Skills:Drones

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Overview

See also: Drone skills

Some training in the Drones category is essential for most PvE and PvP combat. Drones are a useful source of additional DPS, and they are also a key defence against small ships for large ships.

Almost every ship larger than a destroyer has a dronebay. Caldari ships tend to have the smallest dronebays, but even Caldari pilots should aim to be able to field a full flight of five light drones when they start flying battlecruisers.

Memory and perception are important in learning how to operate drones.

The following are the skills in the Drones section (in alphabetical order):

Skill (Multiplier) Purpose Alpha Limit
Advanced Drone Avionics (5x) Allows control of EWAR drones. Bonus to drone control range. ▨▨▨▨▨
Amarr Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of T2 Amarr drones. ◼◼▨▨▨
Caldari Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of T2 Caldari drones. ◼◼▨▨▨
Drone Avionics (1x) Bonus to drone control range. ◼◼◼◼
Drone Durability (5x) Bonus to drone shield, armor, structure. ◼◼◼◼
Drone Interfacing (5x) Bonus to drone damage and mining amount. ◼◼◼▨▨
Drone Navigation (1x) Bonus to drone microwarpdrive speed ◼◼◼◼
Drone Sharpshooting (1x) Bonus to drone optimal range. ◼◼◼◼
Drones (1x) Allows control of drones. ◼◼◼◼◼
Fighter Hangar Management (8x) Increases fighter hangar size. ▨▨▨▨▨
Fighters (12x) Allows control of Fighters. ▨▨▨▨▨
Gallente Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of T2 Gallente drones. ◼◼▨▨▨
Heavy Drone Operation (5x) Allows control of Heavy Drones. Bonus to Heavy Drone damage. ◼◼◼▨▨
Heavy Fighters (12x) Allows control of Heavy Fighters. ▨▨▨▨▨
Ice Harvesting Drone Operation (2x) Allows control of Ice Harvesting Drones. ▨▨▨▨▨
Ice Harvesting Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of advanced Ice Harvesting Drones. ▨▨▨▨▨
Light Drone Operation (1x) Allows control of Light Drones. Bonus to Light Drone damage. ◼◼◼◼◼
Light Fighters (12x) Allow control of Light Fighters. ▨▨▨▨▨
Medium Drone Operation (2x) Allows control of Medium Drones. Bonus to Medium Drone damage. ◼◼◼◼
Mining Drone Operation (2x) Allows control of Mining Drones. Bonus to Mining Drone Yield. ▨▨▨▨▨
Mining Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of advanced Mining Drones. ▨▨▨▨▨
Minmatar Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of T2 Minmatar drones. ◼◼▨▨▨
Mutated Drone Specialization (6x) Allows control of drones mutated using mutaplasmids. ▨▨▨▨▨
Repair Drone Operation (3x) Allows control of Repair Drones. Bonus to Repair Drone amount. ◼◼▨▨▨
Salvage Drone Operation (4x) Allows control of Salvage Drones. Bonus to drone salvage chance. ▨▨▨▨▨
Salvage Drone Specialization (5x) Allows control of T2 Salvage Drones. Bonus to drone velocity and salvage chance. ▨▨▨▨▨
Sentry Drone Interfacing (5x) Allows control of Sentry Drones. Bonus to sentry drone damage. ▨▨▨▨▨
Support Fighters (12x) Allows control of Support Fighters. ▨▨▨▨▨

Combat Drone Control Skills

Icon skillbook2.png Drones

Skill at remote controlling drones. Can operate 1 drone per skill level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 1x
Isk.png Price: 30k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: V
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: None
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 and Faction Drone Damage Amplifiers; Tech 1, 'Integrated', and Empire Faction Light Drones; Mining Drones; Ice Harvesting Drones; Icon skillbook2.png Drone Avionics; Icon skillbook2.png Light Drone Operation; Icon skillbook2.png Mining Drone Operation; Icon skillbook2.png Ice Harvesting Drone Operation
Icon skillbook2.png III required for: Tech 1, 'Integrated', and Empire Faction Medium Drones; Icon skillbook2.png Amarr Offensive Systems; Icon skillbook2.png Gallente Offensive Systems; Icon skillbook2.png Medium Drone Operation
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Drone Damage Amplifier II; Salvage Drone I; Icon skillbook2.png Drone Durability; Icon skillbook2.png Salvage Drone Operation; Icon skillbook2.png Drone Navigation
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Heavy Drones; EWAR Drones; Shield Maintenance Bots; Armor Maintenance Bots; Hull Maintenance Bots; 'Augmented' Drones; Icon skillbook2.png Advanced Drone Avionics; Icon skillbook2.png Drone Interfacing, Icon skillbook2.png Drone Sharpshooting; Icon skillbook2.png Repair Drone Operation; Icon skillbook2.png Heavy Drone Operation; Icon skillbook2.png Amarr Drone Specialization; Icon skillbook2.png Caldari Drone Specialization; Icon skillbook2.png Gallente Drone Specialization; Icon skillbook2.png Minmatar Drone Specialization
Notes.png Notes: The basic skill of the Drones category. Prerequisite for most other drone skills and an essential skill to train to level V for any pilot who flies anything with a 25m3 or larger dronebay.



