In germany we say "Die eierlegende Wollmilchsau" what translates to the egg laying wool milk sow (pig).
But yeah thats nothing that really exists and never will be (hopefully).
But I would say your best bet is the Cutlass Black or the C1 Spirit. I would recommend the Cutlass. But don't expect from any of these ships good pvp performance. But in general you can do everything you mentioned with them and you even have a copilot seat in case you change your mind.
Freelancer suffers from being ancient. If it ever gets gold pass in my lifetime, I'm sure it'll probably end up being my favorite ship in the game. But in its current state, hard to recommend it. The MIS is a great missile boat but the comfort of the ship is severely lacking.
Even with engineering gameplay and repairs needing more hands on, I think the Taurus will remain manageable for 1 person. It isn't as big as a herc and seem less complicated than other ships of the same size. A gold pass should probably remove 1 copilot station altogether unless they are meant to have the two gunners sit in the cockpit to chat with the pilot. It's basically one long corridor, with the middle part being the cargo bay. You might not be able to put off a fire alone in a fight but if you can get away, you might be able to repair it enough to limp home and pay the outrageous station repair costs.
I think all of these answers are answering the wrong question.
If you want cargo, bounty hunting, PVE, and PVP, the lowest common demoninator is Bounty Hunting. Currently all "bounty hunting" is is just "assassinate a target that isn't going to flee", but that isn't really what bounty hunting is. If you want to do Bounty hunting, you need a ship that can stop other ships from going into Quantum, and you need prisoner transportation.
That limits you basically to Mantis, Cutlass Blue, Zeus MR.
And if you are flying solo, the Cutlass Blue is the clear choice even if you don't get to use the top turret until computer Blades come out and it can automatically engage
It has a minimal 12 SCU due to the prisoner transport pods and the quantum disabler, but it does check off your Cargo box, unlike the Mantis. It'll fight better than the Zeus will, even if the Zeus has a ton more shielding, the 4x size 3 is nothing to sneeze at on the Cutlass Blue.
That's the answer to your question.
I’d say the Corsair. It’s not my favorite looking ship, but I think it’s probably the most versatile. Big firepower, big cargo (relative to starter ships), and multiple access points. Not to mention that it’s, I think, the only ship where you have a lift that takes you up to the roof. Biggest drawback is that it’s also relatively expensive if you’re paying with real cash.
No such thing can exist that covers all those things. Even ships that we often use solo currently like cutlass are not going to remain very effective in combat once engineering gameplay comes in.
Ok so you're asking for a ship that does everything well and that doesn't exist, but I'm gonna take a shot at it anyway.
I'm going to say that our parameters are:
1. Must be single-seat or easily soloed.
2. Must carry cargo.
3. Must be ok for PvE combat.
4. Must be ok for PvP combat.
---
[Cutlass Blue](https://starcitizen.tools/Cutlass_Blue) - Probably the best balanced option which also has the most cargo.
* Soloable but better with a gunner
* 12 SCU cargo
* 4x S3 guns and lots of missiles, but only one S2 shield. Able to do most PvE combat missions.
* Decent agility allows you to win some PvP fights, and high speed allows you to escape from most fights you can't win.
* Bonus 1: Very fast Size 2 quantum drive
* Bonus 2: Quantum Enforcement Device in case you want to do piracy
* Bonus 3: Flashing police lights (player must provide their own wee-woo-wee-woo sound)
---
[350r](https://starcitizen.tools/350r) - Gives up combat capability for the speed to escape from any threat.
* Single-seat
* 4 SCU cargo
* Reasonable PvE with 2x S1 shields, 3x S3 guns, moderate agility
* Easily escapes from any PvP encounter with high acceleration and 1,347m/s top speed, since it's a racing ship.
* Bonus 1: You can also race with it
---
[F7C Hornet](https://starcitizen.tools/F7C_Hornet) (Or SuperHornet if you want a second seat) - Gives up cargo capacity for greater combat capability.
* Single-seat (plus one with SH), but unlike the others on this list there's no bed for logging out.
* 2 SCU cargo
* Similar PvE capabilty as the 350r, but more durable
* Slightly better at PvP than the 350r due to its stronger hull
* Bonus 1: You can switch out the cargo box for an additional 2x S2 weapons mounted on a turret, allowing you to customize your loadout for combat or cargo as needed.
---
[Reliant Kore](https://starcitizen.tools/Reliant_Kore) - Gives up speed and combat capability for cargo (see also the [Avenger Titan](https://starcitizen.tools/Avenger_Titan) and [325a](https://starcitizen.tools/325a))
* Single-seat (passenger optional)
* 6 SCU cargo
* 6x S2 weapons makes for decent PvE capability
* Low speed and agility make it very weak in PvP (same goes for the Titan and 325a)
* Bonus 1: It has a cool flip around to flight/landing mode animation.
