Best Exploration ship | DBX vs ASP vs Phantom | Elite Dangerous

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[@DowntoEarthAstronomy]

Correction!!! I messed up the price on the ASP. must have looked at the fully fitted price. the real price is: 6,661,153

[@meitzofficial3791]

you also spelt utility as "unility" at 3:30. lol

[@TheGamerTim]

We all make mistakes from time to time, we know you're not trying to mislead us so it's all good 👍

[@jasonboughen9542]

Doesn’t the asp explorer also have one less optional slot than the Krait phantom?

[@justinboivin]

Also misspelled fuel as "fule"

[@mickyco308]

Jason Boughen yes it does he put an extra size 3 in

[@jamesdinius7769]

I do love how the DBX actually shifts its thrusters when deploying landing gear.

[@Underb00t]

I named mine the Raptor

[@starliner2498]

@@Underb00t but of course, is it's registry 909 by any chance too?

[@tammy7098]

@@Underb00t i named mine Apache because it kinda looks like an apache attack helicopter to me

[@AKAxeMan]

@@Underb00t mine is Lookafar

[@midnightrose23]

@@Underb00t Named mine Draconis. I keep checking these videos to see if I should pick up one of the other ships before I head out, but I just can't picture myself not flying the DBX. I just love the way it looks too much

[@erbalumkan369]

you forgot to show one very important thing on the ships: the view from your cockpit !

[@TheKermit2110]

There are some great youtubers for ED but you are my de facto ‘go-to’ guy in the 1st instance for every topic because your attention to detail is second to none and you pace it so well - not overly rapid for those of us struggling to keep up with your encyclopaedic brain. You are a bit of a superstar to me and if I ever meet you, I’m gonna get your autograph

[@DowntoEarthAstronomy]

Thank you man. It's positive comments like this that keeps me going. Knowing that i have been able to help someone progress in a game we both is why i'm running this channel.

[@diggy1983]

i couldnt agree more, i been playing around 6 months and any time i need to know about something i check Down to Earth and prepare to learn

[@TheKermit2110]

Commander exigiuous is also great but more for rapid bite-sized digestion. The Yamiks knows his stuff too and is hilarious but don’t turn the vol up too loud as he is crazily obscene but funny as hell. Mini is good too but my go-to guys are consistently DTEA and CMDR Ex

[@diggy1983]

@@TheKermit2110 cool i think ive seen one of cmdr exigious about doing neutron jumps though i might be mixing him up with others, i will need to check them out, every bit helps :)

[@michael.williams4485]

i bought and outfitted a dbx for 10.5 million cr then made 292 million on my first exploration trip!

[@Andy_Quest]

Michael. Williams woh?! How far/long/many systems did you go to to earn that much?!

[@nickcarnevalino7462]

@@Andy_Quest 292 is a long run .. but i normaly do 10-20 mil a run using road to riches - www.spansh.co.uk/riches/

[@jacksinger5314]

I usually visit 100 systems a pop in Road to Riches. Brings in more than 100M each time.

[@alphatrion4365]

And then you could afford the Phantom and the DBX is dusted and disgusted

[@mk72v2oq]

There are few more profitable activities. E.g. deep core mining can bring more than 150 mil per hour. Also this is much easier. R2R actually useful for beginners to earn first money and then buy a good mining ship =D

[@HadrianDuval]

Krait Phantom is my no.1 exploration ship, the stat and the cockpit are so good, plus there are free drink in phantom on the left side of ur ship

[@SirKaldar]

It has a rubik's cube too, to stave off the space madness :P

[@duc_mallard848]

Fdl

[@davidhalliburton7462]

Phantom all the way. Gives me the options I like.

[@BobBilly980]

lol for combat. if youre using an fdl to explore youre fucking up bud lmaoo

[@brianlam5847]

can the mk2 be used for exploration too? not asking for the same degree as the phantom, but I at least want 50 ly or jump fully engineered

[@paranoidrodent]

This might be a minor point to some but if you do a lot of planetary landings, the Krait Phantom has far better ground clearance to drive under it making it much less annoying to get your SRV into and out of it than the AspX (somewhat annoying) and the DBX (fussy to park under). It isn't the absurdly easy to drive into SRV docking area of the Anaconda but it's still a nice little quality of life perk on the Phantom.

[@Ridomay]

So true. It has a good reference point for getting back in as well. Just drive up to the front landing strut.

[@tobiasstamenkovic9628]

As long as your not visiting an alien or bio site. Its borderline impossible to find a landing spot in anything but the DBX, that isnt several miles away.

[@ENCHANTMEN_]

Getting back into the conda is a pain since it's hard to tell when you're under the bay...

[@cmdrwraithe1857]

This is actually a very good point. It is really annoying to have to dismiss your ship again because the auto-pilot chose a bad place to park....

[@paavobergmann4920]

so true. I had to lift off and find a different parking spot with my DBX a couple of times, because it would land, but I couldn`t drive my SRV out from under. On the other hand, contrary to the Phantom, you can land the DBX on a teatowel in extremely rugged terrain that would never accomodate the ginormous pancake that is the Phantom. I landed literally on the tip of mountains a couple of times.

[@mikkdc]

I'm taking my beloved DBX on DW2 and currently at Sagittarius A* . I just love the range on it. I got mine to 68.1ly laden / 73.2ly max and that's including heat sinks, AFMU, a 3D shield gen and an SRV bay. Another thing I love about the DBX, besides it's 'bang for buck', is just how cool it runs! You can pretty much sit right on top of a star scooping fuel and it doesn't break a sweat. The scoop time doesn't really bother me, as I leave it passively scooping while I use the FSS.

[@jf0314]

Mind posting your build? I'm thinking of really kitting out mine. I'm currently at 67 something ly laden.

[@PowerofRock24]

I got mine to 70.56ly unladen including a shield generator, SRV hangar and fuel scoop. Without a shield and SRV hangar, it's at 71.89ly. Although my friend started playing so I flew it into Sagittarius A* for a quick trip back to the bubble. RIP DBX I also scoop and FSS at the same time, so scoop time is not really a concern. I'm usually fully fueled before I finish my scan.

