{ "version": "2026-05-25", "patch": "Alpha 4.8 Tactical Strike", "status": "live", "verified": true, "verifiedSources": [ "starcitizen.tools — Tactical_Strike_Group (canonical)", "starcitizen.tools — Update:Star_Citizen_Alpha_4.8.0", "expcarry.com — Star Citizen 4.8 Tactical Strike Guide", "citizen-starter-guide.com — Tactical Strike Groups Guide", "robertsspaceindustries.com/community-hub — Alpha 4.8 Tactical Strike Groups Web Guide", "massivelyop.com — 4.8 Tactical Strike coverage", "theimpound.com — Alpha 4.8 Tactical Strike Announced", "Inside Star Citizen 4.8 Patch Report (YT SsOtI2dtvBc)" ], "note": "Wiki lists 6 numbered phases with the Vanduul Mauler as a POST-completion encounter (not a numbered phase). Third-party guides sometimes call the Mauler 'Phase 7' or '6'. This guide follows the wiki numbering: 6 phases + 1 post-mission encounter.", "overview": { "tag": "InterSec Rank III // Permanent Repeatable", "title": "Tactical | Strike Groups", "summary": "InterSec Defense Solutions' marquee 4.8 endgame contract. A coordinated squadron assaults a Shattered Blade–held QV Extraction Station in Nyx to rescue captured People's Alliance pilot Gabe Windell, defending the allied Idris Tranquility through fleet, tunnel-fighter, and FPS phases. A near-Javelin-sized Vanduul Mauler arrives post-completion to punish survivors and offer optional facility loot.", "unlock": "InterSec Rank III with InterSec Defense Solutions. Grind path: complete the InterSec intro, then farm InterSec contracts EXCLUSIVELY in Nyx until Rank 3 (small 2-4 player groups have better rep-per-hour than running TSG itself early).", "location": "Nyx system → QV Extraction Station (asteroid base). Allied capital: People's Alliance Idris Tranquility. Hostile: Shattered Blade (Vanduul-aligned outlaw gang).", "found": "MobiGlas → Verified Contracts → Mercenary → 'Tactical Strike Group Needed'", "duration": "No authoritative source publishes a number. Streamed runs land in roughly 45-90 min depending on group size + coordination.", "minPlayers": "4 (possible but very difficult — wiki minimum)", "optimalPlayers": "6-8 (wiki: 7+; expcarry practical baseline 6-8)", "maxPlayers": "9-12 comfortable; no hard cap. 10-player runs trivialize early phases per community reports." }, "requirements": { "rank": "InterSec Rank III", "fleet": "Must field fighters + sub-capitals (+ ideally one capital) AND at least one FPS-capable ship for Phase 5.", "shipLoadout": "Ballistic weapons / missiles are MANDATORY for Phase 2 (relays energy-resistant). Energy weapons useful for Phase 3.", "fps": "Medium-to-heavy armor (Pembroke, Morozov, Artemex, DustUp, Inquisitor); primary rifle (Gallant, Pulverizer LMG, Karna, Volt SMG); sidearm (Coda, Arclight, LH-86) or CureLife ParaMed; 3-5 MedPens; backpack; optional multitool. UltiFlex Novia Crossbow + Scorch plasma grenade are the new 4.8 picks." }, "fleet": { "summary": "Two stock Perseus is the community-favored capital comp. F8C Lightning is the absolute size ceiling for the Phase 3 trench. Bomber duty (Eclipse / Retaliator) reserved for Idris-equivalent capital targets.", "roles": [ { "tier": "Light / Medium Fighter", "examples": "Gladius, Arrow, Buccaneer, F7C, F8 Lightning", "use": "Trench-run cooling units (Phase 3), escort, fighter screen." }, { "tier": "Heavy Fighter / Gunship", "examples": "Vanguard, Corsair, Constellation Andromeda, Redeemer, Scorpius", "use": "Exterior objectives (Phase 2 relays), sustained DPS." }, { "tier": "Sub-Capital Military", "examples": "Perseus, Paladin", "use": "Bulk damage on relays + Mauler. Two-Perseus stock comp is the meta." }, { "tier": "Capital Support", "examples": "Idris, Polaris", "use": "Refuel / rearm / respawn between phases. Essential for surviving the Mauler." }, { "tier": "Dropship / FPS Carrier", "examples": "Cutlass Black, etc.", "use": "Phase 5 boarding. Viable but underwhelming vs boarded fighters in tight QV interiors." } ] }, "phases": [ { "code": "TSG-P1", "name": "Approach & Defend Tranquility", "color": "cyan", "objective": "Escort the Idris Tranquility into position; defend it through enemy fighter waves.", "hostiles": "F7C Mk II, Paladin, Ares Ion, Perseus, Buccaneer, Constellation, Scorpius, Corsair (Shattered Blade)", "failure": "Tranquility destroyed → run reset.", "tips": [ "Assign 2-3 ships to wave intercept; rest hold close escort on the Tranquility.", "Rearm at Tranquility between heavy wave pushes — it has a service bay (4.8 hangar services)." ] }, { "code": "TSG-P2", "name": "Destroy Power Relays", "color": "amber", "objective": "Strike exterior relay doors. Relays are ENERGY-SHIELDED — use BALLISTICS ONLY.", "hostiles": "Vanduul-origin anti-capital lasers (3 on struts + 1 near a tank) + Mine Repeater / Standard Repeater / AA Missile turrets", "details": "Source conflict: expcarry says 4 relays, RSI community guide says 6. Verify in-game on first run.", "tips": [ "Heavy fighters peel turrets while capitals strike from range.", "Rearm at Tranquility between attempts — ballistic ammo burns fast.", "Avoid lingering inside Vanduul laser arcs; reposition every 10s." ] }, { "code": "TSG-P3", "name": "Trench Run / Cooling Units", "color": "cyan", "objective": "Three gates (A/B/C) open into tunnels. Destroy 18 cooling units (6 per gate). Cooling units are BALLISTIC-RESISTANT — switch to ENERGY weapons.", "hostiles": "Passive distortion field disables ship components if you linger.", "shipSize": "F8C Lightning is the absolute size ceiling. No Vanguards in the trench.", "tips": [ "Mantra: 'Enter fast, target circular tank, fire on the pass, exit immediately.'", "Assign one team per gate; multiple short passes beat one long pass.", "Distortion field strips shields + components — never sit still inside the trench.", "Switch loadout mindset between Phase 2 (ballistic) and Phase 3 (energy) — bring mixed." ] }, { "code": "TSG-P4", "name": "Destroy the Core / Defend Tranquility", "color": "amber", "objective": "Shutters open after cooling units down. Strike the core under HEAVY distortion + radiation. Concurrently, Shattered Blade launches a heavier 3-wave assault on Tranquility.", "hostiles": "Hammerhead, Perseus, Ares Ion, Paladin, F7C Mk II, Buccaneer in the wave; core itself is the strike target.", "tips": [ "Split: strike team on core, screen team on Tranquility.", "Capitals counter-cap (Perseus vs Hammerhead is favorable); lights point-defend.", "Never leave Tranquility with fewer than 2 escorts during the strike." ] }, { "code": "TSG-P5", "name": "Infiltrate & Override (FPS)", "color": "purple", "objective": "Land near the destroyed tank pad; ladder into ventilation → sealed security room with the override terminal that unlocks Gabe Windell.", "hostiles": "Close-quarters Shattered Blade infantry. Minimum 2 FPS operators inside.", "loot": "Optional: Virgil Flight Suits, matching helmets, ship components, weapons in side hangars.", "tips": [ "Bring a dedicated medic (ParaMed / medgun).", "Mandatory 3-5 medpens per operator.", "Rest of squad holds the extraction zone while interior team works the terminal." ] }, { "code": "TSG-P6", "name": "Escort Gabe to Safety", "color": "cyan", "objective": "Protect Gabe Windell's Freelancer during quantum-spool and extraction. Vanduul fighters interject.", "hostiles": "Vanduul fighters", "tips": [ "Gabe's pilot vessel is fragile — escort tight.", "Mission completes when Gabe is off the station — bank the reward before Mauler arrives." ] } ], "postMission": { "code": "MAULER", "name": "Vanduul Mauler Arrival", "color": "red", "summary": "A near-Javelin-sized Vanduul Mauler + fighter escort warp in to take 'indiscriminate vengeance.' Heavy shields / hull — capitals are the only realistic primary DPS. Optional loot run of the facility is possible if survivors fight or flee. The MISSION REWARD IS ALREADY BANKED before Mauler arrives — engagement is optional.", "tips": [ "Disengage and