In a recent update to Star Citizen, the F7C Hornet Mark I was introduced as an upgrade to the Anvil Hornet series, seemingly more powerful than the military version, the F7A Hornet. However, a closer look at the stats and potential loadouts reveals that the power and effectiveness differences between the two ships are not as significant as they may initially appear, with the F7C potentially excelling with energy weapons while the F7A may be better suited for a ballistic loadout.
In a recent update to Star Citizen, the f7c Hornet Mark I was introduced as an upgrade to the Anvil Hornet series, boasting 12,000 more HP, an extra size 1 power plant, and two size four weapon hard points compared to the super Hornets two size three hard points. However, there is another upgrade available - the military version, the f7a Hornet. Despite initial impressions of the f7a being a more powerful ship, a closer look at the stats reveals that the power differential is largely due to the stock loadout of the ships. The f7c does not come equipped with weapons on the nose and turret hardpoints, while the f7a does, giving the appearance of a significant power difference.
Upon equipping equivalent weapons to the f7c that can be easily bought and attached in-game, the power gap between the f7a and f7c narrows considerably, with only 39 DPS difference between them. Additionally, the f7c has almost twice the weapon recharge speed compared to the f7a, giving it an advantage in maintaining pressure and dealing damage during combat. Furthermore, if a pilot prefers a full energy loadout and replaces ballistics, the f7c’s superiority becomes even more pronounced, with the f7a only 13 DPS ahead and facing longer reload times due to potential power bottlenecking.
Although the f7a is not yet flyable in-game, data extracted from game files suggests that the ship may be optimized for a ballistic loadout, which could explain its potential inefficiencies with energy weapons compared to the f7c. This difference in weapon effectiveness could be attributed to the f7a having one size 2 power plant while the f7c has two size 1 power plants. It is important to note that acquiring the f7a involves completing missions over weeks to earn the upgrade for the f7c Mark I, resulting in the loss of the f7c. Therefore, players who are not fans of ballistic weapons may find the f7a less appealing and may prefer sticking with the f7c Mark I.
Overall, while the f7a Hornet may initially seem like a significant upgrade over the f7c, a closer examination of the stats and potential loadouts reveals that the differences in power and effectiveness are not as significant as they may appear. The choice between the f7a and f7c ultimately depends on individual pilot preferences, playstyles, and weapon loadout preferences, with the f7a potentially being better suited for a ballistic loadout while the f7c may excel with energy weapons.