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STFC Prime Path

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Below is a list of things I’m going to assume you know. What we’re constrained by, and what is important to note.

Assumptions
You know what KLN, FED and ROM reputations are You want to spend the least amount of resources to get as high an operations level as possible You’re not trying to be the best of the best of the best sir! You understand faction locking You understand what the battle triangle is You’re grabbing every survey when its available

Constraints
Money: You don’t have endless cash to spend Time: There are only so many hours in a day Crews: The “Prime Path” isn’t about that Research: This isn’t here either 1 faction ship per ship window

Important Information
FED: Federation Reputation KLN: Klingon Reputation ROM: Romulan Reputation Neutral: Not an FKR ship Specialty: Singular Use Ship Optional: Your choice to skip or buy Priorities: Operations > Research ≥ Ships

「1-25」「26-28」「29-35」「36-39」「40-42」「43-46」「47-50」「51-53」

These ships are the foundation of your early game journey. Stick to Tier 6 or below to make the most of limited dock space. Prioritize ships that match your current needs, whether it’s for surveys or combat. Also, don’t forget to double down on ROM & FED reputation—locking them both in as soon as possible will set you up for success down the line.

Operations Level: 1 Required
	C	Realta Explorer Neutral
The Realta, your trusty first Explorer, might seem a bit old-fashioned, but it’s a keeper. Never even think about scrapping it. Embrace it because it’s got its own timeless charm and will always find its place in your fleet.

Operations Level: 5 Required
	C	Orion Corvette Battleship Neutral
Once you’ve got your Realta, the next gem in line is the Orion Corvette. It’s your ticket to completing that vital first battle triangle. Keep your eyes peeled for it as you advance through the ranks! And remember, stick to Tier 6 or below; that’s the sweet spot for your fleet’s efficiency.

Operations Level: 10 Required
	C	Phindra Interceptor Neutral
The Phindra is your next big move, completing that all-important battle triangle. Explorer. Interceptor. Battleship. It’s got multiple kinetic weapons packed in, making it perfect for those up-close-and-personal encounters. And, in keeping with the theme, don’t even think about pushing it past Tier 6. That’s where its charm truly shines.

Operations Level: 12 Required
	C	Turas Explorer Neutral
The Turas offers a breather for your trusty Realta. Grab it, but don’t go all-in with upgrades. Now, when you hit level 14, keep an eye out for the Talla. It’s bound to become the backbone of your fleet for some time. But here’s the catch: it’ll need a bit of sprucing up to truly shine as your go-to ship.

Operations Level: 12 Optional
	R	“Baby” Jellyfish Explorer Federation
The “Baby” Jelly? Now that’s a gem of a ship! It’s marked as optional, not because it lacks in performance, but because it’s not the easiest ship to get your hands on. But here’s the scoop: if you’re up for splurging a bit on some blueprints, this ship will have your back in the early stages and pay off big time as your station, “Bold Defense,” grows. Personally, I’d say it’s a must-have, but its pay-to-play nature lands it in the optional category. Plus, it’s your first crack at owning a Rare ship in the game.

Operations Level: 14 Required
	C	Talla Battleship Neutral
If you decided to hold off on splurging for the Jellyfish, this ship is going to be your go-to for quite a while. It’s your ticket to PvP combat until you hit level 20. My advice? Upgrade this ship like there’s no tomorrow, either until your refinery’s resources run dry or until you reach that level 20 milestone. Whichever one comes first, make the most of it!

Operations Level: 17 Specialty Optional
	U	USS Franklin Explorer Augment
Ah, the USS Franklin, a specialist in taking down those pesky swarm clusters. I’ve labeled it as optional, but truth be told, it’s specifically required for your daily tasks, it’s not worth the investment. Take your time with this one. Rushing it won’t give you much juice for the squeeze, if you catch my drift.

Operations Level: 20 Required
	C	Kehra Interceptor Neutral
At level 20, you’ll unlock the Kehra, your first significant ship upgrade in six levels. While it’s tempting to go all out with upgrades, I’d recommend keeping it within the Tier 6 limit. Why? Because you’ve got some heavy hitters coming up in the next level or two that will truly pay off in the long run. Plus, make sure to stash away some resources for the Vi’dar at level 25—it’s one you won’t want to miss out on.

Operations Level: 21 Specialty Optional
	R	USS Discovery Explorer Neutral
The USS Discovery? Now, that’s a specialty ship worth your attention. Trust me, its value will skyrocket in the long run. But here’s the thing: take it slow. Building it up gradually is the way to go. Don’t feel pressured to rush—while its Black Alert function can be a time-saver, it’s not a game-changer elsewhere. In my opinion, slow and steady wins the race when it comes to developing this ship.

