Damage where the shots land

The hull has distinct damage zones, so the point of impact matters. Hits leave scorched plating, dents and holes at their impact points. Repeated fire wears down armour and exposes the structure beneath it. Badly damaged sections can burn, spark and trail smoke. On fighters, destroyed parts can break away; larger hull sections remain gutted and visibly damaged.

Impact marks and pierced armour plates on an Amarath destroyer.
Impact marks and pierced armour plates on an Amarath destroyer.

A missing part means missing firepower

The damage model affects more than a single health bar. Weapons belong to the sections carrying them. If a part is torn off, a laser mounted on it cannot keep firing: that weapon stays unavailable until the damaged section is repaired. Losing one side of your armament can change how you approach the rest of the battle.

The Reaper’s shattered wing, with its structural frame exposed.
The Reaper’s shattered wing, with its structural frame exposed.

The cockpit can take damage, too

Damage is visible around the cockpit as well. This Reaper shows a shattered nose section and a damaged canopy.

A heavily damaged cockpit and torn forward hull plating on the Reaper.
A heavily damaged cockpit and torn forward hull plating on the Reaper.

Bring the ship back into service

Assess the damage before your next engagement and arrange repairs. Restoring the ship repairs its affected systems and clears the corresponding damage marks. A battered fighter may still get you home, but continuing to fight with missing weapons is a different proposition from entering combat fully prepared.