How to Get a Free Cutlass Black Ship in Star Citizen...But There's a Catch

In Star Citizen’s 4.9 update, players can obtain a free Cutlass Black ship by completing a mission involving a Drake Caterpillar attacked by Marines, allowing them to use and store the ship despite it being NPC-owned and having some limitations like restricted weapon management and logout issues. While the mission is repeatable and provides valuable military-grade equipment, technical bugs and restrictions currently limit full ship functionality, with hopes for future updates to improve usability.

In this video, Ryan, also known as Mac, presents a mission in Star Citizen’s 4.9 update that allows players to acquire a free Cutlass Black ship, albeit with some limitations. The mission involves investigating a Drake Caterpillar ship that has been attacked and boarded by a Marine gang. Outside the Caterpillar, players can find a Cutlass Black left behind by the attackers. Ryan explains that while the ship is technically NPC-owned, players can take control of it, fly it, and even store it in their hangar, effectively giving them access to a free Cutlass Black.

The mission itself is straightforward: board the Caterpillar, fight off the Marines, and repair the power plant. Players can complete it without bringing weapons or armor, as the Cutlass Black outside is fully equipped with weapons, ammunition, and armor stored in its lockers and chests. However, there are some restrictions, such as not being able to put weapons back into the racks once taken and not being able to log out inside the ship since it is not player-owned. Despite these limitations, the ship comes with useful components, including Military-grade shields and various military equipment.

Ryan also discusses some technical issues encountered, such as the ship disappearing during refueling attempts and the inability to repair armor once it is lost. Refueling via NPC services generally works, though it can be buggy, and repairing the ship’s components is possible through the Ship Repair Terminal. However, players cannot rearm the ship manually yet, making the weapon racks less useful. Ryan hopes that future updates will allow players to rearm the ship and use the weapon racks effectively, which would make the Cutlass Black an excellent drop ship for group missions.

Importantly, the free Cutlass Black can be stored in the player’s hangar and summoned later, giving ongoing access to the ship. Ryan confirms that after resolving a server bug, the ship can be stored and retrieved normally. The mission is repeatable after a cooldown period, allowing players to potentially gather more loot and components over time. He advises completing the mission to build reputation and maximize rewards, including armor and weapons that can be looted from defeated NPCs.

In conclusion, Ryan highlights the value of this mission for new and existing players, providing a free, usable Cutlass Black with some caveats. He encourages viewers to subscribe, follow his streams, and support his channel through affiliates and memberships. The video serves as both a guide to obtaining the ship and a commentary on the current state of the game’s mechanics, hoping for improvements in future patches to enhance the ship’s usability and player experience.