support Drone Comparison
Caravan Hauler Drone vs Shield Projector
Comparing the Caravan Hauler Drone (Tier 2) and Shield Projector (Tier 3), both support drones in Starforge MMO. Both deploy from carrier hulls and fill the same wing slot, so they compete directly for your drone bay.
Stat Comparison
| Attribute | Caravan Hauler Drone | Shield Projector |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T2 | T3 |
| Max per carrier | 10★ | 4 |
| cargo Capacity | 400 | — |
| transfer Rate | 3 | — |
| hp | 30 | — |
| speed | 70 | — |
| aura Bonus | — | 0.3 |
| shield Emit | — | 500 |
| range | — | 5 |
★ marks the higher raw value for each attribute. Higher is not always better — match the stat to your carrier doctrine.
Caravan Hauler Drone
A short-range logistics drone that shuttles cargo between trade haulers and stations, extending a convoy's effective carrying capacity and speeding up loading at busy trade hubs. Attached to trader-class ships, it keeps the living economy moving when every minute of dock time costs credits.
Carriers: caravan trader, hauler mk1, freightliner mk2, base
Unlock tech: trade logistics drones
Shield Projector
Support drone that extends a temporary shield bubble over nearby allied ships. Critical in carrier battle groups for soaking alpha strikes. Its emitter array can absorb significant burst damage before requiring a recharge cycle.
Carriers: dawn carrier, leviathan carrier, starforge citadel
Unlock tech: drone warfare 1
Which Drone Should You Build?
The Shield Projector sits a tier higher, giving it the stronger stat ceiling and making it the upgrade target once its unlock tech is researched. The lower-tier drone stays viable as an early-game filler while you tech up.