Viper Mk IV
Template:Quote The Viper MkIV is a ship manufactured by Faulcon DeLacy. It is an upgraded variant of the Viper MkIII, and is classified as a heavy fighter craft designed for ship-to-ship combat superiority. Its improved internal modules, including a larger Power Plant, allow it to branch out from its predecessor's combat specialisation and take on a wider number of roles.[1]
Overview
The Viper MkIV is a heavier variant of the Viper MkIII that sacrifices mobility for increased toughness. Its appearance is very similar to that of the MkIII and it can be difficult to tell the two apart, especially with the former's ship kit.
By default, the MkIV has weaker shields than the MkIII due to its higher hull mass. However, the MkIV is capable of fitting a larger Class 4 shield generator, whereas the Viper MkIII is limited to a Class 3. This results in the Viper MkIV potentially having much stronger shields than the MkIII. Stronger shields combined with a higher base hull and more space for Hull Reinforcement Packages can make the Viper MkIV substantially more resilient than the MkIII. These improvements come with the drawbacks of slightly reduced turn rate and speed. This makes it vulnerable to attacks from more nimble ships like Eagle MkII and Cobra MkIII, and can be a disadvantage in a direct firefight against a Viper MkIII. Worthy of note is that the Viper MkIV suffers from heat dissipation issues similar to that of its predecessor, though it does run slightly cooler. Additionally, with a Class 4 Power Plant, it can more easily power weapons with high power draw such as Railguns, as well as better defenses such as Shield Boosters. Though it is one of the least agile small ships, it is also one of the toughest. It is far more resilient than any other ship in its price range and can hold its own in a pure combat role. Additionally, a fair cargo capacity makes it a viable option for a Pirate.
The Viper MkIV is one of the best options for beginner deep-core asteroid mining. Its internal compartments and hardpoints can fit plenty of mining tools alongside 32-40 tons of cargo, and the price tag for such a build is under 10 million credits. This makes it an excellent option for progressing to a late-game core-mining Python/Krait MkII or even a laser-mining Type-9 Heavy.
The Viper MkIV can be useful as a multi-role. With a maximum cargo capacity of 54T it is a surprisingly effective trader for a fighter class and an above average jump range lets the ship take on an explorer role. Compared to the Cobra MkIII, a similarly priced ship, the Viper MkIV is slower with a worse turn rate, but faster acceleration in all directions. It has a lower cargo capacity (54 compared to 64) and a slightly worse jump rate than the Cobra MkIII. What sets the Viper MkIV apart from the Cobra MkIII, however, is its substantially stronger shields. Even with a Class 3 shield generator the Viper MkIV has almost 2x the shield strength of a Cobra MkIII. With a Class 4 it has even stronger shields than that. This means that the Viper MkIV can sacrifice hull reinforcement for cargo space without making as large as a sacrifice in terms of defensive capabilities compared to the Cobra MkIII. Commanders looking for a ship that can deliver similar multirole performance to that of the Cobra MkIII and still be able to take a few hits may appreciate the Viper MkIV.
Overall, the Viper MkIV exchanges mobility for defensive capabilities and can be more appealing to pilots who prefer bulkier ships. Whether it is better or worse than the MkIII comes down to preference and skill, though it does have a much higher price.
The Viper MkIV's hardpoint options are identical to those of the Viper MkIII. It has two Class 1 hardpoints located on either side of the cockpit and two Class 2 hardpoints located beneath it. Unlike the Viper MkIII, which has underside-mounted Class 2 medium hardpoints on a horizontally flat plane, the Class 2 medium hardpoints of the MkIV are on a slightly angled part of the hull. The hardpoint placement on the Viper MkIV gives it excellent convergence with fixed weapons but a narrow field of fire when using gimballed or turreted guns.
The Viper MkIV has a delta-shaped hull which is significantly wider than the MkIII. The cockpit is situated just behind the bow, slightly raised. Compared to the MkIII, the MkIV's cockpit is less exposed. The MkIV lands on two small rear struts and one large front strut which doubles as a boarding ramp to the cockpit.
