Sooner or later, a distress call will crackle across your comms: pirates attacking a capital ship. Save the day and the captain offers it to you — free, once. Here's everything I wish I'd known before I said yes to a C-class brick with 15 slots.
Before you accept
The free freighter is always the first one you rescue. If you can stomach declining a rescue (the crew survives either way), you can wait for a better roll. A-class or better, 30+ slots, system freighters are fine for a first hull.
What actually matters
Slot count beats class early on — storage is the real endgame. Fleet command rooms let you send frigates on missions, which is passive income and materials while you explore. And build your hyperdrive upgrades before you buy tech slots you don't need.
"A freighter isn't a home. It's a hangar with delusions of grandeur."
Naming tips
You get one name per freighter. Mine is the Second Breakfast. Choose wisely, Traveler — the galaxy remembers.
Next guide: frigate expedition builds that actually return a profit.