Egosoft released X4 on 30 November 2018 as the first X game where you can fly every ship, walk around stations and build stations of your own module by module. Ships come in four sizes, with S and M built and sold at Wharves while L and XL come from Shipyards, which decides where a damaged fleet can actually be repaired. Expansions have widened the map considerably since launch, adding the Split, the Terrans, the pirate space around Avarice and the Boron kingdom.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulse Laser | S | Early fighters and automated patrol wings | The all round S and M weapon, cheap to buy, accurate and effective against both shields and hull without excelling at either. |
| Beam Emitter | A | Shooting down missiles, drones and fast S class interceptors | A continuous beam with perfect tracking, which makes it the answer to fast targets that ordinary projectiles cannot lead. |
| Plasma Cannon | A | Destroyers attacking stations and other capital ships | Slow, heavy projectiles with punishing hull damage and terrible tracking against anything that moves quickly. |
| Shard Battery | B | Close range brawling in Split M class hulls | A Split weapon that fires a wide spread of projectiles for very high close range damage, at the cost of being nearly useless past short range. |
| Torpedo Launcher | B | Killing stations and destroyers without a full battle fleet | Heavy guided ordnance that ignores much of a target's turret defence and does enormous damage to stations and capital hulls. |
S-Tier: Pulse Laser
The all round S and M weapon, cheap to buy, accurate and effective against both shields and hull without excelling at either. It is the correct default for a first fighter and for automated wings you will not be flying yourself.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Early fighters and automated patrol wings |
| Key Mechanic | Four ship size classes from S to XL |
| Recommended Build | S class scouts and fighters |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Pulse Laser: Pairs naturally with S class scouts and fighters thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Beam Emitter
A continuous beam with perfect tracking, which makes it the answer to fast targets that ordinary projectiles cannot lead. Damage per second is modest, so it is a support weapon rather than a main gun.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Shooting down missiles, drones and fast S class interceptors |
| Key Mechanic | Station building with modules and plots |
| Recommended Build | M class corvettes and frigates |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Beam Emitter: Pairs naturally with M class corvettes and frigates thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Plasma Cannon
Slow, heavy projectiles with punishing hull damage and terrible tracking against anything that moves quickly. Mounted on L class ships it is the main tool for stripping station modules.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Destroyers attacking stations and other capital ships |
| Key Mechanic | Crew skill and pilot stars |
| Recommended Build | M class miners and traders |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Plasma Cannon: Pairs naturally with M class miners and traders thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Shard Battery
A Split weapon that fires a wide spread of projectiles for very high close range damage, at the cost of being nearly useless past short range. It rewards aggressive flying and punishes anyone who tries to snipe with it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Close range brawling in Split M class hulls |
| Key Mechanic | Trade and mining automation |
| Recommended Build | L class destroyers and freighters |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shard Battery: Pairs naturally with L class destroyers and freighters thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Torpedo Launcher
Heavy guided ordnance that ignores much of a target's turret defence and does enormous damage to stations and capital hulls. Torpedoes must be manufactured or bought, so a torpedo fleet needs a supply line behind it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Killing stations and destroyers without a full battle fleet |
| Key Mechanic | Faction reputation gating |
| Recommended Build | XL class carriers and auxiliaries |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Torpedo Launcher: Pairs naturally with XL class carriers and auxiliaries thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Argon Prime
- Beam Emitter → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Plasma Cannon → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Pulse Laser → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Buy seminars from faction representatives before you buy your second ship. A one star pilot cannot be given autotrade orders at all and a two star pilot picks poor routes, so 30,000 credits of seminars converts a useless hull into an earning one immediately.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More X4: Foundations Guides
- X4: Foundations X4: Foundations Overview
- X4: Foundations Best Builds
- X4: Foundations Tier List
- X4: Foundations Walkthrough
- X4: Foundations Beginner's Guide
- X4: Foundations Tips & Tricks
- X4: Foundations Combat Guide
- X4: Foundations Boss Guide
- X4: Foundations Maps & Locations
- X4: Foundations Crafting Guide
- X4: Foundations Classes & Characters
Similar Games
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- The Sims 4 Weapons Guide: simulation game with similar mechanics
