In Everspace 2, players have access to a limited lineup of starships, but some models aren’t as easy to obtain as they first appear. This guide explains how to unlock new ships, where to buy them, and what each one brings to combat and exploration.
Where to buy and how to get new ships
Progressing through the main story unlocks more options. After completing the mission Spare Parts & Scrap and meeting Agent Shaw on the Nephtys Plains, players can dock at the station and acquire one of the available starships.
Ship merchants offer five distinct vessels. Some variants are cosmetic, while others introduce unique capabilities that change how fights unfold.
As the story advances toward the Union System, the Freelancer Hangar expands the fleet even further. At present, most combat ships in the game can be purchased here.
Note: Everspace 2 is still in development, so additional starships may appear in future updates. This guide will be updated accordingly.
Sentry I
This is the starter craft available to all players. It carries a fragile shield and often requires a visit to a station for repairs after sustained damage.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 25%
- Frame: 280
- Peculiarity: Calibration – buff duration increases by 30%.
- Ultimate Skill: Static Overload converts the main weapon into lightning cannons firing electric arcs at enemy ships.
- Passive power: Destroying an enemy with static overload restores 10% of shield durability.
Sentinel I plus
This upgrade improves morale and survivability with a stronger shield, heavier armor, and more hull points. To acquire it, players must amass 31,177 credits and visit the Nephtys Plains station in the Freelancer Hangar.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 30%
- Frame: 392
- Peculiarity: Calibration – buff duration is increased by 30%.
- Ultimate Skill: Static Overload – primary weapons become lightning cannons that blast enemy ships.
- Passive power: Reduces the cooldown on combat devices by 20%.
Additional upgrades for this ship grant unique passive effects:
- All support devices reset cooldown immediately when the shield is empty (usable every 2 minutes).
- Each enemy destroyed reduces any device cooldown by 1 second.
Interceptor I
The Interceptor I becomes available at the Nephtys Plains station for 13,325 credits. Its peculiarity lets players burn through enemies without wasting weapon energy.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 10%
- Frame: 360
- Peculiarity: Power Converter – weapon uses reserve energy after the main supply is exhausted.
- Ultimate Skill: Weapon Overdrive – weapon damage and rate of fire surge with unlimited energy; defeating an enemy extends the duration by 1 second.
- Passive power: Increases primary weapon damage by 10%.
Remark: If bought from the Freelancer Hangar in the Union System, the Interceptor I features a different skin, design, and passive function: it returns 20% of energy used after the ult ends. Price is 13,153 credits.
Interceptor I Plus
A more capable version is sold in the Freelancer Hangar for 30,620 credits. It brings more power, armor, and shield, but without any additional special features beyond those upgrades.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 15%
- Shield: 10%
- Frame: 504
- Peculiarity: Power Converter – weapon uses reserve energy after the main supply is exhausted.
- Ultimate Skill: Weapon Overdrive – greatly increases weapon damage and rate of fire with unlimited energy; killing an enemy extends the duration by 1 second.
- Passive power: Increases primary weapon damage by 10%.
There are additional upgrade paths for this aircraft, featuring unique passive effects:
- Collecting an energy ball increases the chance of a critical shot by 1-20% for 8 seconds.
- Hits from the main weapon restore 30% of the energy.
Attacker me
The Striker I can also be bought at the Nephtys Plains station for 12,885 credits. Its ultimate ability enables area damage by targeting a single enemy, and paired with Close Combat Mode it becomes a formidable weapon.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 5%
- Shield: 10%
- Frame: 300
- Peculiarity: Close Combat – increases damage against nearby enemies within 500 meters by up to 30%.
- Ultimate Skill: Quantum Tether – damage to one target is shared with nearby enemies; more enemies mean more total damage.
- Passive power: blocks enemy target speed by 20%.
Remark: If purchased from the Freelancer Hangar in the Union System, the Striker I features a different skin and passive function. It instantly restores 50% armor after using the ult. Price listed at 12,741 credits.
Striker I Plus
The Striker I Plus is a stronger variant available in the Freelancer Hangar for 30,491 credits. It offers more power, hull, and armor, with no extra special changes beyond those upgrades.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 10%
- Shield: 15%
- Frame: 420
- Peculiarity: Close Combat – increases damage against enemies within 500 meters by up to 30%.
- Ultimate Skill: Quantum Tether – damage to one target transfers to other enemies in range; more surrounding ships increases max damage.
- Passive power: reduces the movement speed of blocked targets by 20%.
Weapon ship I
Like other ships, the Weapon ship I becomes available at the Nephtys Plains station for 12,672 credits. It offers high firepower and a potent arsenal, supported by an ultimate ability that sustains damage against powerful foes.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 0%
- Shield: 60%
- Frame: 480
- Peculiarity: Arsenal – uses four main nodes, which doubles its rate of fire and energy consumption.
- Ultimate Skill: Turret – an automatic turret fires at enemies for 20 seconds after activation.
- Passive power: Turret can also engage mines when active.
Gunship I Cosmetic
This is an alternate cosmetic skin available at the Nephtys Plains station for 14,353 credits.
Gunship I Plus
This upgraded model is sold at the same place as the base upgrade, with a price tag that exceeds the base by more than double, at 30,905 credits.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 5%
- Shield: 65%
- Frame: 672
- Peculiarity: Arsenal – four main nodes double the rate of fire, increasing energy use.
- Ultimate Skill: Turret – automatic turret remains active for 20 seconds against enemies.
- Passive power: grants a 30% damage bonus against drones.
Remark: Buying this ship from the Freelancer Hangar in the Union System yields a different skin and a passive effect. The extra ability reads Coil Gun Gurret, and the ship price is 31,247 credits.
Explorer I
The Explorer I is a light reconnaissance craft offered at the Nephtys Plains station for 13,524 credits. It trades hull strength for long-range scouting and distance capabilities, keeping pilots safe while surveying the void.
Characteristics:
- Shield: -5%
- Shield: -15%
- Frame: 160
- Peculiarity: Ranger – deals 2% more damage for every 100 meters from the target.
- Ultimate Skill: Shadow Strike – makes the ship invisible and increases weapon damage up to 300%; firing ends invisibility and can draw auto-aim attention.
- Passive power: the ship avoids mines during the active ult.
Remark: Two additional Explorer variants with unique passive abilities are available in the Freelancer Hangar. One shares the same look and the other is gray with red trim. Passive Skills include energy regen boosts during the ult and, separately, a brief invulnerability after the ult ends.
Scout I Plus
The Scout I Plus is a reinforced version offered for 31,016 credits.
Characteristics:
- Shield: 0%
- Shield: -10%
- Frame: 224
- Peculiarity: Ranger – deals 2% more damage for every 100 meters distance from the target.
- Ultimate Skill: Shadow Strike – makes the ship invisible and boosts weapon damage to 300%; firing ends invisibility and can trigger auto-aim.
- Passive power: the ship ignores mines during the ult.
Note: The Interceptor I from the Union System’s Freelancer Hangar grants a skin and a different passive: weapon range increases by 30%, plus higher energy recovery during exercise. Details are subject to in-game updates and may vary by build.