No.11 - the fallen, OTAS Boreas
No amount of speed and maneuverability will compensate for a 37.5% reduction of damage output. The Boreas with its 6 frontal guns and 4 side guns will have to stick to bullying M7s from now on.
No.9 & 10 - the fun bros: Pirate Brigantine and Yaki Akuma
The quirky duo from AP gained access to beam weapons in FL, making them deviate even more from the standard M2s. A Brigantine can focus 16 PBC on a single target and can absolutely melt M6s and M7s from a good 6km away. However, the below average armament, shielding AND hull strength place them at a worse disadvantage against other M2s.
No.8 - the behemoth: Teladi Phoenix
We now have one of the only two M2s in the universe that can utilize a PPC/IC/GC triple switch. It has all the offense in the world strapped onto a gigantic bullet sponge that crawls. As a result, it shines with player direct control or in OOS combat.
No.7 - the aggressor: Split Python
In a way, the Python is your “Boreas at home”. Relatively fast and agile, with its rear turrets able to mount IBLs, the Python is probably closer to the old Boreas than any other M2s in the game.
No.6 - the yardstick: Argon Titan
The old Chinese saying “Sailing against the current; being pushed backward if not actively going forward” applies to the Titan. Going from AP to FL, the Titan was not improved in any way and is probably the slowest M2 that can utilize a 24 PPC/GC switch. Poor Argon, even their prized Griffon was power crept.
No.5 - the space crab: Terran Osaka
Though large and slow as ever, the Terran Osaka can slyly dodge a lot of hits by having an odd crab shape. The addition of FBC mounted on its side turrets gives it more leverage over commonwealth M2s that field a PPC/GC switch. 12 GJ of shielding is also nice but the lack of shield damage of PSP is the Achilles’ heel of all Terran capitals.
No.4 - the sentinel: Paranid Odysseus
The Odysseus used to be my favorite M2 in AP because of it being one of the rare M2s that are completely unfazed in the presence of multiple RRF missile launcher ships. Don’t you hate it too when a few RRF M8s and M7Ms show up out of nowhere and now your entire invasion is called off? The Odysseus retains its ability to mount PSG on its top/bottom/frontal/rear turrets, while gaining access to TBC on its top/bottom turrets so should you prefer a more environmentally friendly approach against missiles, you can do that.
No.3 - the Jibakurei: ATF Tyr
Fans of the Xenon K and the ATF Tyr should know very well the pain of a limited cargo space. The word “地縛霊”, or Jibakurei, is a type of demons in Japan that are bound to a specific location like a mountain or temple, and cannot leave under most circumstances. Tyr was not buffed and it is still barely able to outfit the best possible armaments. I suggest equipping EMPC/MAML instead of SSC on its top/bottom turrets to save a little space for E-cells and mosquitos, or have it never leave a sector.
No.2 - the usurper: Xenon K
Now we have one of the definite winners going from AP to FL. The speed, turn rate, armament and most importantly, the cargo space on the Xenon K are all improved. It does not have enough room to outfit a PPC/GC switch still, but GC all around with your choice of various beam weapons on all non-frontal turrets is still massive damage output. It is now the fastest AND the fastest turning M2 in X3 (not counting the Boreas). The old subpar M2 now has a strong argument for the best M2 in the game.
No.1 - the second-in-line: Boron Ray
I’ve long suspected that the Boron Ray was the second-best standard commonwealth M2 in AP, behind the fast and tiny Boreas, of course. Though it did not receive any upgrade, the Ray is still capable of utilizing an IC/GC switch which has the theoretical maximum damage output. It can also turn much faster than most other M2s, for one reason or another, but is a just a bit too large to dodge hits comfortably.
