Commanders,
The U.S.S. Excelsior arrives with Update 86 as an active support vessel that enhances new daily challenges by revealing hidden V’ger Fighters and boosts combat performance across all deployed player-owned ships.

The U.S.S. Excelsior was originally launched as a prototype in 2285. It proved instrumental during the Klingon crisis after the explosion of Praxis, helping secure lasting peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Its advanced design and reliability later influenced the Enterprise-B, and its achievements cemented its legacy as one of Starfleet’s most successful starships.

Available to Commanders Ops 51+, the U.S.S. Excelsior is an Epic G5 Battleship built for Active Support that, once unlocked, grants access to exclusive rewards in the Challenge Refinery. The ship also features unique planetary missions tied to its storyline, with blueprints available in the Challenge Refinery on day one.

U.S.S. Excelsior Ship Abilities

Decloaking Deflector

The U.S.S. Excelsior’s primary ability, Decloaking Deflector, reveals hidden V’ger Fighters that players can destroy to score in the Search and Destroy Daily Challenge. 

Defeating these Fighters completes the Search and Destroy Challenge, advancing overall Daily Challenge progression and awarding Elite Challenge Credits, which can be exchanged in the Challenge Refinery for valuable upgrades and rewards, including U.S.S. Excelsior Energy Containment used for the U.S.S. Excelsior’s other ASA, Enhance.

Enhance

The U.S.S. Excelsior’s second active ability, Enhance, delivers a powerful, galaxy-wide buff that boosts the combat performance of all player-owned deployed ships and grows stronger through upgrades in its dedicated research tree.

While active, Enhance increases Isolytic Damage and Defense against V’ger challenge hostiles, grants Apex Shred and Apex Barrier bonuses for PvE encounters against hostiles and Armadas, and strengthens PvP combat with additional Apex Shred, Apex Barrier, and Critical Damage Reduction (Does not apply to Station combat.)

U.S.S. Excelsior Research Tree

The U.S.S. Excelsior’s research tree expands the ship’s capabilities with increased warp range, hull health, shield health, and impulse speed. It also boosts damage and Isolytic Defense against V’ger hostiles whenever a ship is benefiting from its Enhance buff.

Additionally, general combat research nodes enhance FKR ships by increasing survivability and damage output in PvE encounters, while also providing short-duration defensive bonuses when defending in PvP combat.

U.S.S. Excelsior Ship Research Nodes

• Increases Excelsior Warp Range
• Increases Excelsior HHP
• Increases Excelsior SHP
• Increases Excelsior Impulse Speed

Enhance ASA Research Nodes

• Increases V’ger Hostile Isolytic Damage vs challenge hostiles
• Increases V’ger Hostile Isolytic Defense vs challenge hostiles
• Increases Apex Shred vs hostiles & Armadas
• Increases Apex Barrier vs hostiles, not armadas
• Increases Apex Shred vs players, not at stations
• Increases Apex Barrier vs players, not at stations
• Increases Crit Damage Reduction vs players, not at stations

General Combat Research Nodes

• Increases Isolytic Defense PVE for FKR ships vs hostiles, outposts and Armadas
• Increases Isolytic Mitigation PVP for FKR ships when defending (For 1 round)
• Increases Weapon Damage PVE for FKR ships vs hostiles, armadas, and outposts
• Increases Apex Barrier PVP for FKR ships when defending (For 1 round at combat start)

The Challenge Refinery

Inside the Challenge Refinery, players who unlock the U.S.S. Excelsior gain access to a Strong Box containing: 

• U.S.S. Excelsior Parts 
• U.S.S. Excelsior Experimental Research
• U.S.S. Excelsior Energy Containment. 
• Challenge Credits
• Prototype Tech Shards
• V’ger Particles for G7 efficiency nodes. 

Commanders will also receive one-time tier-specific gifts that award: U.S.S. Excelsior Parts, Experimental Research, and Energy Containment as well as Challenge Credits, Prototype Tech Shards,

The refinery further provides Prototype Tech materials needed for upgrades, including Rare Protomatter and Rare Tier-Up Catalysts.

With its powerful toolkit, the U.S.S. Excelsior elevates both combat efficiency and daily progression, making it a valuable asset across PvE, PvP, and Challenge-focused gameplay and a cornerstone of long-term progression.

Live Long and Prosper,

-The Star Trek Fleet Command Team