E:D Black Box
Multipurpose
Ships
›
Best Ships by Role
E:D Black Box
Every do-everything hull judged for multipurpose use and scored on one 1–100 scale. The rating measures all-round versatility — balance of firepower, internal capacity, range and flexibility — not peak performance in any single role. Ships are grouped by pad class, costs are broken down from hull to A-rated to engineered, and the guide closes with picks for every budget.
A multipurpose ship is the answer to “I don’t want to own and engineer five specialists.” It is a single hull, balanced enough to be re-fitted for whatever tonight’s play is — and good enough at each that you rarely feel the compromise.
Balance, not peaks. Enough hardpoints to win a fair fight, enough optional internals to haul or fit mining tools, enough jump range to roam, and a hull whose modules you’re happy to re-fit often. A specialist beats it at any one job — but the all-rounder beats owning five specialists.
The 1–100 multipurpose rating weighs balance across, in rough order:
The column shows max cargo only as a convenient proxy for internal capacity — do not read it as the verdict. A ship rates highly here for doing several things well, so a lower-cargo hull with great range and guns can out-rank a bigger hold. Compare within a class first.
The cost tables also list an approximate rebuy (~5% of insured value) — what you pay each time the ship is destroyed. It is the number that really governs how boldly you can fly.
This 1–100 rating is a roster-relative, fully-engineered editorial verdict — not a hidden formula. See the shared rating methodology for the full rubric and worked examples.
All 16 all-rounders on one scale, best to worst. The cargo column is a rough capacity proxy, not the ranking — these ships are judged on balance. Per-class breakdowns and costs follow.
| Ship | Class | Max cargo | One-line verdict | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda | Large | 470 t | The ultimate do-everything hull — a fleet in a single ship. | 88 |
| Python | Medium | 294 t | The timeless jack-of-all-trades — the original do-it-all. | 86 |
| Krait Phantom | Medium | 190 t | The best medium all-rounder — versatility without compromise. | 84 |
| Krait Mk II | Medium | 230 t | The combat-leaning all-rounder — the Phantom with bigger guns. | 84 |
| Corsair | Medium | 318 t | The modern medium all-rounder — a fresh take on the Python’s job. | 82 |
| Cobra Mk V | Small | 110 t | The best small all-rounder — punches far above its class. | 80 |
| Asp Explorer | Medium | 130 t | The explorer that does a bit of everything — range-first flexibility. | 80 |
| Mandalay | Medium | 154 t | The explorer-leaning all-rounder — roams brilliantly, fights lightly. | 78 |
| Federal Corvette | Large | 618 t | The warship that moonlights — a fortress that hauls and mines between fights. | 78 |
| Imperial Clipper | Large | 250 t | The fast, cheap large all-rounder — quick and roomy, gated only by Imperial rank. | 73 |
| Cobra Mk III | Small | 64 t | The legendary budget multirole — where many careers begin. | 72 |
| Cobra Mk IV | Small | 92 t | A roomy budget multirole — eclipsed by its newer sibling. | 70 |
| Diamondback Explorer | Small | 60 t | The budget roamer that dabbles — explorer range from any outpost. | 68 |
| Imperial Courier | Small | 92 t | A fast, shielded light dabbler — a bit of everything, all small-scale. | 66 |
| Adder | Small | 30 t | The humble starter all-rounder — a little of everything, cheaply. | 62 |
| Keelback | Medium | 98 t | The cheap fighter-bay medium — samples every job, masters none. | 60 |
Read it in bands: 84–88 is a top-tier do-everything hull; 78–83 is an excellent all-rounder; 62–77 is a capable budget or starter pick. The scores cluster tightly — multipurpose is a deep, competitive field, and several hulls a point apart simply lean toward different jobs.