Purchase Locations
| System | Station | Date Seen | Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinrarta Dezhra | Jameson Memorial | Always available | 10% discount |
| Brestla | i Sola Prospect | Always available | 20% surcharge |
| Parenni | Alvares City | Jan. 5, 2019 | 15% discount |
| Sietae | Nahavandi City | Jan. 5, 2019 | 15% discount |
| Ebor | Morris Enterprise | Jan. 5, 2019 | 15% discount |
| 64 Ceti | Jensen Gatewat | Jan. 5, 2019 | 15% discount |
| Anlave | Kobayashi City | Nov. 15, 2019 | |
| Procyon | Davy Dock | Jan. 5, 2019 | |
| Liabeze | Lyulka Beacon | Jan. 5, 2019 | |
| Atlantis | Kimura Terminal | Jan. 5, 2019 | |
| Meliae | Whitson Hub | Jan. 5, 2019 | |
| Gateway | Dublin Citadel | Jan. 5, 2019 |
Outfitting
- Main article: Outfitting
All ships are customisable through the Outfitting menu of Station Services. Listed below is the default load-out for the Viper MkIV.
| Category | Slot Size | Size | Grade | Module | Cost (CR) | Module Power Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viper MkIV | 310,220 | -- | ||||
| Core Internal | -- | L | -- | Lightweight Alloy | -- | -- |
| 4 | 4 | E | Power Plant | -- | ||
| 4 | 4 | E | Thrusters | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | E | Frame Shift Drive | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | E | Life Support | 1 | ||
| 3 | 3 | E | Power Distributor | 1 | ||
| 3 | 3 | E | Sensors | 1 | ||
| 4 | 4 | C | Fuel Tank | -- | ||
| Optional Internal | 4 | 3 | E | Cargo Rack | -- | |
| 4 | 3 | E | Cargo Rack | -- | ||
| 3 | 3 | E | Shield Generator | 1 | ||
| 3 [Military] | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
| 2 | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
| 2 | 1 | E | Cargo Rack | -- | ||
| 1 | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
| 1 | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
| 1 | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
| Hardpoints | M | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | |
| M | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
| S | 1 | F | Fixed Pulse Laser | 1 | ||
| S | 1 | F | Fixed Pulse Laser | 1 | ||
| Utility | U | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | |
| U | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | ||
Below is a recommended build for Core-mining, costing under 10 million credits, ideal for new Commanders seeking credits.
| Category | Slot Size | Size | Grade | Module | Cost (CR) | Module Power Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viper MkIV | 310,220 | -- | ||||
| Core Internal | -- | L | -- | Lightweight Alloy | -- | -- |
| 4 | 4 | A | Power Plant | 1,610,080 | -- | |
| 4 | 4 | A | Thrusters | 1,610,080 | 1 | |
| 4 | 4 | A | Frame Shift Drive | 1,610,080 | 4 | |
| 2 | 2 | D | Life Support | 3,610 | 1 | |
| 3 | 3 | C | Power Distributor | 25,330 | 2 | |
| 3 | 3 | D | Sensors | 10,130 | 1 | |
| 4 | 4 | C | Fuel Tank | -- | -- | |
| Optional Internal | 4 | 4 | E | Cargo Rack | 34,330 | -- |
| 4 | 4 | E | Cargo Rack | 34,330 | -- | |
| 3 | 3 | C | Bi-Weave Shield Generator | 84,650 | 2 | |
| 3 [Military] | 3 | D | Hull Reinforcement Package | 84,000 | -- | |
| 2 | 2 | E | Cargo Rack | 3,250 | -- | |
| 2 | 2 | A | Refinery | 1,020,600 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | A | Limpet Controller/Collector | 9,700 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | A | Limpet Controller/Collector | 9,700 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | A | Limpet Controller/Prospector | 9,600 | 3 | |
| Hardpoints | M | 2 | B | Fixed Seismic Charge Launcher | 170,123 | 3 |
| M | 2 | B | Fixed Sub-surface Displacement Missile | 381,750 | 3 | |
| S | 1 | D | Fixed Abrasion Blaster | 9,700 | 3 | |
| S | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | -- | |
| Utility | U | 0 | A | Pulse Wave Analyser | 1,097,096 | 3 |
| U | -- | -- | [Empty] | -- | -- | |
| Total | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8,152,899 | -- |
Trivia
- The Viper MkIV was added to Elite Dangerous in the 1.5 Update.
- At the EGX event David Braben said it "trades a bit of manoeuvrability and speed for better internals, but it's got the same hardpoint layout as the standard Viper".[2]
- In Newsletter #92 it was stated that every Kickstarter beta backer or above will find a Viper MkIV docked at a starport for free.[3]
- Along with the Cobra and Viper MkIII, the MkIV is one of the most common ships piloted by security forces.
- The ship's landing gear clips through the cockpit whenever it is deployed or retracted.
Videos
Gallery
- Viper MkIV
- Aft view
- Ventral view
- Viper MkIV with a Black Friday paintjob.
- A Viper within a Small Ship hangar.
- Faulcon DeLacy Viper Mk IV Blueprint
- Viper MkIV near a surface
- Viper MkIV planetary ring
- Viper MkIV landed
- Viper MkIV and asteroid minerals
