The Argo Moth is a medium salvage ship designed for multi-crew operations, offering decent cargo capacity but requiring a crucial tractor beam upgrade to be effective, especially compared to other salvage ships like the solo-friendly Fortune and Vulture or the heavy-duty Reclaimer. While it fits well as a lighter, team-oriented salvage option, its design and operational limitations make it less suitable for solo salvagers.
In this video, Daniel Raymond from Ray’s Guide introduces the new salvage ship, the Argo Moth, designed to fill the niche of a medium salvage ship suitable for smaller multi-crew operations. The Moth is essentially adapted from the medium mining ship, the Mole, and is priced at $290 with LTI or $315 with store credit. While it offers a decent cargo capacity with two underslung saddle bag grids and a rear cargo lift, its niche is somewhat narrow and requires a critical modification to be truly effective: replacing one of the center turret heads with a tractor beam. Without this upgrade, the ship struggles in practical salvage scenarios, especially for solo operators.
The Moth’s layout includes multiple decks with dedicated salvage turrets on the lower deck, a crew mess and bunks on the upper deck, and a two-person cockpit at the front. However, the ship’s design seems to intentionally complicate solo operation, as movement between decks is limited and accessing different turrets requires climbing stairs rather than using an elevator. This design choice emphasizes the ship’s intended use in multi-crew scenarios rather than as a solo salvage vessel. Daniel demonstrates this limitation by attempting a solo salvage mission, where the lack of a tractor beam and the need to constantly reposition the ship hinder efficient operation.
Comparing the Moth to other salvage ships in Star Citizen, Daniel highlights the Salvation as a starter salvage snub ship, ideal for deployment on larger carriers like the Idris or Polaris. The Fortune and Vulture are better suited for solo operators, with the Fortune excelling in cargo handling and the Vulture offering mission flexibility. The Reclaimer remains the heavy hitter with massive cargo capacity, strong defenses, and multiple turrets but is costly and cumbersome to operate. The Moth fits in as a lighter multi-crew salvage option with respectable capacity but lacks the robustness and solo efficiency of other ships.
One notable operational quirk of the Moth is its hopper’s ejecting capacity, which only allows ejecting eight SCU containers at a time. This limitation complicates missions requiring smaller quantities of salvage to be delivered, forcing players to find cumbersome workarounds. This restriction, combined with the need for a tractor beam and the ship’s crew-oriented design, suggests that the Moth is best suited for teams rather than solo salvagers. Daniel suggests that Reclaimer owners looking for a lighter, more manageable salvage ship might find the Moth appealing for shorter sessions.
In conclusion, while the Argo Moth introduces a new option for medium salvage operations, it has a narrow niche and requires a mandatory tractor beam upgrade to be practical. It is designed primarily for multi-crew use and is less effective for solo operators. Daniel encourages potential buyers to consider their salvage needs carefully and highlights the importance of the tractor beam modification. He wraps up with announcements about channel events and giveaways, encouraging viewers to subscribe and engage with the community.