Hello and welcome back, Joe and STOers! Within the past week, Cryptic announced their next Mudd Choice Pack/MEGA Bundle, the “As Seen in TNG” Choice Pack/MEGA Bundle.
As is usual, I’ll go over the history and visuals of the ship items in this post. In a follow-up, I’ll look at the values of the ships and other items for an overall look at the worth of the Bundle.
NOTE: Images I use as the still-image show-off before all the info are from a screen-recorded video. I did not ensure that either the game or the built-in screencap software were set to and recording at the highest graphics quality.
SHIPS
Liberated Borg Command Juggernaut
Original Release Method: Borg Lock Box
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Time Between Release and Account-Wide Status (estimated): 3 Years, 4 Months, 5 Days
Claims to Fame: First properly Borg flyable ship.
Overview: While I’ve been around a while, I can’t really say the Liberated Borg Command Juggernaut did anything spectacular. I mean, it could do things, like it’s a Torpedo platform because it’s a Command-primary ship (it can slot Concentrate Firepower 3), but it’s not a top Torpedo ship. It can Tank, but it’s not a top Tank ship. Obviously it can slot Beams, but no one talks about it as a top Beam: Fire at Will or Beam: Overload ship. Essentially, if you like the theme, you’re not making a bad call, just a suboptimal choice if you’re focusing on meta contenders. Also of note, neither the Trait nor the Console are top contenders for precious Console slots on the meta-level ships, but in a video below, the Console is used as part of the Tanking demonstration.
Visual Overview Video:
Although Ri’Shad Shadow-Star has currently stopped doing STO content, I still appreciate that he did these Starship Review videos where he’d take a new ship, show you exactly what it comes with, and where possible he’d show off how the ship performs straight out of the virtual box (literally).
So here’s Ri’Shad’s Liberated Borg Command Juggernaut review video for this ship’s visual overview from almost 3 and a half years ago now:
Performance Video: I’ll now reference you to the aforementioned Tanking video, made by Pirate Scum Gaming a year ago this past February:
Son’a Collector Science Dreadnought
Original Release Method: R&D/Duty Officer Pack “Promotion!” box chance drop
Release Date: August 17, 2017
Time Between Release and Account-Wide Status (estimated): 5 Years, 9 Months, 8 Days
Claims to Fame: Decent Science Dreadnought for Exotic Particle Generator (“EPG”) builds back in its day, but as best I recall it wasn’t fantastic. It’s also been powercrept out of any otherwise serious use over the years, including by this year’s free Anniversary Event reward ship.
Overview: While a beautiful feat of graphical engineering, the Son’a Collector Science Dreadnought never made competitive waves. Even looking on YouTube right now, only Augmented Dictator Games did anything with it, and he pulled a “measly” 184k DPS with it in July 2019 (this was when I think 150k+ was considered decent, rather than now where it’s the low end of knowing your stuff). I won’t link to his video as I believe he’s scheduled his channel to be taken down at some point this year. If that changes by the end of the year, I’ll start using some of his videos to show capabilities back then.
Visual Overview Video: I couldn’t even find much on visuals of this ship, so I did a video of my own. It’s not great by any means, but it does show off the Console (fairly early on), the Son’a Fighters (when you can see them), and the activation of the Consumption Array and it firing (around 8 minutes into the video. Yes, it took me that long on stock equipment to get that!).
Original Release Method: Lobi Store (900 Lobi)
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Time Between Release and Account-Wide Status (estimated): 6 Years, 1 Month
Claims to Fame: Currently among the top Beams: Overload build ships, especially in combination with the Miradorn Theta Class Heavy Raider‘s console for its activatable ability (also account-wide available from the Captain Picard Bundle).