Small all-rounders are the budget commander’s best friend — cheap, agile, land anywhere, and modern enough (in the Cobra Mk V’s case) to embarrass ships several classes larger. They cap out on internals, but for mixed light work they’re a joy and a rebuy you’ll never fear.
| Ship | Class | Max cargo | Pros & cons for multipurpose | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra Mk V | Small | 110 t | An outstanding small all-rounder — fast, flexible, and lands anywhereModern hull with a great balance of guns, internals and rangeSmall-ship internals cap how much it can haul or tank | 80 |
| Cobra Mk III | Small | 64 t | The iconic budget all-rounder — fast, cheap, and game for anythingSmall internals and a thin tank by modern standards | 72 |
| Cobra Mk IV | Small | 92 t | A roomy, stable small multirole with decent internalsSluggish and dated; outclassed by the Cobra Mk V | 70 |
| Diamondback Explorer | Small | 60 t | Explorer-grade range with small-pad access to any outpostOne large plus two medium hardpoints for light combatSmall internals, modest cargo and thin shields cap the heavy end | 68 |
| Imperial Courier | Small | 92 t | Blistering speed and superb shields for a small hullCheap, agile, and lands at any outpostClass-3 internals keep every role small-scale; Imperial rank to buy | 66 |
| Adder | Small | 30 t | Dirt cheap, balanced, and surprisingly capable for its sizeSlow, plain, and very limited internals | 62 |
| Ship | Hull | A-rated fit | To engineer | ~Rebuy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra Mk V | 2.0M | ~5.4M | materials · Moderate | ~268k |
| Cobra Mk III | 350k | ~3.0M | materials · Moderate | ~152k |
| Cobra Mk IV | 765k | ~3.5M | materials · Moderate | ~177k |
| Diamondback Explorer | 1.64M | ~8M | materials · Moderate | ~400k |
| Imperial Courier | 2.5M | ~8M | materials · Moderate | ~400k |
| Adder | 88k | ~1.6M | materials · Moderate | ~80k |
The Cobra Mk V (80) is the standout — a modern small hull with a remarkable balance of guns, internals and range that punches into medium territory. The classic Cobra Mk III (72) remains the iconic budget multirole, the Cobra Mk IV (70) a roomier (if dated) cousin, and the Adder (62) the humble floor.
The medium class is the natural home of the all-rounder. A medium balances real firepower, generous internals and good range while still docking almost everywhere — which is why the genre’s most beloved ships, the Krait pair and the Python, all live here.
| Ship | Class | Max cargo | Pros & cons for multipurpose | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python | Medium | 294 t | The classic jack-of-all-trades — tanky, roomy, and lands on a medium padStrong enough hardpoints to fight, enough internals to trade or mineSlow and a little dated; out-ranged by the Phantom | 86 |
| Krait Phantom | Medium | 190 t | The best medium all-rounder — great range, good internals, an SLF bayFast, roomy and equally happy fighting, hauling or exploringLighter weapons than a dedicated combat medium | 84 |
| Krait Mk II | Medium | 230 t | More firepower than the Phantom, with the same roomy frame and an SLF bayA superb combat-leaning all-rounderShorter range and heavier than its Phantom sibling | 84 |
| Corsair | Medium | 318 t | A modern medium with a strong, balanced spread of hardpoints and internalsQuick and capable across combat, hauling and roamingNewer hull; less proven than the Krait/Python pair | 82 |
| Asp Explorer | Medium | 130 t | Famous range and a panoramic canopy, with enough internals and guns to dabbleCheap, beloved, and endlessly flexibleWeak shields and modest firepower limit the combat side | 80 |
| Mandalay | Medium | 154 t | The explorer king moonlights as a fine all-rounder — superb range and agilityCheap hull, cool-running, SCO FSDMedium tank and light internals lean it toward exploration | 78 |
| Keelback | Medium | 98 t | Cheap, tough and rank-free — a fighter bay no rival this affordable carriesHauls, mines, scouts or fights with stored module setsSmall holds, short range and slow handling — mediocre at every job | 60 |
| Ship | Hull | A-rated fit | To engineer | ~Rebuy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python | 57M | ~113M | materials · Heavy | ~5.6M |
| Krait Phantom | 37M | ~91M | materials · Heavy | ~4.5M |
| Krait Mk II | 46M | ~101M | materials · Heavy | ~5.1M |
| Corsair | 79M | ~151M | materials · Heavy | ~7.6M |
| Asp Explorer | 6.7M | ~13M | materials · Heavy | ~641k |
| Mandalay | 18M | ~25M | materials · Heavy | ~1.3M |
| Keelback | 2.95M | ~7M | materials · Heavy | ~350k |
The Krait Phantom (84) is the best medium all-rounder — range, room and an SLF bay. The Python (86) is the timeless tanky default, the Krait Mk II (84) the combat-leaning sibling, and the Corsair (82) a strong modern entry. The Asp X (80) and Mandalay (78) lean toward range and exploration.
