The Anvil Paladin distortion build is built for one job: disable the NPC Polaris in Gilly's Famous #8 fast, board it, finish the objective, and cash out. The setup is not cheap or casual. It needs rare weapons and a second operator. But when flown right, it turns a dangerous capital fight into a controlled shutdown.

• Anvil Paladin Distortion Loadout
• How to Get Size 4 Distortion Scatterguns
• Best Crew Setup for the Paladin
• Gilly's Famous #8: Mission Value and Risk
• Combat Strategy: Disable the Polaris Fast
• Attack Flow
• Escort Priority
• Shield, Capacitor, and Survival Rules
• Practical Rules
• Repair Prep: Do Not Skip This
• Boarding the Disabled Polaris
• Fast Boarding Route
• Can We Keep the NPC Polaris?
• Quick Checklist for Fast Gilly's #8 Clears
• FAQ
• Is the Anvil Paladin distortion loadout solo-friendly?
• Why use Size 4 distortion scatterguns?
• What is the safest way to fight the Polaris?
• Should we kill escorts before attacking the Polaris?
• Can we capture and keep the NPC Polaris?
• Summary

↖ Anvil Paladin Distortion Loadout

The Paladin works here because two players can use almost all of its real firepower.

The loop is simple:

1. M78 cannons break the rear shield.

2. Distortion scatterguns keep pressure on.

3. Polaris loses systems.

4. We board and finish the mission.

Do not try to face-tank the Polaris. Its Size 6 guns punish bad angles fast.

↖ How to Get Size 4 Distortion Scatterguns

These guns are the bottleneck.

You need four for the full Paladin setup. That makes the build annoying to assemble, but the payoff is real.

Best use case: players who already have the guns or are willing to farm them.

↖ Best Crew Setup for the Paladin

This is not a true solo build. It is a two-operator build.

Before leaving station:

• Test all four turret guns.
• Recenter the turret.
• Enable auto-gimbal if needed.
• Check that distortion guns fire correctly.
• Bring repair supplies.

If one turret gun refuses to fire, reseat or swap the weapon. Do not discover that bug in front of a Polaris.

↖ Gilly's Famous #8: Mission Value and Risk

Gilly's Famous #8 pays well, but it gets ugly if the spawn groups up.

A clean run is excellent money. A sloppy run burns time, components, and patience.

↖ Combat Strategy: Disable the Polaris Fast

The winning angle is rear or upper rear.

That keeps us away from the worst turret arcs and lets us burn one shield face down.

↖ Attack Flow

1. Kill dangerous escorts first.

2. Stay away from the Polaris nose.

3. Push behind or above the Polaris.

4. Put M78 cannon fire into the rear shield.

5. Use distortion while cannon capacitor recharges.

6. Once the rear shield drops, keep distortion pressure up.

7. Wait for the Polaris to go dead in space.

If the Polaris rotates toward you, leave the angle. Do not ego-challenge Size 6 guns.

↖ Escort Priority

The Corsair is the real problem. If it stays near the Polaris, kill it first. Fighting both at once is how the Paladin gets shredded.

↖ Shield, Capacitor, and Survival Rules

The Paladin has strong firepower, but it is not agile. Fly clean.

↖ Practical Rules

Put extra shield power forward during attack runs. Recharge before committing again.

If the server is responsive, NPC gunners hit harder. Treat the Polaris like it is actually crewed.

↖ Repair Prep: Do Not Skip This

Bring repair gear. This is not optional.

In testing, one bad engagement caused shield failure, fire, and system damage. Without RMC, the ship was basically done.

If you see fire detected or shields offline, stop fighting. Repair first.

↖ Boarding the Disabled Polaris

Disabling the Polaris does not finish the mission. We still need to board and clear the objective.

↖ Fast Boarding Route

The inner door can take a lot of damage. Use the Size 5 turret to open it faster.

Once inside, the engineering terminal saves time. Open the bridge route and lock doors so they do not close behind you.

↖ Can We Keep the NPC Polaris?

No. Do not rely on it.

After the mission, trying to quantum jump with the NPC Polaris can make it disappear and leave you stranded.

Loot it instead.

Best play: finish the mission, loot what matters, bring a Reclaimer if you want extra profit.

↖ Quick Checklist for Fast Gilly's #8 Clears

Use this before every run.

This setup works because it is focused. No wasted roles. No cute tricks. Just shield break, distortion shutdown, boarding, payout.

↖ FAQ

↖ Is the Anvil Paladin distortion loadout solo-friendly?

Not really. The full setup needs a second operator for the quad Size 5 turret. A solo pilot cannot use the Paladin's best damage package at the same time.

↖ Why use Size 4 distortion scatterguns?

They help disable the Polaris once shields are weakened or down. The M78 cannons handle shield damage. The distortion guns handle system shutdown.

↖ What is the safest way to fight the Polaris?

Stay behind or above the rear. Avoid the nose and broadside angles. If the Polaris turns toward you, reset the attack.

↖ Should we kill escorts before attacking the Polaris?

Yes, especially the Corsair. If escorts and the Polaris shoot you together, the Paladin can lose shields and systems very quickly.

↖ Can we capture and keep the NPC Polaris?

No. It can disappear after mission completion, especially if you quantum jump with it. Treat it as a loot and salvage target.

↖ Summary

The Anvil Paladin distortion loadout is one of the fastest ways to clear Gilly's Famous #8 in Star Citizen Alpha 4.8.1 with two operators.

The build is simple:

• 4x Size 5 M78 cannons break the Polaris shield.
• 4x Size 4 distortion scatterguns disable the ship.
• Rear-angle positioning keeps us alive.
• Repair prep prevents failed runs.
• Boarding through engineering finishes the job fast.

Run it clean and the mission pays around 350,000 aUEC, with extra value from torpedoes, weapons, PDCs, and salvage. The Paladin is not the safest ship for this job, but with the right angle and discipline, it hits hard enough to make the Polaris feel manageable.