Elite Dangerous Kestrel Mk II Review: Standard vs Stellar vs Galactic

By Ricardo | RicardosGaming.co.uk | RicardosGaming.com | @ricardosgaming on YouTube

Elite Dangerous Kestrel Mk II Review: What Is This Ship?

The Kestrel Mk II is Frontier’s latest combat ship for Elite Dangerous — and it is a deliberate departure from the heavy-tank meta that has dominated ship builds for years. This elite dangerous kestrel mk2 review covers all three editions, the hardpoint layout, flight characteristics, and the key question every Commander is asking: Standard, Stellar, or Galactic?

Unlike the Fer-de-Lance or the Federal Corvette, which reward players who stack shields and engineering to maximum, the Kestrel Mk II is built for pilots who want to win through superior flying rather than superior specs. It is fast, it turns well, and it punishes opponents who expect a slugging match.

Flight Characteristics — What Makes the Kestrel Mk II Different?

The Kestrel Mk II sits in the medium ship class with handling that feels closer to a large fighter than a typical medium hull. The boost speed is noticeably higher than comparable medium combat ships, and the pitch rate is sharp enough to make fixed-weapon builds genuinely viable without heavy gimbal reliance.

The hardpoint placement rewards forward-facing flight. The weapons arc is tight, which is intentional — this ship is designed to stay pointed at the target rather than spraying in all directions. Pilots who fly FAS-style aggressive approach patterns will feel immediately at home. Pilots used to orbiting at range with gimballed multis will find the adjustment steep.

The boost sound, showcased in the video at around the 13-minute mark, is one of the most distinctive in Elite Dangerous — sharper and more aggressive than most medium ships, which suits the combat identity of the hull perfectly.

Standard Edition — The Base Elite Dangerous Kestrel Mk II

The Standard Edition delivers the ship with default livery and no cosmetic extras. There are no Mk II modules in the Standard package — you get the hull, the default hardpoint configuration, and the core ship specifications.

For pilots who plan to wait for the in-game credit release and are watching this elite dangerous kestrel mk2 review purely to evaluate the ship before spending credits, the Standard is the relevant baseline. The flight characteristics, hardpoints, and combat performance are identical across all three editions.

The Standard is also the right choice for pilots who do not play in open mode and are not concerned with how the ship looks from the outside. Every credit you would spend upgrading cosmetics goes into engineering instead.

Stellar Edition — The Mid-Tier Upgrade

The Stellar Edition adds a ship kit and the Stella paint scheme. The Stella finish on the Kestrel Mk II uses a darker, more angular aesthetic that complements the combat design of the hull significantly better than the base livery.

In practical terms, the Stellar is for pilots who stream their gameplay, post screenshots, or fly in open play where visual identity matters. The ship kit adds structural elements to the exterior that make it look more purposefully built for combat rather than off the factory floor. No performance difference versus Standard. The Stellar is a cosmetic investment in a ship you plan to fly long-term.

Galactic Edition — The Full Package

The Galactic Edition brings every cosmetic option available at launch: all paint job variants, the complete ship kit, and any additional visual extras included in the premium tier. If you are going all-in on the Kestrel Mk II as your main combat platform and want every option available, the Galactic is the complete package.

Ricardo covers the Galactic edition in detail from around the 13-minute mark in the video — including the boost animation and the weapon placement visible from the exterior, which looks considerably more aggressive in the Galactic finish than in Standard.

Elite Dangerous Kestrel Mk II Review: Which Edition Should You Buy?

• Buy Standard if cosmetics are irrelevant to you and you want the ship only.
• Buy Stellar if you fly in open play or stream and want a distinctive look without paying for everything.
• Buy Galactic if the Kestrel Mk II will be your main ship long-term and you want every cosmetic option.
• Wait for credits if you mine, trade, or explore primarily and combat is occasional — the Early Access premium is not worth it.

The Kestrel Mk II fills a gap in the Elite Dangerous roster that has needed filling for a while — a medium combat ship that genuinely rewards pilot skill over brute engineering. Whether you are spending ARX now or waiting for credits, this elite dangerous kestrel mk2 review gives you everything you need to make the call. Watch the full video above for the complete in-game walkthrough. For more guides visit RicardosGaming.co.uk and RicardosGaming.com.

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