hauler★★★★★Tier 1
Heavy Hauler Mk.I
Faction: universal
Overview
Massive cargo transport. Moves resources between sectors for market trading.
Base Stats
800HP
150Shield
300Armor
0Attack
4Speed
5,000Cargo
200Fuel
Module Slots
| Weapon Slots | Defense Slots | Utility Slots |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | 6 |
Special Ability
Convoy Protocol
-30% fuel cost when traveling with escort fleet
Lore
The arteries of galactic trade. Where haulers flow, credits follow.
Tactics
- 1
Always run Haulers in convoys with at least two escort fighters — Convoy Protocol's 30% fuel reduction also applies to the escort ships, making the entire group more economical.
- 2
Coordinate Hauler runs to arrive at market hubs during demand peaks: with 5,000 cargo capacity, a single timed Hauler run can net more credits than a week of small-ship trading.
- 3
Use the Heavy Hauler as a strategic resource bridge between your front-line industrial planets and your shipyard worlds — its massive capacity means fewer trips and less exposure time in dangerous space.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +5,000-unit cargo capacity is the highest of any Tier 1 hull, making it the definitive early-game trade and logistics backbone.
- +Convoy Protocol's fuel reduction stacks with other fuel efficiency upgrades, enabling long inter-sector routes that would bankrupt lighter haulers.
- +Respectable armour of 300 for a non-combat vessel allows it to shrug off minor pirate harassment if escorts are briefly delayed.
Weaknesses
- −Speed of 4 makes it the slowest ship in most fleets — convoy scheduling must account for its movement rate or it will become a logistics bottleneck.
- −Zero attack means it is completely dependent on escorts; a hauler that loses its escort in contested space is as good as destroyed.
- −No weapon slots and limited defense slots make it impossible to meaningfully arm the Hauler for self-defence even in emergencies.
Recommended Modules
- graviton cargo expander
- convoy navigation ai
- reinforced hull plating
