Fighters for Carriers?

[BeastBabyMayo]

I just Built my First Shark and was wondering what the best fighter and fighter setup would be. Maybe Like a top three would be nice to give some variety.

[Cookieknabberer]

I had some luck with the Barracuda. It has strong shields and is quite fast.

So while Split have more DPS they die pretty fast, Terrans are simply to slow and sometimes cannot even catch Xenon SEs, Argons are more like balloons who like to pop. I personally do not like Paranid fighters because they look weird. Teladi I did not try so far.
People say that the flying scrap metal from the syndicate are good but it's flying scrap metal so ...
Anyway I recommend to try it out. Build a squad and look how it performs, then choose the one which you liked the most.

Bring a frigate or two with your carrier to rescue your pilots.

[Dinvan]

Moreya, shih and gladius.

My 3 favs for vanilla carriers.

[Doom]

Originally posted by BeastBabyMayo:

I just Built my First Shark and was wondering what the best fighter and fighter setup would be. Maybe Like a top three would be nice to give some variety.

Chimera is a strong option.

for example, 5x terran pulse mk2, Spl Combat Mk3 Engine, Terran shield.

[Wraith]

Depend on their role

Good interceptor fighters:

Takoba, Moreya, Nova.

Then there are all round fighter like the Kukri which is slow but the alpha strike potential make strong for versatile roles from bombers to interceptor

Then you have the attacker
Ships that excellent in damage
Chimera, Shih, Gladius

It up to you to figure out which you like more

[Captain Canard]

Originally posted by Wraith:

It up to you to figure out which you like more

That's what I'm thinking, too. I usually go with cheaper fighters because losing expensive fighters is... expensive! Unless you're filthy rich and money (and supplies) is no matter, "spare no expense" and all that.

The other variable is how the AI uses each ship. While I may be way more effective in a Pulsar than a Nova, thus justifying the cost difference, the AI may not be. This takes some experimenting to get a feel for.

[chronobomb]

I recommend the Nova for your first fighter to learn with. they tend to survive fairly well. They can cover multiple rolls. There cheap to lose as you are learning. They are also the most maneuverable fighter which helps their survivability at lower pilot skill levels.

Last they can be replaced with a closed loop shipyard so you can start turning them out fairly early.

[Narn]

The Xenon have the coolest looking ships. Too bad they are always underclassed and under powered.

[Erei]

Going for the overall best carrier wing (this is not for player use, only for carrier launched wings, used by AI) :
-interceptor (gotta go fast, strength in numbers ):
takoba (terran DLC), often presented as the overall best.
kyd (avarice)
nodan (ali faction, the wharf is in Trinity 7, vanilla)
mamba (split dlc)
cutlass (player only, need player wharf, timelines DLC)
-bombers (capital go boom). You use torpedoes or blast mortar (if you don't like the ammo thing)
ares (vanilla)
gladius (terran)
shih (avarice)

Heavy fighter is same than bomber but with different guns.

There are others like the chimera, but I don't like the lack of shield.
You can always boost the damage output of your wing by simply adding more fighters, but you can't boost their speed and shield in any way.

Borons only is tricky because they only have 1 fighter and 1 heavy fighter anyway, and use unique weapons. Most of those weapons are less effective at killing, and they can only use torpedoes for bombing.
However, I feel like their M are better overall than their S.

[Doom]

Originally posted by Captain Canard:

Originally posted by Wraith:

It up to you to figure out which you like more

That's what I'm thinking, too. I usually go with cheaper fighters because losing expensive fighters is... expensive! Unless you're filthy rich and money (and supplies) is no matter, "spare no expense" and all that.

The other variable is how the AI uses each ship. While I may be way more effective in a Pulsar than a Nova, thus justifying the cost difference, the AI may not be. This takes some experimenting to get a feel for.

Pulsar has 6 guns, so you could create TER laser or Beam pulsars for carriers. Though I guess it makes sense to have a ship which can survive a single hit and run for repairs. Moreya and Chimera have more hull and generally are better at surviving.

[Wraith]

Pulsar use to be better but the new flight stuff hasn't done them to much justice as they struggle more now in bombing run more then before.

Though a squad of pulsar with torpedo still pretty much wipe out any capital ship with impunity

[Mariouzs]

Split Chimera is the best, with Split mk4 combat engines is the fastest with 560 m/s, with the teladi mk3 shield with 1552 plus its hull of 6100 is the tankiest, and with 5 hardpoints for weapons, either as an interceptor or bomber, is the best in my opinion.

[Killzad]

Old setup was Moreya and KAtanas.

the economy way is the Shish & Nova,

And latest patch Raptor Vs 200+ Xenon is 20x2 Cuttlas and 25x2 Obachi.

[Wraith]

Odachi is great

I don’t see the appeal of cutlass though
They always die in my fleet

[Killzad]

Originally posted by Wraith:

Odachi is great

I don’t see the appeal of cutlass though
They always die in my fleet

Yes your correct Cutlass is nothing special, the point in my fleet at the begging was thinking to keep it in a way thematic tandem with the Obachi. since it preformed surprisingly good in this set up i kept it. Also was nice change to get away from torpedoes and skip on the AUX support ship.

[The Big Brzezinski]

Falcons Vanguard do a lot of good work. Solid and economical all-arounders that you don't have to jump through hoops for.