normal fighters or guardian fighters?

[Pog my Hog]

i'm not really at a point where i can do guardian things but i heard that guardian fighters aren't as good as normal fighters so are they worth it outside of just having the options?

[Strangled Snake]

Guardian fighters are for the niche that is thargoid combat. And even then, in anti xeno combat they are relatively useless and that internal slot could be used for more hull reinforcement.
AX fighters are the same.
So stick to regular fighters. Imperial fighter is the way to go.

[Hobo Misanthropus]

Guardian Fighters are in all offensive terms stronger than Human fighters, but only the Lance is useful for AI (As it's hitscan)

The Trident and especially the Javelin are ideal for players. The Trident is the ONLY fighter that inflicts Absolute Damage (True Plasma Chargers, not the Kinetic/Thermic Repeaters one of the Taipans and Condors use) and thus chews through even engineered shields with alarming haste. Having tested this against my own Icutter with 60% shield resist across all fronts, I can confirm that the DPS rating of the Trident does not match is real-world damage. It's closer to 40-60 absolute damage, on par with a solidly engineered Plasma Accel class 3.

The Javelin is the highest DPS fighter in the game, but the AI just cannot use it, while a good player can capitalize on its "Close Air Support" mantra of sub 300M engagement. However, this damage is Thermic only. So while it absolutely annihilates AI ships, it's not particularly effective against Player ships (Though still a solid DPS boost in the right right hands)

The lance is hands-down the deadliest fighter in AI hands, as it allows high-ranked AI crew to abuse the "Rail Sniper" mechanic in a nearly untouchable SLF platform. The AI also ignores the Thermal load of the gauss, and fires them incessantly, and this fighter makes short work of any target. Its one disadvantage is it has limited ammo, so if you notice your fighter has stopped attacking, recall it for a rearm, or ram it for the lulz.

Ironically, as BauBau pointed out, these fighters, even though designed for Anti-Xeno combat, are poor options for engaging interceptors (But extremely potent options for engaging scouts)

If you only intend on using AI Crew, unlock the Lance, and keep either a Fixed Beam Taipan or Fixed Multicannon Condor as well. Fixed beam Imperial fighter is an option too, but is a tad too fragile. Start your AI on the fixed-guns Condor (The tankiest because of the Chaff) and when they hit dangerous+ put them on the lance, and watch the mayhem.

[Vahnkiljoy]

I dunno, sounds like you need to rank up your npc there hobo, my deadly ai can land tons of shots in the trident...

[Hobo Misanthropus]

Originally posted by Vahnkiljoy:

I dunno, sounds like you need to rank up your npc there hobo, my deadly ai can land tons of shots in the trident...

I have two Elite AI pilots, so I guess they get worse aim as they rank up. I don't know why, they both have perfect accuracy with Fixed Multis on the condor. But anything smaller than a Python, they can't hit consistently with the Trident.

[Elitewrecker PT]

Sorry for side topic but speaking of AI pilots. Why does he rank up faster already at a higher rank than I do At a lower rank.

[Vahnkiljoy]

They get a bonus on top of the split rank points.

[丂ㄩ卩乇尺ᐯ乇ㄥㄖ匚]

guardian fighters with an Elite pilot crew member is Letal ....

[Vahnkiljoy]

Guardian fighters are far and above better than human fighters, YES, you don't have chaff or any support tool but you have deadly as hell weapons compared to the human fighters.