FTL: Faster Than Light crew and systems guide: boarding, oxygen, repairs and Advanced Edition
Assign crew to the work their species and the current emergency suit.
Edition covered
The 2012 FTL campaign with the official Advanced Edition update. Hacking, Mind Control, the Clone Bay and Lanius require Advanced Edition content; mods such as Multiverse are outside this guide. Pictures are Subset’s Steam promotional captures.
Keep key stations staffed
Piloting and engines support evasion; trained crew improve their assigned stations. Move someone away when repairs or survival demand it, then restore the station after the emergency.
| Species | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Engi | Fast repairs | Weak direct combat |
| Mantis | Strong boarding damage | Slow repairs |
| Rockman | High health and fire immunity | Slow movement |
| Zoltan | Supplies one system power | Low health compared with humans |
| Lanius (AE) | Survives without oxygen | Drains oxygen around friendly crew |
Vent with an escape route
Opening exterior doors removes oxygen and can extinguish fires or hurt many boarders. Close the route before friendly crew must cross it, and keep the oxygen system working afterward.
| System | Job | Practical caution |
|---|---|---|
| Teleporter | Sends and retrieves boarders | Do not destroy the ship with your crew aboard |
| Medbay | Heals living crew in its room | Needs power to operate |
| Clone Bay (AE) | Replaces lost crew under its rules | Keep it functional when a crew member dies |
| Hacking (AE) | Disrupts the targeted system | Drone defenses and placement matter |
| Mind Control (AE) | Temporarily controls enemy crew | Lacks normal effect on some targets |
Board with recovery in mind
Mantis and Rock crew can be powerful boarders, but they still need a way home. Watch health, teleport recharge and the enemy hull before firing a final destructive volley.
Understand Advanced Edition systems
Hacking attacks a selected system, Mind Control turns a crew member temporarily, and the Clone Bay replaces the Medbay’s healing model. Their interactions change familiar fights.
Pause when an emergency starts; crew orders and door changes are easier to coordinate before more damage lands.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| FTL: Faster Than Light publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Subset Games official FTL FAQ | subsetgames.com |