The Fer-de-Lance is reliant on its shield for defence. The Imperial Cutter only poses a challenge to the Fer-de-Lance due to the Cutter's superior firepower and shielding, but the Fer-de-Lance still has the advantage in speed and agility. It is widely considered one of the best ships for taking on skilled human pilots, more so than the Anaconda and Federal Corvette. In combat, the Fer-de-Lance excels against all opponents, from larger ships to Thargoid Interceptors. The Fer-de-Lance is also less agile than the Alliance Chieftain and Federal Assault Ship, but still has the advantage in firepower over them. This does not take Ship-Launched Fighters into consideration, a capability that the Federal Gunship and Krait MkII possess while the Fer-de-Lance does not.
Among medium sized ships, only the Federal Gunship, Python, Krait MkII, and Mamba can compete with the Fer-de-Lance in terms of firepower, although the Fer-de-Lance is more manoeuvrable, meaning in practice it is usually more capable of dishing out damage than the others. Its damage output is among the highest of all medium sized ships thanks to its high number of hardpoints including one Class 4, which have excellent convergence when firing allowing the use of fixed mounts on all of them. The Fer-de-Lance is outstanding in its role as a combat vessel. This makes the Fer-de-Lance difficult to recommend for any role outside of combat. Although fast, manoeuvrable, well-armed, and well-shielded, the Fer-de-Lance suffers from a few significant drawbacks: poor jump range, a small fuel tank, and a limited number of internal compartments for its size. It features a hull that is more resistant to damage from Class 1 and 2 weapons than other medium ships, and alongside its newer sister ship, the Mamba, it is one of only two medium ships capable of mounting Class 4 weaponry. The Fer-de-Lance is a heavy combat ship manufactured by Zorgon Peterson. If the vessel has a drawback it is that it is highly specialised - consumers are advised that the Fer-de-Lance Is unsuited to activities other than combat.
With four medium and one huge hardpoint, the ship is a veritable powerhouse, able to mount a challenge even to the Anaconda and Federal Corvette. 2× Class 1 Compartments 1× Class 2 Compartment 2× Class 4 Compartments 1× Class 5 Compartment