Phantom

Phantom is a speed class that is featured in the Wipeout series, debuting in Wipeout 2097. Traditionally, it is the fastest speed class in the game, considerably faster than Rapier class.

Phantom Class

Description

The Phantom class was introduced for the 2097 F5000 League season, bringing the sport to extraordinary speeds never before seen. Unfortunately, the speed was too much for the pilots, and the class was discontinued a few years later. The class returned for the F7200 League, but was made more controllable to avoid its previous fate.

The Phantom class is the fastest, and therefore the hardest class in most of the games. This class brings out the full power of an AG craft, with craft in the later games capable of reaching over 700 km/h. Pilots that race at this speed will need expertise at controlling the craft and extensive knowledge of the tracks to have any hope of finishing, let alone in first place.

Wipeout 2097

This class must be unlocked first, by completing the Phantom Challenge. However, you will be only able to race this class on the master circuits (Vostok Island and Spilskinanke). Completing the Piranha Challenge will unlock this speed class for standard tracks. The race length in this class is 5 laps.

Wipeout 3

This class must be unlocked first, by getting all 8 gold medals for one team on Rapier and winning the Rapier Tournament. The race length in this class is 5 laps.

Wipeout Pure

This class must be unlocked first, by winning the Rapier Ascension Tournament. Races in this class have 5 laps.

Speed Stat Comparison

• 2/5 - 774km/h (481mph)
• 3/5 - 780km/h (485mph)
• 4/5 - 782km/h (486mph)
• 5/5 - 788km/h (490mph)

Wipeout Pulse and Wipeout HD/Fury

Phantom is the fourth and last speed class available in these two games. This speed class is reserved for experts only, and therefore should never be attempted unless all previous classes are mastered. Races in this class typically have 5 laps. Ships in this class have a top speed of up to 793 km/h (493 mph).

Speed Stat Comparison

• 7/10 - 784km/h (487mph)
• 8/10 - 787km/h (489mph)
• 9/10 - 789km/h (490mph)
• 10/10 - 793km/h (493mph)

Trivia

• The official manual for Wipeout 3 refers to the Phantom class as a "previously banned speed class".
• If the speeds of the ships under A class and above during the AGRC in Wipeout 2048 are any indication of it being similar to Phantom class in the far future, then it may be possible that the standardization that followed in the F3600 toned down the speeds of the ships considerably, with its reintroduction in the F5000 being half as fast.
• In Pulse and HD/Fury (including the Omega Collection), using a Turbo in Phantom class may allow the ship to exceed the speed of sound (approximately 1,235km/h). However, no sonic boom effect is produced.