Unlocking All Ships in FTL Faster Than Light

FTL Faster Than Light is a popular space simulation game where players control a spaceship and navigate through various challenges. One of the exciting aspects of the game is unlocking new ships to use on your intergalactic journey. Here are some tips on how to unlock every ship in FTL Faster Than Light.

Complete Achievements

One way to unlock ships in FTL Faster Than Light is by completing certain achievements. Each ship has specific achievements that need to be accomplished to unlock them. These achievements can range from defeating a certain number of enemy ships to completing a questline. Make sure to focus on completing these achievements to unlock more ships.

Exploring Different Routes

Another method to unlock ships is by exploring different routes during your playthroughs. Each sector of space in FTL Faster Than Light has a chance to contain events that lead to unlocking new ships. By exploring different sectors and encountering these events, you can increase your chances of unlocking more ships to add to your collection.

Collecting Ship Variants

In addition to unlocking new ships, FTL Faster Than Light also features ship variants that offer unique gameplay experiences. By collecting these ship variants, you can further customize your gameplay and try out new strategies. Experiment with different ship variants to discover which ones suit your playstyle the best.

Utilizing Scrap Wisely

Scrap is a valuable resource in FTL Faster Than Light, used for upgrading your ship and purchasing new equipment. To unlock new ships, it’s essential to utilize scrap wisely throughout your playthroughs. Focus on upgrading essential systems and purchasing necessary equipment to improve your chances of unlocking more ships as you progress through the game.

Unlocking all ships in FTL Faster Than Light adds variety and depth to your gameplay experience. By following these tips and strategies, you can work towards unlocking every ship available in the game and enjoy exploring the vast reaches of space with a diverse fleet at your disposal.

FTL: Faster Than Light provides players with a rich gaming experience, offering various ship systems and space sectors to explore, allowing for a wide range of strategies to reach their goals. The game features ten different ships, each with its own unique specialty optimized for different playstyles, apart from the initial Kestrel Cruiser available at the game’s start.

Unlocking Ships: While most ships can be unlocked by completing the game with the previous one on the list, the game’s challenging nature makes this a difficult feat. Each ship has a specific quest associated with unlocking it, requiring players to perform certain actions to achieve the desired outcome.

Game’s Enduring Popularity: FTL continues to captivate gamers with its permadeath system, blending random encounters and player choices. Despite its brutal difficulty, the game’s charm endures through various editions and re-releases, solidifying its status in the gaming community. Players often seek strategies to overcome challenges, sometimes overlooking the simplicity of switching ships to find success.

Engi Cruiser – Master of Drones

The Engi, a predominantly mechanical race, excel in handling technology and machinery. Their expertise lies in swiftly repairing systems, outpacing other races in this regard. Engi ships are tailored for combat using Drones, showcasing their proficiency in unmanned warfare. However, their weakness is evident in close-quarters combat scenarios, leaving them vulnerable to boarding attempts.

How To Obtain The Ship

Acquiring this spaceship is notably straightforward, as it comes with a distinct method of unlocking. Instead of the traditional requirement of achieving a win with the Kestrel Cruiser, players simply need to progress to Sector 5 using the original ship to gain access to this particular vessel.

Federation Cruiser – Enhanced Armament

FTL‘s morally ambiguous leaders maintain peace in the universe and quell the rebellion, adding depth to this extraordinary Indie game. The Federation offers a variety of ships to support players on their journey. A distinctive aspect of their vessels is the additional artillery system, serving as a supplementary armament. Skillful players can maximize its utility by tailoring the rest of the ship’s weaponry to complement it effectively.

How To Acquire the Federation Cruiser

To obtain the Federation Cruiser in the game, players must embark on a challenging yet straightforward mission. When navigating a Rebel Stronghold Sector, visiting any standard beacon could lead players to stumble upon a “massive rebel shipyard.” Upon arrival, players will come face to face with a partially constructed Rebel Flagship. This preliminary version of the final boss in the game presents a formidable challenge. Overcoming this adversary by either defeating it in combat or eliminating all of its crew members will result in the acquisition of numerous valuable resources and unlock the prestigious Federation Cruiser for the player.

FTL – Zoltan Cruiser Shields Strategy

When encountering the Zoltan in space combat, players will quickly notice their unique shield technology. These shields are initially impervious to damage, requiring multiple attacks to deplete them before any real harm can be done to the ship. Furthermore, Zoltan crew members possess the ability to automatically power a ship’s system by merely being present in the same room. This combination of powerful shields and crew skills makes the Zoltan Cruiser a formidable foe in any space battle.

