[Updated] Optimal Crystal Cruiser Unlock Strategy (SPOILERS)

Overview

This is an update of the guide by Brian Johnson, basically reducing the time required 4-fold ! All credit to the original author : http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=170464357

STEP 1: Unlock the Rock Cruiser C

Unlock Rock Cruiser C by getting to sector 8 with Rock Cruiser B at any difficulty level using Advanced Mode enabled. Getting boarding as early as possible in the game makes the run much easier (Fire bomb + boarding rocks makes a very deadly combination).

More detailed tactics to optimize your Rock Cruiser runs (A & B) : [link]

STEP 2: Start Scum for Long Range Scanners

Select the Rock Cruiser C, and make sure the game is on Easy mode. Then rename your Crystal crew “Ruwen”. This will make finding the right beacon in the Rock Homeworld much easier, as it will be Quest marked.

You will start with 30 scrap, which is just enough to purchase Long Range Scanners from a store. If you see a store at an adjacent beacon, warp there and check the store for Long Range Scanners. If you’re not next to a store, or if the store doesn’t have Scanners, restart. DO NOT bother jumping to any beacons without stores; it’s much faster to restart and check a fresh map.

You should see a store at least once every minute or three. Unfortunately, each store sells only two of the five item categories. Even if it does sell Augmentations, there is only about a one in four chance of Long Range Scanners being available for sale. So roughly one in ten stores will have Long Range Scanners. This averages out to about 10-20 minutes of restarting before you get Scanners.

Do not advance to Step 2 until you have a Rock Cruiser with Long Range Scanners. The time saved by having Scanners is enormous, and the time you spend restarting will pay off many times over.

STEP 3: Travel Quickly and Avoid Fights

Repeat after me: “do not waste time fighting ships”. Fights are time consuming, and you will not need any combat strength to complete this unlock. Avoid beacons with a “possible ship detected” whenever you can. This advice applies to the entire game. If you do get in a fight in the first few sectors, you can blow up the enemy for a reward. Past the first 3-4 sectors, you will be better off jumping away as soon as your FTL Drive recharges.

Watch your fuel. Running out of fuel is devastating to this unlock strategy, so always buy fuel at stores (after repairing, of course). You should find enough random rewards to keep your hull and fuel topped off. If you run out of scrap, consider selling your weapons, but don’t sell your Long Range Scanners, ever.

Avoid nebulas if you can. Nebula sectors are useless for this unlock, and nebula beacons have a chance of a mandatory encounter that’s hidden from Long Range Scanners. Stick to normal sectors and beacons when you can.

Head to the exit beacon in Sector 1 by the most direct and safe route. Continue traveling through sectors as quickly and safely as possible until you get to the Rocks type that you need.

STEP 4: Find the Rock Homeworld

Unfortunately, the Rock Homeworld is a unique sector, so there is a chance that you’ll miss it. The only indicator is it is a red/hostile sector, so plan your route to hit as much reds as you can.

Once you find the Rock Homeworlds, the rest of the unlock is easy. There will be a quest marker; go to it and choose the blue option. This will take you to the Hidden Crystal Worlds, where there will be a second quest marker. Go to that beacon, and the Crystal Cruiser will be unlocked.

If you get to the end of sector 6 and don’t have Rock Homeworlds as an option for sector 7, then you have failed and will have to restart.

Results

It took me less than one hour of playtime with Rock C using the “Ruwen” trick to unlock the Crystal ship, compared to the 4 hours it took Brian. Maybe I got lucky, I hit the Rock Homeworld on first run, and survived the Crystal sector. Let’s see if you get that much luck.