Introduction
Smuggling illegal goods in Star Citizen offers one of the most lucrative ways to amass vast fortunes. However, successfully navigating dangerous routes while transporting contraband requires extensive planning, nerve, and the right tools for the job.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to earn up to 800k credits per hour with a Drake Cutlass Black by trading narcotics between microTech and Crusader. I’ll provide specific ship build recommendations to improve performance, map efficient quantum travel routes to avoid detection, analyze illegal commodity profitability, techniques for stealthy loading/unloading cargo, and methods for evading or disabling pursuing players.
While individual results will vary, skilled pilots can expect to earn hundreds of thousands of credits per hour while accumulating valuable underworld reputation. Read on to learn secrets veteran smugglers use to maximize profits and enjoy Star Citizen’s exciting criminal enterprise.
Optimizing a Drake Cutlass Black for Smuggling
The Drake Cutlass Black is a versatile medium transport renowned for its capacity, defensive capabilities and speed. While stock models perform adequately, upgrading components allows better maneuverability to escape pursuers and faster quantum travel to outrun trouble.
Here are targeted upgrade recommendations to transform a Cutlass into the ultimate interstellar drug runner:
Quantum Drive – Equip an Atlas QD with the fastest possible speed. This allows quick escapes and cutting down travel time for additional runs.
Shield Generators – Upgrade to FR-76 shields to drastically improve defense since you likely won’t receive help when transporting contraband. Regularly service shields between trips.
Power Plant – Increase to a Surge Power plant giving needed power reserves when diverting all energy to engines or shields. Prevent critical shutdowns during fights.
Coolers – Stampede coolers keep heat buildup manageable so weapons can fire longer during skirmishes. Criminals don’t call in overheating emergencies to authorities!
Weapons – Add Pyroburst plasma scatterguns to quickly damage pursuing light fighters. The Talon Shrike also provides intimidation to deter some pirates.
Detailed Commodity Profitability Analysis
Not all illegal substances fetch the same price between systems. Understanding current data is crucial for maximum earnings per run. The table below indicates potential profit trading various commodities from point of purchase to sale location using a Cutlass Black.
| Commodity | Buy Location | Buy Price | Sell Location | Sell Price | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiDoW | microTech | 3,100 cr | Crusader | 4,100 cr | 190k cr |
| ClioNytro | Hurston | 2,800 cr | Crusader | 3,450 cr | 132k cr |
| Altruciatox | ArcCorp | 4,220 cr | Crusader | 5,100 cr | 220k cr |
Based on this latest data on 14/02/3100, WiDoW currently provides the highest potential profit per run. This narcotic sells for 25% lower around microTech compared to strong demand in Crusader. By squeezing every last unit into a loaded Cutlass, traders can expect around 200k credits profit each run.
Of course prices fluctuate based on availability, which is impacted by…
Mapped Trade Route
Our trade route starts by purchasing WiDoW from a hidden lab on microTech’s snowy moon Calliope. The lab is located deep underground accessible only through a cave opening marked by green lights.
Use the following Quantum Travel markers to reach the lab landing bay to avoid surface patrols:
- OM-2
- OM-3
- OM-4
- OM-00 to reach underground lab
The Admin Office at Brio‘s Breaker Yard located in Crusader is the only place WiDoW can be sold without incurring legal penalties. Luckily, both the buy and sell locations have administration terminals in close proximity to landing pads, enabling fast load and unload times.
The return quantum travel route back to Calliope is:
- OM-6
- OM-5
- OM-4
- OM-3
- OM-2
Carefully plot courses to avoid interdiction from Advocacy patrols or netting unwanted attention from passing ships.
Stealthy Loading/Unloading Strategies
When transporting prohibited items, quickly loading cargo then immediately exiting helps avoid unwanted entanglements. But sloppy haste also causes costly mistakes.
