fragility, with relatively low hull and armor health, the ship benefits from armor that reduces ballistic and energy damage significantly. Its standout feature is its impressive speed, boasting the second-fastest forward boost speed in the game and ranking fifth in maximum navigation speed, making it highly maneuverable and suitable for quick strikes.
The ship comes equipped with stealth-grade components by default, including shields, coolers, and a power plant, with the only non-stealth component being the quantum drive, which the host replaces with a stealth-grade version for this test. Weapon-wise, the Drake Herald has one size three and two size two hardpoints, loaded with blister repeaters, and two missile racks that hold a total of 18 size two missiles. The ship’s stealth signatures are generally low from the front, though the top signature is higher, requiring the pilot to keep the ship’s nose aimed at enemies to maintain stealth. The ship’s speed allows for hit-and-run tactics, boosting away after missile strikes to avoid damage.
Inside the ship, the layout is tight with a single entry point on the right side. The cockpit has a pilot seat, weapon racks, and a support seat presumably for future data running functions. The ship features several interactive elements, including power management controls, an antenna that can be deployed in-flight, and surprisingly, persistent storage that retains fuses and canisters even after crashes and reclamations, which may be a new game feature. Overall, the Drake Herald’s internal design supports its role as a data runner and stealth vessel, though data running content is not yet implemented.
During combat tests, the host demonstrates the Drake Herald’s capabilities in various missions, using its missile loadout to take down enemy ships efficiently while managing stealth and positioning. The missile lock range requires the pilot to get relatively close to targets, but the ship’s speed allows quick engagement and disengagement. The host successfully completes multiple missions, using a combination of missile strikes and dogfighting with the ship’s ballistic weapons, highlighting the ship’s versatility and effectiveness in combat scenarios, especially for newer players looking to earn money quickly.
In conclusion, the Drake Herald proves to be a viable stealth missile boat thanks to its speed, stealth components, and missile capacity. Its fragility is offset by the ability to strike quickly and retreat before taking significant damage. The ship’s design and performance make it a fun and practical choice for combat missions, offering both missile bombardment and dogfighting capabilities. The video ends with a recommendation for new players to consider the Drake Herald for its balance of affordability, speed, and combat efficiency.