[@paavobergmann4920]

​ , @Zephius64 : same as me. I love my DBX. I pushed it o 72ly empty/67ly laden, with shield, 2AFMs, 2-slot SRV bay and Guardian FSD booster, and it idles at 13% heat and has a fuel efficiency of 1.52t/h running all I could, 0.75t/h running sensibly managed, and 0.58t/h running only essentials. Meaning, with the same fuel tank capacity as the Phantom, it just doesn´t run out of juice, no matter how big the system is and how many landings and takeoffs you do.I love it. I do the same, I just sit on the star while doing FSS, and I can get max refuelling without ever going past 65% heat, and even on Red dwarves, I usually finish refuel before I am done scanning. That´s something the ASPX just doesn´t do, that thing is hot, and i baked myself a couple of times while refuelling. I love the ASPX, it´s a versatile little thingy that´s above average for its size in just about every job, and at a really nice price tag, but for deep space exploring, it´s the DBX. On the other hand...You can turn the Phantom, thanks to its size, into a decent deep-space miner without sacrificing too much jump range (mine did 54ly with a full mining facility pre-Guardian), and bring back some tritium or cold diamonds on your way back. Meet ASS "Jacqueline Cochrane": ​s.orbis.zone/kb7k

[@Lw2201]

Wow that's better than my conda which is completely useless and doesn't even have shields. On the fuel scoop tho, I find that if I fly around the star keeping the line of death just at the top of my windshield flying underneath the star, the faster I go the faster it scoops and with a decent scoop it literally takes a few seconds and I'm full

[@paavobergmann4920]

@@Lw2201 Ah! Thanks, I didn´t know you could actually ram fuel into the scoop by going faster! I need to try that with my heavy, hot ships! The other thing I love about the DBX, and the reason why I turned my Conda into a flying fortress instead of taking a whole suburb to the Void is how nimble the DBX is. No matter how craggy the planet, if there is enough place for a towel somewhere, there is enough place to land a DBX, and with your seat right at the nose and its amazing turn rates, I´d feel confident to fly this through the sewers of any station with only a map and a torchlight.

[@Skorgrim]

Great work visualizing things with this nice looking chart (spreadsheet) ;D Gives a nice clear overview. Professional and informative as always. :)

[@andysonofbob2599]

Don't forget details like cockpit View and supercruise mobility! That's massive when your out. I defo think SRV is essential, even if it is just to 'stretch your legs'

[@dr.eckschwein1062]

To be fair, though the AspX does have a leg up in regards to visibility, all three of them give you an excellent view each.

[@Angel_Underscore]

Do different ships move differently on supercruise? Haven't noticed it

[@andysonofbob2599]

@@Angel_Underscore very much so. Sidey, Asp E nice and quick. Anaconda is really sluggish

[@dr.eckschwein1062]

@@Angel_Underscore You've never piloted an imperial Cutter or Type 9 yet, haven't you? Because with them it's hard not to notice because turning them feels like you have to force the ship to slowly change direction with all your strength

[@furiouskitties4079]

@@dr.eckschwein1062 Even my type 6 feels like it takes hours to do a 180

[@PowerofRock24]

I prefer the DBX. I got my DBX up to 70.56ly unladen while still maintaining a shield generator and SRV hangar. Without those, it can achieve 71.89ly unladen. It's a better ship for deep space exploration in my opinion. You're probably going to be scanning out in deep space anyway, you can do that while you scoop. I am always fueled up before I finish my scan. Fuel time is never a problem. And I usually go light on internals for as much jump range as possible. I do have an Anaconda with unladen 78.29ly, but it's not fun to fly in supercruise or even regular space with only 255m/s speed and no option to boost with incredibly slow turn rate. Small trade off: I am running with 24T of fuel instead of the standard 32T, a sacrifice of 25%. I tested out my fuel usage on a trip to Sagittarius A* in my DBX and found I rarely went below roughly 35% fuel, so a large tank wasn't very useful to me. It's arguably more risky, but it hasn't been a problem yet. Another small advantage is the small profile of the ship making it easier to land on planets. It also runs extremely cool, and the insurance is much cheaper if you do happen to get destroyed.

[@DarrenBushnall68]

I love my little DBX, It's got everything I need to see the sights and simply gobbles up the galaxy with a very nice 60 light-year jump.

[@vib80]

The Dolphin keeps getting ignored for cheap exploration ships, even though it got a huge boost in the last update by making the class 5 slot unrestricted. That allows it to use class 5 modules, which the DBX can't... and it's in addition to the other 6 (which are similar to the DBX/Cobra full set of optionals). For jump range, the Saud Kruger ships have always been very good... not much less than the DBX/Asp X. Note that the Beluga might look weak in jump range, but it has a fuel tank that can do 10 jumps... you can half the size of that to be more comparable with other ships and gain quite a bit on range.

[@fogllama]

The Dolphin is one of the most fun ships to fly, but the hull strength is scary light for a ship that will be away from a station for months on end. With money no object for me, I prefer the Krait Phantom. My ExploraConda is too bulky (I like nimble), which was a disappointment. I dreamed of owning an Anaconda for so long, only to be let down. When they became available, I kitted a Krait II for exploration, and made my way to a station to get a K Phantom when that was released. I am very happy with the K Phantom. My trusty Asp Explorer hasn't been flown in ages now.

[@TerenKanan]

My Dolphin is my absolute favorite bubble taxi. You can fuel scoop and full your tank while charging for the next jump without overheating. It's a nimble efficient ship for sure.

[@paavobergmann4920]

Dolphin for me is bubbl taxi, and VIP/super shady passengers. Explorer is DBX. ASPX is good for everything, But the Anaconda is a beast in bounty hunting, you just can´t stop this brick from brutalizing its way through enemy syndicates. Plus it just sucks up all the evidence and sells it as scrap metal.... ;-) beluga is fun, I was underwhelmed at first, but it unlocks a ton of potential once you start tinkering with it.

[@Wither_Strike]

and its cold, i once messed up my angle while using my FSS, cause i FSS while scooping, and when i got out of the FSS the stars exclusion zone was a straight line across my monitor, didnt make it over 60% i dont think. granted thats not super useful all the time, but being able to try to overheat when you charge your next jump and not being able to will surely save at least a few hours on longer trips like to colonia or sagg a*

[@ASNS117Zero]

I think, since we're talking about exploring, the sheer view available from the Asp is worth mentioning. You get such a good field of view to look at the various things in that cockpit, it's unreal.

[@jamesdinius7769]

Eh, I think the Phantom's view is better. Almost completely unobstructed, and even some downward viewing like you can get in the Type ships.

[@NickHunter]

We need a large-class Diamondback! Though I'd still personally pick the DBX over the Asp or the Phantom. If I'm gonna bring a phantom I may as well bring a Mk2 and enjoy the SLF bay. Don't like way the Asp "feels" or sounds. DBX look is so unique I love it

[@BobBilly980]

Mk2 doesnt jump as well. Phantom is the asp but better in every way (other than maybe cockpit view, but its still good there). Phantom flies like a combat ship and sounds amazing, FDL tier in my opinion

[@hutch45069]

Thanks for the video, I have done exploration ain all of these ships, plus an Anaconda (Even took a trip out to Colonia in a Corvette before the Guardian FSD Modules.) My all-time fave explorer ship is the Krait. Great video as always.