Overview: The Husnock Warship, as mentioned in the Claims to Fame, is among the best Beam: Overload build platforms in the game, in part due to its setup but mostly due to a specific piece of equipment it can slot. True, the Heavy Particle Focuser Array console has a two-piece set with the Miradorn Theta Class Heavy Raider’s Miradorn Sensor Baffler console to overall get a slight boost to Directed Energy Weapons, Critical Hit Chance, and some extra Hull Penetration. The real shine, though, is what makes it 2nd place in Spencer’s list of best Beam: Overload ships, the activatable ability of the Sensor Baffler. When activated, you gain 15% Crit Chance, 33% Critical Severity, and Raider & Intel Flankings’ damage boosted by 33%, all for a 20-second period. Combined with Unconventional Systems and enough Control-based abilities, its 5/3 weapons layout, 5 standard Tactical console slots, and the ability to equip Dual Cannon-style weapons, the Husnock is not only among the best Beam: Overload ships, it’s a decent general Directed Energy Weapons-based ship.
Visual Overview Video: I didn’t see a video of the Husnock Warship’s standard equipment, so I did one myself. It’s just a screen recording of the Warship doing part of a “Rescue and Search” Patrol, but it shows off both the Krieger Wave Disruptors and the ship’s Heavy Particle Focuser Array console.
OTHER ITEMS
NOTE: The items below tend to be Bound to Account. Nothing below is usually tradeable or sellable when bought via a Mudd’s Choice Pack/MEGA Bundle.
There are 4 other selectable items in this Choice Pack. I’ll be copying-and-pasting these from previous posts.
Lobi Crystals are what you’ll need for some items and ships from the Lobi Store. Usually, any gear you need will cost 200 Lobi per piece and usually gets down to 160 Lobi with a 20% off sale. This could mean full sets of space gear could cost 480 – 600 Lobi. Ships cost 900 Lobi, though I’d doubt the efficiency of buying a ~$30-$40 (average) ship on a 3x-pick of 300 Lobi Crystals.
Though usually not as good as getting Keys, getting 300 Lobi in one shot still saves quite a bit of clicking through on Lock Boxes and “Promotion!” boxes.
2. 100% Discount Coupon: Tier 6 Ship (x2)
These coupons are usable on practically any ship available in the C-Store under the “Ships” tab as long as they’re available for sale separate of a Bundle.
Mudd’s Market ships are not found in the “Ships” tab of the C-Store, they’re found in the “Mudd’s Market” section and are not available for purchase with these Coupons.
These tend to be Bound to Account, which means they’re usually not good on any ship still in the “New Items” tab (Event Campaign prize coupons historically can’t, thus the possible restriction). Ships do rotate out of that section eventually, but it may be a while before you desired ship does.
3. Ultimate Tech Upgrades (x10)
If you’re lazy or extremely conscious of your Dilithium supply and not wanting to use other upgrade types, this may not be a bad option. The ability to go straight to Mk XV Epic with a single upgrade is quite tempting!
4. Epic Prize Token – Phoenix Prize Pack
Needing that D.O.M.I.N.O. console to boost your overall DPS? Need the healing power of a Protomatter Field Projector? This is probably a valid option to consider since getting those tokens feels like it’s the same odds as a getting a T6 Lock Box ship. Estimates put the “Expected Value” (how long it’d take before we could expect to see an Epic-level token) at ~$70 worth of Dilithium on average to buy the boxes you’d need to open to on average see 1 Epic Token. Remember, you may see 0, 1, or multiples. Sometimes, it’s better to take the guarantee here.
To help a little bit with your choices, here’s a video JeSter made a bit over 1 ago going over his top picks for use of an Epic Phoenix Prize Token.
Remember, the token is Bound to Account, but the ship you get is NOT an account-wide unlock. Any ship(s) you get from the Phoenix Prize Pack store are single-character purchases that don’t include reclaims. Choose and claim wisely and precisely.
UP NEXT: The Data As Seen on TNG
I’m hopeful in a few days to have the actual Value breakdowns ready to go and posted for those looking at possibly buying this during the weekend. I’ll likely re-use the ship images I’ve Demo-Recorded because, quite frankly, I don’t have the time to be 100% original. But the value in the next post is literally in the valuations, so I think you can forgive at least 1 less-than-original set of pictures…maybe?
After this, I’ll be testing the Terran Sirius to gauge its worthiness as a tank on a budget…ish. You’ll see hopefully within the next couple of weeks. That’ll then conclude the new ships introduced in the 13th Anniversary Bundle, then its onto the Lock Box/Promo additions!
Until then, keep on enjoying Star Trek Online!
Joe and STO 