Star Citizen CCU Chain Calculator & Savings Guide (2026)
How to trade up your pledge ship to a bigger one — and how a chain of upgrades can save you hundreds of dollars compared to buying the target ship outright.
What is a CCU?
A Cross-Chassis Upgrade (CCU) is a token sold through the RSI pledge store that transforms one ship into another. You pay only the price difference between the two ships — not the full cost of the target ship.
For example, if you own a ship worth $50 and want one worth $80, a CCU for that pair would cost $30. The original ship is gone and you now own the new one.
Key rules about CCUs
- • One-way and permanent. Once applied, a CCU cannot be reversed. The base ship is gone.
- • Upgrades only. CCUs can only move to a higher-value ship — you cannot go down in price.
- • LTI carries through. If your base ship has Lifetime Insurance, the target ship inherits it.
- • Some ships are blocked. A handful of rare or capital ships cannot be reached via CCU — they require a direct purchase during a dedicated sale.
What is a CCU chain?
A CCU chain is a sequence of upgrades that steps from a cheap starting ship all the way up to an expensive target — using several intermediate ships along the way. Instead of buying a $250 ship outright, you might buy a $45 starter ship and then five or six CCUs, each covering a small price jump. The total cost can be significantly lower than the full price.
The savings come from Warbond CCUs. Warbond CCUs (CCU = Cross-Chassis Upgrade, Warbond = a variant requiring new real money rather than store credit) are sold at a discount — sometimes fifty to ninety percent off the standard price difference — but only during special events like IAE or Invictus Launch Week.
Backers who plan ahead buy discounted Warbond CCUs at each event and stockpile them. When the full chain is assembled, they apply the CCUs in sequence and end up with a ship worth hundreds more than they paid.
How to build a CCU chain — step by step
- Choose a base ship. Pick a low-cost ship — ideally one with Lifetime Insurance from a concept sale or event. Common starter options: Tumbril Ranger CV (~$35) or Anvil C8X Pisces (~$45).
- Plan the chain. Use ccugame.app to map intermediate ships from your base to your target at each price tier. The tool shows you which steps have Warbond discounts available.
- Buy CCUs during events. Warbond CCUs are available at IAE (November) and Invictus Launch Week (May). Buy them during those windows. Standard CCUs are available year-round and can be bought with store credit.
- Do not apply any CCU until the whole chain is assembled. Each application is permanent. If you apply step three before you have bought step four, you may be stuck at an intermediate ship.
- Apply in sequence. Once every CCU in the chain is in your hangar, apply them one at a time in order via the RSI website (My Hangar → Apply Upgrade) until you reach the target ship.
Prices and available CCUs change with every event. Always check ccugame.app for a current chain before buying — do not rely on a chain someone posted months ago.
Example: eight steps to a Drake Corsair
The table below shows a real chain from ccugame.app. Starting from a Gladius and upgrading to a Drake Corsair (MSRP $250) costs $65 in total CCU costs — a saving of $95, or thirty-eight percent.
Steps where “You Pay” is much lower than MSRP are Warbond CCUs bought during a sale event in advance.
| From → To | MSRP | You Pay | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gladius → Freelancer | $20 | $20 | — |
| Freelancer → Talon | $5 | $5 | — |
| Talon → Nova | $5 | $5 | — |
| Nova → RAFT | $70 | $5 | $65 |
| RAFT → Constellation Taurus | $10 | $10 | — |
| Constellation Taurus → Hurricane | $10 | $5 | $5 |
| Hurricane → Terrapin | $10 | $10 | — |
| Terrapin → Corsair | $30 | $5 | $25 |
| Total | $250 | $65 | $95 (38%) |
Common questions
Does a CCU chain preserve LTI?
Yes. Lifetime Insurance on the base ship carries through every step in the chain to the final target ship. This is one of the main reasons backers start a chain with an LTI base ship.
What is the difference between a Warbond CCU and a standard CCU?
Warbond CCUs require new real money — you cannot use store credit. In return, they are sold at a significant discount (sometimes fifty to ninety percent off the price difference). Standard CCUs can be bought with store credit but have no discount. During events, Warbond CCUs sell out quickly — buy them fast and stockpile for future chains.
Can I use store credit for a CCU chain?
Yes, for standard CCUs and your base ship purchase. Store credit cannot be used for Warbond CCUs — that is the trade-off for the discount.
Are there any ships I cannot CCU to?
Yes. A small number of rare capital and limited ships — including the Drake Kraken, the Idris, and the Pioneer — cannot be obtained via a CCU. They are only available during dedicated sales or with direct store credit purchases.
Not signed up yet? Use a referral code and start with fifty thousand bonus credits — a head start toward your first ship upgrade.
Get your 50K UEC bonus