[@jamesdinius7769]

You flew a Corvette out to Colonia? My respect. I was getting tired using a Phantom. (Aside, if you do respond, was it because of Mel Brandon, may he burn in a fire, or just for bragging rights?)

[@hompnomp8553]

First of all, I really love your videos, they are always very informative and thus very useful especially for players like me who are still scraping on the surface of what's possible in the game. Just one thing: When I went exploring with my DBX I used to immediately park it next to the star of the system I'd arrive at and start the system scanning process from there. By the time I had all bodies scanned my fuel tank had been filled up again. So realistically speaking for exploration purposes the time it needs to refuel really shouldn't be a deciding factor if you're unsure about which one of those to get. You're going to have to use some time for the scans anyway ;)

[@seaneldridge3178]

Very few people making that point but absolutely valid, and also exactly what I do. No time is wasted or lost on my DBX exploration ventures. Most of the time it was done filling long before I finished scanning. And that was at a very low rate.

[@PowerofRock24]

^This! No one raises this point! I love my DBX. I got mine up to 70.56ly while still maintaining shields and an SRV hangar. It's a highly underrated ship. It also runs a lot cooler and is much smaller, making landing on planets a little easier. Insurance is cheaper too, so if you do get destroyed, it's not going to cost much to replace. I even cut my fuel tank from the standard 32T down to 24T(-25%) because my tank only rarely drops below even 50%

[@ethankincaid6838]

Just hit elite explorer with dbx. The rapid cooling makes the refueling time stress free, and I'd you don't use the neutron highway it's perfect for deep space.

[@ronniebowlsby6037]

Just today I had this decision to make. And I stood with my Asp Explorer, that beauty got me where I'm at today. Jumped from a asp explorer (mining/transporting) to a Anaconda. So today I had to rep up for 1 engineer. Dusted off my asp explo, engineered core modules, stripped unnecessary modules, and was glad to hear that unique engine sound again. ⭐ Edit: I'm seriously thinking about getting the Phantom. For LONG RANGE expeditions. And keep the Asp in the bubble. Anaconda multirole. And fed corvette target ready. By the way, I checked your corvette engineering, I liked it so much that I tweaked mine. For my surprise prismatic shields need to be pledged (4 weeks) So I spanked the bi-wave in it. It withstands perfectly. So I haven't adapted the guardian shield modules just yet. But Wow. Can't imagine with prismatics! I guess it's all about playstyle. Awesome JOB commander! o7

[@krisghoststar]

Great videos. Just started playing on PS4 and loving it.

[@MrBwian]

Great video, very informative Dumped my AspX in favour of the Phantom, performing admirably on the DW2 Expedition

[@emdubya]

Bubble Bus! lmfao, never heard that before, Brilliant!! I have 2 usually referred to as my taxis, but no longer, Long Live the Bubble Buses!!

[@sunscorpiochris]

After watching this? I’m getting a Krait for Exploration and turning my DB Exp into my bubble bus (which I use it for already) and keeping my Asp for my Material Gatherer for engineering. Appreciate you putting these comparisons up and helping me choose what to take to Colonia!!!

[@mysticaldragon2740]

why wouldnt you use the dbx for mat farming with its smaller size. Then the rebuy is only 644k ish vs millions to sd back.

[@suikerstaafje7]

Cos low costs in rebuy, low cost for transport and far jump range, I still do use my DBX. Perfect for travelling to parked ships between different systems. Oh and I used it alot for the Ancient ruins runs, cos it could land everywhere near them. Nice layout comparison, well done.

[@martindinner3621]

Esp. nice for Guardian runs with a pair of AMS on the upper utility points!

[@Ben-nc9qw]

It’s time for an Asp Explorer mk II (with class 8 Fsd and extra class 5 slot)

[@drifterax7731]

I’d prefer we got two new ASP variants, e.g: ASP Prospector with only 2 medium hardpoints but also an extra class 5 internal Then an ASP Pathfinder with a class 8 fsd like you said

[@alphatrion4365]

I say a clipper explorer

[@sneakycactus8815]

@@alphatrion4365 is be happy with any kind of ship with a class 8 fsd and low weight. Perfect exploration ship

[@leomoran142]

The Asp Explorer *is* the mk II

[@Serxne_]

An ASP Longbow would be neat, longer ship, weighs a bit more, bigger FSD, possibly a bigger fuel tank(64T, perhaps) and a class 7 for the beloved fuel scoop.

[@elliottnoy437]

Type 7. Idk why but i feckin' love that brick.

[@STRIDER_503]

T7 is an amazing brick if you fit the right modules on it!

[@turbomazda3]

I think it was the type 7 that had awesome jump range back then. It was better then the DBX and ASP. Then it got nerfed kinda fast because it was to good

[@greensmurf9623]

Father Jack: "I love my brick!"

[@dans2ndxbox360]

Bubble bus! I love it! I've got all three of these ships set up for jump range. The Asp was the first ship I used for exploration. The diamondback has been my "bubble bus" 🤣 for a while as well. I bought the Krait phantom and outfitted it for deep space. My anaconda is still ago to for distance. loaded to the Hilt with everything I need to never come back into civilized space, I still get 68 + LY per jump. Great video!

[@solidus3168]

Dan G care to share your build? I have an Anaconda sitting in storage I never use cause...couldn't find a use for it. I knew it had great jump range, just never could figure out what else to do with it.

[@corygibson1734]

What the heck is a bubble bus? (Totally green to ED)

[@solidus3168]

@@corygibson1734 "bubble bus" is a cheap ship, unless you are stupid rich, that can be outfitted to have an extremely high jump range that does not really do much of anything else. Main candidates for this are indeed the three in the video. Most specifically people will use the AspX and, DBX because they are so cheap. They are two of the 4 in game ships that can have the highest jump ranges. The four being (cheapest to most expensive) DBX, ASPX, Craite Phantom, Anaconda.

[@michagrill9432]

@@solidus3168 amaconda having a MASSIVE price junp at 6 BILLION lmao

[@cmdrtianyilin8107]

I did a Type 10 explorer. It's not a jumper, but it has every single sensor you need. On top of that, you have a fighter hanger, 2 SRV bays and research limpets. It's a mobile science lab.

[@michaelmcclure473]

This will help me decide on what to buy next. Looking to explore after I mine enough money to buy an explorer ship. Thanks for the explorer info!

[@Phoros]

I’ve used the the ASP and DBX extensively, while you can get a much higher jump range with the ASP, I personally love the DBX as it was the first exploring ship I had and following the rule of cool, to me the best looking ship in the game, it reminds me of the Pelican from Halo, you cant beat that.

