The Swarm Cluster is a Swarm-faction hostile that roams as an Interceptor across levels 15 to 46. You find it in low-warp systems near the start of the map and again in deeper space at the top of its range. It drops Frequency Modulators, with a higher-tier version at the upper levels. Bring an Explorer, since Explorers beat Interceptors. The Swarm is a game faction rather than a canon Star Trek species, so this page sticks to how the hostile plays.
How to beat the Swarm Cluster
The Swarm Cluster only spawns as an Interceptor, so the counter is simple: bring an Explorer. Explorers beat Interceptors in the combat triangle, and there is nothing to swap between levels because every Swarm Cluster you meet is the same hull. The ship also carries no shields, so a hard-hitting Explorer can end the fight fast with no mitigation to grind through.
Because the target has no shields, Offiziere built around shield mitigation add little here, so lean toward raw weapon damage and hull tanking. The Swarm Cluster also puts out low damage for its level, so survivability is rarely the problem; you can often push a level or two above your comfort zone and still win.
For the crew, use a captain that boosts weapon damage against hostiles and officers that add damage or survivability. At the lower levels an early cadet crew works well: Cadet Kirk as captain with Cadet Spock and Cadet Uhura. As you climb, move toward officers that raise your Explorer’s damage and defense. Crews shift with the meta, so check the Officer Tier List for current picks.
Where to find the Swarm Cluster
The Swarm Cluster sits in two stretches of the map. The low levels, 15 to 35, spawn in early systems at warp 13 to 27. A sharp warp jump then separates the bands: level 37 sits at warp 75, and the high levels climb to warp 100 at levels 44 to 46. That gap keeps mid-game players farming the low band from drifting into the deep systems by accident, and the warp 100 systems at the top of the range are endgame territory. Match your warp to the level you want, then pick a system from the row below.
| Ebene | Warp | Systeme |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 13 | Andvaris, Kohva |
| 16 | 13 | Caldik, Omtose |
| 17 | 13 | Altamid |
| 18 | 13 | Herias |
| 19 | 15 | Ezani |
| 20 | 15 | Beta Vordunn, Idran |
| 22 | 15 | Klaiz |
| 24 | 22 | Er’Yozun, Lahrel |
| 26 | 22 | Alpha Horunia, Sayo |
| 28 | 22 | Ortek, Redmond |
| 30 | 23 | Fontaine, Von |
| 32 | 23 | Adelphi, Fyrsta |
| 35 | 27 | Dalogn, Vesali |
| 37 | 75 | Araxian, Estar, Iusum |
| 39 | 80 | Kiju, Uyik, Vahok |
| 41 | 85 | Huik, Siieqa |
| 43 | 90 | Miset, Nobeau |
| 44 | 100 | Begekou |
| 45 | 100 | Vugef |
| 46 | 100 | Hobu |
Rewards and what it drops
The Swarm Cluster pays out Frequency Modulators, the material tied to Swarm content. Lower-level clusters drop the standard version; from level 37 up they drop the Mk. II tier instead. Ship XP scales with level, from 132 at level 15 to 1,196 at level 46, so higher clusters give more XP per kill.
| Ablegen | What it is |
|---|---|
| Frequency Modulators | A Swarm-tied crafting material, dropped at levels 15 to 35 |
| Frequency Modulator Mk. II | The higher-tier version of the same material, dropped at levels 37 to 46 |
Swarm Cluster stats
Stats vary by system but climb steeply with level. These three anchor rows show the bottom, middle, and top of the range.
| Ebene | Total strength | Hull HP | Shield HP | Angriff | Verteidigung | Ship XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 14,549 | 8,610 | 0 | 2,994 | 7,250 | 132 |
| 35 | 3,962,790 | 4,680,000 | 0 | 671,225 | 951,565 | 703 |
| 46 | 29,334,772 | 42,955,778 | 0 | 3,560,828 | 4,296,055 | 1,196 |
Swarm Cluster firing pattern
The Swarm Cluster fights with two kinetic weapons and no energy or explosive fire. The main gun fires every other round for modest damage, while a heavier kinetic shot lands only once every eight rounds. Neither hits hard for its level, so time repairs around the heavy shot and expect a short fight.
| Weapon type | Count | Damage per shot | Fires | Crit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetic | 1 | 1,588–1,941 | Every other round | 10% (1.5x) |
| Kinetic | 1 | 6,354–7,766 | Every 8 rounds | 10% (1.5x) |
Is the Swarm Cluster worth grinding?
It is worth it if you need Frequency Modulators or quick Interceptor kills for ship XP. Ship XP roughly climbs from 132 to 1,196 across the range while the fights stay short, so it doubles as a decent target for leveling a new Explorer. The single hull variant makes it one of the easier grinds on the map: one Explorer covers every level, and the target has no shields to wear down. Match your warp to the level, bring an Explorer, and you can clear clusters fast.