The Saber Raven EX is a combat-focused medium fighter in Star Citizen that replaces EMP capabilities with enhanced weaponry, quantum jamming, and bomb racks, offering a versatile but niche role especially suited for specialized PvP strategies. While it features improved armor, speed, and firepower compared to the original Saber, its maneuverability and stealth-combat balance make it less ideal for general PvE gameplay, with its necessity depending on individual player preferences.
In this video, the creator introduces the Saber Raven EX, a new ship added in Star Citizen patch alpha 4.10.1. Unlike previous Saber family ships, which are typically stealth light fighters, the Saber Raven EX is classified as a medium fighter and focuses on combat rather than stealth or EMP capabilities. The ship shares a similar appearance with the original Saber Raven but features additional weaponry, including four size three hardpoints and two size four missile racks that can be customized to carry missiles or bombs. The creator also highlights the interchangeable paint options and opts for the blue steel library paint.
The ship’s components initially come as military grade rather than stealth, which is unusual for the Saber family. The creator customizes the ship by equipping all stealth components, including coolers, power plants, shield generators, quantum drives, and a competitive radar. The Saber Raven EX also features a quantum interdiction generator (QED) that provides quantum jamming capabilities, preventing enemy ships from initiating quantum travel within a range of about 4,750 meters. However, this jamming range is modest compared to other ships like the Risa Mantis, which has a much larger jamming radius.
Comparing the Saber Raven EX to the original Saber, the EX has lower overall health but better armor and faster speeds both in standard and boosted modes. Maneuverability is slightly better in the Saber, but the EX offers more firepower with its four size three hardpoints. The ship’s stealth capabilities can reduce its detection range significantly when powered down, but this limits combat effectiveness since shields and weapons require power. The creator notes that the ship’s stealth and combat balance makes it suitable for specialized roles rather than general PvE gameplay.
During combat testing, the creator finds the ship’s maneuverability somewhat lacking, making dogfighting challenging despite full engine power. Weapon tests reveal that four size three laser cannons perform better than laser repeaters, dealing more damage and downing enemy ships more effectively. The Saber Raven EX’s ability to carry bombs also adds a unique tactical option, allowing for stealth bombing runs, although the limited bomb count restricts the overall impact. The ship’s stealth and bomb capabilities open possibilities for creative gameplay strategies, especially in PvP scenarios.
Overall, the Saber Raven EX is positioned as a combat-focused variant of the Saber Raven, trading EMP functionality for enhanced weaponry and quantum jamming. Its medium fighter classification, combined with stealth components and bomb racks, makes it a versatile but niche ship. The quantum jamming feature is specialized and mostly useful in PvP, with limited utility in PvE. The creator concludes that while the Saber Raven EX offers interesting features and customization, its necessity compared to the original Saber depends on the player’s preferred playstyle and combat needs.