[@PowerofRock24]

I agree with the Halo reference, but you're wrong about one thing. The DBX gets more jump range than the AspX. Unladen, I can get my DBX up to 71.58ly and the AspX barely pushes 67ly jump range. The only other ship that has a better jump range than the DBX is the Anaconda.

[@xdtechniker2554]

My main exploration ship is my Diamondback Explorer. Core are A-rated (except Sensors). Optional are a 4A Fuel scoop, 4H Guardian FSD-Booster, 3A Shield generator (Enhanced low power), 3A AFMU, then a SRV bay and detailed surface scanner. Edit: Jumprange is almost 65 Lys.

[@PowerofRock24]

You should be able to get that up to 70.5ly with some engineering. 65ly seems very low. You could D-Rate the thrusters, shields, and power distributer and make them smaller if you want extra jump range.

[@mellowmoo6747]

Man, your videos are amazing and have really helped me hit the ground running in elite dangerous. I went from sidewinder, to cobra, to asp explorer, to python in about 2 weeks from your mining guides. Keep up the good work!

[@honnorgaurd]

ty for the very in-depth analytical explanation of these three ships. this was EXACTLY what I was needing since im on the market currently for a very long distance deep space ship. was hoping the phantom was good as i love it out of the three. im definitely going with it as it feels all around just best for my needs despite the price.

[@derekrucker377]

Perfect video! Thank so much for doing this one. Well timed too - I've been wondering recently about trading in my AspE for a Phantom since they are both well good for exploration.

[@warmbeer6282]

much better than the DBS.

[@NickHunter]

@@warmbeer6282 It IS much better than the scout :-)

[@Tom-Servo]

Picking an exploration ship has been the hardest decision in my entire time playing elite. This video helped me narrow down my choices. Ultimately I went with the Krait mk2. I have 2 srv and a single fighter hanger. With fsd booster I get 52 ly jump range which is more than enough. It’s lean and mean looking with awesome sound and a great view from the cockpit.

[@renkazakiewich427]

of those 3 I'd go DBX. Its the first ship I took to the core. I run an Exploraconda these days and it does ~76ly engineered with pretty much everything an explorer would want bar repair limpets. I'm in a group and one of us has a repair controller so we're ok. For anyone looking to get into exploring, I'd totally recommend an Adder. Crazy but amazing jump range for the cost. Not something you'd take out of the bubble but its a great taxi and decent enough to get you in and around the Pleiades.

[@krisghoststar]

I love my Adder as a bubble bus. 30lr jump atm and a SRV bay. great for gathering materials and easy to find a landing site.

[@PowerofRock24]

Just curious, why did you decide to use the Conda over the DBX for exploration? I love my jump range, but I just get the feeling Conda would eventually dive me made with how slow and cumbersome it is. I got my DBX up to 70.56ly and not sure if the madness is worth the extra 8ly range. I made a jump-conda on Coriolis capable of 78.3ly, but with a lot of sacrifices.

[@philipbannor3281]

* Fuel. But good video - I'd wondered about this myself. Thanks for doing this! :)

[@jeffbynum1024]

thank you for you r great level of detail regarding comparisons. you have helped me make a hard choice on krait vs asp. my aspx has done an amazing job so far and i made it 5k ly out into the black with it, but it may be time to upgrade to the krait. its mostly a lateral movement, but the krait sounds and looks badass too

[@myname3960]

The view from the Asp makes it worth it. The more min-maxing you add to exploration the more magic you take away from the experience.

[@NickHunter]

Aye that cockpit is something else

[@apollo12002]

Agree with the breakdown, one thing that you didn’t mention was the view out of the cockpit. ,IMO the view out of the asp is superior than the other two, which is a consideration for sight seeing especially when doing a lot of planetary exploration.

[@petersherratt]

Nice vid Astro. My measure of ship speed is LY per hour, so how far can you go jump/honk/jump in that time without taking excessive heat damage. I managed the bubble to Omega mining operation (5500LY) in 55 mins with the Krait. I think the pilots federation should run time trials... that would be really fun

[@dans2ndxbox360]

I'm figuring with a decent fuel scoop I was averaging about one jump per minute as well.

[@SproutFarms]

Considering my DBX basically refuels while I align with the next system, this seems to be a fun thing to try.

[@seaneldridge3178]

The Jumpaconda is going to run circles around everything, when the only thing that matters is getting there fast, if for no other reason than that it has a black hole for a fuel scoop. It pulls fuel at three times the rate of my DBX.

[@mysticaldragon2740]

@@seaneldridge3178 but the lack of maneuverability is going to hurt you with the junkconda

[@Majima_Nowhere]

I have a DBX taxi but the Phantom is by far my favorite exploration ship. The looks, the internal space, the cockpit... all perfect.

[@sjgoff]

DBX is also easier to land on rough terrain planets. Phantom is the funnest to fly.

[@BlackStar-uy9fh]

I agree. I once landed on a planet, with so rough terrain on one sweet spot, that it took me like five minutes to find one landing spot that was passable.. Try to do that with some Anaconda, or even Asp.

[@Awokenify]

I would love to see a comparison of the Dolphin/Orca/Beluga with sightseeing missions in combination with exploring in mind.

[@jamesngotts]

I use a DBX for deep space but sacrifices do have to be made. One thing I’ve noticed in some of your past builds is you fit the explorers with a bigger shield than they need. All three of the ships can use a 3D standard shield (smallest you can fit). Then I engineer it for low power stripped down and significantly cut its weight

[@davidgouyaie8027]

Lol i was so confused that i have to check the price see we believe in you so much that i was thinking my memory of apx price was wrong.. Good video anyway for explorer that will tackle the void first time .._ ._. I switch to conda now for long trip(internals)and my apx is a bubble scout ship now.

[@champagnelewis7049]

I completed DW2 in my DBX! With no Guardian FSD boost (yet), a mix of class A and class D modules, and G5 engineered FSD plus an SRV and two AFMUs, I got just over a 54 LY jump range which was quite nice. I just wish I had a fighter bay on this ship. I'll likely end up with an Anaconda next time I take part in an expedition so I can have some slf-related fun while keeping the jump range.

[@talkingmudcrab718]

I would add that the Asp Explorer has THE best cockpit for exploration, especially if you're a VR user.

[@warmbeer6282]

CTRL+ALT+Space. learn it.

