The Astray is one of the fastest ships in Lost Ark, making it a favorite among players who value speed and efficient navigation across Arkesia’s vast oceans. While the ship itself boasts excellent base speed, choosing the best crew for the Astray can dramatically enhance its performance in sailing events, sea missions, and endgame island hopping. The right combination of sailors can improve durability, boost resistances, and increase sailing speed beyond its already impressive stats. Understanding the best Astray crew setup is essential for players who want to optimize sea content and reduce travel time between regions.
Why Astray Is a Top-Tier Ship
The Astray stands out for its unmatched base sailing speed, especially after full upgrades. Compared to ships like the Estoque or Eibern’s Wound, Astray lacks strong resistances but makes up for it with rapid movement, making it ideal for
- Quick navigation between islands
- Efficient travel during daily Una’s Tasks
- Fast-paced treasure map farming
- Completing sea co-op missions where speed is crucial
However, to make full use of Astray’s capabilities, selecting the best crew members is key. Crew synergy directly impacts ship attributes such as speed, resistance, and durability loss.
Understanding Crew Roles and Stats
Each crew member offers different bonuses, and some are exclusive to certain ships. For Astray, most of the best crew members provide boosts to sailing speed and minor resistances. When selecting your crew, focus on these stats
- Sailing SpeedIncreases movement speed across the ocean.
- Durability ReductionSlows down the rate at which the ship loses durability.
- Hazardous Water ResistanceImproves resistance to specific sea conditions like Tempest Seas or Siren Seas.
The ideal crew lineup balances speed and resistance based on your sailing route and daily activity.
Best Astray Crew Members
Here are some of the top-rated and widely recommended crew members for the Astray ship in Lost Ark. Most of them are rare, epic, or legendary quality and provide excellent boosts when paired correctly.
Blackfang (Legendary)
Blackfang is arguably the best possible crew member for Astray. She is a legendary sailor and adds a massive sailing speed bonus, especially when assigned to her namesake ship.
- TypeLegendary
- Effect+2.1 knots sailing speed (Astray-exclusive)
- How to GetRapport with Blackfang (requires Trusted level)
Barakas (Legendary)
Barakas offers strong resistance stats and a moderate boost to speed. He’s excellent if you’re sailing through hazardous waters like Dead Waters or Sandstorm Seas.
- TypeLegendary
- Effect+1.5 knots, +resistance
- How to GetPurchase from Spearfish Hunting Guild Vessel
Wilhelm (Epic)
Wilhelm is a solid speed-based sailor who fits nicely into a fast crew setup. While not legendary, he adds a good amount of speed to complement Blackfang and others.
- TypeEpic
- Effect+1.1 knots sailing speed
- How to GetAvailable from Stronghold Merchant or Trade Merchant refresh
Sailor Ruri (Epic)
Sailor Ruri gives both speed and Siren Sea resistance. This is useful when navigating areas around Punika or the seas near Rohendel.
- TypeEpic
- Effect+1.0 knots, +Siren resistance
- How to GetUna’s Tokens Exchange (Merchant Guild Vessel)
Yurei (Rare)
Yurei is a useful early-game addition, offering resistance to Ghost Ships and decent sailing speed for her rarity tier.
- TypeRare
- Effect+0.8 knots, +Ghost Ship resistance
- How to GetExchange at Peyto Island
Sample Best Astray Crew Setup
Here’s an example of a high-performance Astray crew lineup that maximizes speed while maintaining some durability and resistance for common hazards
- CaptainBlackfang (Legendary)
- Barakas (Legendary)
- Wilhelm (Epic)
- Sailor Ruri (Epic)
- Yurei (Rare)
This crew setup gives you an excellent sailing speed bonus of around +6 to +7 knots, which is more than enough to reach distant islands quickly. It also provides a mix of resistances suitable for most sea regions.
How to Get the Best Astray Crew
Acquiring the best crew members can take time, as many are tied to rapport systems, Una’s Tokens, or merchant RNG. Here are some methods for acquiring top-tier Astray sailors
Rapport System
- Build rapport with Blackfang to get her legendary version.
- Increase virtue stats (Charisma, Kindness, etc.) to unlock rapport tiers faster.
Merchant Ships and Trade Routes
- Check Trade Merchants at your Stronghold for crew like Wilhelm or Ruri.
- Visit different ports frequently to spot rare crew for sale.
Una’s Token Exchange
- Complete daily Una’s Tasks to earn Una’s Tokens.
- Exchange these for specific crew members through Merchant Guild Vessels.
Tips for Optimizing Astray Use
Even with the best crew, there are extra ways to make your Astray even more efficient
- Upgrade the ship to maximum level to unlock the full speed potential.
- Use ship skins or cosmetics that boost sailing stats if available.
- Plan routes that avoid extreme hazards unless using resistance-based crew.
- Assign Astray for island hopping and quick daily tasks, while using tankier ships for Ghost Ship or deep-sea voyages.
When Not to Use Astray
While Astray is extremely fast, it’s not the best ship for all situations. Avoid using Astray in the following cases
- Areas with frequent Dead Waters or Tempest Seas without the right resistance crew.
- Ghost Ship missions where high resistance or durability is needed.
- Expeditions that involve battles at sea use tankier ships like Eibern’s Wound instead.
The Astray ship in Lost Ark becomes a powerful tool when equipped with the best crew members. Players who prioritize sailing speed and efficiency in ocean navigation will benefit greatly from a well-optimized crew setup featuring sailors like Blackfang, Barakas, and Wilhelm. While acquiring legendary sailors may require investment in rapport and daily tasks, the payoff in travel time and exploration efficiency is well worth it. With the right setup, your Astray will dominate the seas of Arkesia and make every island journey feel swift and satisfying.