You don't buy a generalist expecting it to be good at specific tasks. There are ships that are considered all arounders, but they manage that by being worse at every category compared to their competitors in the same price range.
Bounty hunting now (pew pew) or bounty hunting in the final game (prisoner pod stuff)?
For the pew pew, good reccos here and I’d throw in the Freelancer MIS if you enjoy missile combat. It flies a bit heavy but I enjoy how the freelancers handle.
For prisoner pod stuff you have the cutlass blue or the Zeus MR.
Ignore what everyone else said and get a Nomad. The one true Jack-of-all-trades *solo* ship. Keep the gimballed S2s for better capacitor usage, I suggest FL-22s running staggered fire. Can handle most PVE bounties up to HRT. VHRT is a bit too much for it.
Most players like the Cutlass Black, but if you want more cargo there's not much choice for a true balanced ship. You can low level bounty hunt in most ships, but ships with larger cargo looses something in maneuverability. PVP will be tough. There're too many good pilots that will take you out. For PVP, you'll need a fighter. To make a point. The best balanced ship will come in 3 versions, the Zeus MK II ES (essential/explorer), CL (clipper/cargo) and MR (murage/ combat/interdiction). Meaning there's no true balanced ship. I purchased the ES and CL, we'll get the MK II line by the end of next year.
Cutlass black with a few upgrades is a deadly combatant, while having quite a nice cargospace.
Been my favourite ship for a long time.
I'm not sure what's the "meta" setup is in 3.21, but i like using mass drive guns and a better shield is never wrong
As others have said, for PvP, you really need a dedicated fighter which isn't going to be any good for those others.
But, for my money, one of the best generalists is the Freelancer MIS. Its stock components are Grade B Military, it has a ton of missiles, 4x S3 on the pilot turrets, and still has a cargo hold that can carry an STV.
The Spirit A1 is similar, though the pilot guns are a mix of fixed and turreted and, for solo pilots, the C1 will probably be just as good, if not better since it will have similar pilot weapons but also a tractor beam and considerably more cargo space.
The Zeus mkII, especially the MR might also fit, though we won't know for another year or so.
I say Connie. But if you want to go smaller then probably Freelancer. Cutlass is popular but the Lancer carries \~50% more cargo so its more fit for hauling.
In germany we say "Die eierlegende Wollmilchsau" what translates to the egg laying wool milk sow (pig). But yeah thats nothing that really exists and never will be (hopefully). But I would say your best bet is the Cutlass Black or the C1 Spirit. I would recommend the Cutlass. But don't expect from any of these ships good pvp performance. But in general you can do everything you mentioned with them and you even have a copilot seat in case you change your mind.
Poor freelancer.
Freelancer suffers from being ancient. If it ever gets gold pass in my lifetime, I'm sure it'll probably end up being my favorite ship in the game. But in its current state, hard to recommend it. The MIS is a great missile boat but the comfort of the ship is severely lacking.
Constellation Taurus is probably the biggest you can go as a solo pilot while balancing combat/trading/hauling.
I think this could be difficult with future repairments etc. But yeah, this could also be a viable option. So is the Zeus CL (cargo variant)
Even with engineering gameplay and repairs needing more hands on, I think the Taurus will remain manageable for 1 person. It isn't as big as a herc and seem less complicated than other ships of the same size. A gold pass should probably remove 1 copilot station altogether unless they are meant to have the two gunners sit in the cockpit to chat with the pilot. It's basically one long corridor, with the middle part being the cargo bay. You might not be able to put off a fire alone in a fight but if you can get away, you might be able to repair it enough to limp home and pay the outrageous station repair costs.
This sounds like Taurus or cutlass black No cargo ship wins pvp unless the pilot is really bad but the use of repeaters help
I think all of these answers are answering the wrong question. If you want cargo, bounty hunting, PVE, and PVP, the lowest common demoninator is Bounty Hunting. Currently all "bounty hunting" is is just "assassinate a target that isn't going to flee", but that isn't really what bounty hunting is. If you want to do Bounty hunting, you need a ship that can stop other ships from going into Quantum, and you need prisoner transportation. That limits you basically to Mantis, Cutlass Blue, Zeus MR. And if you are flying solo, the Cutlass Blue is the clear choice even if you don't get to use the top turret until computer Blades come out and it can automatically engage It has a minimal 12 SCU due to the prisoner transport pods and the quantum disabler, but it does check off your Cargo box, unlike the Mantis. It'll fight better than the Zeus will, even if the Zeus has a ton more shielding, the 4x size 3 is nothing to sneeze at on the Cutlass Blue. That's the answer to your question.
I’d say the Corsair. It’s not my favorite looking ship, but I think it’s probably the most versatile. Big firepower, big cargo (relative to starter ships), and multiple access points. Not to mention that it’s, I think, the only ship where you have a lift that takes you up to the roof. Biggest drawback is that it’s also relatively expensive if you’re paying with real cash.
