Swarm systems in Star Trek Fleet Command come in two bands. The Swarm Cluster, the faction’s roaming hostile, spawns in 22 low-warp systems from level 15 to 35 (warp 13 to 27, starting at Andvaris and Kohva), then in 13 deeper systems from level 37 to 46 (warp 75 to 100, ending at Hobu). It is always an Interceptor with no shields, so bring an Explorer. The low band drops Frequency Modulators; the deep band drops Frequency Modulator Mk. II and also hosts the Swarm Horde armada.
Swarm systems and locations
The table lists every system where the Swarm Cluster spawns, with its level and the warp you need. The low levels climb one or two steps at a time through early systems close to the start of the map. A sharp warp jump then separates the bands: level 35 sits at warp 27, level 37 at warp 75. The deep systems are also where the Swarm Horde armada appears (level 40 and 44), so the last column flags them.
| Cluster level | Warp | Systems | Swarm Horde armada |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 13 | Andvaris, Kohva | No |
| 16 | 13 | Caldik, Omtose | No |
| 17 | 13 | Altamid | No |
| 18 | 13 | Herias | No |
| 19 | 15 | Ezani | No |
| 20 | 15 | Beta Vordunn, Idran (warp 25) | No |
| 22 | 15 | Klaiz | No |
| 24 | 22 | Er’Yozun, Lahrel | No |
| 26 | 22 | Alpha Horunia, Sayo | No |
| 28 | 22 | Ortek, Redmond | No |
| 30 | 23 | Fontaine, Von | No |
| 32 | 23 | Adelphi, Fyrsta | No |
| 35 | 27 | Dalogn, Vesali | No |
| 37 | 75 | Araxian, Estar, Iusum | Level 40 |
| 39 | 80 | Kiju, Uyik, Vahok | Level 40 |
| 41 | 85 | Huik, Siieqa | Level 40 |
| 43 | 90 | Miset, Nobeau | Level 40 |
| 44 | 100 | Begekou | Level 44 |
| 45 | 100 | Vugef | Level 44 |
| 46 | 100 | Hobu | Level 44 |
The Horde also spawns at level 44 in Hedex, the one deep Swarm system without a Cluster. For Swarm armada power, directives and the full armada route, see the Swarm armadas and locations guide. If you are working through the Swarm story, the Counter Swarm mission sends you to Beta Vordunn, one of the level 20 Cluster systems.
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 Cluster also has 0 shield HP at every level. Your damage goes straight to hull, so a hard-hitting Explorer ends the fight fast, and officers built around getting through shields add little here. Lean toward raw weapon damage and hull tanking.
For the crew, use a captain that boosts weapon damage against hostiles and officers that add damage or survivability. At the lower levels the evergreen cadet crew works: 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. The Cluster has no ship ability to plan around.
Rewards and what it drops
The low-band Swarm Cluster (levels 15 to 35) drops Frequency Modulators, 1 to 944 per kill. The deep-band spawns (levels 37 to 46) are a separate group with a different drop: Frequency Modulator Mk. II, 3 to 256 per kill. Ship XP scales with level, from 132 at level 15 to 1,196 at level 46.
| Drop | Levels | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency Modulators | 15–35 | Upgrades the components of the U.S.S. Franklin, 1 to 944 per kill. |
| Frequency Modulator Mk. II | 37–46 | Upgrades the components of the U.S.S. Franklin-A, 3 to 256 per kill. |
If you spend a lot of Frequency Modulators, the Frequency Modulator Cost Efficiency research makes each one go further.
Swarm Cluster stats
Stats climb steeply with level. These three anchor rows show the bottom, middle and top of the range; note the zero shield value throughout.
| Level | Total strength | Hull HP | Shield HP | Attack | Defense | Ship XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 14,549 | 8,610 | 0 | 2,994 | 7,250 | 132 |
| 30 | 954,985 | 1,357,200 | 0 | 86,070 | 190,315 | 520 |
| 46 | 29,334,772 | 42,955,778 | 0 | 3,560,828 | 4,296,055 | 1,196 |
Swarm Cluster firing pattern
The Cluster fights with two Kinetic weapons and no Energy fire. The main gun fires every other round for modest damage, while a heavier Kinetic shot lands on round 8 and then every eighth round. Most fights with a counter Explorer end well before that heavy shot matters. The figures are from the level 15 record and scale with level.
| 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 (from round 8) | 10% (1.5x) |
Is the Swarm Cluster worth grinding?
Yes, if you need Frequency Modulators or quick kills for ship XP. The fights stay short, one Explorer covers every level, and the target has no shields to wear down, so it is one of the easier grinds on the map and a good way to level a new Explorer. Farm the low band for standard Frequency Modulators, move to the warp 75 to 100 systems once you want the Mk. II version, and bring a fleet for the Swarm Horde while you are out there.
