The Anvil F8C Lightning is a heavily armed and durable heavy fighter in Star Citizen, featuring improved agility, strong forward firepower, and moderate shields, making it a competitive choice for skilled pilots despite its high price. With enhanced handling and customizable weapon loadouts, the ship has seen a significant performance boost in recent patches, earning a higher rating and solidifying its role as a formidable combat vessel.
In this Star Citizen ship review, Even Lee presents the Anvil F8C Lightning, a heavy fighter that has undergone significant changes over the years. The ship is now publicly available for $300 store credit or can be acquired in-game. It features a 16-minute claim time, which can be expedited to about 5 minutes, and boasts impressive forward-facing firepower with a combination of size 3 and size 2 weapons, including CF337 Panthers, Tarantula GT870s, and CF227 Badgers. The reviewer recommends customizing the weapon loadout for optimal performance, suggesting either a full CF package or an NDB setup for experienced pilots.
The ship’s defenses include two size 2 stealth-grade B shield generators, which provide a moderate shield output of 5,780, and a substantial ship health pool of 40,200, making it quite durable if the pilot can effectively avoid incoming fire. The F8C Lightning has improved maneuverability and speed in the latest patch, with a top SCM speed of 210 and enhanced pitch, yaw, and roll rates compared to previous versions. These improvements make it a more agile and competitive heavy fighter in combat scenarios.
Fuel capacity is somewhat unbalanced, with nearly 40 SU of hydrogen fuel but only 1.3 SU of quantum fuel. While this is understandable given the ship’s role as a heavy fighter without cargo or living space, it limits its long-distance travel capabilities. The exterior of the ship is visually appealing with detailed paint options, though it lacks the gold standard pass available on some other ships. The cockpit offers good visibility, four multifunction displays, and accessible storage with a capacity of 650,000 micro SCU, which adds some utility despite the ship’s combat focus.
Gameplay footage showcased by Even Lee demonstrates the ship’s improved combat capabilities, highlighting its ability to hold its own in dogfights thanks to its firepower and upgraded handling. The reviewer emphasizes that combat outcomes can vary greatly depending on pilot skill and circumstances but notes the F8C Lightning’s steady progression in performance with each patch. The ship receives a higher score than before, moving from 74 to 82 out of 100, reflecting its growing viability as a heavy fighter in Star Citizen.
In conclusion, the Anvil F8C Lightning is praised for its powerful armament, improved agility, and solid durability, making it a strong contender in its class despite its high price point. Even Lee encourages viewers to consider the ship, especially on Anvil Day, while also promoting customization to maximize its combat effectiveness. The review ends with a shoutout to Longship Industries for PC builds, tying in a personal recommendation for quality and support.