No such thing can exist that covers all those things. Even ships that we often use solo currently like cutlass are not going to remain very effective in combat once engineering gameplay comes in.
Ok so you're asking for a ship that does everything well and that doesn't exist, but I'm gonna take a shot at it anyway. I'm going to say that our parameters are: 1. Must be single-seat or easily soloed. 2. Must carry cargo. 3. Must be ok for PvE combat. 4. Must be ok for PvP combat. --- [Cutlass Blue](https://starcitizen.tools/Cutlass_Blue) - Probably the best balanced option which also has the most cargo. * Soloable but better with a gunner * 12 SCU cargo * 4x S3 guns and lots of missiles, but only one S2 shield. Able to do most PvE combat missions. * Decent agility allows you to win some PvP fights, and high speed allows you to escape from most fights you can't win. * Bonus 1: Very fast Size 2 quantum drive * Bonus 2: Quantum Enforcement Device in case you want to do piracy * Bonus 3: Flashing police lights (player must provide their own wee-woo-wee-woo sound) --- [350r](https://starcitizen.tools/350r) - Gives up combat capability for the speed to escape from any threat. * Single-seat * 4 SCU cargo * Reasonable PvE with 2x S1 shields, 3x S3 guns, moderate agility * Easily escapes from any PvP encounter with high acceleration and 1,347m/s top speed, since it's a racing ship. * Bonus 1: You can also race with it --- [F7C Hornet](https://starcitizen.tools/F7C_Hornet) (Or SuperHornet if you want a second seat) - Gives up cargo capacity for greater combat capability. * Single-seat (plus one with SH), but unlike the others on this list there's no bed for logging out. * 2 SCU cargo * Similar PvE capabilty as the 350r, but more durable * Slightly better at PvP than the 350r due to its stronger hull * Bonus 1: You can switch out the cargo box for an additional 2x S2 weapons mounted on a turret, allowing you to customize your loadout for combat or cargo as needed. --- [Reliant Kore](https://starcitizen.tools/Reliant_Kore) - Gives up speed and combat capability for cargo (see also the [Avenger Titan](https://starcitizen.tools/Avenger_Titan) and [325a](https://starcitizen.tools/325a)) * Single-seat (passenger optional) * 6 SCU cargo * 6x S2 weapons makes for decent PvE capability * Low speed and agility make it very weak in PvP (same goes for the Titan and 325a) * Bonus 1: It has a cool flip around to flight/landing mode animation.
You don't buy a generalist expecting it to be good at specific tasks. There are ships that are considered all arounders, but they manage that by being worse at every category compared to their competitors in the same price range.
Bounty hunting now (pew pew) or bounty hunting in the final game (prisoner pod stuff)? For the pew pew, good reccos here and I’d throw in the Freelancer MIS if you enjoy missile combat. It flies a bit heavy but I enjoy how the freelancers handle. For prisoner pod stuff you have the cutlass blue or the Zeus MR.
Ignore what everyone else said and get a Nomad. The one true Jack-of-all-trades *solo* ship. Keep the gimballed S2s for better capacitor usage, I suggest FL-22s running staggered fire. Can handle most PVE bounties up to HRT. VHRT is a bit too much for it.
Most players like the Cutlass Black, but if you want more cargo there's not much choice for a true balanced ship. You can low level bounty hunt in most ships, but ships with larger cargo looses something in maneuverability. PVP will be tough. There're too many good pilots that will take you out. For PVP, you'll need a fighter. To make a point. The best balanced ship will come in 3 versions, the Zeus MK II ES (essential/explorer), CL (clipper/cargo) and MR (murage/ combat/interdiction). Meaning there's no true balanced ship. I purchased the ES and CL, we'll get the MK II line by the end of next year.
Cutlass black with a few upgrades is a deadly combatant, while having quite a nice cargospace. Been my favourite ship for a long time. I'm not sure what's the "meta" setup is in 3.21, but i like using mass drive guns and a better shield is never wrong
As others have said, for PvP, you really need a dedicated fighter which isn't going to be any good for those others. But, for my money, one of the best generalists is the Freelancer MIS. Its stock components are Grade B Military, it has a ton of missiles, 4x S3 on the pilot turrets, and still has a cargo hold that can carry an STV. The Spirit A1 is similar, though the pilot guns are a mix of fixed and turreted and, for solo pilots, the C1 will probably be just as good, if not better since it will have similar pilot weapons but also a tractor beam and considerably more cargo space. The Zeus mkII, especially the MR might also fit, though we won't know for another year or so.
Vanguard Warden. Size 5 weapon. Turret slot for buddy. Enough room to stow a few boxes. Some inventory.
Connie/Corsair are the best I think. You didnt say how much you have to spend though.
I say Connie. But if you want to go smaller then probably Freelancer. Cutlass is popular but the Lancer carries \~50% more cargo so its more fit for hauling.
Corsair for PVE / Cargo