Operations Level: 22 Required
	C	Vahklas Explorer Neutral
The Vahklas—a solid upgrade within the Kehra ship group at level 20. It’s sure to elevate your game. Just remember to keep it below Tier 6, and you’ll be more than pleased with its performance until we hit level 25.

Operations Level: 24 Required
	C	Kumari Battleship Neutral
The Kumari? Now, that’s a tank if I ever saw one. But fair warning—it’s not winning any speed races. Still, this battleship is the kind of ride that’ll have your back for the long haul. My advice? Show it some serious love. Consider maxing out those upgrades—it’s worth every resource spent.

Operations Level: 25 Required
	U	Vi’dar Interceptor Neutral
The Vi’dar? Let me tell you, it’s the crown jewel of your early game arsenal. But fair warning: upgrading this baby is no walk in the park. It’s a grind, plain and simple. However, once you’ve got it up to speed, it’s like having your own personal treasure chest that keeps on giving, well into your 50s. My advice? Snag it as soon as you can and get ready to put in the work. Grind those BORG probes and upgrade it with lightning speed. By level 35, this ship absolutely must be maxed out.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Your choices here will have a big impact on how much time, resources, and effort you save in the long run. Keep in mind that from now on, every ship you acquire will cost you faction credits—those babies are as valuable as gold. You’ll need them not just for ships, but also for upgrading officers. So, be wise with your spending and avoid wasting them on frivolous purchases.

Operations Level: 26 Skip
	U	D3 Class Interceptor Klingon
The D3 Class interceptor? Skip it without a second thought. It’s basically a duplicate of the Talios, and by the time it comes into play, you should be so deep into your ROM and FED reps that the KLN faction wants to challenge you to a bat’leth duel on sight. Keep flying forward and don’t even bother looking back at this one. Cost Per BP: 125 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 10K Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Favored (100K)

Operations Level: 26
Skip

D3 Class
Interceptor
Klingon

The D3 Class interceptor? Skip it without a second thought. It’s basically a duplicate of the Talios, and by the time it comes into play, you should be so deep into your ROM and FED reps that the KLN faction wants to challenge you to a bat’leth duel on sight. Keep flying forward and don’t even bother looking back at this one.

Cost Per BP: 125 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 10K Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Favored (100K)

Operations Level: 26 Skip
	U	USS Mayflower Explorer Federation
The USS Mayflower might catch your eye as the first store-bought explorer you encounter. But here’s the scoop: resist the temptation to splurge on it. Save those hard-earned credits for what lies ahead—it’ll pay off big time down the road! Cost Per BP: 125 Federation Credits Total Cost: 10k Federation Credits Required Reputation: Favored (100K)

Operations Level: 26
Skip

USS Mayflower
Explorer
Federation

The USS Mayflower might catch your eye as the first store-bought explorer you encounter. But here’s the scoop: resist the temptation to splurge on it. Save those hard-earned credits for what lies ahead—it’ll pay off big time down the road!

Cost Per BP: 125 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 10k Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Favored (100K)

Operations Level: 26 Optional
	U	Legionary Battleship Romulan
The Legionary might catch your eye as an option here, but before you dive in, take a moment to consider. Spending those precious faction credits on this ship could bring short-term benefits, no doubt. However, in the long run, it might just land you in a faction credit deficit, slowing down your overall progression. Think it through carefully before making a decision. Cost Per BP: 125 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 10K Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Favored (100K)

Operations Level: 26
Optional

Legionary
Battleship
Romulan

The Legionary might catch your eye as an option here, but before you dive in, take a moment to consider. Spending those precious faction credits on this ship could bring short-term benefits, no doubt. However, in the long run, it might just land you in a faction credit deficit, slowing down your overall progression. Think it through carefully before making a decision.

Cost Per BP: 125 Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 10K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Favored (100K)

Operations Level: 27 Specialty Optional
	U	Stella Battleship Neutral
STELLLLAAAAA!!!!! Ahem, sorry about that. Now, about this ship—I’ve labeled it as optional because, hey, everyone’s got their own playstyle, right? However, if you’re eyeing those sweet rewards from Apex Thursdays, consider this ship a must-have. My advice? If you can sweet-talk someone into snagging those security codes early for you, go for it. And if you’re in our alliance, don’t hesitate to ask around—we’ve got connections, and sometimes, lower-level members get lucky with donations.

