The Captured Vanduul Scythe in Star Citizen Alpha 4.8 is a unique medium fighter known for its distinctive design, good cockpit visibility, strong maneuverability, and versatile armament, making it effective in dogfighting and various combat contracts. Despite its relatively slow speed and niche availability, it offers low operating costs and a fun flying experience, appealing to players seeking a distinctive and engaging ship.
The video review focuses on the Captured Vanduul Scythe, a medium fighter ship in Star Citizen Alpha 4.8. Once one of the rarest ships in player hangars, its availability has slightly increased due to its appearance on the referral ladder. The reviewer, Forrester, follows a structured format covering a ship tour, handling and visibility, combat performance, operating costs and profitability, and a summary. The Scythe’s exterior features include a distinctive ramming blade on the starboard side and a unique cockpit entry animation where the pilot assumes a prone position inside.
Visibility from the cockpit is good, with wide sightlines all around despite the unusual prone seating. The ship’s speed performance includes a default SCM speed limiter of 222 m/s, boosting up to 480 m/s, and a maximum NAV speed of 1,150 m/s. Although equipped with a military-grade quantum drive, the Scythe is relatively slow compared to other medium fighters but can still cover inter-system distances effectively. Its maneuverability and turning ability make it a compelling choice for dogfighting scenarios.
The Scythe’s armament consists of two size one laser cannons below the nose, one size five laser and one size five plasma cannon on each wing, and eight size one missiles with a bespoke launcher. The smaller size one cannons are better suited for shield damage but can be switched off to conserve ammo for the more powerful size five weapons, which deal significant damage. None of the weapons or missile launchers are swappable, and the weapon convergence points vary, which can make aiming slightly challenging.
Operating costs for the Scythe are relatively low, with refueling and repairs costing in the hundreds to low thousands of credits. The ship performs well in various space combat contracts, handling small to medium targets and some poorly defended larger ships effectively. The reviewer suggests leaving the ship mostly stock, possibly upgrading the quantum drive if available. The Scythe’s unique features, such as the prone pilot position, purple lighting, menacing landing gear animation, and red UI, add to its distinctiveness and appeal.
Overall, the Captured Vanduul Scythe is described as a fun and unique ship that balances well with other fighters in the game. Despite its supposed value of $300, it is mainly accessible through expensive bundles or referral rewards, making it less common among players. The reviewer encourages viewers to share their thoughts and consider subscribing for more ship reviews. The Scythe offers an interesting flying and combat experience but remains a niche choice within the Star Citizen community.