[@JonArbuckle066]

Thank you once again! Best Elite info. on KZbin =)

[@ivanputignef2418]

My favourite remains the AspX, it's got the right looks, the cockpit view and all the essentials for deep black, solitary travel. I love the DBX to bits, however I find it more useful as a bubble courier/farmer (or bubble-bus, as you put it!). I like the Kraits a lot for their internals, flexibility and maneuverability, but the footprint makes them more awkward when landing, they don't look the part of an exploration ship, and since I hate Star Wars, the Millennium Falcon vibe puts me off. :P

[@backcountry8405]

Awesome video thank you sir

[@brucoder]

The key on those prices is that by the time that you have the cash for an ASP-X, you can probably make the difference to the Krait Phantom in a single session. So, the DBX is a great ship to handle missions and Road to Riches exploration. It's easy to fly and easy to Planet-land. My recommendations for exploration-related buys relates more to your experience level than to the one versus the others decisions. Go from your Sidey to an Adder and then to a DBX as soon as you have the 5M to spend on purchase and outfitting. Spend a few weeks in PvE using the DBX to courier data in the bubble and maybe spend a weekend doing Road To Riches scanning and mapping, and when you've hit that first magic 100M, go for the Krait Phantom and kit her out.

[@luka-null]

Phantom is my go-to for long range hauls of any description. I'm primarily a combat pilot who usually flies a Krait Mk. II and the Phantom is just as much home to me as my main ship is. Even fully kitted out for a skirmish I can still pull 65Ly no problem, 61 if loaded down with 32t of cargo and a full fuel tank. I've taken this ship to the Formidine Rift and back and went bounty hunting at every inhabited ring I stopped at. It's taken down T10s and Chieftains, all while still sporting rescue multi-limpets, FSD booster, 6A scoop, SRV bay, DSS and AFMU. The only thing that can take this ship down is dedicated PvPers or the surface of planets if I come in a little too hot. I love exploring, but I won't compromise on combat readiness. Phantom gives me that in spades 💙 - β

[@AndreasVictorsson]

I'm in love with my Diamondback Exploder

[@vynashe4442]

I went to Sagittarius A* with my Krait phontom and honestly it was a great trip. I love it and the Krait mk II, my mining/fast cargo transport vessel.

[@davidscribbins9192]

One advantage for dbx you forgot. Best ship to defend you against missles while collection allien items. (can get closer to the camps with small size)

[@MacVerick]

Yeah! Point defense !

[@oracletx]

It isn't just the size, the DBX utility slots are all top mounts. I'm not sure about the AspX, but the Phantom has two belly mounts and two side mounts. That makes the DBX > Phantom for sitting on the ground shooting down Guardian drone missiles.

[@ChrisShelby]

Great info as usual. I just did a dbx and got to 50ish ly but now i wonder what a phantom will do with all that stuff packed onto it. I will start a build! I want to travel to colonia.

[@JosipNukeDuke]

Played with ASP Explorer for a while now. Believe me - its awesome

[@mattsmechanicalssi5833]

I love my AspX. It has a 30+ly range w/o engineering, works well for mining and combat as it's very maneuverable. After using it for quite some time, I named it the "Uninterdictable", since not one player or NPC has been able to succeed at interdictions. And there's been well over 100 attempts.

[@vizionthing]

Its got my favorite cockpit for exploration, I hate the Anaconda's cockpit so much, but I still use it but only for the range, Still have to spit every time I switch into it.

[@DaleFranks]

I just bring couldn’t bring myself to get the ASP Explorer and live with its constant WWI biplane drone. So, I kitted out a KP with all the stuff I wanted for long-range armed exploration, and I got a max jump range of 57LY out of it, with minimal engineering (Level 5 FSD Range and a Guardian FSD Booster.) Tomorrow I’m heading out 2,000 LY away from the bubble, and seeing what I can find, starting from there. I tried using an Anaconda as an Exploration ship, but it was too unwieldy for me in that role. SO, then I bought a DBX and went outside the bubble with it, and discovered a few new systems. Then I used it to get my Engineering and Guardian unlocks. It ended up with a 70LY range. But, after watching this, I got a KP for my next exploration run. I’m not giving up my DBX though...

[@EspenFrafalne]

57LY... Is that with A rated thrusters, powerplant and power distributor? If so, then MAYBE i should get a Phantom instead of the AspX. Really like the Asp though. Mine has 60,11LY (59,62LY if i fill up with 4 limpets - which is the most i have room for, and the number i get from 1 "synthesis") and room for everything i need - as long as i bring materials to make AFM refill and limpets for repairs... Only have 1 SRV, but i have never destroyed one so far, so i dont think that will be a problem...

[@DaleFranks]

@@EspenFrafalne It got it up to 62LY now. Of course, you can't A-rate it and get that kind of jump range. Everything is basically d-rated for low weight, or under-classed and d-rated. It's an exploration vessel. There's nothing to shoot at out in the black.

[@HuguesTalbot]

@@DaleFranks you might find a mining laser useful for materials, specifically the stuff for FSD injections.

[@FLUX.2226]

Advantage of the Asp Explorer: unobscured cockpit view. I've been using the Phantom until now because of the slightly better jump range and more optional internals, but I'm thinking about switching to the Asp now. The Phantom has a quite large blocked off triangle at the bottom of its class glass canopy, making planetary landings more awkward, which is kind of a bummer. And the rest of the Phantom's cockpit looks like you're sitting in a construction site vehicle, which just isn't my thing-

[@eigokudemangaka]

At least you get a coffee maker in the Krait cockpit 😁

[@tesstickle7267]

Needs a slight update now;) if the dbx is a small ship it's got the two extra internals and assuming the other two are mediums get one extra slot?

[@mysticaldragon2740]

thats my issue with most youtubers as they dont update their vids. Exigious even commented on his outdated video but didnt change the description. Worse yet he did an updated video on a topic, but didnt link that new video to the old one he had commented on. IMO this is uncalled for, and hurts the community vs helping it.

[@DrChristophor]

I actually use my dbx for a bubble bus, and I’m in deep space with my asp right now. I don’t have a Krait yet, maybe something to look into next time I dock.. especially with the increase in thargoid activity lately!

[@AniGaAG]

I'd like to add one thing about the Phantom: It is _fantastic_ for farming High-Grade Emissions throughout the bubble. It jumps far, scoops fast, and can carry a _lot_ of limpets! So it's an absolutely beautiful ship for the job. But yes, the DBX is indeed my bubble taxi, and the AspX is indeed my explorer. Agreed entirely! Though I consider switching from AspX to another Phantom... SRV parking is superior with it... though the AspX itself is easier to park on rugged planets... hmm...

[@mrexists5400]

dbx is even better at landing on rugged planets though, went to farm high grade raw mats on a fairly steep slope, there was this tiny level spot that was sticking out a bit that only a dbx or smaller ship could land on about 30 meters away from the site.