Unlocking the Zoltan Cruiser

During your journey through the galaxy, you may come across a Zoltan Homeworlds Sector. Inside this sector, when you visit a regular beacon, there is a chance to encounter a group known as the “Zoltan peace envoy.” You will be given the choice to either engage in combat with them or listen to what they have to say. Opting to listen will kick off their questline. Following the quest marker to another beacon will reveal that the peace envoy is facing off against a Rebel ship.

Contrary to the typical gameplay style, it is crucial not to attack the Rebel ship. Instead, initiate communication and engage in dialogue. Choose the options that advocate for resolving conflicts “without war” and emphasize that “true progress requires peace, not violence.” By making these choices, you will earn the respect of the Zoltan captain, ultimately leading to the unlocking of the coveted Zoltan Cruiser.

Mantis Cruiser – Combat the Crew, Not the Vessel

The Mantis species resemble Praying Mantises and excel in close combat. Their spacecraft are designed to leverage this skill. Each of their ships comes equipped with a teleporter, allowing the Mantis crew to directly engage the enemy’s crew onboard. Mastering this tactic elevates the gaming experience of FTL to one of the top Indie games.

How to Access the Mantis Cruiser

In the Mantis Homeworld Sector, encountering a non-distress beacon (indicated by Long-Range Scanners detecting a “ship”) will trigger a battle with a Mantis ship. To initiate the ship quest, players must defeat the ship by eliminating its crew. Destroying the ship without dealing with the crew will not unlock the ship.

After the battle, players can explore the ship and discover a wounded thief. Those with a Level 2 Medbay or Clonebay can save the thief, who will then reveal the location of a stash containing scrap and weapons. By rescuing the Mantis thief, players will gain a new crew member and unlock the Mantis Cruiser.

Lanius Cruiser – Oxygen Not Included

The Lanius Cruiser was introduced in the free Advanced Edition DLC of Oxygen Not Included. This unique race of aliens gives off a horror game vibe, as they are the only race in the game that does not need oxygen to survive. Instead, they actively deplete oxygen from any room they inhabit. Their ships are tailored to leverage the new features introduced in the Advanced Edition DLC, such as pre-installed systems like Hacking and Mind Control.

How To Access The Lanius Cruiser

Discovering the method to acquire the Lanius Cruiser might appear puzzling initially, but in reality, it is quite simple. All that needs to be done is to unlock four additional ships, and the Lanius Cruiser will become available in the player’s hangar, just like any other ship.

Slug Cruiser – Mind-Reading Slugs

The Slug Cruiser is inhabited by enormous, realistic slugs with unique characteristics. While they may not excel in battle, their limited psychic powers enable them to monitor enemy ship activities even without traditional sensors. This skill proves invaluable in Nebulas, where technological devices are rendered useless, making it the ideal habitat for these alien beings.

Unlocking the Slug Cruiser

To unlock the Slug Cruiser in a Slug Home Nebula Sector, players must enter a regular beacon with a ship-fight warning from Long-Range Scanners, leading to a hostile Slug ship. Upon almost defeating the ship, they will offer surrender, which should be accepted to continue the event.

Instead of ending the fight, the Slug ship may offer to bribe players with a prototype weapon, which should be rejected in favor of demanding information. This action will generate a quest marker on the map, guiding players to a construction platform under attack by a Slug Cruiser.

To proceed, players must either have Level 2 sensors or a Slug crew member onboard. Upon reaching the platform, players will encounter an interceptor ship that must be engaged in combat. Prioritize targeting the ship’s engines to prevent its escape. Successfully defeating the interceptor ship will result in unlocking the Slug Cruiser for players to utilize in their journey.

Rock Cruiser – A Powerful Defensive Ship

If players are looking for a spacecraft with formidable defensive abilities, the Rock Cruiser is the ideal choice. The Rock Playing augment provides a 15% chance to nullify any incoming ship damage, giving it a significant advantage in battle. Additionally, the Rock aliens possess enhanced health and excel in close-quarters combat. Investing in a high-quality gaming mouse to pair with the Rock Cruiser can greatly enhance gameplay and overall performance.

How To Obtain

During exploration of a Rock Homeworld Sector, encountering a non-distress beacon with a ship event will trigger a confrontation with a large Rock War Vessel. The player will engage in a verbal exchange with the Rock ship, receiving coordinates to another beacon. Upon arrival, players must engage in a battle with the Rock ship, all while navigating the solar flares emitted by the nearby red giant.