Icon skillbook2.png Light Drone Operation

Skill at controlling light combat drones. 5% Bonus to damage of light drones per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 1x
Isk.png Price: 75k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: V
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1, 'Integrated', and Empire Faction Light Drones
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Light Drones
Notes.png Notes: A 5% drone damage bonus is not to be sniffed at, and most combat pilots should train this skill to IV.



Icon skillbook2.png Medium Drone Operation

Skill at controlling medium combat drones. 5% Bonus to damage of medium drones per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 2x
Isk.png Price: 125k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: IV
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones III
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1, 'Integrated', and Empire Faction Medium Drones
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Medium Drones
Notes.png Notes: A 5% drone damage bonus is not to be sniffed at, and most combat pilots should train this skill to IV.



Icon skillbook2.png Heavy Drone Operation

Skill at controlling heavy combat drones. 5% Bonus to heavy drone damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 500k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: III
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1, 'Integrated', and Empire Faction Heavy Drones; Gecko
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Heavy Drones
Notes.png Notes: Not all races have subcapital ships with big enough dronebays to justify using heavy drones, but Gallente battleship pilots, Amarr pilots who fly the Armageddon and Minmatar pilots who fly the Typhoon should train for them.



Icon skillbook2.png Sentry Drone Interfacing

Skill at controlling sentry drones. 5% bonus to Sentry Drone damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 650k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drone Interfacing IV; Drone Sharpshooting IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 and Faction Sentry Drones
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 Sentry Drones
Notes.png Notes: Sentry drones are specialised, and large, and so like heavy drones they're mostly of interest to pilots who can fly ships with 125m3 or more of space in their dronebay. Level V lets you use T2 sentry drones.



Icon skillbook2.png Advanced Drone Avionics

This skill is required for the operation of Electronic Warfare Drones but also gives a bonus to the control range of all drones.


3,000m bonus drone control range per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 600k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V; Electronic Warfare IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Small EWAR Drones
Icon skillbook2.png II required for: Medium EWAR Drones
Icon skillbook2.png III required for: Large EWAR Dones
Notes.png Notes: The drone control range bonus applies to all types of drones, not just electronic warfare drones. ECM drones are a useful ace-in-the-hole in PvP.


Racial Drone Specializations

Icon skillbook2.png Amarr Drone Specialization

Specialization in the operation of advanced Amarr drones. 2% bonus to advanced Amarr drone damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 2-4M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: II
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Amarr Drones
Notes.png Notes: This skill is not seeded in NPC stations so prices will vary widely.



Icon skillbook2.png Caldari Drone Specialization

Specialization in the operation of advanced Caldari drones. 2% bonus to advanced Caldari drone damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 3-9M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: II
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Caldari Drones
Notes.png Notes: This skill is not seeded in NPC stations so prices will vary widely.



Icon skillbook2.png Gallente Drone Specialization

Specialization in the operation of advanced Gallente drones. 2% bonus to advanced Gallente drone damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 3-9M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: II
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Gallente Drones
Notes.png Notes: This skill is not seeded in NPC stations so prices will vary widely. Gallente drones are very popular because they have good damage modifiers, and a damage type (thermal) which is reliably useful against most PvE and PvP enemies.



Icon skillbook2.png Minmatar Drone Specialization

Specialization in the operation of advanced Minmatar drones. 2% bonus to advanced Minmatar drone damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 3-9M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: II
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Minmatar Drones
Notes.png Notes: This skill is not seeded in NPC stations so prices will vary widely. Minmatar drones are very popular for PvP because they are the fastest drones and although they don't do as much raw damage as Gallente drones they do explosive damage, which hits most armor tanks hard.



