diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/dynamic/dynamic_rulesets_midround.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/dynamic/dynamic_rulesets_midround.dm
index b3d937baf05..54195914233 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/dynamic/dynamic_rulesets_midround.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/dynamic/dynamic_rulesets_midround.dm
@@ -749,23 +749,45 @@
 /// Midround Space Pirates Ruleset (From Ghosts)
 /datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/pirates
 	name = "Space Pirates"
+	midround_ruleset_style = MIDROUND_RULESET_STYLE_LIGHT
+	antag_flag = "Space Pirates"
+	required_type = /mob/dead/observer
+	required_enemies = list(2,2,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0)
+	required_candidates = 0
+	weight = 3
+	cost = 8
+	minimum_players = 20
+	repeatable = TRUE
+
+/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/pirates/acceptable(population=0, threat=0)
+	if (SSmapping.is_planetary() || GLOB.light_pirate_gangs.len == 0)
+		return FALSE
+	return ..()
+
+/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/pirates/execute()
+	send_pirate_threat(GLOB.light_pirate_gangs)
+	return ..()
+
+/// Dangerous Space Pirates ruleset
+/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/dangerous_pirates
+	name = "Dangerous Space Pirates"
 	midround_ruleset_style = MIDROUND_RULESET_STYLE_HEAVY
 	antag_flag = "Space Pirates"
 	required_type = /mob/dead/observer
 	required_enemies = list(2,2,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0)
 	required_candidates = 0
-	weight = 4
+	weight = 3
 	cost = 8
-	minimum_players = 27
+	minimum_players = 25
 	repeatable = TRUE
 
-/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/pirates/acceptable(population=0, threat=0)
-	if (SSmapping.is_planetary())
+/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/dangerous_pirates/acceptable(population=0, threat=0)
+	if (SSmapping.is_planetary() || GLOB.heavy_pirate_gangs.len == 0)
 		return FALSE
 	return ..()
 
-/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/pirates/execute()
-	send_pirate_threat()
+/datum/dynamic_ruleset/midround/dangerous_pirates/execute()
+	send_pirate_threat(GLOB.heavy_pirate_gangs)
 	return ..()
 
 /// Midround Obsessed Ruleset (From Living)
diff --git a/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_event.dm b/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_event.dm
index f421b4dcc47..978dd5cf621 100644
--- a/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_event.dm
+++ b/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_event.dm
@@ -17,14 +17,17 @@
 
 /datum/round_event/pirates
 	///admin chosen pirate team
-	var/datum/pirate_gang/chosen_gang
+	var/list/datum/pirate_gang/gang_list
 
 /datum/round_event/pirates/start()
-	send_pirate_threat(chosen_gang)
+	send_pirate_threat(gang_list)
 
-/proc/send_pirate_threat(datum/pirate_gang/chosen_gang)
+/proc/send_pirate_threat(list/pirate_selection)
+	var/datum/pirate_gang/chosen_gang = pick_n_take(pirate_selection)
+	///If there was nothing to pull from our requested list, stop here.
 	if(!chosen_gang)
-		chosen_gang = pick_n_take(GLOB.pirate_gangs)
+		message_admins("Error attempting to run the space pirate event, as the given pirate gangs list was empty.")
+		return
 	//set payoff
 	var/payoff = 0
 	var/datum/bank_account/account = SSeconomy.get_dep_account(ACCOUNT_CAR)
@@ -90,6 +93,6 @@
 
 /datum/event_admin_setup/listed_options/pirates/apply_to_event(datum/round_event/pirates/event)
 	if(isnull(chosen))
-		event.chosen_gang = null
+		event.gang_list = GLOB.light_pirate_gangs + GLOB.heavy_pirate_gangs
 	else
-		event.chosen_gang = new chosen
+		event.gang_list = list(new chosen)
diff --git a/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_gangs.dm b/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_gangs.dm
index f7f7b95dc7f..41d34b0c92b 100644
--- a/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_gangs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/antagonists/pirate/pirate_gangs.dm
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
-///global list of all pirate gangs that can show up today. these will be taken out of the global list as spawned so dupes cannot spawn.
-GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(pirate_gangs, init_pirate_gangs())
+///global lists of all pirate gangs that can show up today. they will be taken out of the global lists as spawned so dupes cannot spawn.
+GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(light_pirate_gangs, init_pirate_gangs(is_heavy = FALSE))
+GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(heavy_pirate_gangs, init_pirate_gangs(is_heavy = TRUE))
 
 ///initializes the pirate gangs glob list, adding all subtypes that can roll today.
-/proc/init_pirate_gangs()
+/proc/init_pirate_gangs(is_heavy)
 	var/list/pirate_gangs = list()
 
 	for(var/type in subtypesof(/datum/pirate_gang))
 		var/datum/pirate_gang/possible_gang = new type
 		if(!possible_gang.can_roll())
 			qdel(possible_gang)
-		else
+		else if(possible_gang.is_heavy_threat == is_heavy)
 			pirate_gangs += possible_gang
 	return pirate_gangs
 
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(pirate_gangs, init_pirate_gangs())
 	///name of this gang, for spawning feedback
 	var/name = "Space Bugs"
 
+	///Whether or not this pirate crew is a heavy-level threat
+	var/is_heavy_threat = FALSE
 	///the random ship name chosen from pirates.json
 	var/ship_name
 	///the ship they load in on.
@@ -97,6 +100,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(pirate_gangs, init_pirate_gangs())
 /datum/pirate_gang/skeletons
 	name = "Skeleton Pirates"
 
+	is_heavy_threat = TRUE
 	ship_template_id = "dutchman"
 	ship_name_pool = "skeleton_names" //just points to THE ONE AND ONLY