Subset Games, meaning Justin Ma and Matthew Davis, shipped this on 14 September 2012 after a Kickstarter that asked for 10,000 dollars and collected roughly twenty times that. You run a Federation ship through eight sectors with a Rebel fleet closing behind you, spending scrap on systems and weapons, and the run ends against a three phase Rebel Flagship in Sector 8. The free Advanced Edition update in April 2014 added the Lanius, hacking, mind control, the Clone Bay and the Backup Battery, and it is on by default now. Nothing is randomised in your favour, and a good run is mostly a sequence of decisions about what not to buy.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kestrel Cruiser | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Engi Cruiser | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Federation Cruiser | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Mantis Cruiser | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Zoltan Cruiser | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our FTL: Faster Than Light tier list.
A-Tier: Kestrel Cruiser
Kestrel Cruiser is a top-performing option in FTL: Faster Than Light.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Burst Laser Mark II | Two power, three shots, twelve second cooldown, and the single most recommended weapon in the game. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Reactor power split across systems | Every system needs reactor bars and you never have enough. |
How to Play Kestrel Cruiser
Kestrel Cruiser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Burst Laser Mark II does the damage and Reactor power split across systems keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Engi Cruiser
Engi Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Halberd Beam | Three power, seventeen second cooldown, two damage per room, and unusually it pierces one shield layer, so it still lands one damage per room through a single barrier. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Active pausing during combat | Space pauses everything and you can still issue orders, target rooms, move crew and change power allocation. |
How to Play Engi Cruiser
Engi Cruiser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Halberd Beam with Active pausing during combat and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Federation Cruiser
Federation Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Flak Gun Mark I | Two power, three projectiles, ten second cooldown, and no ammunition cost. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Crew skills and boarding | Crew improve at whatever station they man, and each of the eight species has a hard rule attached: Engi repair at double speed and take half damage in melee, Rockmen carry 150 percent health and ignore fire, Zoltan supply one free power bar to whichever room they stand in, Lanius drain the air out of rooms they occupy. |
How to Play Federation Cruiser
Federation Cruiser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Crew skills and boarding covers the gap Flak Gun Mark I leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Mantis Cruiser
Mantis Cruiser is a specialized option in FTL: Faster Than Light.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Glaive Beam | Four power, twenty five second cooldown, three damage per room and it pierces two shield layers. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Fuel, scrap and the advancing rebel fleet | Every jump costs one fuel and advances the rebel fleet behind you, so the map is a race rather than a tour. |
How to Play Mantis Cruiser
Mantis Cruiser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Fuel, scrap and the advancing rebel fleet rather than raw numbers, and Glaive Beam is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Zoltan Cruiser
Zoltan Cruiser is a specialized option in FTL: Faster Than Light.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Ion Blast Mark II | The fastest cycling ion weapon available. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | The three phase Rebel Flagship | Sector 8 ends against a Flagship with four weapon mounts, a boarding drone, and three separate phases that repair between fights. |
How to Play Zoltan Cruiser
Zoltan Cruiser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Ion Blast Mark II and The three phase Rebel Flagship pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Engi Cruiser: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Kestrel Cruiser once you understand core mechanics and have access to Burst Laser Mark II
- Keep a Federation Cruiser setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Zoltan Cruiser for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Pause and stagger. Charging three weapons and firing them in one instant strips three shield layers at once, where firing them as they finish charging lets shields regenerate between shots.
- Buy the second shield layer before a third weapon, every time. Two layers stop most sector one to three enemies outright, and the scrap saved on repairs pays for the weapon later.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More FTL: Faster Than Light Guides
- FTL: Faster Than Light FTL: Faster Than Light Overview
- FTL: Faster Than Light Tier List
- FTL: Faster Than Light Walkthrough
- FTL: Faster Than Light Beginner's Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Tips & Tricks
- FTL: Faster Than Light Weapons Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Combat Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Boss Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Maps & Locations
- FTL: Faster Than Light Crafting Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Classes & Characters
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