FTL: Faster Than Light Classes & Characters: Complete Guide

Q: What is the best starting ship in FTL?

The Kestrel Cruiser Type A is the most forgiving, since it opens with a Burst Laser Mark II, Artemis Missiles and three crew with no gimmick to manage. The Mantis Cruiser is stronger in the hands of someone who already understands boarding, because captured ships pay more scrap than destroyed ones.

Q: Which weapons should I always buy?

Burst Laser Mark II, Flak Gun Mark I and Halberd Beam, in roughly that order. The first two strip shields cheaply, the Halberd pierces one shield layer and hits two damage per room across a whole sweep, and together they cover both halves of almost every fight.

Q: How do I beat the Rebel Flagship?

Arrive with three shield layers, a way to stop its missiles such as Cloaking or Defence Drones, and enough burst damage to break a phase before it repairs. The loadout never changes across the three phases, so the fight rewards preparation more than reaction.

Q: Is Advanced Edition worth turning on?

It is free, it is on by default, and it added the Lanius, Hacking, Mind Control, the Clone Bay, the Backup Battery and the Abandoned Sector. The only argument for switching it off is that the extra systems make an already tight scrap budget tighter.

Q: Why do I keep running out of fuel?

Every jump costs one fuel and there is no way to generate it without events or stores. If you are burning jumps exploring rather than moving toward the exit beacon, you will hit sector four with two fuel and no store, which is how most fuel deaths actually happen.

Every FTL: Faster Than Light build and class explained. Strengths, weaknesses, best gear, and which to pick for your playstyle.

EarlyGuides Editorial Team

Researched and editorially reviewed. Updated August 12, 2026.

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.

Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.

Quick Comparison

Build	Tier	Playstyle	Best Equipment	Beginner Friendly?
Kestrel Cruiser	A	Balanced	Burst Laser Mark II	Yes
Engi Cruiser	A	Balanced	Halberd Beam	Yes
Federation Cruiser	A	Balanced	Flak Gun Mark I	Yes
Mantis Cruiser	A	Balanced	Glaive Beam	Yes
Zoltan Cruiser	A	Balanced	Ion Blast Mark II	Yes

New player? Start with Engi Cruiser. See our beginner's guide for why.

Kestrel Cruiser

Kestrel Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Burst Laser Mark II
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Reactor power split across systems

Strengths

Highest overall performance across all content types
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Burst Laser Mark II

Weaknesses

Popular choice, competition for resources
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Civilian Sector to learn Kestrel Cruiser-specific mechanics
Focus on Reactor power split across systems. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Burst Laser Mark II as your first major upgrade
See our full Kestrel Cruiser build guide for the optimal gear progression

Engi Cruiser

Engi Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Halberd Beam
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Active pausing during combat

Strengths

Most versatile, adapts to any situation
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Halberd Beam

Weaknesses

Lower peak damage than S-tier options
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Civilian Sector to learn Engi Cruiser-specific mechanics
Focus on Active pausing during combat. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Halberd Beam as your first major upgrade
See our full Engi Cruiser build guide for the optimal gear progression

Federation Cruiser

Federation Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Flak Gun Mark I
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Crew skills and boarding

Strengths

Best survivability for learning hard content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Flak Gun Mark I

Weaknesses

Slower progression speed
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Civilian Sector to learn Federation Cruiser-specific mechanics
Focus on Crew skills and boarding. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Flak Gun Mark I as your first major upgrade
See our full Federation Cruiser build guide for the optimal gear progression

Mantis Cruiser

Mantis Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Glaive Beam
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Fuel, scrap and the advancing rebel fleet

Strengths

Excellent in group and cooperative content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Glaive Beam

Weaknesses

Less effective solo
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Civilian Sector to learn Mantis Cruiser-specific mechanics
Focus on Fuel, scrap and the advancing rebel fleet. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Glaive Beam as your first major upgrade
See our full Mantis Cruiser build guide for the optimal gear progression

Zoltan Cruiser

Zoltan Cruiser is a strong option in FTL: Faster Than Light.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Ion Blast Mark II
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	The three phase Rebel Flagship

Strengths

Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Ion Blast Mark II

Weaknesses

Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Civilian Sector to learn Zoltan Cruiser-specific mechanics
Focus on The three phase Rebel Flagship. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Ion Blast Mark II as your first major upgrade
See our full Zoltan Cruiser build guide for the optimal gear progression

Which Build Should You Pick?

For Beginners

Engi Cruiser is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.

For Maximum Performance

Kestrel Cruiser is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Burst Laser Mark II for the strongest overall setup.

For a Challenge

Zoltan Cruiser offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.

For Group Play

Mantis Cruiser shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.

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