Operations Level: 28 Skip
	U	Bortas Battleship Klingon
Ah, the Bortas—some folks just can’t stop singing its praises. But listen, if those same folks happen to be named Smaug, take their enthusiasm with a grain of salt. Here’s the deal: just like the D3 KLN rep ship before it, you should be so deep in the negative with KLN reputation that this ship shouldn’t even be on your radar. Sorry, Smaug, but this one’s a hard pass. Cost Per BP: 200 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 20K Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Consort (500K)

Operations Level: 28
Skip

Bortas
Battleship
Klingon

Ah, the Bortas—some folks just can’t stop singing its praises. But listen, if those same folks happen to be named Smaug, take their enthusiasm with a grain of salt. Here’s the deal: just like the D3 KLN rep ship before it, you should be so deep in the negative with KLN reputation that this ship shouldn’t even be on your radar. Sorry, Smaug, but this one’s a hard pass.

Cost Per BP: 200 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 20K Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Consort (500K)

Operations Level: 28 Skip
	U	USS Saladin Interceptor Federation
The Saladin? Oh, it’s an absolute beast! Seriously, it excels in PvP, PvE, and can tackle base cracking like a champ. But here’s the rub: as incredible as it is, it’s essentially a duplicate of the Talios. So, why skip it? Well, think of it like splitting your resources in half—half here, half there. That means progress slows down for both ships. Unfortunately, that’s why the Saladin ends up on the skip list—resource sharing can really put the brakes on progress. Cost Per BP: 200 Federation Credits Total Cost: 20K Federation Credits Required Reputation: Consort (500K)

Operations Level: 28
Skip

USS Saladin
Interceptor
Federation

The Saladin? Oh, it’s an absolute beast! Seriously, it excels in PvP, PvE, and can tackle base cracking like a champ. But here’s the rub: as incredible as it is, it’s essentially a duplicate of the Talios. So, why skip it? Well, think of it like splitting your resources in half—half here, half there. That means progress slows down for both ships. Unfortunately, that’s why the Saladin ends up on the skip list—resource sharing can really put the brakes on progress.

Cost Per BP: 200 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 20K Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Consort (500K)

Operations Level: 28 Required
	U	Centurion Explorer Romulan
The Centurion is the first ROM ship where it’s worth shelling out some ROM Credits. It’s a rock-solid choice, especially if you’re looking to fill that explorer spot in your battle triangle. After all, your last explorer option was probably the Vahklas at level 22, so this upgrade is long overdue. With enough ROM credits to spare by now, grabbing the Centurion is a no-brainer. Cost Per BP: 200 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 20K Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Consort (500K)

Operations Level: 28
Required

Centurion
Explorer
Romulan

The Centurion is the first ROM ship where it’s worth shelling out some ROM Credits. It’s a rock-solid choice, especially if you’re looking to fill that explorer spot in your battle triangle. After all, your last explorer option was probably the Vahklas at level 22, so this upgrade is long overdue. With enough ROM credits to spare by now, grabbing the Centurion is a no-brainer.

Cost Per BP: 200 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 20K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Consort (500K)

Operations Level: 28 Optional
	E	Borg Cube Battleship Neutral
The Borg Cube? It’s a bit of a sticky wicket. Here’s the deal: it scales up with the level of your highest faction ship—be it Romulan, Federation, or Klingon—and can climb all the way up to G6 epic levels. So, if you’ve got a Tier 6 Augur, you can max this out at Tier 5. Now, I’ve marked it as optional because it’s dependent on your faction ships’ progress. In my opinion, it’s more of a “come back to it” kind of deal rather than something you build with from the get-go.

At this point, it’s all about ROM | FED reputation. Forget about KLN, they can wait. If you haven’t locked out ROM at 10M, you’re in trouble. Same goes for FED—if it’s not locked out, you’re lagging behind. It’s time to grind, grind, grind, grind. Make it happen, and double lock FED ROM. That’s the ticket to staying ahead of the curve.

Operations Level: 30 Specialty Optional
	E	Sarcophagus Battleship Neutral
The Sarcophagus. It’s like the Model-T of ships in this game—ancient history. There’s probably no ship more useless now than ever before. Consider it optional in the loosest sense of the word—you can buy it, sure, but you’ll never actually use it. Even with the newest research to buff it up, this ship has gone the way of the dinosaur and become extinct. It’s a waste of resources, plain and simple.

