{
  "version": "2026-05-25",
  "patch": "Alpha 4.8 Tactical Strike",
  "status": "permanent",
  "verified": true,
  "verifiedSources": [
    "starcitizen.tools — Arena_Commander",
    "starcitizen.tools — Vanduul_Swarm",
    "starcitizen.tools — Gladius_Pirate",
    "starcitizen.tools — Caterpillar_Pirate_Edition",
    "starcitizen.tools — Glaive_(replica)",
    "starcitizen.tools — Titles",
    "RSI Comm-Link 21168 — Alpha 4.8.0 patch notes",
    "RSI Comm-Link 13909 — Arena Commander Launch",
    "RSI Comm-Link 14888 — Glaive reproductions"
  ],
  "note": "Arena Commander is the permanent training module — in-fiction Original Systems flight simulator, framed as the holo-pod training rig. In 4.8 it remains a CIG test bed for in-development features (resource networks, engineering). Pirate Caterpillar reward was REMOVED in 4.8.0 (converted to base Caterpillar + paint per patch notes). Gladius Pirate purchase token + Pirate Aggressor title remain as the durable Pirate Swarm rewards.",
  "overview": {
    "tag": "Permanent // Sim Pod // Multi-Mode",
    "title": "Arena | Commander",
    "summary": "Star Citizen's no-risk combat sandbox. Launch from the PU via any sim pod (habs, station lounges, ship rec rooms) or from the main menu's Arena Commander tile. Two flavors: solo / co-op PvE Drone Sim modes (Tutorial, Vanduul Swarm, Pirate Swarm, Free Flight, Racing) and multiplayer Spectrum modes (Battle Royale, Squadron Battle, Capture the Core, Vanduul Swarm co-op, Murray Cup Racing). Drops repair / refuel / rearm boosters on kill (same loop in both swarms)."
  },
  "modes": [
    { "name": "Arena Commander Tutorial", "tier": "Solo PvE", "desc": "Onboarding flight tutorial for new pilots.", "color": "cyan" },
    { "name": "Vanduul Swarm", "tier": "Solo or Co-op", "desc": "9-wave PvE against Vanduul replicas. Solo gets 2x friendly F7C-R Hornet Tracker AI. Glaive replica unlock (legacy 'wave 25' text predates the 9-wave rework).", "color": "purple" },
    { "name": "Pirate Swarm", "tier": "Solo or Co-op", "desc": "Wave-based PvE vs UEE pirate AI. Awards Gladius Pirate purchase token + Pirate Aggressor title.", "color": "amber" },
    { "name": "Free Flight", "tier": "Solo / no-objective", "desc": "Ship testing sandbox. No enemies, no clock.", "color": "cyan" },
    { "name": "Battle Royale", "tier": "PvP FFA (~16)", "desc": "Free-for-all dogfight. Last pilot standing wins." },
    { "name": "Squadron Battle", "tier": "PvP TDM", "desc": "Team deathmatch." },
    { "name": "Capture the Core", "tier": "PvP Objective", "desc": "Objective-based team PvP." },
    { "name": "Murray Cup Racing", "tier": "Solo + PvP", "desc": "Sim-pod racing across 3 tracks: Old Vanderal (easy), Rikkord Memorial Raceway (medium), Defford Link (hard)." }
  ],
  "maps": ["Dying Star (Pyro I)", "Broken Moon (Taranis II / Taranis 2a)", "New Horizon Speedway (Green, Ellis system — racing only)"],
  "vanduulSwarm": {
    "summary": "9-wave PvE replica fight. 3 initial respawns + bonus at waves 2, 5, 8. Friendly AI Hornets (solo only). Wiki note: AI is tuned down — currently very easy.",
    "waves": [
      { "wave": 1, "blade": 1, "scythe": 0, "glaive": 0, "total": 1, "bonus": "" },
      { "wave": 2, "blade": 3, "scythe": 0, "glaive": 0, "total": 3, "bonus": "+1" },
      { "wave": 3, "blade": 1, "scythe": 2, "glaive": 1, "total": 4, "bonus": "" },
      { "wave": 4, "blade": 2, "scythe": 2, "glaive": 0, "total": 4, "bonus": "" },
      { "wave": 5, "blade": 2, "scythe": 4, "glaive": 0, "total": 6, "bonus": "+1" },
      { "wave": 6, "blade": 2, "scythe": 5, "glaive": 1, "total": 9, "bonus": "" },
      { "wave": 7, "blade": 0, "scythe": 7, "glaive": 0, "total": 7, "bonus": "" },
      { "wave": 8, "blade": 0, "scythe": 8, "glaive": 0, "total": 8, "bonus": "+1" },
      { "wave": 9, "blade": 0, "scythe": 5, "glaive": 3, "total": 8, "bonus": "" }
    ],
    "unlocks": "Glaive (replica) at $350 from Esperia. Legacy 'wave 25' unlock text on the wiki predates the 9-wave rework; treat as stale. Also unlocked: Post-GamesCom 2015 / 2016 completion titles. Original Comm-Link 14888 offered 1,000 Glaive reproductions."