[@lonewaer]

I love the DBX for solo exploration, and I must say, what makes me keep it as my go-to exploration ship, is the heat capacity of the ship. It sounds kind of irrelevant, but when you're like me and scan everything you come across, the small fuel scoop, although noticeably slow, isn't as crippling as one would expect. I just find the orbital plane, sit at one of the star's poles, within reasonable scooping range, and start scanning everything while scooping. The one big drawback is that I feel the tightness of the optionals, of course, because I would love to squeeze a Guardian Booster in there, some cargo space, possibly a Repair Limpets Controller, all of those make long trips very comfortable. But most of those have to go because the AFMUs definitely aren't going. In the end, 63ly max jump range with what I want is largely enough, and the scooping time becomes scanning time, so it's not an issue. It's an amazing little ship that all in all cost me around 8 mil only.

[@marcinos303]

+1 DBX is extremely hard to burn. Awesome ship to "silent running" mode.

[@EspenFrafalne]

I also used to think the DBX was really good. Then i got the Asp (with 60LY), and that is the only ship i use for personal transportation and exploration... I think it looks MUCH better than the DBX, and it also has MUCH better speed. When i fuel scoop, it usually does not go much over 60 heat (i have G3 "clean drives tuning" on the thrusters, and G5 "low emission" power plant, so i guess this helps a little with heat issues). The Phantom has room for bigger modules, but i dont need bigger shields, AFMUs, repair limpets, or more cargo space (4T cargo space is all i need for synthesizing 4 limpets for repairs)... It could PERHAPS be nice with an extra SRV, but i have never needed more than 1 so far in my 600 hours gametime...

[@PowerofRock24]

This! DBX is arguably the best solo exploration ship. It has a jump range of 75ly, turns in supercruise on a dime. The smaller profiles makes landing on rough terrain much easier, the heat efficiency is one of the best in the game, and it's much faster than the AspX when properly engineered. If you're scanning and fueling, fuel time is irrelevant. The Phantom is a great alternative if you don't like scanning and just want to get form A to B (If you don't like scanning, why are you exploring anyway??) AspX is irrelevant now since the Phantom was released. I upgraded from the AspX to the DBX, but Phantom is also a great exploration ship. It's really down to preference between DBX and Phantom.

[@Mrmhmd1993]

1- pretty sure the ASP costs less than 7 million 2- you forgot to talk about the canopy view. The ASP beats any other ship in this regard, with almost totally unobstructed view to the space you're exploring

[@Apolleone]

Yep. The best one for VR.

[@jf0314]

@@Apolleone I've got a DBX, AspX and a Krait Mk2. While I agree that the AspX has the best view in VR, the other two aren't far off. I love the looks of the DBX and the only thing it's missing is being able to see below. The Mk2 is now my main mining ship, but even with the L/R superstructure out there, it's not all that bad. Now, if you want a nice cockpit for VR...the iCourier is fantastic (same with the Mamba...amazed at the view sitting behind my friend in multicrew).

[@Ben-nc9qw]

And agility in supercruise!

[@JohnVanderbeck]

Came here to say the same. Why does everyone overlook the view in an explorer ship? If you are going out to see amazing things don't you want to be able to SEE them? The Phantom's view is decent but the mandibles can be annoying. I haven't tried the other two yet personally. The Diamondback picture LOOKS like it has a good view?

[@junkiexl86]

Which is what exploration is all about imo, the view and the immersion. DBX has those 2 giant pillars right in your face. Not sure about the Phantom.

[@freederth619]

I like taking out my asp E for random jumps cause the cockpit offers an awesome view.

[@Ichinin]

The best view, i agree. Only the cargo haulers offer the same, but they are pretty useless for exploration. I think i got a type 7 hauler engineered up to 40-ish lightyears.

[@ldobehardcore]

@@Ichinin I engineered a 56ly type 7 and flew it out to Beagle Point. That was a lot of fun.

[@vib80]

Type 7 got a big boost in jump range in one of the updates last year. It's much better for exploration now, as you can get it up over 60ly.

[@DallinBackstrom]

Sorry, I see you've changed to HUD colour on your FSS. How did you do that? My in-ship hud and menus are customized, but when I enter FSS mode I get default orange...

[@Deathborn2048]

I prefer the Phantom over the Asp for a thing that you haven't really taken into account: When doing deep space exploration, having more than 1 SRV is really useful in case one gets destroyed. So if you go for max jump range + "toys", you'll put a size 5 FSD booster in the size 5 slot of the ASP's, and a 6A or 6B scoop in the size 6 slot. That leaves only size 3 and 2 slots. But the hangar with 2 SRV's is a size 4. So you would have to use 2 hangars instead of 1 bigger one, which takes up 1 more slot. And... uhm, personally I like the engine sound of the Phantom much more :P Also has a quite fast normal space speed, faster than SLF's when engineered properly. And it is runing cooler than the ASP EX.

[@junkiexl86]

Why would you need a 2nd SRV when you can repair it in 2 clicks via synthesis screen?

[@roseco581]

@@junkiexl86 this

[@yorkshire_tea_innit8097]

@@junkiexl86 you can't repair it if it explodes.

[@EspenFrafalne]

@@yorkshire_tea_innit8097 I have never had my SRV explode. Not even when i played around with geysirs earlier today, and threw myself 350 meters up in the air... It did very little damage because i used the thrusters to break the fall... I have had my SRV get stuck, and i see some people self destruct their SRVs to get out of that situation, but a better solution is to just restart the game without horizons to take you out in orbit...

[@johnshioli1499]

@@EspenFrafalne I was climbing a very steep, very tall mountain in my SRV, and when it finally decided to give up and fall off, it bounced all the way down and exploded on impact. I wasn't able to stop the process. Fortunately, I hadn't made it out too far (coming back from Colonia), so I went back for a new one.

[@hawke6779]

There's no need to stop and fuel with a 6a fuel scoop, just a matter if flying by the star waiting for fsd cool down lol

[@Hawk_of_Battle]

There is if you're going to FSS the system. Have to stop for that, might as well refuel at the same time.

[@Geekman333]

Great guide, thank you. I'm wondering if the Guardian FSD enhancement supercedes the benefits of engineering the FSD or do the effects stack? Any input gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

[@doommaker4000]

Pretty sure they stack, but you should check that

[@b1xe240]

They stack. Engineering for long range boosts your max jump range by a certain percent each grade up you go. The guardian FSD booster adds a flat bonus jump range that increases depending on the size of module you put on. The max is 10.something light years with a class 5h booster. If you want to do any exploration, I highly recommend doing both

[@seaneldridge3178]

@@b1xe240 I've went on an engineering spree for my DBX this past weekend and at the same time also added the G-FSD booster. Went from about 40 to 60 LY jump range, even though I could only get the level 4 Guardian booster on this ship. I need to find the final materials for the class 5 engineering though. I have nothing for that level.

