Kestrel B

The starting weapons can handle two-shield enemies, and you have little to sell, so typically rush shields and then look for a weapon. Your Zoltan can power shields-3 against ion.

Your strong offence also provides a degree of safety, however. Occasionally it may be better to save scrap for an early store, especially if early jumps drop vendor trash.

Ideally you want fast weapons to complement your remaining Basic Lasers, but don’t get fixated on that. Having more shots is good, even if it’s something slow like a Hull Laser 2. The speed of your volley matters less as the game goes on, especially once you have hacking. It’s also well worth 40 scrap to “upgrade” a Basic Laser to a Heavy Laser.

You have three empty system slots to fill, so try to buy your first system a little early.

Move the shield-room Mantis to doors initially. Put the Zoltan on engines; remember you can use them to de-ionise shields. Cooldown systems like hacking and mind control appear rather far away from the main systems, so power-stealing is awkward.

You have no blue options for distress beacons in sector 1, so prefer unmarked beacons.