Operations Level: 32 Skip
	R	B’Rel Explorer Klingon
The B’Rel? Ah, it’s just another verse in the same old KLN reputation ship song. Let’s face it—we’re not exactly their favorite people. So, until we’re in their good graces enough to buy this ship faction-wise, it’s best to just skip it altogether. Cost Per BP: 500 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 60K Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Associate (2M)

Operations Level: 32
Skip

B’Rel
Explorer
Klingon

The B’Rel? Ah, it’s just another verse in the same old KLN reputation ship song. Let’s face it—we’re not exactly their favorite people. So, until we’re in their good graces enough to buy this ship faction-wise, it’s best to just skip it altogether.

Cost Per BP: 500 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 60K Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Associate (2M)

Operations Level: 32 Skip
	R	USS Intrepid Battleship Federation
The Intrepid might seem like an upgrade over your trusty Centurion, but let’s be real, dropping credits on it just four levels later isn’t worth the hassle. I’ve marked it as optional for those who enjoy a bit of masochistic resource grinding, but if you’re aiming to progress rapidly, I’d suggest moving right along. It’s just another redundancy in ships, splitting your resources once again. Cost Per BP: 500 Federation Credits Total Cost: 60K Federation Credits Required Reputation: Associate (2M)

Operations Level: 32
Skip

USS Intrepid
Battleship
Federation

The Intrepid might seem like an upgrade over your trusty Centurion, but let’s be real, dropping credits on it just four levels later isn’t worth the hassle. I’ve marked it as optional for those who enjoy a bit of masochistic resource grinding, but if you’re aiming to progress rapidly, I’d suggest moving right along. It’s just another redundancy in ships, splitting your resources once again.

Cost Per BP: 500 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 60K Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Associate (2M)

Operations Level: 32 Skip
	R	Gladius Interceptor Romulan
The Gladius? It’s another victim of the Vi’dar trap. In other words, it’s a duplication, plain and simple. My recommendation? Skip this ship and put your focus on the Talios instead. The Talios is the gift that keeps on giving, with benefits and results that far outlast the Gladius, which gets recycled by level 40. Cost Per BP: 500 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 60K Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Associate (2M)

Operations Level: 32
Skip

Gladius
Interceptor
Romulan

The Gladius? It’s another victim of the Vi’dar trap. In other words, it’s a duplication, plain and simple. My recommendation? Skip this ship and put your focus on the Talios instead. The Talios is the gift that keeps on giving, with benefits and results that far outlast the Gladius, which gets recycled by level 40.

Cost Per BP: 500 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 60K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Associate (2M)

Operations Level: 33 Specialty Optional
	R	Mantis Battleship Neutral
Seriously, don’t underestimate this ship. I made the mistake of waiting until my 40s to grab the Mantis, and although it worked out, I wish I had gotten it sooner. Its ability to assist you with the SNW officers is truly invaluable. So, do yourself a favor—snag it as soon as you can. Upgrade it whenever you’ve got some extras lying around. Pull those syndicate rep and get your daily stings in to fuel your growth in the officer corps. You won’t regret it.

Operations Level: 34 Skip
	E	D4 Class Interceptor Klingon
the D4. It’s in the same boat as all those other interceptors gathering dust in the scrapyard—just not worth the effort, plain and simple. My advice? Stick with that Vi’dar and keep it going. If you’re even considering the D4 and your Vi’dar isn’t maxed out, you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. Head back to the Vi’dar and get it maxed out. Trust me, the rewards will come soon enough. Cost Per BP: 1,200 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 180K Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Respected (10M)

Operations Level: 34
Skip

D4 Class
Interceptor
Klingon

the D4. It’s in the same boat as all those other interceptors gathering dust in the scrapyard—just not worth the effort, plain and simple. My advice? Stick with that Vi’dar and keep it going. If you’re even considering the D4 and your Vi’dar isn’t maxed out, you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. Head back to the Vi’dar and get it maxed out. Trust me, the rewards will come soon enough.

Cost Per BP: 1,200 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 180K Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Respected (10M)

Operations Level: 34 Optional
	E	USS Enterprise Explorer Federation
the USS Enterprise. Starfleet’s flagship. Well, hello there… This one’s optional, but if you’re a Trekkie, it might just light up your warp drive. Just a heads up—it comes with a hefty price tag, so be prepared for a bit of sticker shock unless you’re ready to loosen those purse strings. But hey, if you’re willing to open your wallet, then by all means, go for it. Cha-ching indeed. Cost Per BP: 1200 Federation Credits Total Cost: 180K Federation Credits Required Reputation: Respected (10M)

Operations Level: 34
Optional

USS Enterprise
Explorer
Federation

the USS Enterprise. Starfleet’s flagship. Well, hello there… This one’s optional, but if you’re a Trekkie, it might just light up your warp drive. Just a heads up—it comes with a hefty price tag, so be prepared for a bit of sticker shock unless you’re ready to loosen those purse strings. But hey, if you’re willing to open your wallet, then by all means, go for it. Cha-ching indeed.

