The dropship is one of the archetypal sci-fi vehicles. In sci-fi video games, it fulfills a vital role in both combat and the story. While not often serving as hero ships, they ferry the heroes or their nick-of-the-moment reinforcements to and from the battlefield.

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Coming in various shapes and sizes and able to carry out many missions, from transport to armor deployment and fire support, the dropship makes its presence felt in almost every sci-fi setting imaginable. These sci-fi video game dropships are the best at what they do and fit perfectly within their universes, enhancing gameplay and storytelling.

10 The Vertibird Is A Powerful Symbol

Fallout

The Vertibird Dropship from Fallout.

In the long-destroyed world of Fallout, vehicles aren't widespread. Those that still work are precious assets to those that control them. After all, a working car can travel much faster and further than a Brahmin-pulled cart. For those few who possess them, the Vertibird is the most powerful tool at their disposal.

The Vertibird stands apart because of its utility and how its use is symbolic to each faction. In the beloved classic PC games, they represent the untouchable power of the Enclave, whereas in Fallout 4, they represent the changes within the East Coast Brotherhood of Steel. They can lay down fire from above with cannons and miniguns, covering the troops they deploy, and fly untouchable above the landmines and booby traps raiders leave along important roads or pass effortlessly over the scrap-iron walls of a settlement.

9 Raptors Are One Of The Most Useful Ships In The Colonial Fleet

Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock

The Raptor Dropship from Battlestar Galactica.

Battlestar Galactica was rebooted in 2004 to critical acclaim, and while there are many elements of the show that haven't aged well, the design of the Raptor remains just as awesome as it was almost 20 years ago. Possessing its own FTL drive, ECM suite, powerful scanning systems, and a multitude of weapon hardpoints, the Raptor can carry out various missions.

In the critically-acclaimed strategy game Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock, the Raptor can use its ECM hardware to disable Cylon mines and munitions or boost the firewalls of a hacked Battlestar. It can also use its rockets against enemy capital ships or fighter squadrons and deploy squads of Marines to board enemy warships.

8 Phantoms Are Incredibly Tough & Versatile

Halo 2

Halo Phantom Dropship.jpeg

Halo 2 replaced the original game's Spirit transport with a much sleeker new design: the Phantom. Far more heavily armed and armored than the Spirit, the Phantom was faster and featured a much better system for deploying its troops.

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It was now much harder for players to get easy kills on troops exiting the Phantom. In addition to the underslung plasma cannons and door-mounted plasma gunners providing covering fire, the troops inside had multiple ways of exiting using the side or rear doors or the keel-mounted gravity lifts.

7 The Valkyrie Assault Carrier Is Astra Militarum's Key Tool

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Winter Assault

Warhammer 40,000 Valkyrie Assault Carrier Dropship.jpeg

On top of being widely regarded as one of the best tabletop war games and TTRPGs ever, Warhammer 40,000 also has a strong presence in video games. While focused mainly on its famous Space Marines, the Adeptus Astartes, the ordinary men and women of the Imperial Guard, or the Astra Militarum, are often present fighting alongside the Space Marines.

When they get their turn in the spotlight, the Guard can be seen deploying mass waves of infantry, hundreds of artillery and tanks, and the skies swarm with their Valkyrie Assault Carriers. Armed to the teeth, the Valkyrie can provide air support and even engage in some dogfights. Plus, it deploys infantry or uses a specialized variant (the Sky Talon) to deploy light armor.

6 The Geth Dropship Perfectly Complements Geth Strategy & Aesthetic

Mass Effect

Mass Effect Geth Dropship.jpeg

Mass Effect is regarded as one of the best sci-fi RPGs of all time for its story and characters and because of how its ship design reflects its worldbuilding. Of course, the Normandy and the Destiny Ascension are probably the most famous examples, but the Geth Dropship deserves its place in the sun.

