Salvaging in Star Citizen is more than just cleaning up the cosmos—it’s a lucrative career path for pilots willing to embrace the gritty side of space life. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a fresh-faced spacer, salvaging offers a unique blend of risk, reward, and satisfaction. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to master the art of salvaging, from tools and ships to strategies for maximizing profits.
What is Salvaging?
Salvaging is the process of reclaiming valuable materials from derelict ships, abandoned wrecks, or even battle debris scattered across the Stanton system. Using specialized equipment, salvagers strip hulls, extract components, and recycle scrap into raw materials like Construction Material (CMAT) or Recycled Material Composite (RMC). These commodities can be sold for profit or used to repair/upgrade your own fleet.
Tools of the Trade
To thrive as a salvager, you’ll need the right gear:
- Salvage Ships
- Vulture (Aegis): The entry-level solo salvager. Compact and agile, it’s equipped with two salvage beams and a processing unit to compress scrap into sellable boxes.
- Reclaimer (Aegis): The king of industrial salvaging. This massive ship requires a crew but boasts enormous storage, heavy-duty salvage claws, and a drone bay for large-scale operations.
- Handheld Salvage Tool
The Pyro RYT Multi-Tool with a salvage attachment lets you manually strip materials from smaller wrecks or assist in repairing damaged components. Perfect for FPS salvaging or quick fixes.
Hand Salvaging
Hand salvaging is performed using a multi-tool equipped with a salvage attachment. This method allows players to recover Recycled Material Composite (RMC) from ship hulls and use it for repairs. Players can also apply RMC to damaged ship sections, restoring functionality and extending a vessel’s lifespan.
Both salvage-capable ships, the Drake Vulture, Aegis Reclaimer, and MISC Fortune, can generate repair canisters filled with RMC, which can be used with the multi-tool to restore ship hull integrity.
This type of salvaging is ideal for small-scale operations, emergency repairs, or supplementing ship-based salvage efforts
Ship-Based Salvaging
Ship-based salvaging is a more efficient and profitable way to process wrecks, utilizing specialized vessels equipped with advanced salvage tools. The three primary ships designed for salvaging are the Drake Vulture, the Aegis Reclaimer, and the MISC Fortune.
Drake Vulture – Best for RMC Extraction
The Drake Vulture is a single-operator salvage ship designed for efficient RMC recovery. It features:
- Dual salvage beams that strip material from ship hulls.
- Storage capacity for approximately 37 SCU in the cargo bay and 13 SCU within the hopper, maximizing efficiency in long salvage runs.
- A focus on extracting and refining RMC, making it the preferred choice for those looking to accumulate and sell RMC in bulk, thanks to the dual salvage beams.
- Estimated earnings of around 500,000 aUEC per hour when salvaging efficiently.
- Ideal for processing salvage panels, which can often be found in asteroid belts around Yela, near refining stations, or in the Aaron Halo Belt.
- Best Salvage Head: Abrade, offering balanced efficiency for hull stripping.
Aegis Reclaimer – Best for CMAT Processing
The Aegis Reclaimer is a larger, multi-crew salvaging vessel designed for high-volume operations. It features:
- A powerful claw capable of processing vast amounts of wreckage.
- Efficient conversion of salvaged material into Construction Material (CMAT).
- A 240 SCU salvage hopper, significantly larger than the Vulture’s 13 SCU hopper, allowing for much faster material collection.
- A spacious interior for handling and refining bulk salvage materials, making it ideal for extensive recovery missions.
- Estimated earnings of up to 2.2 million aUEC per hour, making it significantly more profitable over time.
- Best suited for illegal salvage contracts, such as those paying 23,000 aUEC per mission.
MISC Fortune – Versatile Salvaging & Processing
The MISC Fortune is the latest addition to the salvaging fleet, offering a flexible balance between RMC and CMAT processing. It features:
- Advanced salvage beams capable of efficiently stripping hulls and processing materials.
- Moderate cargo capacity, bridging the gap between the Vulture’s smaller hopper and the Reclaimer’s massive storage.
- Enhanced automation, making it an attractive option for both solo and small-crew operations.
- A balanced approach to salvaging, allowing operators to choose between RMC for repairs or CMAT for bulk sales.
Choosing Between RMC and CMAT
- RMC (Recycled Material Composite) is best suited for quick salvage operations, repairs, and resale. It is easier to collect in smaller ships like the Vulture, making it a preferred choice for solo operators.
- CMAT (Composite Material), while less valuable per unit than RMC, is collected much faster in the Reclaimer due to its larger hopper (240 SCU vs. 13 SCU on the Vulture). Over time, the total earnings from CMAT can surpass those from RMC thanks to the sheer volume processed.
- A drawback of CMAT is the limited station and city inventory capacity, meaning sellers often need to wait for TDD or admin inventory resets before being able to offload large quantities of material.
How to Start Salvaging
Now that we now all the various types of possible way to salvage, we still need to figure out the answer to the million dollar question: how do we start salvaging? Let’s dive in!
1. Choose Your Vessel
For beginners, the Vulture is the go-to ship. If you don’t have one, you can start doing some hauling missions, or try an ask in the global chat a lot of people will be happy to help you out! If you’re part of an org or have deep pockets, the Reclaimer offers unparalleled efficiency for team play.
2. Find Salvage Opportunities
- Missions: Accept “Scrap Haul” or “Cleanup” missions from job boards (e.g., Salvage tabs both legal and illegal – for the illegals one you won’t need to pay the fee, if u accept a little more risks). These often mark derelict ships or debris fields.
- Combat Zones: Follow battles between NPCs or players and scavenge the aftermath.
- Exploration: Chart lesser-traveled areas like the Aaron Halo asteroid belt or Lagrange points for hidden wrecks/panels.
3. Strip and Process
- Salvage Beams: Use your ship’s beams to slice hull panels. Aim for green-highlighted sections for maximum efficiency.
- Eat the wrecks: Use the claw of the Reclaimer to fracture and disintegrate the ships
- Processing: The Vulture and Reclaimer automatically process scrap into boxes. Manage your cargo grid to avoid overflow.
- Hand Salvage: For smaller jobs, use your multi-tool to extract materials manually.
4. Sell Your Haul
Sell CMAT/RMC to TDDs (Trade & Development Divisions) on major planets or at the Admin in Grim Hex. Prices fluctuate, so check the Commodity Exchange for the best rates.
Tips for Success
- Watch for Threats: Salvage sites attract pirates, NPC scavengers, and even other players. Keep weapons hot and an escape route planned.
- Team Up: The Reclaimer shines with a full crew (pilot, salvagers, and cargo managers). Split profits or join an org for steady work.
- Upgrade Components: Invest in better power plants, coolers, and quantum drives to reduce downtime.
- Diversify: Pair salvaging with mining or cargo runs to stay profitable during market dips.
Final Thoughts
Salvaging isn’t just a job, it’s a way to shape the universe. Every hull stripped, every box processed, and every credit earned contributes to the ever-evolving economy of Star Citizen. So fire up those salvage beams, rally your crew, and turn the cosmos’s trash into your treasure.
Fly safe, and see you in the black!
mrpingviin