There’s one true large all-rounder, and it’s the biggest do-everything hull in the game. A large pad and a heavy rebuy are the price of internals and hardpoints that let a single ship trade like a freighter, fight like a cruiser and roam like an explorer.
| Ship | Class | Max cargo | Pros & cons for multipurpose | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda | Large | 470 t | Cavernous internals, strong hardpoints and huge range — it does everything, at scaleNo rank gate; the closest thing to a one-ship fleetLarge pad, ponderous, and a heavy rebuy for casual use | 88 |
| Federal Corvette | Large | 618 t | Apex tank and firepower — two huge guns on a fortress hullEleven internals haul ~618 t or mine a ring between fightsShort jump range, large pad, and a long Federal rank grind | 78 |
| Imperial Clipper | Large | 250 t | The fastest large ship — quick, roomy and handsome for the priceNine optional slots on only a modest Imperial Baron rankFour hardpoints, no military slot and ~250 t cargo trail the generalists | 73 |
| Ship | Hull | A-rated fit | To engineer | ~Rebuy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda | 147M | ~354M | materials · Very heavy | ~18M |
| Federal Corvette | 183M | ~210M | materials · Very heavy | ~10.5M |
| Imperial Clipper | 21M | ~32M | materials · Very heavy | ~1.6M |
The Anaconda (88) is the ultimate all-rounder — cavernous internals, strong guns and huge range in one hull, with no rank gate. It is genuinely a fleet in a single ship; the only catches are the large pad, the ponderous handling and a rebuy that makes casual losses sting.
The best all-rounder depends on your budget and which way you want it to lean. Pick the description that fits you.
Fast, cheap and game for any job — the legendary starter that taught generations of commanders to fly. Outgrow it slowly; it stays useful for ages.
A modern small hull with medium-class balance — guns, internals and range in a package that lands anywhere and costs almost nothing to lose.
The best all-rounder most commanders will ever need — great range, roomy internals, an SLF bay, and equally happy fighting, hauling or exploring.
The Phantom’s frame with heavier hardpoints and an SLF bay — an all-rounder that wins fights and still hauls and roams when asked.
The explorer king as a daily driver — superb range and agility with enough guns and internals to handle mission-board variety on the way to the black.
Trades like a freighter, fights like a cruiser, roams like an explorer — the one ship that genuinely does it all at scale, with no rank gate.
The all-rounder’s engineering challenge is breadth: you engineer the core modules once, then keep a stock of role modules (cargo racks, mining tools, extra shields) to bolt on as needed. The core tour is shared across every hull here.
| Module | Blueprint (G5) | Experimental | Engineer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame Shift Drive | Increased Range | Mass Manager | Felicity Farseer |
| Power Plant | Overcharged (or Low Emissions) | Thermal Spread | Hera Tani / Tod McQuinn |
| Thrusters | Dirty Drive Tuning | Drag Drives | Felicity Farseer |
| Power Distributor | Charge Enhanced | Cluster Capacitor | The Dweller |
| Shield Generator | Reinforced (or Thermal Resist) | Hi-Cap | Lei Cheung |
The beauty of an all-rounder is that the engineered core (FSD, power plant, thrusters, distributor, shield) serves every role — you only swap the cheap, often-unengineered role modules on top. Engineering costs materials, not credits; the materials tier is Moderate for the smalls, Heavy for the mediums, and Very heavy for a fully-rolled Anaconda. Because engineered modules move between your own ships, the work compounds across a fleet.
For the ultimate one-ship fleet, the Anaconda (88) does everything at scale. For the best all-rounder most commanders will ever need, the medium Krait Phantom (84) is the sweet spot — with the Python (86) and Krait Mk II (84) within a hair on different leans. On a budget, the Cobra Mk V (80) is the finest small all-rounder ever made.
Figures on this page are verified against the sources below.