reposition if your capital is unhealthy. Reward is already in pocket.", "Capital-vs-capital comp (Polaris + Perseus) is the realistic kill setup.", "Loot run only worth it if the Mauler is dead or distracted — facility interiors hide Virgil suits and components." ] }, "rewards": [ { "tag": "Blueprint Pool 1 (Gear)", "name": "FPS & Apparel Blueprints", "desc": "Racing Flight Suits ×3 variants · Racing Helmets ×3 · Tailwind Flight Helmets ×4 · UltiFlex Novia Crossbow ×4 variants (armor-pen). Virgil Flightsuits + matching helmets lootable in Phase 5.", "req": "Run completion drop pool", "color": "cyan" }, { "tag": "Blueprint Pool 2 (Ship)", "name": "Ship Component Blueprints", "desc": "Omnisky II / VI / IX / XII / XV / XVIII laser cannons · Power Plants JS-300 / JS-400 / Quadracell MX.", "req": "Run completion drop pool", "color": "amber" }, { "tag": "Reputation", "name": "InterSec Defense Solutions Rep", "desc": "Progress with InterSec — unlocks future higher-tier contracts. Specific amount unpublished.", "req": "Run completion" }, { "tag": "aUEC", "name": "Mission Payout", "desc": "aUEC contract reward. Exact figure not published in patch notes — flagged unknown.", "req": "Run completion" } ], "enemies": { "summary": "Shattered Blade (Vanduul-aligned outlaw gang) for Phases 1-5. Vanduul fighters in Phase 6. Vanduul Mauler + escorts post-mission.", "named": [ { "name": "Gabe Windell", "role": "Rescue target. People's Alliance pilot held in the QV station security room. Canonical (wiki)." }, { "name": "Deacon Tobin", "role": "InterSec Operations Manager / mission briefer. Single-source (citizen-starter-guide)." }, { "name": "Captain Aniss Martell", "role": "Tranquility commander. Single-source (RSI community guide)." }, { "name": "Forge", "role": "Shattered Blade antagonist. Single-source (RSI community guide)." } ], "note": "No published HP / weak-point stats for any boss. Mauler is approximated near-Javelin in size." }, "tips": [ "Assign roles + comms structure BEFORE launch — disciplined 5 beats undisciplined 7.", "Set your respawn at a station near Nyx beforehand — death + slow return causes QV station to impound your ship (Reddit-confirmed bug).", "Two stock Perseus is the community-favored capital-killer comp.", "Ballistics for Phase 2, energy for Phase 3 — swap engagement mindset, not your loadout. Bring mixed.", "Rearm / repair at Tranquility between every major phase.", "F8 Lightning is the absolute size ceiling for the trench — don't bring Vanguards into tunnels.", "Don't linger in Phase 3 distortion field — fast passes only.", "Carry 3-5 medpens minimum; bring at least one dedicated medic with ParaMed / medgun.", "Phase 4 split: never leave Tranquility with fewer than 2 escorts during the core strike.", "Save Mauler for last — disengage and reposition if your capital is unhealthy; reward is already banked.", "To grind to InterSec Rank 3, run small InterSec contracts in 2-4 player groups (better rep-per-hour than running TSG itself early).", "Don't leave valuables onboard for the run — wipe + insurance + impound risk are stacked against you." ], "patchHistory": [ { "patch": "Alpha 4.8.0", "date": "2026-05-14", "change": "Tactical Strike Group added. Shipped alongside the 4.8 full wipe, ship snapshots, blueprint system, hangar services T0, Refueling 2.0, Drake Ironclad + Command Module, and DefenseCon 2956. Announced via Inside Star Citizen 4.8 Patch Report (YT SsOtI2dtvBc). Comm-Link 21168." } ], "openQuestions": [ "Relay count in Phase 2 — expcarry says 4, RSI community guide says 6.", "Phase 4 core internal stabilizers — RSI guide describes 4 sub-targets; wiki + expcarry describe a single core. Likely stabilizers are sub-objectives that expose the core.", "aUEC payout — no source publishes a number.", "Run duration — no source publishes an authoritative number.", "Extra rewards (bomber jacket, rare trade commodities) — only The Impound mentions, single-source unverified." ] }