Star Citizen Cutlass Black  Guide: Is It Worth It in Alpha 4.10?

The Drake Cutlass Black  remains one of Star Citizen's most flexible medium multirole ships because it combines meaningful cargo space, ground-vehicle transport, strong pilot-controlled armament, a manned turret, missiles, and a rear tractor beam without moving into large-ship logistics.

In Alpha 4.10, it carries 46 SCU, gives the pilot four Size 3 weapons, adds two more Size 3 guns in the manned turret, and carries 16 missiles. Current vehicle data lists Crew 3, although one or two players are enough for most practical sessions. Its clearest weakness is defense: the current shield pool is only 7,200 HP, leaving less margin for sustained incoming fire than cargo-oriented alternatives such as the C1 Spirit  or Freelancer .

That balance is why the Cutlass Black  still works as a daily driver. It does not dominate one profession, but relatively little of the ship becomes useless when your plans change from combat to cargo, a bunker mission, ROC  mining, or a multicrew session.

Cutlass Black  Specifications in Alpha 4.10

SpecificationCurrent Alpha 4.10
Manufacturer	Drake Interplanetary
Role	Light Freight / Medium Fighter
Size	S3
Cargo	46 SCU
Cargo grids	40 SCU main + 6 SCU rear
Crew — current vehicle data	3
Practical crew — editorial	1–2 for most sessions
Length	37.5 m
Width	26.5 m
Height	11.5 m
SCM speed	217 m/s
NAV speed	1,150 m/s
Shield	7,200 HP
Pilot weapons	4 × S3
Manned turret	2 × S3
Missiles	16
Utility	Rear S1 SureGrip tractor beam
Quantum fuel	4.6 SCU
Current MSRP	$110
Current listed in-game price	2,010,960 aUEC

These figures come from vehicle data locked to 4.10.0-LIVE.12519617. The same data identifies two separate cargo grids: a 40-SCU main grid and a 6-SCU rear grid.

Why the Cutlass Black  Still Works as a Daily Driver

The Cutlass Black 's advantage is not class-leading cargo, firepower, shielding, or speed. Its strength is that several useful roles coexist in one hull without making the ship impractical for a solo owner.

The pilot retains control of all four main Size 3 weapons and the missile system. The rear compartment provides a usable freight and vehicle space, while the ramp supports straightforward ground access. A second player can occupy the manned turret instead of merely sitting in a passenger position.

That creates a different ownership pattern from a specialist ship. You can finish a combat contract, land for an FPS objective, recover physical cargo, or bring a vehicle for surface work without returning to a station simply because your next activity needs a different hull.

The compromise is equally important. The Cutlass  carries less cargo than dedicated medium haulers, its defensive margin is modest, and solo flight leaves the turret unused. It is versatile because it accepts those trade-offs, not because it avoids them.

Cargo, Vehicles, and the 46-SCU Hold

The Cutlass Black  carries 46 SCU, but its cargo arrangement is more useful to understand as 40 + 6 SCU than as one uninterrupted freight block. Current Alpha 4.10 data lists a 40-SCU main grid measuring 5.0 × 2.5 × 6.3 meters and a separate 6-SCU rear grid.

That is enough capacity for small freight jobs and cargo recovered during other activities, but not enough to make the Cutlass  a dedicated commodity hauler. Its practical appeal comes from having freight space that can also support vehicle-based gameplay.

The standard Greycat ROC  is a long-established Cutlass Black  pairing. Player-created content hosted on RSI's Community Hub explicitly describes loading a ROC  into the rear of the Cutlass  for mining, which is useful practical evidence even though the Community Hub post itself is not an official vehicle-fit specification.

The ROC-DS  should not be assumed to share that compatibility. CIG's official ROC-DS  Q&A places it in the same vehicle-fit class as the Ursa Rover, meaning it requires substantially more vehicle space than the standard ROC .

Carrying a ground vehicle also changes how much of the interior remains convenient for cargo. The nominal grid capacity does not change, but accessible floor space and loading routes do. For ROC  mining, bunker runs, recovery work, and mixed sessions, that trade can be worthwhile; for repetitive commodity hauling, it is usually wasted space compared with a cargo-first design.

The Rear Tractor Beam Adds Useful Utility

Current 4.10 data shows a SureGrip Size 1 tractor beam mounted on the ship's rear remote turret.

Its location suits work around the ramp and cargo compartment, but the Cutlass  is not designed around freight handling to the same degree as the C1 Spirit . A solo pilot still has to leave the flight role to perform physical cargo work.

The tractor beam therefore improves general-purpose logistics without transforming the Cutlass  into a dedicated cargo platform.

Combat: Four Pilot Guns Plus a Real Second-Player Role

The Cutlass Black  remains unusually well armed for a ship with this much usable interior space.

