Star Citizen CCU Chain Calculator & Savings Guide (2026)

TL;DR: A Cross-Chassis Upgrade (CCU) lets you pay the price difference between two ships and swap your base ship for the target, preserving Lifetime Insurance. A CCU chain is a sequence of CCUs that bridges from a cheap base ship to an expensive target — using discounted Warbond CCUs along the way — so you end up with a high-value ship for far less than its sticker price. You need to plan the chain before applying any CCU, because each application is permanent.

Last updated: September 27, 2026 — prices and availability change with each RSI event.

What is a CCU?

A Cross-Chassis Upgrade (CCU) transforms a base ship into a target ship of equal or greater value by charging the price difference. CCUs are sold through the RSI pledge store, usually during major events like Invictus Launch Week or the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE). If the word "pledge" is new to you, our sister site explains why Star Citizen calls purchases pledges, along with melting and store credit.

• Non-reversible: Once applied, a CCU permanently changes the base ship.
• Preserves insurance: LTI (Lifetime Insurance) on the base ship carries through to the target.
• No downgrades: CCUs only upgrade to higher-value ships.
• Restricted ships: Some ships (Drake Kraken, Idris, Pioneer) cannot be obtained via CCU — CIG restricts them to direct sales only.

What is a CCU Chain?

A CCU chain is a sequence of CCUs that upgrades a cheap base ship to an expensive target through intermediate ships. Instead of buying the target outright, you step through ships at each price tier, taking advantage of Warbond discounts on specific steps to reduce the total cost significantly.

Why use a CCU chain?

• Cost savings: Warbond CCUs are discounted 50–90% off the standard price difference at certain steps.
• Preserve LTI: Starting with an LTI base ship (from concept sales or events) carries that insurance to any target ship.
• Lock in prices: Buying CCUs early locks in the price difference before ship values increase after a concept sale.

How to Build a CCU Chain

1. Choose a base ship. Select a low-cost ship — ideally with LTI from a concept sale or event. Common LTI starter ships: Tumbril Ranger CV (~$35), Anvil C8X Pisces (~$45). Still choosing your first game package? See how the starter packages compare on our sister site.
2. Plan the chain. Use ccugame.app to map intermediate ships from your base to your target at each price step.
3. Buy CCUs during events. Warbond CCUs are sold at IAE and Invictus — stock up then. Standard CCUs are available year-round.
4. Do NOT apply any CCU until the whole chain is assembled. Applying a CCU is permanent; if you apply step 3 before buying step 4, you may be stuck mid-chain.
5. Apply in sequence. Once all CCUs are in your hangar, apply them in order. Each step transforms the ship into the next intermediate until you reach the target.

Example: 8-step Chain to a Drake Corsair

The screenshot below is a real chain from ccugame.app: starting from a Gladius and upgrading to a Drake Corsair ($250 MSRP) for $65 in total CCU costs — saving $95 (38%). Steps where MSRP and You Pay differ are CCUs that were bought in advance during a sale event; those pre-purchased discounts are what compresses the chain so dramatically.

Note: This chain is shown in the ccugame.app screenshot below. Actual prices change with sales — use ccugame.app to build a current chain for any target ship.

Planning CCUs Around IAE 2956

The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) is Star Citizen's yearly in-game ship show. It is the busiest time of year for CCU shoppers. IAE 2955 ran November 20 – December 3, 2025, with ships grouped by manufacturer on a published schedule (official RSI blog post).

IAE 2956 is confirmed for November 13 to 27, 2026, at New Babbage on microTech (official RSI blog post). Star Citizen is free to play for the whole event. Pledge ships and free rentals go manufacturer by manufacturer: RSI November 13–14; Origin November 14–15; Anvil November 15–16; Crusader and Tumbril November 16–17; Drake November 17–18; Argo, Consolidated Outland, Greycat and Grey's Market November 18–19; Kruger, Mirai and MISC November 19–20; Aegis November 20–21; Aopoa, Banu, Esperia and Gatac November 21–22; Best in Show November 22; and a Finale from November 23 to 27, the last chance to try every IAE vehicle free. CIG has also said ships held back from sale "will become available in future events, such as Invictus Launch Week and the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo" (official RSI blog post).

CIG's official IAE 2956 FAQ (official RSI post) adds the pledge-store details that matter for a chain. Warbond Daily Deals run for 24 hours each, so check the store every day of the event. The stock-limited ships are one per account and sell in six waves four hours apart, starting at 16:00 UTC: Origin 890 Jump from November 14, Drake Kraken and Kraken Privateer from November 17, Consolidated Outland Pioneer from November 18, and Aegis Idris-P and Javelin from November 20. These are the ships you can't CCU into, so if one is your target, buy it outright in a wave. The MISC Prospector goes from $155 to $175 on MISC Day (November 19–20). Buy any CCU into the Prospector before then; after the increase, the step out of the Prospector costs $20 less. The Best in Show bundles on November 22 (RSI Perseus, Origin M80, Drake Corsair, Drake Ironclad Assault) include the limited paint, coin and coin case, and the four ships fly free November 22–27.

Before IAE opens

• Pick your target ship now. Build the chain in ccugame.app today, so you know which steps you still need when the event starts.
• Count what you already own. CCUs sitting unapplied in your hangar can fill steps in a new chain.
• Set aside new money for Warbond steps. Warbond CCUs can't be paid with store credit, so plan which steps use cash and which use credit.

During IAE

• Re-check your chain every few days. Ships go on sale in manufacturer groups, so new Warbond steps can appear partway through the event.
• Buy, but don't apply. Keep every CCU unapplied until the whole chain is in your hangar (step four above).
• Watch the end date. The announcement post lists when the event closes. Don't leave missing steps to the final day.

Frequently Asked Questions