As the Rock ship attempts to escape at low health, players must allow it to flee. Pursuing the fleeing ship will lead to a new quest marker, where the crew will be commended for their success, ultimately unlocking the Rock Cruiser.

Stealth Cruiser – Hidden Without Being Detected

One of FTL‘s most potent features is the Cloaking Bay, enabling players to dodge damage and prepare their weapons for a powerful strike, crucial for defeating the final boss. The Stealth Cruiser is equipped with this system from the start but lacks shields, making it a formidable yet challenging ship to command.

Unlocking the Stealth Cruiser

To begin the quest for the Stealth Cruiser, players must locate it in an Engi Homeworld Sector on a regular beacon. It is essential to have an Engi crew member to initiate the quest. Upon reaching the beacon, the Engi crew member will inform the player that the Mantis have stolen some advanced technology that they were developing. Interestingly, there are two ships in the sector that may have the stolen tech on board, one being real and the other fake.

Unfortunately, there is no way to distinguish between the two ships until the player arrives at their location. While players have the option to visit both ships, it may be challenging to reach both before the Rebel fleet catches up. In any case, it is advised to engage in combat with the ship and, when offered, accept their surrender. Subsequently, another quest marker will be added to the Sector map, leading the player to face a Rebel-controlled Mantis ship. Upon defeating this ship, the Stealth Cruiser will be successfully unlocked.

Crystal Cruiser – Delve into the Enigma of an Ancient Race

The enigmatic Crystal race remains a puzzling presence within the realm of FTL. One undeniable fact is that their vessels wield immense power, yet the journey to unlock their ship proves to be arduous and lengthy. Setting it apart from usual quests, this task necessitates the discovery of three beacons in a single voyage, introducing an element of chance while navigating the unforgiving landscape of the game’s permadeath mechanism.

First Encounter

The initial encounter can occur in various Engi, Pirate, or Rock Sectors, presenting a distress beacon without a ship appearing on the Long Range Scanners. Upon investigation, players will stumble upon an abandoned vessel within an asteroid field. Delving into the ship may lead to discovering remnants with a low probability. Nevertheless, possessing the Rock Plating augment ensures a successful find. A decision must be made between acquiring a weapon or a stasis chamber. It is advisable to opt for the stasis chamber.

Second Beacon

When exploring an Engi or Zoltan Sector, players will come across a regular beacon that houses the second beacon challenge. At this beacon, a Zoltan Research Team will approach the player to take part in their research. Instead of agreeing, it is recommended to inquire if they have the ability to repair the stasis pod. By doing so, the team will fix the pod and reward the player with a valuable Crystal crew member. This crew member will express a desire to journey to the Rock Homeworld. It is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of this Crystal crew member throughout the quest in order to successfully complete it.

Third Beacon

In the final part, players will find themselves in a Rock Homeworld. The presence of a Crystal crew member ensures a quest marker at this beacon. Here, an ancient device awaits activation by the Crystal crew member, allowing the player to access a hidden Sector known as the Crystal Worlds.

Upon reaching this Sector and following the quest marker, players will discover the coveted Crystal Cruiser docked and unlocked in the hangar. Additionally, they will be rewarded with hull repair, fuel, scrap, and the potent Crystal Vengeance augmentation for completing this challenging task.

Unlocking the B Layout

To obtain the B layout on any ship in FTL, players need to complete three specific achievements. Unlocking two out of the three achievements on a single A ship layout will grant access to the B layout. It’s essential to note that the achievements required may vary for each ship.

It’s crucial to understand that the achievements needed for the Kestrel Cruiser starting ship will not be the same as those required for the Crystal Cruiser. Therefore, players should always check the specific achievements for each ship before attempting to unlock the B layout. Additionally, progression to the C layout is only possible after unlocking the B layout, so there’s no way to bypass this step in the process.

Unlocking the C Layout

Players need to first unlock layout B before they can access the C layout. Moreover, they must use layout B and have a successful playthrough with it. To acquire the final layout, C, players must reach sector 8 with layout B.

It is important to note that winning the game is not necessary to unlock layout C; simply reaching the final sector is sufficient. For those eager to obtain layout C, it may be beneficial to focus on fortifying defenses and ensuring survival even if they lose to the final boss.

FTL: Faster Than Light was launched on September 14th, 2012, and is accessible on Mobile and PC.