Cost Per BP: 1200 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 180K Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Respected (10M)

Operations Level: 34 Required
	E	Augur Battleship Romulan
Well, hello there, you beauty. The Augur is hands down one of my favorite looking ships in the game. It’s not just about the looks though—this baby is a powerhouse battleship that’ll slide right into your shipyard like it was meant to be there. And let’s talk about filling that gaping hole in your lineup—since your last purchase at level 26 with the Legionary or even earlier if you stuck with the Kumari from level 24, the Augur’s got you covered. Cost Per BP: 1,200 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 180K Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Respected (10M)

Operations Level: 34
Required

Augur
Battleship
Romulan

Well, hello there, you beauty. The Augur is hands down one of my favorite looking ships in the game. It’s not just about the looks though—this baby is a powerhouse battleship that’ll slide right into your shipyard like it was meant to be there. And let’s talk about filling that gaping hole in your lineup—since your last purchase at level 26 with the Legionary or even earlier if you stuck with the Kumari from level 24, the Augur’s got you covered.

Cost Per BP: 1,200 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 180K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Respected (10M)

Operations Level: 34 Optional
	E	USS Voyager Explorer Neutral
The Voyager is a bit of a mixed bag, like that bowl of candy where you find your favorite treats mixed in with some black licorice when you thought it was something else. On the plus side, the refinery from the Voyager is hands down one of the best features in the game. Being able to track down people’s bases with just one ship is a pretty sweet deal if you’re into base raiding. But here’s the catch—it’s going to divert resources away from updating your explorers, and as you’ve probably noticed, it’s labeled “Neutral” instead of “Federation.” That’s right—no FKR buff for this Federation ship. Thanks a lot, Scopely. P.S. Welcome to the Hirogen Relic grind. Look for Voyager space to be come your friend for a long time. Cost Per BP: 1,200 Hirogen Relics Total Cost: 50K Hirogen Relics

Operations Level: 34
Optional

USS Voyager
Explorer
Neutral

The Voyager is a bit of a mixed bag, like that bowl of candy where you find your favorite treats mixed in with some black licorice when you thought it was something else. On the plus side, the refinery from the Voyager is hands down one of the best features in the game. Being able to track down people’s bases with just one ship is a pretty sweet deal if you’re into base raiding. But here’s the catch—it’s going to divert resources away from updating your explorers, and as you’ve probably noticed, it’s labeled “Neutral” instead of “Federation.” That’s right—no FKR buff for this Federation ship. Thanks a lot, Scopely.

P.S. Welcome to the Hirogen Relic grind. Look for Voyager space to be come your friend for a long time.

Cost Per BP: 1,200 Klingon Credits Hirogen Relics
Total Cost: 50K Hirogen Relics

Operations Level: 35 Optional
	U	USS Franklin-A Explorer Augment
The Franklin-A follows in the footsteps of its predecessor as another specialty ship that you might find yourself on the fence about. Its main purpose? Taking out those annoying swarms, and that’s about it. However, to be fair, it could serve as a handy tool for wave clearing if you’re on the smaller side. Personally? I’d say skip it for now and circle back later when you’re feeling bogged down and bored.

Operations Level: 35 Specialty Optional
	E	Defiant Interceptor Neutral
At level 35, you’re in for a treat: unlocking a whole new faction, Bajoran. Now, let’s talk about the Defiant—a Federation ship turned neutral. Oh, Scopely, what were you thinking? This ship definitely has its perks, but let’s be real—it’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, the Bajoran faction rep gains are pretty solid. On the other hand, those same resources not going into your Talios? That’s a real problem. If you decide to tread this path, just know that you’re not splitting resources evenly, and that’s bound to slow down your progression.

Operations Level: 35 Required
	E	Vi’dar Talios Interceptor Neutral
Well, well, well. Looks like we’ve got a Vi’dar upgrade on our hands. I hope you’ve been paying attention and your Vi’dar is maxed out. If so, you’re in for a treat. You’ll find a couple of quests waiting for you in your holodeck that’ll hook you up with what some folks refer to as the “Talios” or the “V2” sometimes. Let me tell you, this ship? It’s gonna carry you straight into your 50s and love you long time. Just a heads up—it’s level locked, so it’ll cap out occasionally, giving you a chance to work on other interceptors while you wait. But overall? This ship is strong, capable, and boasts a huge cargo capacity. Love it, and it’ll love you right back. I gotta admit, this is probably my favorite ship in the game.

