Star Citizen salvage: strip wrecks for UEC
Scrape wrecks, sell the material. A steady, lower-combat way to earn.
By Domux. Updated 2026-10-18.
Salvage is one of Star Citizen's satisfying, lower-combat money loops: strip the hull material off wrecks and old ships, process it, and sell it. It scales from a solo ship to a big crewed salvager, and it is a steady earner. Here is how it works and how to start.
How salvage works
- Find wrecks. Destroyed and abandoned ships are scattered around the system, and event sites and combat zones produce more.
- Scrape the hull. Use a salvage beam to strip the outer hull material off the wreck.
- Process and sell. The material is munched into reusable bundles you sell for UEC. Bigger wrecks and bigger ships mean bigger hauls.
Ships for salvage
Start solo in a dedicated salvage ship like the Vulture, or scale up to a large crewed salvager like the Reclaimer. You earn these in-game, no real money required.
The cheap way to start
You do not need a salvage ship on day one. Sign up with the referral code for 50,000 UEC of in-game currency, start with the Citizen Starter Pack at $60 list (source checked 14 October 2026), run beginner loops to build funds, then buy or rent a salvage ship in-game. All the money loops.
Salvage rewards a steady hand over a big wallet. Start with the Citizen Starter Pack ($60 list (source checked 14 October 2026)) and the referral code for 50,000 UEC, then earn your way to a Vulture or Reclaimer.
Sources and updates
By Domux. Public RSI profile, enlisted 3 January 2016.
Edited 18 October 2026. Source checks have their own timestamps.
Frequently asked questions
How does salvage work in Star Citizen?
Find wrecks, scrape their hull material with a salvage beam, process it into sellable bundles, and sell for UEC. You can solo it in a Vulture or crew a Reclaimer. Start cheap with a Starter Pack and the 50,000 UEC bonus from a referral code.
What is the best salvage ship in Star Citizen?
For solo play the Drake Vulture; for crewed, large-scale salvage the Aegis Reclaimer. Earn either in-game; start with a cheap pack and the 50,000 UEC bonus.
Is salvage a good way to make money in Star Citizen?
Yes, it is a steady, lower-combat earner that scales from solo to crew. Begin with a cheap Starter Pack and the 50,000 UEC head start, then work up to a salvage ship.
Ready to claim the 50,000 UEC?
The signup link pre-fills STAR-JTV7-FXLR. RSI advertises the bonus after buying a Game Package. The $40 fresh-money threshold determines the referrer's Recruitment Point. RSI referral conditions
Enlist with code STAR-JTV7-FXLR ✓ Verified referral code · Today: 23 October 2026Add the code at signup or within 24 hours of creating your account. That is not a deadline to buy. A free account can join public Free Fly events during their announced windows. Special event rewards have separate rules. RSI rules