Summary of "How Strong Is Ares Inferno Armor? Guardian MX & Prowler Tested"

How Strong Is Ares Inferno Armor? (4.7 PTU armor tests)

Overview

Tester: Danis ran armor penetration tests in Star Citizen 4.7 PTU on three ships: Ares Inferno, Drake Guardian MX, and Asperia Prowler.
Goal: Determine which weapon sizes/types penetrate the new armor and identify weak spots and component vulnerabilities.

Tests were performed on the 4.7 PTU — results may change if developers adjust armor or weapon values.

Key findings (general)

Small, rapid-fire weapons — notably size-1 Attrition and some size-1 Omni lasers — can damage or penetrate armor and may become a dominant choice.
Larger weapons (size-3 and size-4 cannons/ballistics) reliably damage or penetrate armor.
Size-2 results are mixed: some size-2 weapons do little to the hull, while others can damage external components (guns, missile racks, engines) depending on aim.
External components and rear engine/intake areas are consistent weak points; targeting these can bypass the armor.
Precision mode is helpful for locating and targeting specific components (guns, missile racks, engines).

Ship-by-ship highlights

Ares Inferno

Size-1 Attrition and size-1 Omni lasers can penetrate and damage hull/armor.
Size-2 weapons sometimes ineffective against the shell but can damage exposed components if aimed precisely (engines, missile racks).
Size-3/4 cannons and shredders consistently penetrate and damage.

Drake Guardian MX

Pattern similar to the Inferno: size-1 Attrition is very effective.
Size-2 cannons generally won’t damage the hull unless you hit exposed components; size-3s will.
Ballistics: some size-2 Sawback hits registered on missile racks/guns; size-3 ballistics/shredders penetrate reliably.

Asperia Prowler

Initially seemed better protected, but size-1 Attritions and size-1 Omnis still penetrate.
Some size-2 ballistics (notably shredders / Tarantul size-2s) unexpectedly damaged or penetrated components.
Engines and intakes are well-covered; you often must aim at the rear to damage engines.

Practical strategies & tips

Weapon choice
- Use high-rate small-caliber weapons (size-1 Attrition / size-1 Omnis) for rapid penetration.
- Use size-3/4 guns for reliable hull damage.
Aim and target selection
- Prioritize external components (gun mounts, missile racks) or rear engine/intake areas to bypass armor.
- Use precision mode to find and target specific components.
Tactical considerations
- Be cautious of friendly fire: small weapons can damage allied ships’ armor/components.
- Expect the meta to shift if developers tune armor/weapon values; these tests were on PTU and may change.

Notable surprises

Size-1 weapons proved highly effective across all tested ships.
Some size-2 ballistics (shredders/Tarantul) unexpectedly penetrated or damaged the Prowler.
External shell spots (center/outside) sometimes registered hits that affected engines or internal components.

Conclusion

The new armor in 4.7 PTU provides additional protection but is vulnerable to certain weapon types and precise targeting. Attritions and small lasers appear particularly potent and could dominate combat unless adjusted by the developers.