As the only (known) synthetic race in the galaxy, the Geth operate much differently from any other species, influencing their ship design. The insectoid appearance of the Geth Dropship is as strange as its functions; it can transport troops and provide cover by projecting energy shields over them. Incredibly well-armored and versatile, the Geth Dropship shows without words just how alien the Geth are.

5 The Skyranger Is One Of XCOM's Greatest Assets In All Its Incarnations

XCOM

XCOM Skyranger Dropships Collage.jpeg

The XCOM series is famous for many things, but the Skyranger is an especially recognizable element. It is the key craft for deploying troops all across the globe to combat the alien invasion; it's also the only craft.

In the 2012 reboot of the franchise, Enemy Unknown, the Skyranger is capable of rapid travel across nearly the entire globe without stopping to refuel. The sequel, XCOM 2, features a new Skyranger modified with alien technology. While it couldn't travel as far as the original could, it did have the stealth and speed to deploy right into cities or alien bases while avoiding alien defenses or aircraft. In a game where the player's favorite soldiers could be killed at any moment, the presence of the Skyranger and its pilots is a welcome comfort.

4 U-Wings Have Become A Staple Of The Rebel Alliance

Star Wars: Squadrons

Star Wars U Wing Dropship.jpeg

Introduced in Rogue One, the U-Wing is regarded by fans as one of the best additions to Star Wars ship design. Although it's quite lightly armed and armored, the U-Wing makes up for this with incredible speed. It's so fast that it can provide support in both dogfights and fleet battles, which is rare for a dropship.

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Before the U-Wing, the Rebels often used generic shuttlecraft, heavy and slow Gallofree Cargo Transports, or recovered Clone Gunships. While the latter was much better armed and armored, it lacked the speed the Alliance needed for its guerrilla warfare strategy. The U-Wing had the speed to rapidly deploy and retrieve troops and the firepower to provide air support and cover along the way.

3 The Cheyenne Has Inspired Many Sci-Fi Dropships

Aliens: Colonial Marines

Aliens Colonial Marines Cheyenne Dropship.jpeg

First seen in the classic film Aliens, the Cheyenne is the granddaddy of all sci-fi dropships. The Cheyenne is armed with multiple cannons and missile launchers, including its iconic but goofy top-folding missile tubes. Carrying the firepower of a bomber, it was still fast enough to rapidly deploy troops from orbit to the surface of a planet.

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When faced with the Xenomorph threat, the Cheyenne often stayed with the Colonial Marines it would deploy, using its armament to eliminate hordes of Xenomorphs or focusing its heavy weapons on the gargantuan Queens. Its unique design and versatility have inspired other sci-fi dropships for decades.

2 The Pelican Is One Of Halo's Most Iconic Designs

Halo

Halo Pelican Dropship.jpeg

Directly inspired by the Cheyenne, the UNSC Pelican is a much sleeker, more aerodynamic design. While its original variant featured only a chin-mounted autocannon for armament, later versions featured rear guns and wing-mounted missile pods.

Armament aside, the Pelican was also incredibly fast and well-armored, at least by the standards of the UNSC. Able to transport dozens of troops, multiple supply canisters, and even a Scorpion tank into battle from orbit, the Pelican serves as a vital battlefield tool of the UNSC and a critical role in facilitating the story of the Halo games.

1 The Clone Gunship Is The Most Powerful & Versatile Sci-Fi Dropship

Star Wars Battlefront II

Star Wars Clone Gunship.jpeg

The Clone Gunship from Star Wars Battlefront II is armed to the teeth. Four missile launchers for air and surface targets, three laser cannons including a rear gunner, and four composite beam turrets allow the Clone Gunship to mow down any targets before dropping off or retrieving its troops.

Able to carry up to 30 clone troopers, along with speeder bikes and light armor, and equipped with a medical station, the gunship can fill various roles, from fire support to deploying troops for everything from reconnaissance to frontline action. A specialized variant can also rapidly deploy the heavy armor support of the Republic AT-TE walker.

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