In this review, Even Lee highlights the Esperia Glaive as a nimble and stylish medium fighter in Star Citizen 4.2, praised for its strong burst damage and agility but hindered by low hull durability and limited power management. He rates the ship 76 out of 100, noting its effectiveness in short-range combat despite some design and defensive drawbacks.
In this video review of the Esperia Glaive from Star Citizen 4.2, Even Lee provides an in-depth look at this medium fighter ship. The Glaive is a human-made replica of a VanDuel ship, originally offered back in August 2015 through Arena Commander Van Duel Swarm challenges or by purchase with referral rewards. The ship features a mix of VanDuel and human components, and while it currently serves as a replica, it is expected to receive updates alongside Squadron 42’s refreshed models.
The Esperia Glaive boasts a balanced claim time of 7 minutes and 35 seconds, which can be expedited to just over two minutes, allowing pilots to quickly rejoin combat. Its armament consists of two size one “weak” laser cannons and two size five Wraith plasma cannons, delivering a strong burst damage per second. Additionally, it carries eight size two bullet 2 missiles, making it well-equipped for medium fighter engagements. However, all the guns on the Glaive are fixed and cannot be swapped out, except for the missiles.
Defensively, the Glaive has two size one military-grade C shield generators providing a 3,460 bubble shield, which is adequate for its class. However, its hull hit points are somewhat disappointing at just under 11,000, making the ship fragile, especially since much of the damage tends to hit its large, wing-like structure. This fragility combined with low power distribution, which forces players to sacrifice cooler power to maintain full shields and weapons, is a notable downside.
Performance-wise, the Glaive is nimble with a top SCM speed of 220 and a boost speed of 480 forward, comparable to the Hornet Mark I. It has good maneuverability with strong pitch, yaw, and roll rates, and its slim, flat design makes it a difficult target to hit. The ship also comes with a reasonable supply of countermeasures and fuel but lacks an interior for extended missions or resting, emphasizing its role as a short-range, combat-focused fighter.
In conclusion, Even Lee rates the Esperia Glaive a 76 out of 100, praising its damage output and agility but criticizing its low hull durability, limited power management, and visibility issues. He invites viewers to share their thoughts and experiences with the ship in the comments and promotes a giveaway on his Discord. Overall, the Glaive is a solid choice for players seeking a stylish and effective medium fighter, albeit with some notable limitations.