Tanking 101

From UniWiki

Contents 1 Class Information 1.1 General Information 2 Class Contents 2.1 Introduction 2.2 4 types of tank 2.2.1 Buffer tank 2.2.2 Active tank 2.2.3 Passive shield tank 2.2.4 Remote tank 2.3 Other Thoughts 2.3.1 PvP vs PvE 2.3.2 Capacitor and Tanking 2.4 Finish

Class Information

General Information

• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Location: Docked, on Mumble and Class.E-Uni

Teaching Goals

• introduce tanking concepts
• understand what tanking modules are available, and when to use them
• understand difference between shield and armour tanks
• understand difference between active, buffer, passive shield, and logi tanks
• know how to choose a tank appropriate to your mission

Student requirements:

• Mumble registration and access - make sure you have Mumble sorted out and operational well before the class begins. Use this guide for set-up: http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Mumble
• Access to the Class.E-UNI in-game chat channel

Class Contents

Introduction

Introduction to Tanking:

Tanking = absorbing damage = staying alive

Thus:

• Shield tanking = using shields as primary damage soak - primarily mid slot
• Armor tanking = using armor as primary damage soak - primarily low slot
• Hull tanking = using hull as primary damage soak. Hulk only!

Also sometimes hear:

• Range tanking = keeping out of range
• Speed tanking = avoiding damage by moving fast
  • won't talk much about these

Key concepts:

• hit points
• resistances

=> effective hit points

EHP = hit points * resistances

• Increase tank by adding raw HP
• Increate tank by adding resistances
• Repair

Resistance makes each raw HP worth more.

4 types of tank

• buffer tank, active tank, passive tank, remote tank
  • buffer tank = pure damage absorption - PvP
  • active tank = spend cap to directly repair tank - PvE, solo PvP
  • passive tank = tank using native shield recharge - PvE
  • remote tank = active tank from 3rd party (eg logistics) - PvE, PvP

Buffer tank

• used in large-scale and small-scale PvP
• maximise EHP via combination of raw HP and resistances

Why buffer?

• In PvP, tank usually matters because you are primary
• self-repair is too slow - use buffer to survive longer
• repair after the battle (remote rep or stations)

Buffer tanking modules:

• Shield:
  • Shield extender (eg MSE, LSE II)
  • Active hardener (photon scattering field, adaptive invulnerability field)
• Armour:
  • Armour plates (200mm, 1600mm Rolled Tungsten)
  • Resistance modules (EANM II)
• All:
  • DCU
  • Micro auxiliary power core: for fitting MSE/400mm on frigates

Active tank

• primarily PvE
• use active repair module to replenish tank
• focus on resistance over raw hp
  • bias towards resistance makes repair more effective
• requires cap!

Why active?

• In PvE, you get a lot of total damage, but applied more slowly
• can also work in small PvP engagements

Key concept:

• repair rate, measured in hp/s

Active tanking modules:

• Shield:
  • Active hardener
  • Shield booster (small shield booster, XL shield booster II)
  • Shield boost amplifier (SBA, SBA II)
  • Power diagnostic system (PDS II)
• Armour:
  • Active hardener (...)
  • Armour repairer (...)
• All:
  • DCU

Passive shield tank

• primarily PvE
• maximise natural shield recharge

Example: drake, rattlesnake, myrmidon

Why passive?

• can mount very effective tank
• effort-free (no cap drain, etc)
• can be made totally cap-free - useful vs heavy neuting
• drawback: uses both mid and low slots

Passive tanking modules:

• Active hardener
• Passive hardener (MSA II)
  • no cap, less CPU, smaller bonus
• Shield Power Relay (SPR II)
• Power Diagnostic System (PDS II)
• No DCU!
• Core Defense Field Purger (rig)

Aside: passive vs active

• Passive vs active modules
  • Active => requires activation, uses cap, can be overheated
• Passive vs active shield tank
  • Shield only
  • Often uses active resistance modules

Remote tank

• Fleets
  • PvP, incursions, sleepers (wormholes)
• Remote Repair BS gang
• Logistics

Why remote?

• fleet can carry more repair than single ship can
• keep those modules running
• Logis have massive cap vs hp bonus
• Post-battle repair of drones, or if no stations nearby

Remote tanking modules:

• Shield:
  • Hardeners
  • Remote shield transfer (LST II)
• Armour:
  • Resistance modules
  • Remote armour repair (RAR II)
• Both:
  • DCU
  • Remote hull repair (RHR)
  • Energy transfer

Other Thoughts

PvP vs PvE

PvE:

• known damage types -> specific resistances
• damage over time -> repair
• NOT sleepers, incursions

PvP:

• omni-tank - equal tank vs all resistances
• usually burst damage - too fast to rep
• 1v1 sometimes uses repair

Capacitor and Tanking

Active repair requires cap - your cap is part of your tank!

Cap stability?

• simple cap stability
• energy transfer
  • used by logis, RRBS
• capacitor boosting
  • more cap when needed
  • MUCH faster than normal cap regen
  • uses cap booster changes - bulky

Situations where boosting is useful:

• 1v1 PvP
• fleet PvP - use ET instead?
• fastest way to run L4 missions

Finish

Any questions?