Round 1 The Cutlass Black vs. The 300i Night & Day
We kick off the head-to-head phase of the Ship Showdown with two vessels that wholly embody their manufacturers. However, they couldn't be more different. Drake's rugged Cutlass Black brims with tenacity and hardiness, while Origin's elegant 300i exudes a timeless, minimalist chic. So, where do you stand? Do you favor hardened practicality or sleek elegance? Vote now, and return tomorrow to see which craft stands victorious.
Winner: Cutlass Black
Round 1 The Constellation Aquila vs. The Freelancer MAX A Matter of Function
Today's face-off pits two ships against each other that exemplify their respective functions. In the Freelancer MAX, MISC has transformed their famously versatile long-range hauler into a paragon of cargo capacity. With the Constellation Aquila, RSI adapted their classic multipurpose freighter for exploration, creating a ship that embodies the very spirit of those that seek the stars.
Winner: Constellation Aquila
Round 1 The Gladius vs. Avenger Titan Fight or Freight?
Two classics from Aegis Dynamics, representing differing approaches to the scrappy single-seater, duke it out in this week's contest. The timeless Gladius remains a staple in military circles thanks to its fine-tuned aptitude for pure dogfighting, while the Avenger Titan takes a similarly combat-focused design and adapts it for light freight.
Winner: Avenger Titan
Round 1 The 600i Explorer vs. The Caterpillar Distinctive Disposition
This week sees two big ships enter the ring. Neither is wanting for attitude, even if their distinct philosophies are diametrically different. Origin's 600i Explorer sets a high bar for pathfinders seeking comfort and refinement while they probe the far reaches of space. The Caterpillar, on the other hand, presents no-frills function entirely befitting the Drake ideology.
Winner: Caterpillar
Round 1 The 890 Jump vs. The Dragonfly Black Different Worlds
Two vessels on complete opposite ends of the proverbial spectrum go head-to-head today. The monolithic 890 Jump, crown jewel in Origin's opulent fleet, butts heads with Drake's open canopy grav-lev Dragonfly. Wine and dine with VIPs, or straddle the edge of adventure? Entertain the galaxy or tame it from the ground up. The choice is yours.
Winner: Dragonfly Black
Round 1 The Valkryie vs. The Reclaimer Clash of the Titans
The showdown continues as two heavy hitters lock horns in a ruthless bout pitting military might against a literal titan of industry. Will Aegis' cyclopean salvage monster drop a serious dose of heavy metal on the competition, or will Anvil's daring dropship turn the tide by unleashing the troops and overwhelming the scrappy scavenger?
Winner: Reclaimer
Round 1 The Hammerhead vs. The Retaliator Deadly Force
It's unadulterated firepower versus a devastating payload in the Showdown's most explosive clash yet. Can the mighty Hammerhead's myriad of gun turrets blast its fellow Aegis bruiser out of contention, or will the Retaliator's fully loaded bomb bay spell certain death from above? Which approach to wanton destruction do you prefer?
Winner: Hammerhead
Round 1 The Vanguard Warden vs. The Freelancer MIS Long Distance
Two ships renowned for their long-range aptitude close out the first round of head-to-head battles with another case of combat versus cargo. However, this time, the freighter's packing a heaping helping of missiles. Aegis' Vanguard Warden is respected and feared across the 'verse for its proud history of military dominance, but MISC's most belligerent Freelancer model brings the boom along with the room for cargo..
Winner: Vanguard Warden
Round 2 The Cutlass Black vs. The Constellation Aquila Chasing the Horizon
Round 2 is off with a bang! Drake's versatile Cutlass Black (coming from a victory over the 300i) squares off against RSI's Constellation Aquila (the victor over the Freelancer MAX). Are you among the Drake faithful that voted three of the manufacturer's ships into this second round? Or are you an old school champion of RSI, ready to venture into the semi-finals on the wings of the Aquila?
Winner: The Cutlass Black
Round 2 The Avenger Titan vs. The Caterpillar The Tiny Titan & the Cargo Colossus
Drake is back. The beastly Caterpillar and its whopping 576 SCU goes up against Aegis' ubiquitous Avenger Titan - a freight-focused ship on a completely different scale for a different breed of haulier. Will big and badass win the day, or will speed and deftness run away with the victory? It's up to you.
Winner: Caterpillar
Round 2 The Dragonfly vs. The Reclaimer Return of the Giant Slayer
Today sees another dual between Aegis and Drake, but with the roles somewhat reversed. The small and scrappy Dragonfly took down the gargantuan 890 Jump in round 1, but how will its grav-lev gusto stand up to the stature of the sultan of scrap, the mighty Aegis Reclaimer? Cast your vote and see if Drake's fan-favorite can take down another Goliath.
Winner: Reclaimer
Round 2 Hammerhead v Vanguard Warden Firefight
The big guns of Aegis battle it out in the final clash of Round 2, with both ships sporting an almost ludicrous amount of weaponry. The Hammerhead evaded a ruthless bombing at the hands of the Retaliator in Round 1 and is poised to take on the Warden, even as the long-range regulator comes in hot off a victory over MISC's missile matron Freelancer MIS. Get ready for fireworks.
Winner: Hammerhead
Round 3 Cutlass Black v Caterpillar Drake Escape
The Ship Showdown semi finals begin with Drake against Drake. The Cutlass Black is the very personification of its manufacturer: versatile, scrappy, and reliable. The Caterpillar is a cult favorite, championed by a special breed of hauler, with chips on their shoulders and a proclivity for taking high risk/high reward gigs. Today these prolific vessels go head-to-head, forcing the Drake faithful out there to do some serious soul searching. Two Drake ships have entered, but only one, as they say, will leave, advancing to the final clash.
Winner: Caterpillar
Round 3 Reclaimer v Hammerhead Battle for the Aegis
The second, and final bout of this round sees two Aegis heavyweights duking it out to determine which craft truly has the hearts of the Aegis faithful. Can the titan of turrets can take down the competition in a hail of gunfire? Or will the sovereign of salvage knock the gunboat out and scrape on by to the ultimate showdown? Only you can decide which vessel gets to take on Drake for the title, and an assured legacy of aerospace supremacy.
Winner: Reclaimer
Round 4 Caterpillar v Reclaimer The Last Battle
After 14 days and just as many fiery clashes, it has all come down to this. Infamous shipsmiths Drake Interplanetary and storied manufacturer Aegis Dynamics have been trading blows throughout the entire tourney, but this final confrontation is for all the proverbial marbles, with both companies represented by heavy hitters from their commercial/industrial oeuvre. Can the cavernous Caterpillar carry Drake all the way to victory? Or will Aegis' gargantuan Reclaimer strip the competition clean and emerge triumphant? Aerospace history is in your hands. Choose wisely.
Winner: Caterpillar