Current Alpha 4.10 data gives the pilot four Size 3 weapon mounts. The stock loadout uses two Mantis GT-220 ballistic Gatlings and two CF-337 Panther laser repeaters. Its manned turret carries another two Size 3 Panthers. The ship also carries 16 missiles, split in the current stock configuration between Size 2 Tempest IIs and Size 3 Arrester IIIs.

That makes the ship functional in combat even when flown alone. Adding a second player, however, produces a meaningful upgrade: the turret contributes another pair of Size 3 weapons while the pilot retains the four forward guns.

The turret also provides firing coverage that is not tied directly to the pilot's nose. In PvE encounters where the pilot cannot keep every target centered continuously, that can make a duo Cutlass  more useful than its raw weapon count alone suggests.

The 7,200-HP Shield Is the Main Defensive Constraint

The current Cutlass Black  shield pool is 7,200 HP.

That is sufficient for routine PvE when the pilot controls engagement distance and avoids prolonged incoming fire, but it leaves relatively little room for mistakes. The Cutlass  should not be treated like a heavier gunship simply because it carries six guns across the pilot and turret positions.

In PvP, the compromise becomes more pronounced. The Cutlass  presents a larger target than a dedicated fighter and does not have enough shielding to turn repeated positioning errors into harmless attrition. A turret gunner improves coverage, but players interested almost exclusively in ship-to-ship PvP are likely to get more value from a dedicated combat platform.

Can You Solo the Cutlass Black ?

Yes. The Cutlass Black  is genuinely usable solo in Alpha 4.10, but a solo pilot cannot use every station simultaneously.

The pilot retains the four forward Size 3 guns, missiles, flight systems, cargo capacity, and normal vehicle-transport functionality. The current vehicle-data crew field is 3, while the ship's current data also identifies three total crew stations.

For practical play, one person is enough for general PvE, transport, light cargo, bunker work, ROC  operations, and routine travel. With two players, the Cutlass  gains its most valuable multicrew improvement because the second person can operate the turret or assist with physical mission tasks and cargo. A third player is supported by the ship's current station count, but does not create the same immediate combat increase as adding the turret gunner.

That makes solo-capable and duo-friendly a more useful description than simply repeating the Crew 3 data field.

Alpha 4.10 Fuel Profile

Fuel is one of the areas where Alpha 4.10 materially changes how the Cutlass  should be evaluated.

Current component data exposes two 3.9-SCU hydrogen tanks, for 7.8 SCU in total, while the higher-level vehicle summary rounds fuel capacity to 8 SCU. Quantum fuel is 4.6 SCU, and the current vehicle-data range is approximately 422 billion meters.

Compared with the previous configuration, the 4.10 change moved quantum capacity from 1.8 to 4.6 SCU while hydrogen capacity dropped from 36 to 7.8 SCU. The practical ownership effect is straightforward: long quantum trips are less restrictive than before, while extended conventional flight deserves more attention to hydrogen use.

For a ship commonly used to move between unrelated mission types and planetary locations, that is a meaningful change to daily operation rather than a paper specification.

Cutlass Black  Price and In-Game Availability

Current 4.10 vehicle data lists an MSRP of $110 and an in-game purchase price of 2,010,960 aUEC at New Deal in Lorville. The same current dataset includes rental locations, with listed prices around 50,274 to 52,920 aUEC depending on terminal.

Rental access makes the Cutlass  relatively easy to evaluate before committing either a large amount of in-game currency or real money. A rental session quickly reveals whether its cockpit, handling, cargo layout, and lighter defensive profile suit the way you actually play.

The $110 figure should be treated as the ship's MSRP, not as a universal price across every acquisition method. Standard standalone pledges, historical Warbond offers, CCU'd ships, and third-party listings are separate price categories.

Is the Cutlass Black  Worth Buying?

For in-game progression, the Cutlass Black  makes sense when you want one purchase to open several activities rather than optimize only one.

A player moving up from a starter ship can use it for combat missions, physical cargo, vehicle transport, ROC  mining support, FPS contracts, and two-player sessions without immediately needing several specialized ships.

The pledge decision is narrower. At a $110 MSRP, the value comes from actually using that breadth. If most of your time is spent hauling freight, part of the Cutlass 's weapon and turret package is unused. If you primarily dogfight, the cargo compartment becomes dead weight.

It is most convincing when your sessions genuinely change roles.

Cutlass Black  vs C1 Spirit  and Freelancer 

The C1 Spirit  is the strongest direct alternative for players who care more about solo cargo work. Current version-locked 4.10 data lists 64 SCU, Crew 2, 204 m/s SCM, 10,560 shield HP, and a $125 MSRP.

That gives the C1  18 more SCU than the Cutlass  and a larger defensive buffer. It does not provide the Cutlass 's manned combat turret, so its second crew position does not create the same gunner role. The C1  is therefore more attractive when freight capacity and cargo-first operation matter more than duo combat.

