star citizen dps calculator

If you are tuning your ship for bounties, PvP dogfights, or org events, a reliable Star Citizen DPS calculator can save you a lot of trial-and-error. In combat, raw paper damage rarely tells the full story. You also need to account for hit rate, range, reload windows, and enemy mitigation.

What this calculator does

This tool gives you practical output for decision-making, not just one inflated DPS number. It calculates:

• Alpha/Volley damage: Damage from one simultaneous shot across all selected weapons.
• Burst DPS: Damage per second while your guns are actively firing.
• Sustained DPS: Long-run damage including reload/recharge downtime.
• Estimated TTK: Time-to-kill against a target HP value you provide.

How DPS works in Star Citizen

1) Burst DPS

Burst DPS is your "during trigger hold" output. It is best for short engagements, peek shots, or scenarios where the fight ends before a full reload cycle. Weapons with high fire rate often look amazing here.

2) Sustained DPS

Sustained DPS includes reload or capacitor refill time. This is usually the better metric for extended engagements, especially against larger ships with high effective HP.

3) Effective DPS

Effective DPS is what you realistically deliver after hit chance, range drop-off, and mitigation. A weapon with lower paper DPS but better projectile speed, convergence, or consistency can outperform a "stronger" option in real fights.

How to use the calculator correctly

1. Enter weapon stats from your preferred data source.
2. Set a realistic hit chance (many players overestimate this).
3. Add target mitigation if testing against tougher hulls or shield profiles.
4. Run multiple scenarios: close range, medium range, and high-evasion target.
5. Compare burst and sustained values before choosing your loadout.

Loadout planning examples

PvE bounty hunter setup

For predictable AI movement and longer fights, sustained DPS often matters more than max burst. A stable setup with manageable recoil and good capacitor behavior usually wins over time.

PvP duel setup

In PvP, landing shots matters more than spreadsheet perfection. You may intentionally choose weapons with slightly lower theoretical DPS if they provide superior projectile velocity, better tracking feel, and easier target retention.

Practical tips to increase your real DPS

• Prioritize time on target. Misses reduce effective DPS faster than any stat tweak can recover.
• Avoid overcommitting during recharge windows. Manage attack rhythm around downtime.
• Keep engagements at your weapon's strongest range band.
• Use pip discipline and smooth strafing to improve hit probability.
• Benchmark with real combat logs when possible, not only theory numbers.

Limitations and assumptions

No calculator can perfectly model live combat. This page assumes constant accuracy, no subsystem failures, and uninterrupted firing windows. In real missions, latency, maneuvering, shield facings, capacitor sharing, and pilot skill all influence outcome.

Still, a good Star Citizen weapon DPS and TTK calculator gives you a strong baseline for comparing options quickly and consistently.

Quick FAQ

Is higher burst always better?

Not always. Burst helps in short trades, but sustained DPS and consistency usually matter more in long engagements.

What should I use for target HP?

Use the combined shield + hull value for the ship class you expect to fight. If unsure, test several HP bands (light, medium, heavy).

Can this be used as a Star Citizen TTK calculator?

Yes. Enter your expected target HP and the calculator returns an estimated TTK based on your inputs.