Is the Caitian Atrox Carrier good enough for endgame?

sfdrew83 · April 2016

So, here is my dilemma. I want to get a carrier, and I plan on buying just one ship from the c-store using cash. It's going to be a long time before I can get either Obelisk from either the exchange or with credits, and it appears the t5 version isn't upgrade-able. I absolutely hate the Jupiter or whatever it's called. It's just so ugly and I refuse to pay money for something I don't want to look at. The esscort carriers look nice, but I'm an engineering character and I just don't want an esscort ship, even if it might be a better ship. I'm playing the game for fun, so I just need a ship that's good enough without being the absolute best.

The Caitian Atrox Carrier looks to be upgrade-able to t5-u, and I can either buy the upgrade with zen, or give myself an in-game goal of saving the credits to buy one from the exchange as I level to 60 (currently 51), to save a bit of cash but mostly to give myself something else to aim for. Just buying a ship feels anti-climactic.

I have no desire to do pvp, and I realize that even the free ships can do the max level pve content, but I'd like to not be sucking totally in group content, even if it's just pugs.

So, is the Caitian Atrox Carrier, after getting the upgrade a decent endgame option? If not, what would you suggest for a engineering or science option? Should I wait to see if new ships come out? I really don't want to play the lockbox game.

Thanks in advance.

nightken · April 2016

that depends on you, the ship itself should be fine.

semalda226 · April 2016

CATBUS is a viable endgame ship if geared properly yes

talien · April 2016

The big problem with the Atrox is it lacks Frigate pets and a lot of people (myself included) consider it's boff seating to be terrible. You might be better off with the Jupiter, or spend your zen on master keys and sell them to get a Recluse off the exchange. The Recluse is also a T5 ship, but the T5-U upgrade is free for lockbox/lobi ships.

questerius · April 2016

Anything above Tier 3 is suitable for endgame for competent players.
For very competent players with deep pockets to upgrade their gear even Tier 3 itself is viable.

risingwolfshadow · April 2016

Space-barbie is the endgame in sto so yes.

kodachikuno · April 2016

questerius wrote: »

Anything above Tier 3 is suitable for endgame for competent players.
For very competent players with deep pockets to upgrade their gear even Tier 3 itself is viable.

^this

More seriously if ya do get the Atrox, let me know how you like it. Ive debated getting it from time to time

fatman592 · April 2016

In a word, yes. Is it a "good" carrier, meh.

djf021 · April 2016

I know you said you don't want to play the lockbox game, but if you're willing to go with a ship that's not a full carrier you might consider the Herald Quas Flight deck cruiser. As a cruiser it has an engineering slant, but with versatile enough boff seating to accommodate Beam FAW III and OSS III to hit hard. The Mir fighters aren't frigates, but each has two beam arrays, meaning you'll have 12 AP beam arrays (beam are best on pets IMO) shooting your target at once.
Plus, it's one of the cheapest Tier 6 lockbox ships on the exchange right now. At current master key prices, selling 25 of them will get you the necessary energy credits. Just a thought.

nikephorus · April 2016

Yeah you can use it end game. It's just very lackluster.

sfdrew83 · April 2016

Ok, so I bought the ship. I barely had a few minutes with it though before I had to log out, so I'll let you know later kodachikuno how it was.

Thank you everyone for the input. Now it's time to get it into the best shape. It should be entertaining, and that's the best reason to play a game.

misterferengi · April 2016

i'd consider the Kitty carrier the Galaxy-R of Science vessels. Tough/Tanky but a god awful turn rate and horrible boff stations. My least favourite ship to fly. I'm not a fan of the 2410 VW Beetle either but it beats the Kitty carrier hands down in everything but looks.

farmallm · April 2016

It should be a good ship to use. Its all how you set it up, and your captain to fly her. It just takes a little time and playing around.

I run a Tac in a D'Deridex, and I made that ship work for me. Of course I had my trials and errors with her along the way. Now I have her set right.

Its all about what your willing to do with her and put the time into it.

dragonkata81 · April 2016

She is a beautiful ship, seen from above she looks like a giant com-badge in space. She was the first ship I bought and she is truely a formidable beast once you get used to her.

Handling and piloting is the biggest issue, she has a low turn rate (5) and a high inertia. Controlling your 'planet-slide' is key. Pilot spec and a few +turn traits will help.

She is however a Sci focused ship, and a carrier at that. That second hanger bay comes with the price of not getting a secondary deflector or sensor scan. In the 'PEW-PEW-DIE-DIE' mentality of the current crowd, she takes some imagination to configure.

As a Sci ship, your primary focus will always be your forward 90' arc, where all your abilities fire. The Atrox has enough ENG slots to make a Drake build viable, so with one or two EP2... abilities, you can soon pump your weapon power up consistantly if you choose the 'spray and pray' path.

In terms of pets, Tholian Widows from the Nukara rep or Swarmers from the Fleet Spire make up for your lack of 360 'pew-pew', especially with escort varient flight deck doffs. For a more spike damage build, Elite Scorpions stand supreme. And with your Aux set to max, your going to be able to pump out fighters consistantly enough until you can afford to chase traits.

I flew mine straight through the Delta Quadrant with ease and she is more than capable to handling anything this game can throw at it (a 32k ISA average with no upgrades or spire consoles is my record with her) Just focus on what she does well, and don't try to turn her into something she's not (yet another boring Tac cruiser.)

Unknown · April 2016

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kekvin · April 2016

Iv been using a T2 Exeter in stf's so the atrox should b a breeze

feiqa · April 2016

I have used the Atrox and my only disappointment was her not Star Fleet look. She has the specs and seating for a large science vessel. With a commander and lt. commander science location. If you plan to run with those abilities. She is a good ship. Look to get the fleet version if you can to be a bit tougher. But she is a good science vessel.
As others have said. She is a bus not a sports car. She gets where she needs to and parks to deploy her weapons and specials. So you want to think about positioning more than you need to in a swifter vessel. Going the AP route means you can run two 360 AP back and dual beams front for decent fire power. In the past I was able to play goalie to stop probes getting to the gate with this ship quite effectively.

So Yes, she is a good ship.