Icon skillbook2.png Mutated Drone Specialization

Specialization in the operation of mutated drones created using rogue drone and Triglavian technology, applying techniques developed by ORE to pacify and control rogue drones. Users are recommended to update their information warfare countermeasures, wetware-nanotech interface security, and intrusion response hunter-killer programs regularly.
2% bonus per skill level to the damage of light, medium, heavy and sentry drones requiring Mutated Drone Specialization.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 6x
Isk.png Price: 65M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Amarr Drone Specialization I, Caldari Drone Specialization I, Gallente Drone Specialization I, Minmatar Drone Specialization I


Drone Support Skills

Icon skillbook2.png Drone Avionics

Skill at control range for all drones.


Bonus: drone control range increased by 5000 meters per skill level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 1x
Isk.png Price: 60k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: IV
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones I
Icon skillbook2.png III required for: Tech 1 and Officer Drone Link Augmentors
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Black Eagle Drone Link Augmentor
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Drone Link Augmentor II
Notes.png Notes: A useful skill to allow drones to attack targets farther from your ship.



Icon skillbook2.png Drone Durability

Increases drone hit points. 5% bonus to drone shield, armor and hull hit points per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 100k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: IV
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Icon skillbook2.png Repair Drone Operation
Notes.png Notes: Increasing drone hit points decreases the chance of losing drones, and thus saves money by reducing the number of drones you need to replace.



Icon skillbook2.png Drone Interfacing

Allows a captain to better maintain its drones. 10% bonus to drone damage, drone mining yield per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 750k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: III
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Icon skillbook2.png Sentry Drone Interfacing
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Icon skillbook2.png Fighters; Icon skillbook2.png Amarr Carrier; Icon skillbook2.png Caldari Carrier; Icon skillbook2.png Gallente Carrier; Icon skillbook2.png Minmatar Carrier
Notes.png Notes: Each level of Drone Interfacing is like having half of another drone. Excellent support skill.



Icon skillbook2.png Drone Navigation

Skill at controlling drones at high speeds. 5% increase in drone MicroWarpdrive speed per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 1x
Isk.png Price: 100k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: IV
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Warrior SW-300
Icon skillbook2.png II required for: Valkyrie SW-600
Icon skillbook2.png III required for: Tech 1 and Faction Drone Navigation Computers; Berserker SW-900
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Drone Navigation Computer II
Notes.png Notes: Faster drones means they get to the target and deal damage, and then return to you when you need them back, quicker. High levels in Drone Navigation also help your drones chase fast PvP targets like interceptors.



Icon skillbook2.png Drone Sharpshooting

Increases drone optimal range.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 1x
Isk.png Price: 150k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: IV
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 Omnidirectional Tracking Links/Enhancers
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Omnidirectional Tracking Enhancer II; Icon skillbook2.png Sentry Drone Interfacing
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Notes.png Notes: 5% optimal range per level. Possibly not so important for normal combat drones, which can move around on their own. If you rely on long-ranged, stationary sentry drones then this skill will help them.


Non-Combat Drone Control Skills

Icon skillbook2.png Ice Harvesting Drone Operation

Skill at controlling ice harvesting drones. 5% reduction in ice harvesting drone cycle time per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 2x
Isk.png Price: 100k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Ice Harvesting II; Drones I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Ice Harvesting Drone I
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2, 'Excavator', and 'Augmented' Ice Harvesting Drones; Icon skillbook2.png Ice Harvesting Drone Specialization



Icon skillbook2.png Ice Harvesting Drone Specialization

Advanced proficiency at controlling ice harvesting drones. 2% reduction in cycle time and bonus to max velocity of drones requiring Ice Harvesting Drone Specialization per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 18M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Ice Harvesting Drone Operation V; Ice Harvesting IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 2, 'Excavator', and 'Augmented' Ice Harvesting Drones
Notes.png Notes: Required for advanced ice harvester drone use.



Icon skillbook2.png Mining Drone Operation

Skill at controlling mining drones. 5% Bonus to mining drone yield per skill level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 2x
Isk.png Price: 50k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones I; Mining II
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1, Harvester, and 'Excavator' Mining Drones
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 and 'Augmented' Mining Drones; Icon skillbook2.png Mining Drone Specialization
Notes.png Notes: A useful support skill for miners.