Alright, folks, nothing to see here. Well, almost nothing. Just your typical Federation ships that Scopely, for some inexplicable reason, decided to move to Neutral. Yeah, I know—it doesn’t make much sense to me either. But hey, let’s just move along, shall we?

Operations Level: 36 Specialty Optional
	E	USS Cerritos Explorer Neutral
Ah, the USS Cerritos—home of the support ship. Now, I’ve marked this one as optional, but hear me out. It’s got some perks worth considering. First off, it buffs your ships. And who doesn’t love a good buff, right? Plus, its refinery options churn out some shard possibilities, and we all know you never want to miss out on a shard. That being said, it’s more of an explorer that you can take your time developing, unless you’re absolutely desperate for ship buffs. So, my recommendation? Optional, and take it slow on the development front.

Operations Level: 37 Specialty Optional
	E	USS Titan-A Explorer Neutral
The Titan-A? Easy-peasy to use. Now, don’t get your hopes up for any combat heroics here—she’s pretty much useless in a fight. Instead, think of her as another addition to the refinery lineup, a ship solely dedicated to buffing your other ships. Every day, you gather particles for her, which you can then put to good use in the Support Refinery. Just activate one of her two ship abilities, and voilà—particles galore.

Operations Level: 39 Specialty Optional
	R	ISS Jellyfish Explorer Neutral
Ah, the Jellyfish—a true unsung hero. Sure, it might not be the strongest ship in the game, but let me tell you, it’s an absolute game-changer for your progression. Here’s the scoop: there’s this event that stays under wraps until you’ve got the Jellyfish in your fleet. And guess what? It dishes out a hefty pile of 4-star materials as rewards. Talk about a game-changer, especially when you hit level 39. Without the Jellyfish, sourcing these materials would be a real headache.

Some decisions here will shape your long term future. Be smart with what you choose and be sure you understand what your long term plans look like

Operations Level: 40 Required
	E	Monaveen Battleship Neutral
The Monaveen, inspired by Lower Decks, is a battleship that blends fantasy and sci-fi aesthetics. By participating in its unique game loop and exchanging bundles, players can upgrade it. Rewards include Parsteel, Dillithium, and Tritanium, along with Regal Geodes—a special currency for unlocking Monaveen-related research. With the Monaveen, players can tailor their material acquisition to their preferences, whether diversifying investments or focusing intensely. Engaging in battles against Automated Shipyard Solo Armadas offers additional bonus materials, though players must decide if they’re willing to drop their Shields for greater loot. I recommend purchasing the Monaveen, which can serve you well until you’re ready for the Newton.

Operations Level: 42 Required
	U	Valdore Explorer Romulan
By now, your poor Enterprise deserves a breather. You’ve been riding it like it’s Seattle Slew—yep, that’s a jockey reference for you. Now, let’s talk about the Valdore. Its power cap is downright impressive, and it should have the stamina to carry you all the way to the 53rd ship. So, don’t hesitate—get it, upgrade it, and show it some love. Make sure to put it through its paces and watch it work hard for you. Cost Per BP: 1,320 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 198K Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Commended (140K)

Operations Level: 42
Required

Valdore
Explorer
Romulan

By now, your poor Enterprise deserves a breather. You’ve been riding it like it’s Seattle Slew—yep, that’s a jockey reference for you. Now, let’s talk about the Valdore. Its power cap is downright impressive, and it should have the stamina to carry you all the way to the 53rd ship. So, don’t hesitate—get it, upgrade it, and show it some love. Make sure to put it through its paces and watch it work hard for you.

Cost Per BP: 1,320 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 198K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Commended (140K)

Operations Level: 42 Skip
	U	USS Kelvin Interceptor Federation
The Kelvin, much like every other interceptor introduced since level 25, adds to the bottleneck of redundancy. By this point, you should already have the Talios and the Defiant in your lineup. Adding a third resource-hungry ship just doesn’t make sense. My advice? Skip it and focus on optimizing your existing fleet. Cost Per BP: 1,320 Federation Credits Total Cost: 198K Federation Credits Required Reputation: Commended (140K)

Operations Level: 42
Skip

USS Kelvin
Interceptor
Federation

The Kelvin, much like every other interceptor introduced since level 25, adds to the bottleneck of redundancy. By this point, you should already have the Talios and the Defiant in your lineup. Adding a third resource-hungry ship just doesn’t make sense. My advice? Skip it and focus on optimizing your existing fleet.