  },
  "pirateSwarm": {
    "summary": "Wave-based PvE against UEE pirate AI in fighter / medium ships. Solo or co-op (1-4). The wiki does not publish a per-wave table — community reports ~18 waves with Caterpillar boss waves at the back end.",
    "unlocks": [
      { "name": "Gladius Pirate", "req": "Award token on Pirate Swarm completion", "note": "$110 store cost, requires reward token, limited availability." },
      { "name": "Pirate Aggressor title", "req": "Complete Pirate Swarm online", "note": "Three legacy variants: post-GamesCom 2016, post-Alpha 3.7, 2953 'Pirate Aggressor'. Title gates the Pirate Aggressor ship pack." },
      { "name": "Caterpillar Pirate Edition", "req": "REMOVED in 4.8.0", "note": "Per Comm-Link 21168: 'All Pirate Caterpillars have been converted to Caterpillar + Paint.' Variant is no longer distinct." }
    ]
  },
  "ships": "Community-favored swarm farmers: Gladius (agility / Size 3), F7A Hornet Mk II (DPS), Arrow (speed), Sabre (balance), Gladius Pirate post-unlock (mirror loadout).",
  "tips": [
    "Bonus respawn pickups drop from Vanduul kills at waves 2 / 5 / 8.",
    "Friendly Hornets ONLY spawn in single-player Vanduul Swarm.",
    "No time limit on either swarm — pace yourself.",
    "Pause (Esc) works in single-player Vanduul Swarm only.",
    "AI is tuned weak in 4.8 to match PU values — current swarms are easier than legacy 28-wave runs.",
    "Pirate Swarm awards a Gladius Pirate purchase token on completion — not the ship itself.",
    "Pirate Caterpillar reward no longer exists in 4.8 — converted to base Caterpillar + paint.",
    "Pirate Aggressor TITLE is the durable Pirate Swarm reward; it persists across wipes.",
    "Glaive unlock text still references 'wave 25' despite the 9-wave layout — likely stale wiki text awaiting refresh.",
    "Arena Commander is currently being used by CIG as a testbed for resource networks + engineering systems — expect mode tweaks per patch."
  ],
  "patchHistory": [
    { "patch": "v0.8", "date": "2014-06-04", "change": "Released with the Arena Commander module." },
    { "patch": "v0.8.5", "date": "2014-07-31", "change": "Vanduul Glaive added as Vanduul Swarm enemy." },
    { "patch": "v0.9", "date": "2014-09-12", "change": "Co-op Vanduul Swarm and Murray Cup added. Private matches and new hangars. M50 / 350R added." },
    { "patch": "Alpha 4.8.0", "date": "2026-05-14", "change": "Pirate Caterpillar variant retired (converted to base Caterpillar + paint per Comm-Link 21168). Pirate Swarm + Vanduul Swarm remain live." }
  ]
}