The standard MISC Freelancer  takes the cargo-and-defense trade further. Version-locked Alpha 4.10 data currently lists 66 SCU, 197 m/s SCM, 20,000 shield HP, and a $110 MSRP. Its top-level Crew field currently appears as 4–9, while the same dataset exposes nine total crew stations, so that value is better treated as an unusual current data field than as a simple statement that the ship requires nine players.

The Freelancer  offers more cargo and substantially more shield capacity. The Cutlass  is faster at SCM speed, has a more open vehicle-oriented workflow, and gives a second player a straightforward turret role.

For players choosing between these ships, the real dividing line is specialization. The C1  leans toward solo cargo, the Freelancer  toward freight and defensive margin, while the Cutlass  remains the more combat-oriented multirole option.

Who Should Buy the Cutlass Black ?

The Cutlass Black  fits players whose sessions regularly cross between professions. It makes particular sense when you want to carry a ROC  or smaller vehicle, retrieve physical cargo, retain meaningful solo weapon control, and occasionally bring a friend without moving into a ship that becomes cumbersome when flown alone.

It is less compelling once your preferred profession is already clear. Dedicated haulers can buy more freight capacity and stronger cargo tooling. Dedicated fighter pilots do not benefit from the hold. Players who prioritize defensive safety may prefer the much larger shield pools available on alternatives such as the Freelancer .

The Cutlass  is best understood as a compromise you actively use rather than a specialist ship with extra features attached.

Buying a Cutlass Black  Outside the RSI Store

The provided MMOPIXEL listing currently describes its product as a Cutlass Black  standalone ship with Lifetime Insurance that has been CCU'd from another pledge. It also states that the listing is for a standalone ship and therefore does not include Star Citizen game access; a qualifying game package is still required.

That product should not be compared directly with the $110 RSI MSRP as though they are the same acquisition type. A CCU'd LTI third-party ship, an RSI standalone pledge, a Warbond offer, and an upgrade all have different pricing and ownership contexts.

There is also an important official marketplace disclaimer. CIG states that pledges purchased through third-party services or grey-market transactions are not authorized, supported, or condoned by CIG. It further warns that if a third-party transaction fails, involves fraud, or a gifted pledge is later reclaimed during account restoration, RSI Support does not provide transaction protection for the buyer.

Players considering a third-party purchase should weigh that policy alongside price, insurance, and availability rather than treating an LTI listing as equivalent to buying directly from RSI.

View the current Cutlass Black  standalone/LTI listing on MMOPIXEL

FAQ

Is the Cutlass Black  good for solo players?

Yes. A solo pilot retains four Size 3 weapons, missiles, cargo capacity, vehicle transport, and normal flight functions. The main combat capability left unused from the pilot seat is the two-gun manned turret, which is why the ship is solo-capable rather than completely solo-optimized.

How much cargo does the Cutlass Black  hold?

The Cutlass Black  carries 46 SCU in Alpha 4.10. Current version-locked data divides that capacity between a 40-SCU main grid and a 6-SCU rear grid.

Can the Cutlass Black  carry a ROC ?

The standard Greycat ROC  is a commonly used Cutlass Black  pairing, and RSI Community Hub gameplay content explicitly describes loading one into the ship's rear compartment. That is community evidence rather than an official compatibility matrix. The larger ROC-DS  should not be assumed to fit because CIG classifies it in the larger Ursa-compatible vehicle category.

How much does the Cutlass Black  cost in game?

Current Alpha 4.10 data lists the Cutlass Black  at 2,010,960 aUEC from New Deal at Teasa Spaceport in Lorville. Current rental listings are approximately 50,274–52,920 aUEC, depending on location.

Is the Cutlass Black  better than the C1 Spirit ?

They emphasize different gameplay. The C1  currently carries 64 SCU and has 10,560 shield HP, compared with 46 SCU and 7,200 shield HP on the Cutlass . The Cutlass  instead provides a manned two-gun Size 3 turret, giving a second player a stronger direct combat role.

Final Verdict

The Cutlass Black  continues to justify its place in Alpha 4.10 because its flexibility translates into practical gameplay. A solo pilot gets four Size 3 weapons, missiles, 46 SCU of cargo capacity, vehicle transport, a rear tractor beam, and a ship compact enough for routine use. Adding a second player unlocks a meaningful turret position rather than simply another passenger seat.

Its limitations are just as concrete. 7,200 shield HP is modest for a ship of this size, and neither its 46-SCU capacity nor its cargo tooling makes it the strongest medium hauler. C1  and Freelancer  owners can point to real advantages in cargo and defense, while dedicated fighters waste less mass and interior volume on utility.

The Cutlass Black  therefore makes the most sense for players who value changing plans more than optimizing one profession. If you regularly move between PvE combat, physical cargo, FPS missions, ROC  transport, and occasional multicrew play, its compromises are useful ones. If one activity already dominates your time, a specialist alternative will usually make better use of the same budget.