Cost Per BP: 1,320 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 198K Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Commended (140K)

Operations Level: 42 Skip
	U	K’T’inga Battleship Klingon
Similar to its predecessor, the Bortas, this battleship falls out of favor due to its ties to the KLN faction. My advice? Skip it and opt for the Monaveen instead. Trust me, you’ll love the Monaveen’s versatility and sleek design much more. Cost Per BP: 1,320 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 198k Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Commended (140K)

Operations Level: 42
Skip

K’T’inga
Battleship
Klingon

Similar to its predecessor, the Bortas, this battleship falls out of favor due to its ties to the KLN faction. My advice? Skip it and opt for the Monaveen instead. Trust me, you’ll love the Monaveen’s versatility and sleek design much more.

Cost Per BP: 1,320 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 198k Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Commended (140K)

Operations Level: 40 Specialty Optional
	E	Enterprise NX-01 Explorer Neutral
The NX-01 is tailored for taking on a specific foe: the Xindi Aquatics. Its standout feature? A sky-high hull and minimal shields, which opens up some intriguing crewing strategies. It’s a departure from the norm in STFC, bringing a fresh twist to the game. Plus, with the NX-01 comes a whole new loop. As for the refinery it offers, it’s still pretty new, so we’re keeping an eye on it to see how it pans out.

At this point things get a bit dicey. This is where a bit of risk is involved but shouldn’t be detrimental to your overall growth

Operations Level: 46 Required
	R	Newton Battleship Federation
The Newton at 46 is likely your best option, though this could depend on your development of your Talios to this point. I recommend the Newton because it allows you to grind the Monaveen while still having a battleship ready for your triangle needs. Cost Per BP: 1,450 Federation Credits Total Cost: 508K Federation Credits Required Reputation: Glorified (440K)

Operations Level: 46
Required

Newton
Battleship
Federation

The Newton at 46 is likely your best option, though this could depend on your development of your Talios to this point. I recommend the Newton because it allows you to grind the Monaveen while still having a battleship ready for your triangle needs.

Cost Per BP: 1,450 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 508K Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Glorified (440K)

Operations Level: 42 Optional
	R	Pilum Interceptor Romulan
If you have kept up with your growth on the Talios this could be an option to replace the Newton or just be an option rare ship that you upgrade to create more depth in your shipyard. My recommendation is to skip this but I’ve marked it as optional for anyone that would prefer another interceptor Cost Per BP: 1,450 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 508K Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Glorified (440K)

Operations Level: 42
Optional

Pilum
Interceptor
Romulan

If you have kept up with your growth on the Talios this could be an option to replace the Newton or just be an option rare ship that you upgrade to create more depth in your shipyard. My recommendation is to skip this but I’ve marked it as optional for anyone that would prefer another interceptor

Cost Per BP: 1,450 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 508K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Glorified (440K)

Operations Level: 42 Skip
	R	Korinar Explorer Klingon
If you’re truly following this guide this is yet another KLN ship that you skip. While an Explorer would be great here, unless you’re just grinding all 3 reps really hard you just won’t have the necessary KLN reputation to buy these blueprints. Cost Per BP: 1,450 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 508K Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Glorified (440K)

Operations Level: 42
Skip

Korinar
Explorer
Klingon

If you’re truly following this guide this is yet another KLN ship that you skip. While an Explorer would be great here, unless you’re just grinding all 3 reps really hard you just won’t have the necessary KLN reputation to buy these blueprints.

Cost Per BP: 1,450 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 508K Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Glorified (440K)

The squeeze here just isn’t worth the juice.