Icon skillbook2.png Mining Drone Specialization

Advanced proficiency at controlling mining drones. 2% bonus to the mining yield and max velocity of drones requiring Mining Drone Specialization per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 10M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Mining Drone Operation V; Mining IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: 'Excavator' and 'Augmented' Mining Drones
Notes.png Notes: Required for advanced mining drone use.



Icon skillbook2.png Repair Drone Operation

Allows operation of logistic drones. 5% increased repair amount per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 3x
Isk.png Price: 200k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: II
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones V; Drone Durability I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 Light Armor/Shield/Hull Maintenance Bots
Icon skillbook2.png II required for: Tech 1 Medium Armor/Shield/Hull Maintenance Bots
Icon skillbook2.png III required for: Tech 1 Heavy Armor/Shield/Hull Maintenance Bots
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 Armor/Shield/Hull Maintenance Bots
Notes.png Notes: Repair drones can be a useful augmentation to a remote repair effort, but don't expect them to perform nearly as well as a properly fitted and piloted logistics ship. Remember that you can't order your drones to repair yourself.



Icon skillbook2.png Salvage Drone Operation

Skill at controlling salvage drones. 2% (2 percentage point) increased salvage chance per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 4x
Isk.png Price: 500k ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drones IV; Salvaging II
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Salvage Drone I
Notes.png Notes: Salvage drones can recover salvage from wrecks and bring them to your cargo hold.

Note that this bonus is percentage point increase, not percentage increase. For example a drone with base access difficulty bonus of 3% will have access difficulty bonus of 11% at level IV (3%+4×2%=11%)



Icon skillbook2.png Salvage Drone Specialization

Advanced proficiency at controlling salvage drones. 2% bonus to the max velocity and 2% (percentage point) to salvage chance of drones requiring Salvage Drone Specialization per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 5x
Isk.png Price: 13M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Salvage Drone Operation V; Salvaging IV
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Salvage Drone II
Notes.png Notes: Improves salvage drone efficiency.

Note that this bonus is percentage point increase, not percentage increase. For example with level 1 the T2 salvage drone has 16% access chance bonus which increases to 18% on level 2.


Fighter Skills

Icon skillbook2.png Fighters

Allows operation of fighter craft. 5% increase in fighter damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 12x
Isk.png Price: 75M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Drone Interfacing V; Leadership V
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 Light/Heavy/Support Fighters; Shadow; Icon skillbook2.png Fighter Hangar Management; Icon skillbook2.png Heavy Fighters; Icon skillbook2.png Light Fighters; Icon skillbook2.png Support Fighters
Icon skillbook2.png V required for: Tech 2 Light/Heavy/Support Fighters
Notes.png Notes: Only carriers and supercarriers can use fighters.



Icon skillbook2.png Light Fighters

Allows operation of light fighter craft. 5% increase in light fighter velocity per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 12x
Isk.png Price: 110M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Fighters I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 Light Fighters
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Tech 2 Light Fighters
Notes.png Notes: Light fighters can be used by both carriers and supercarriers. Before the Citadel expansion, these were known simply as "fighters".



Icon skillbook2.png Heavy Fighters

Allows operation of heavy fighter craft. 5% increase in heavy fighter damage per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 12x
Isk.png Price: 110M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Fighters I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 Heavy Fighters; Shadow
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Tech 2 Heavy Fighters
Notes.png Notes: Only of interest to supercarrier pilots, since only supercarriers can use heavy fighters. Before the Citadel expansion, these were known as "fighter bombers".



Icon skillbook2.png Support Fighters

Allows operation of support fighter craft. 5% increase in support fighter hit-points per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 12x
Isk.png Price: 110M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Fighters I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 Support Fighters
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Tech 2 Support Fighters
Notes.png Notes: Support fighters can be used by both carriers and supercarriers. They were introduced in the Citadel expansion.



Icon skillbook2.png Fighter Hangar Management

5% bonus to Fighter Hangar size per level.
Implants.png Attributes: Memory.pngPerception.png
Multiplier.png Multiplier: 8x
Isk.png Price: 20M ISK
Alpha.png Alpha max level: Alpha pilot can not train this skill.
Icon skillbook2.png Prerequisites: Fighters I
Icon skillbook2.png I required for: Tech 1 and Faction Fighter Support Units; Networked Sensor Array
Icon skillbook2.png IV required for: Fighter Support Unit II