SDX2 includes a range of powerful fusion drives as the primary thruster type.

In keeping with The Expanse, all fusion drives on a grid must face in the same direction. On grids with a Ship Core, your drives must face the “forward” direction.

Single-direction thrust means ships travel via a "flip and burn" technique: accelerating for the first half of the journey, then flipping the ship 180° and decelerating for the second half under constant thrust.

See Travel for more on that topic.

Fusion drives

There are 2 types of fusion drives available:

• Epstein Drives: Highly powerful fuel-efficient drives - the standard for combat and interplanetary travel.

• Fusion Torch Drives: Less powerful than Epsteins, but much cheaper and better in-atmosphere.

Make a habit of using thrust override on your drives because in anything bigger than a Rockhopper, you’ll have to keep your drive signature in check (see Signals and Detection).

Drive categories

Epstein Drives are split into three categories:

• Civilian: Mass-produced unspecialised drives. Cheap and suitable for simple ships.

• Industrial: High-thrust drives for heavy-duty Barges and Haulers. Cannot be used with military ship cores.

• Military: Hardened combat drives for military ship cores, tailored to the doctrines of each major nation:

  • MCR: Optimised for thrust

  • UN: Optimised for integrity

  • OPA: Optimised for efficiency

RCS

Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters are light maneuvering thrusters that can face any direction. Useful for small maneuvers and docking, but weak and fuel-inefficient. Epstein Drives should be used for getting to and from locations.

It's advised to turn dampeners off for long-distance travel. When going fast, even the smallest deviation from your vector will make your RCS work overtime and waste a lot of fuel if dampeners are left on.