[@inspector4133]

I watched this and tried the Krait. What you didn't mention was that sometimes, it can be a real pain to recover an SRV due to the low ground clearance. It was a hassle almost every time I tried it. I finally sold the Krait Phantom and have been happily using the DBX for my first exploration trips. I think I'm going to try the ASP now and see how it does.

[@PowerofRock24]

Stick with the DBX. AspX is the lowest tier exploration ship. Phantom does everything a little better, and DBX is best all-rounder.

[@CreaturesThatThrive]

My first major bit of income (500Mil) came from the diamond back, personally I think it came with exactly the right amount of things that it needed. That included the Guardian Frame Shift boost. I had the major things I needed, which was mostly an SRV, and Fuel Scoop (I don't know what I used, sitting at a star never bothered me - would scan systems while I scooped), and an internals repair module. I never loaded any weapons because the only things I could see out in space would obliterate me if I cant get out quick enough anyway. This was done before I really understood engineering as well, and the only thing I really had a problem with was being unable to repair hull - as I returned from a 2 month trip with about 70-something percent hull. Differences aside, I have kept my DBX and even recently gave the "Lost Arc" a paint job.

[@seaneldridge3178]

In my DBX on my Sag A* trip I effed up and wrecked a landing and went down to about 24% hull at around 1/4 of the way there. My friend said to turn back, but she carried on and we made it all the way in. This is why I love my DBX. Got my Elite exploration status on that trip too. And a butt load of bank.

[@BadMonkeyBrains]

Mamba for bubblebus tbh, hauling cargo is a job for cargo ships like a type 10 or annaconda, python does everything well so multipurpose sorted and for exploration i keep toying with the idea of just speccing up a jumpaconda but i'm out in the errant marches with a krait mkii thats already seen me towards the rim and back a couple of times and doing just fine, jump range >40Ly is just luxury, FSD boosts see me past most obstacles

[@TrangleC]

Good comparison, thanks. One thing I would be interested in is whether the Phantom is a good alternative to the ASP as a farming materials ship.

[@Terminator484]

I've played with both, and they're about the same. The SRVs only go so fast, and both easily support an SRV (or two), and a mining laser. You don't really need anything more than that to gather materials. Personally, I prefer my Phantom, just because I've put a lot more time & engineering into tuning it, and she zooms a very comfortable 59 lightyears per jump, which I'm very happy with. I used my DBX to go unlock the Guardian FSD Booster, but getting the Phantom immediately put my DBX into mothballs.

[@rohesilmnelohe]

Unility mounts :D Also. In my dbx, when I get into a bigger system, I park the hornet into the Corona and start scanning. By the time I finish it's filled up. And never above 70% heat with my class 3a fuel scoop. Yes. Not using a class four

[@PowerofRock24]

^This! DBX is so underrated due to it's fuel time, even though that doesn't matter if you're scanning and actually exploring. It still has the best jump range in the game (other than slow-Conda)

[@happymoisteel7541]

Astro can you do cone boost tutorial and or a comparison between boosting via a neutron star and feeding your fsd with components/ materials?

[@spartan456]

I've been a fan of the DBX ever since I got back into the game recently. It might be one of my most favorite ships in the entire game. From my own testing, it's one of the only small ships that can achieve a very nice jump range right out of the box. Even loading it up with weapons and heavy armor if you wanted to use it for combat, the jump range will still beat most combat-oriented ships even before engineering. I love the DBX so much I got two. One for pure exploration and another for doing stuff in the bubble. Even in the bubble I like having a high jump range, but the bubble variant is focused on combat so it's about 10 or 15Ly short of my exploration build. But I'd rather have 40-50Ly in a combat ship than 15-20Ly. Especially for running around to all the engineers to unlock them. It's certainly no Vulture but it can get pretty dang close with some basic engineering.

[@arnoldnym2466]

Absolutely agree. My DBX sees so much use for quick trips and I did most of the guardian grind with it. And I usually won't get attacked with it since it keeps a low profile and engineered it can pack a massive punch for its size.

[@PowerofRock24]

DBX is very nimble. It turns like a dream in supercruise, and runs cool enough to surf across a star without overheating. I usually hover above a star while I scan too and never overheat. It's possible to get the unladen jump range to 72ly too. It's all-around the best exploration ship, unless you can deal with the frustration of the slow-Conda.DBX is too underrated.

[@mrboatface4023]

Nothing better than my FDL.

[@daveisnothere]

With the additional 2 tier 1 slots on small ships a lot more of them will be viable for long range exploration, or in the case of Dolphin and DBX they will be even better than they already are. I am looking at "non-meta" type ships to head off into the black with so this update will give me options.

[@erikstewart5499]

Noob in a DBX here: I'm getting 45+ light years with a Guardian FSD booster, AFMU, SRV hanger, and 4 repair limpets, and NO ENGINEERING. Yeah, scooping takes a bit, but if you're scooping every star, it's not long, and easy to just park around the star while you scope out the system. It's a great starter exploration ship, and perfect for going to get your first Guardian module. I think it's a viable deep space explorer (though I've only got a few thousand light years at most), with limitations and less margin for error. But I mostly just love how it looks.

[@FilipoLipos]

I went from ASP explorer to DBX and I am not planning to go back :D maybe the krait could be good alternative for longer travels

[@ionsilver557]

I still love my Dolphin though... It can easily cover ~45 ly range with engineered FSD and some D level modules. But I really hope I can swap that freaking size 5 optional slot (for a passenger cabin by default) for a size 5 FSD slot, then it will be my perfect little voyager.

[@stevenroyer9380]

i would love to use a dolphin but the hot pink cockpit would drive me insane

[@cubicbolognium8229]

the Hauler, the exploration ship of champions!!

[@BobBilly980]

Its a good ship taxi! I use mine to get my ships if i dont want to pay for them to transfer. but honestly once you get into the multi billion club the ship transfer fees are a non issue

[@leomoran142]

You're not a true champion of exploration until you get to the opposite rim of the galaxy in a Sidewinder

[@jamesdinius7769]

@@leomoran142 Please. Lightweight. True champions do it in a Federal Gunship (worst jump range in the game )

[@MrTimjm009]

@@leomoran142 Is that possible ? what kind of load out would it need ? ( joking right ? )

[@leomoran142]

@@MrTimjm009 The loadout runs like this... A-rated FSD, all other core internals rated D, a 2A fuel scoop, an advanced discovery scanner, and at least 2 other optional internals taken up with fuel tanks (the rest being left empty to save weight)... and most importantly, all cranial slots rated insane, because it will take a very, very long time. It may be tempting to use neutron star jets to speed that up, but without a system repair module, your Sidewinder will be more duct-tape and optimism than ship when you arrive if you do.