Operations Level: 50 Skip
	E	Hegh’ta Interceptor Klingon
Unless you’re triple locked, this ship is entirely too expensive and time consuming to buy. You can hold off with what ships you currently have in your shipyard and come back to it later down the road. Just not worth the 1M credits Cost Per BP: 1,600 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 1.04M Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Champion (1B)

Operations Level: 50
Skip

Hegh’ta
Interceptor
Klingon

Unless you’re triple locked, this ship is entirely too expensive and time consuming to buy. You can hold off with what ships you currently have in your shipyard and come back to it later down the road. Just not worth the 1M credits

Cost Per BP: 1,600 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 1.04M Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Champion (1B)

Operations Level: 50 Skip
	E	Tribune Battleship Romulan
This ship is entirely too expensive to buy. You can hold off with what ships you currently have in your shipyard and come back to it later down the road. Just not worth the 1M credits Cost Per BP: 1,600 Romulan Credits Total Cost: 1.04M Romulan Credits Required Reputation: Champion (1B)

Operations Level: 50
Skip

Tribune
Battleship
Romulan

This ship is entirely too expensive to buy. You can hold off with what ships you currently have in your shipyard and come back to it later down the road. Just not worth the 1M credits

Cost Per BP: 1,600 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 1.04M Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Champion (1B)

Operations Level: 50 Skip
	E	USS Enterprise-A Explorer Federation
If you’re really looking to have an epic in your shipyard this is the logical choice. That said, this ship is entirely too expensive to buy. Hold off on it and utilize what ships you currently have in your shipyard and come back to it later down the road. Just not worth the 1M credits. Cost Per BP: 1,600 Federation Credits Total Cost: 1.04M Federation Credits Required Reputation: Champion (1B)

Operations Level: 50
Skip

USS Enterprise-A
Explorer
Federation

If you’re really looking to have an epic in your shipyard this is the logical choice. That said, this ship is entirely too expensive to buy. Hold off on it and utilize what ships you currently have in your shipyard and come back to it later down the road. Just not worth the 1M credits.

Cost Per BP: 1,600 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 1.04M Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Champion (1B)

By now, you’ve probably got a pretty good handle on how things unfold, but let’s keep this train rolling along the tracks. When you hit level 53, things start to get a bit more interesting. The recommendations here? Go all in. New Interceptor, new Explorer, and if you’re triple-locked at 1 billion, possibly a new Battleship too. But here’s the twist: you’re going to have to juggle that hefty 500 million in faction rep that each ship requires to buy. It might be a bit overwhelming for some folks. If that’s the case, it’s perfectly fine to stick with your FED ROM posture and take it one step at a time.

Operations Level: 53 Optional
	C	Vor’Cha Battleship Klingon
The Vor’Cha is quite the capable ship, no doubt about it. It’s a nice addition to your fleet if you’re up for the challenge of chasing changes in faction. Locking in that 1 billion faction in KLN is a massive accomplishment, and this ship would likely be the third one you purchase if you choose to go down that road. However, if the idea of undoing all the hard work you put into reaching 1.5 billion with FED ROM makes you cringe, then it’s perfectly fine to skip it—it’s optional, after all. Cost Per BP: 3,000 Klingon Credits Total Cost: 450k Klingon Credits Required Reputation: Guardian (1.5B)

Operations Level: 53
Optional

Vor’Cha
Battleship
Klingon

The Vor’Cha is quite the capable ship, no doubt about it. It’s a nice addition to your fleet if you’re up for the challenge of chasing changes in faction. Locking in that 1 billion faction in KLN is a massive accomplishment, and this ship would likely be the third one you purchase if you choose to go down that road. However, if the idea of undoing all the hard work you put into reaching 1.5 billion with FED ROM makes you cringe, then it’s perfectly fine to skip it—it’s optional, after all.

Cost Per BP: 3,000 Klingon Credits
Total Cost: 450k Klingon Credits
Required Reputation: Guardian (1.5B)

Operations Level: 53
Required

USS Northcutt
Interceptor
Federation

Let’s be clear: buying the Northcutt doesn’t mean the Talios is getting the boot. That trusty ship has served you well and will keep on doing so, especially with its massive cargo hold. However, let’s face it—going nearly 30 levels without an FKR Interceptor is a bit of a gap. Snagging the Northcutt fills that void nicely and finally lets you cash in on all the combat research you’ve been stacking up for FKR ships. With this addition, your interceptor game is about to get a serious upgrade, and considering how “stronk” it already was with the Talios, get ready for some serious domination.

Cost Per BP: 3,000 Federation Credits
Total Cost: 450K Federation Credits
Required Reputation: Champion (1.5B)

Operations Level: 50
Required

Corvus
Explorer
Romulan

Hopefully, you didn’t give in to the temptation of splurging on those level 50 epics. Now, let’s talk about the Corvus—it’s just downright sexy and packs a serious punch. Don’t hesitate—grab it and give it the upgrades it deserves. Trust me, the long-term value here is absolutely immeasurable.

Cost Per BP: 3,000 Klingon Credits Romulan Credits
Total Cost: 450K Romulan Credits
Required Reputation: Champion (1.5B)