Follow these steps when safely transferring contraband:
- Scout landing area – Ensure no patrol craft or unknown ships are present before approach
- Lower cargo lift – Have cargo grid lowered for faster loading before landing gear makes contact
- Power down engines – Shut down engines as soon landing gear makes contact toappear powered down
- Open side/rear doors – Open all entry points in advance so associates can quickly offload goods
- Confirm interior access – Ensure proper access to interior cargo grids before associates begin loading
- Load cargo – Swiftly transfer goods to cargo grids while monitoring for incoming ships
- Confirm manifest – Verify accurate cargo amount listed on ship‘s manifest
- Seal doors – Close side doors when loading complete but BEFORE raising landing gear
- Raise landing gear – Retract gear only after all access doors securely sealed
- Depart quickly – Carefully but quickly ascend from landing pad and set quantum destination
Following this strict procedure helps avoid potentially revealing loading activities to prying eyes. It also prevents losing cargo out still open doors when lifting off.
Advanced Smuggling Tactics
Successfully operating under Advocacy radar requires cunning, resourcefulness and disciplined operational security. Master smugglers utilize these advanced tactics:
- Cloud ship signatures – Equip low-emission components to remain undetectable on scanners
- Utilize decoy ships – Direct unwanted attention to a clean decoy ship
- Study patrol patterns – Learn patrol routes to exploit holes in coverage
- Bribe security contacts – Payoff guards to prevent thorough scans
- Disable communications – Shut down comm arrays to avoid transaction monitoring
Experienced captains also make full use of the terrain and surroundings to stay hidden:
- Use asteroids as cover – Break line of sight when quantum travelling
- Hide in emission pockets – Confuse sensors with pockets of interference
- Land out of sight – Touch down behind structures or geographic features
- Power off in shadows – Avoid visual detection from above
And when pursued, fight or employ countermeasures:
- Equip disruption weapons – Use flash bangs or EMPs to disable pursuers
- Deploy distraction drones – Launch drones mimicking radar signature
- Eject decoy cargo – Float false containers masking drug-filled boxes
- Overload systems – Temporarily overcharge components causing sensor confusion
- Emergency quantum jumps – Randomly jump to quickly evade engagement
Advanced Fighting Tactics
Unfortunately, run-ins with pirates and brigands occur all too often. Smugglers must balance the benefits of upgraded defenses versus reduced cargo capacity due to component sizes. Therefore mastering combat engagement and evasion principles is required.
When confronting attackers, Cutlass pilots should attempt to keep their opponent directly in front of their fighter. This provides the best targeting for the dual high-damage Pyroburst scatterguns while bringing to bear the most shield protection. Constant jinking avoids providing easy retaliatory shots.
Against larger Freelancers, Connies, or Vanguards – retreat may prove the wisest choice. Use the Cutlass’s superior speed to stay out of firing arcs until equipped for the job.
However, when facing light fighters stay aggressive through erratic attacks on virtual 6 axis approaches instead of circling. Where possible utilize terrain to break line of sight. In extreme circumstances, power down systems and drift through cluttered environments. Patiently await powered down as the bandit loses interest short on fuel. Then restart and escape before they return.
For extremely dangerous areas, hiring an escort can provide warning of impending threats from a wider search area and additional firepower during engagements. Let escorts initiate attacks at the first sign of trouble while you focus on running cargo. A loyal wingman could make the difference between life, death and delivering your payload.
Reputation Benefits & Criminal Underworld Contacts
In addition to financial rewards, progressing in Star Citizen’s underworld unlocks access to increasingly shady contacts, missions, and services. Those dedicated to the outlaw life can gain access to the following benefits:
Closing Thoughts
Rather than grinding budget cargo runs in an Aurora, smuggling high value contraband can rapidly advance both wallet and prominence among Star Citizen’s colorful criminal fraternity. This guide provided actionable tips allowing new captains to immediately compete with the galaxies most prolific traffickers.
With an optimized Drake Cutlass Black, mapped efficient quantum routes connecting microTech and Crusader, and using advanced tactics to avoid trouble, pilots can expect to earn up to 800k credits per hour. This provides the opportunity to quickly progress towards bigger and better ships ready for higher stakes operations.
Fly dangerously out there while counting credits as fast as the Advocacy can print Auroras on their budget assembly lines. Good luck!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions and be sure to subscribe for additional Star Citizen trade, combat, exploration, and mining tutorials.