[@Zelisius]

I had an asp explorer. She took me to the center and back. I eventually sold it for the phantom. Phantom jumps farther, has better sized internals, great cockpit view, plus it looks and sounds sexy. Currently jumps 70 to 72 Lys with all my stuff. Could do a bit more work, but I'm not gonna waste the mats for a couple extra Lys.

[@DarthWall275]

Meh. Phantom looks like a poor man's Millennium Falcon from a straight-to DVD Asylum Star Wars rip-off, and the sound is best described as...goopy. Yeah, goopy. The Asp actually *looks* like an exploration ship, that could be the main ship in a sci-fi adventure show, like the Jupiter 2 is to Lost in Space, plus t looks pretty cool from behind. And the prop plane is gloriously random, but in a good way - it kinda adds to the "cheesy old sci-fi series" style of the ship.

[@PowerofRock24]

72ly? I doubt that, unless you're looking at MAX instead of unladen. I tried to make one on coriolis but couldn't get it to 70ly without sacrificing shields and SRV hangar. AspX is not a good exploration ship. Maybe a good bubble bus. Phantom beat it in every possible way. DBX is arguably the best of the three. 70.56ly unladen. Great heat efficiency, smaller profile, easier to land on planets, and turns on a dime in SC and regular space. Only downside is the fuel time, which can be done while scanning anyway.

[@johnshepard7630]

Thank you. Edit to your breakdown, the Phantom has 9 optional internal components to the ASPX 8. higher jump range once you shell out the cash. So if money is an issue, ASP by far the best small med ship for the role. If you now have money to spare, then the Phantom is what would fall into the law of diminishing returns. Massive cost to get to it, and you get marginal gains over the ASPX...nevertheless it is better than the ASPX, just not by much.

[@oneofdavidsmightymen]

I have had m.y DBX for 2 years still use it as a go to for materials, Guardian grinds and exp. travelled 5k ly out from the bubble in it without an afmu with its little fuel scoop and never has a problem. I get 75 ly jump with 2 srv’s on board. Have a Krait phantom too and use it for material collection as well but the DBX has a major advantage as you can land where the others can’t on planets.

[@Drow1342]

I'm loving the Phantom.

[@popculture70]

Dolphin is also a good choice as an exploration ship. It's as fast as the Phantom, can be engineered to jump 40ly or 50 with FSD booster. And it's really cheap.

[@RetroMaticGamer]

Simon West THIS. I’ve been exploring in my Dolphin since I bought my Anaconda and passed the “passenger ship” torch to the bigger craft. It just kinda hit me - it’s slotted beautifully, has an amazing jump range, nice view from the cockpit, and looks really sexy in 3rd person screenshots!

[@samw1501]

@@RetroMaticGamer Another +1 for the Dolphin! After tinkering around on coriolis.io I settled on this loadout for exploration: s.orbis.zone/3wlm As soon as a I bought the Dolphin and switched to it I knew I was going to enjoy the cockpit. I've actually got a 5B fuel scoop and a 4D cabin at the moment for a shortish passenger exploration trip, saving up for the 5A scoop and 4A AFMU.

[@lmao.3661]

aaaa so many choices i dont knowww

[@peterzerfass4609]

With the Asp you get...the sound of the Asp. Nothing beats that

[@Pharesm]

Since I have like 2-5 of each ship anyway, the Krait Phantom is really the one to use if you need to bring some stuff along. The ASP of course has the better cockpit and that funky B2 Bomber sound...

[@rodrirm]

Great video, one question If you could choose between the Anaconda, with almost 77LY jump range (total jump of 314 ly before fueling) or the ASP Explorer with 66.51 LY of jump range (with 464.41 LY before fueling), Which one would you go?, Im guessing the ASP Explorer still the best choice performance wise (less chance to move far away from you real trip to get a fuel star than with the Anaconda). Thank you!

[@martintownley5803]

It’s all personal choice really. With good engineering you can make your favourite ship do almost anything well. Some ships just “feel” nicer than others. Even though technically it’s the best exploration ship I f*****g hate the anaconda. When you are doing many hundreds of jumps, the terrible manoeuvrability drives me insane and ruins any exploration trip for me. Used one for DW2 to Beagle point and back. Sold it as soon as I got back and never bought another one since. Medium ships are the way to go imo and engineer it correctly for your intended purpose. Best ship on paper doesn’t usually mean most fun in game and surely that’s the point.

[@adamw.8579]

Nice review. I prefer DBX because hate grind and this one is best unengineered ship. Yesterday I got shocked - planning route thru Oochorrs sector (big area of non scoopable stars) I got 940Ly range without need scooping fuel. Econo route of course, jump ranges about 10Ly. Surface PoI composition scans made from nice cockpit - small but powerful. If not require any materials I don't touch SRV. For compare my actual exploration DBX on coriolis: s orbis zone/has9 (replace spaces with dots). This built require manual power management due small power plant.

[@Cooldude-ko7ps]

I hope there’ll be a explorations dedicated large ship. Though the conda fills that role quite well

[@kirkleadbetter1093]

Is the asp explorer the best for grinding engineering tech in degraded emissions and such?

[@radioactiveali4619]

Missed the Dolphin. Great ship with the removal of restricted slots.

[@STNeish]

One attribute you might have included is distance between refuels. How far can each ship go before needing to stop and refuel?

[@Heraclatian]

I traveled about 3000 lyrs on a passenger mission out toward the elephant trunk nebula, then detoured on my way back through the nebula, which I'm currently docked in at elephant trunk mining colony. Cool place, its an asteroid on a gas giants rings. I'm doing all this in a type 6, 20 ly at a time. When I get back to civilization I'm looking for something bigger. I also forgot my srv, so many vistas missed!

[@cypobos]

here in 2021, i pull that max jump range out of my half engineered dbx, with all the optionals i need on long trips, and without fuel dumping (so on a full max sized tank). in my optional i got a fuel scoop, the fsd booster, some shield, 2 afms, a hangar, the dss, and even supercruise assist (for those 600k ls trips to a terraformable). zero limpet, but the shield tends to absorb most of my bad piloting.

[@jamesdinius7769]

For me DBX is my bubble taxi and Phantom was my first explorer, but that's because I only went long range exploring after I made a lot of credits on void opals.

[@hrruben5135]

DBX a bubble bus? Triggered!