Argo MOTH: Star Citizen's First Medium Salvager

The Argo MOTH (Multi Operator Targeted Harvester) is now flight ready in Star Citizen 4.6, and it fills a gap the salvage community has been waiting for. Sitting between the solo Drake Vulture and the massive Aegis Reclaimer, the MOTH is purpose-built for small crews ready to take their salvage operations to the next level.

In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know: specs, crew roles, gameplay positioning, and how it compares to other salvage ships.

At a Glance

Design Philosophy

CIG describes the MOTH as being "designed for and dedicated to operators looking to take their small-time recovery work to the next level." It's purpose-built to bridge the gap between light salvage and full industrial undertakings.

The name itself tells the story: Multi Operator Targeted Harvester. This is a team ship. While the pilot has their own salvage arms for solo work, the MOTH truly shines with a crew of 3-4 manning the salvage turrets while the pilot handles positioning and defense.

Salvage Capabilities

Three Manned Turrets

The MOTH's main feature is its three manned salvage turrets, each operated by a crew member. This allows simultaneous stripping of a wreck from multiple angles — dramatically increasing efficiency compared to a solo Vulture.

Pilot Salvage Arms

The pilot isn't just flying — they have their own pilot-controlled salvage arms, meaning even with a skeleton crew of 2, salvage work can proceed. Solo pilots can use these arms for light jobs, though efficiency drops significantly without turret operators.

224 SCU Cargo

With 224 SCU of cargo capacity, the MOTH can handle extended salvage runs without frequent trips back to station. This is a massive upgrade over the Vulture's limited hold, and makes the MOTH viable for longer expeditions into deep space wrecks.

Combat & Defense

The MOTH isn't a combat ship, but it's not defenseless either:

• 2x S2 pilot-controlled guns — Enough to deter light threats or finish off weakened hostiles
• 16x S2 missiles (missile turret) — A remote turret with a respectable missile payload. Great for discouraging pirates or engaging opportunistically

Don't expect to win against dedicated combat ships, but the MOTH can hold its own in lawless space if you fly smart.

Salvage Career Path: Where Does the MOTH Fit?

The MOTH fills the critical "medium" tier in the salvage career progression:

Vulture → MOTH: The Natural Upgrade

If you've been running a Vulture and hitting its limits — tiny cargo hold, solo-only gameplay, no defense — the MOTH is your next step. The jump from 12 SCU to 224 SCU alone makes the upgrade worthwhile. Add multi-crew salvage turrets and you're looking at 3-4x the throughput.

MOTH vs Reclaimer: Going Bigger?

The Reclaimer is a beast — a large industrial ship that requires a bigger crew and significant operational overhead. The MOTH sits in the sweet spot for organized small groups who want serious salvage capability without the logistics of running a large-scale operation.

Crew Roles

With 3-4 players, here's how crew duties typically break down:

1. Pilot — Flies the ship, uses pilot salvage arms, manages S2 guns and missile turret. Responsible for positioning near wrecks and escape routes.
2. Turret Operator 1 — Man one of three salvage turrets. Focus on hull stripping.
3. Turret Operator 2 — Second salvage turret. Coordinate with Turret 1 for maximum coverage.
4. Turret Operator 3 / Engineer — Third turret or roaming role (repairs, cargo management, point defense).

Limited Edition: Juniper Paint

The MOTH launched with a limited-edition "Juniper" paint — a striking green with orange highlights. It's available with Warbond standalone and Ship Pack pledges, or separately. Like most limited paints, once the sale ends, it's gone.

The default paint is the classic Argo Orange with teal highlights, keeping the industrial Argo aesthetic.

CCU & Upgrade Tips

At $315 USD, the MOTH is in a popular CCU range. Here are some tips:

• CCU from below — Watch for Warbond CCU offers during events (Coramor sale is active NOW). Ships like the Constellation Andromeda ($225) or Corsair ($250) make good stepping stones.
• Check Special Upgrade Offers — During Coramor 2956, there are Special Upgrade Offers available for the MOTH.
• LTI token — If you have a cheap LTI token ship, chain CCUs up to the MOTH to get Lifetime Insurance on your salvager.

Similar Ships from Argo

The MOTH joins Argo's growing industrial lineup:

• RAFT — Cargo hauler (96 SCU, solo)
• MOLE — Medium mining ship (multi-crew, 3 mining turrets) — the MOTH's closest cousin in design philosophy
• SRV — Towing/recovery vehicle

If you're familiar with the MOLE's multi-turret mining gameplay, the MOTH applies the same crew-based approach to salvage. Note that the MOTH is not a MOLE variant — it's a separate ship and does not share paints.

Is the MOTH Worth It?

The MOTH is worth it if:

• ✅ You regularly play with 2-3 friends and want a dedicated group activity
• ✅ You've outgrown the Vulture's solo salvage limitations
• ✅ You want serious cargo capacity (224 SCU) without large ship overhead
• ✅ You enjoy the Argo industrial design language

Skip it if:

• ❌ You primarily play solo (stick with the Vulture)
• ❌ You want combat-focused gameplay (this is an industrial ship)
• ❌ You're saving for a Reclaimer and can wait

Find Your MOTH on StarShipDealers

Looking for MOTH deals, CCU chains, or upgrades? StarShipDealers is your secure marketplace:

• 🔒 Escrow Protection — Every transaction secured until delivery confirmed
• 💳 PayPal & Credit Card — Pay your way
• ⚡ Fast Delivery — Browse, buy, receive within hours
• 📅 SC Events Calendar — Track all 2956 events and sale dates at starshipdealers.com/calendar

Clear skies and safe jumps, Citizen! 🚀