The Star Citizen Alpha 4.6 PTU patch introduces a distinct category of ground vehicle missiles with unique stats, including increased damage, different lock ranges, and tracking capabilities, making them significantly more powerful and specialized for ground combat. Testing reveals these missiles excel in ground-based anti-air roles but may pose balance challenges, especially in scenarios like cargo transport during the upcoming “Clean the Air” event.
In the latest Star Citizen Alpha 4.6 PTU patch released on January 16th, 2026, a significant update has been made regarding ground vehicle missile balance. The patch introduces a separation of ground vehicle missiles into their own distinct category with unique stats, including changes to minimum and maximum lock ranges, lock times, and a substantial increase in damage. This means ground missiles now have different properties compared to ship missiles, making them more powerful and specialized for ground combat scenarios.
The video showcases five ground vehicles equipped with missiles: the Anvil Ballista with large size five and seven missiles, Cyclone AA with two size two missiles, Tombro Cyclone MT with four size two missiles, Tombro Nova with 24 size two missiles, and Tombro Storm AA with 80 missiles of mixed sizes. Through the vehicle loadout manager, it was observed that ground missiles have a “G” suffix in their names (e.g., Dominator 2G), distinguishing them from ship missiles which lack this suffix. Notably, ground missiles cannot be swapped with ship missiles, reinforcing the separation between the two missile types.
Testing with multiple Cyclone MTs equipped with ground Dominator 2G missiles demonstrated the new missile mechanics. The minimum lock range for size two ground missiles is approximately 750-800 meters, while the maximum lock range can extend up to 10 kilometers. The missiles exhibit tracking capabilities, curving towards targets, and can be fired from turret seats on ground vehicles. However, ground missiles cannot lock onto or target ships on the ground, only airborne or distant ships, emphasizing their role in ground vehicle combat.
Damage comparison tests between ground missiles and ship missiles revealed that ground missiles inflict noticeably higher damage. For example, it took fewer ground missiles to disable a Pisces Expedition ship compared to ship missiles, confirming the “substantial increase to damage” mentioned in the patch notes. Additionally, the minimum lock range for ground missiles was found to be much lower than initially thought—around 50 meters—allowing for very close-range missile engagement, which could make ground AA vehicles extremely effective in combat.
The presenter concludes that these changes make ground vehicle missiles far more viable and impactful in gameplay, especially for ground-based Anti-Aircraft (AA) roles. However, this also raises concerns about potential gameplay balance, particularly with upcoming events like the “Clean the Air” event, where players transporting cargo to mining stations could be vulnerable to missile spam from well-equipped ground vehicles. Overall, the update promises exciting new tactical opportunities but may introduce new challenges for cargo pilots and ground combat encounters.