Heron

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Ship Database
Heron
Heron
Caldari State
Caldari State
Standard Frigates
Heron Class
RELATED UNI-WIKI REFERENCES

The Heron has good computer and electronic systems, giving it the option of participating in electronic warfare. But it has relatively poor defenses and limited weaponry, so it's more commonly used for scouting and exploration.

SHIP BONUSES

Caldari Frigate bonuses (per skill level):
7.5% bonus to Core and Combat Scanner Probe strength
5% reduction in Salvager duration
Role Bonus:
5+ bonus to Relic and Data Analyzer virus strength

Required Skills
Training Time what's this?
25m 0s
Estimated training time only for the listed skills based on zero implants and without neural remaps.
Grouping
▪ Variations
Buzzard
Buzzard.jpg
CornerT2s.png
Buzzard
Covert Ops Heron Class
Icon highlights.pngCan Use Covert Ops Cloak
Icon hi slot.png3 (2/1) Icon mid slot.png5 Icon low slot.png3
Icon powergrid.png15 MW Icon cpu.png300 tf
Icon velocity.png306 m/sec
Icon capacity.png190 m³
, Heron Navy Issue
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CornerTFs.png
Heron Navy Issue
Faction Frigates Heron Class
Icon hi slot.png4 (2/0) Icon mid slot.png5 Icon low slot.png2
Icon powergrid.png38 MW Icon cpu.png220 tf
Icon velocity.png345 m/sec
Icon capacity.png400 m³

Ship Attributes

Fittings
Powergrid
powergrid
24 MW
CPU
cpu output
260 tf
Capacitor
capacitor
245 GJ
High
high slots
3
Launchers
launcher slots
2
Turrets
turret slots
2
Medium
medium slots
5
Low
low slots
2
Rig
rigs
3
 
small
Calibration
calibration
400
Navigation
Max Velocity
max. velocity
340 m/sec
Inertia Modifier
inertia modifier (agility)
3.57
Warp Speed
inertia modifier (agility)
5 AU/s
Base Time to Warp
base time to warp
5.69 s
what's this?
Base Time to Warp is essentially the time needed for this ship to align and accelerate until it reaches 75% of its top speed and goes to warp. The time displayed here is the base calculated time with no account for any warp related skills, modules or any other effects.
Drones
Drone Capacity
drone capacity
35 m³
Drone Bandwidth
drone bandwidth
15 Mbit/sec
Targeting
Max Tgt. Range
max. targeting range
37.50 km
Max Locked Targets
max. locked targets
4
Gravimetric Sensor
Gravimetric sensor strength
12 points
Sig. Radius
signature radius
40 m
Scan Res.
scan resolution
430 mm
Structure
Structure Hitpoints
structure hitpoints
200 HP
Mass
ship mass
1,150,000 kg
Volume
ship volume
18,900 m³
Cargo Capacity
cargo capacity
400 m³
Armor
Armor Hitpoints
armor hitpoints
200 HP
Armor Resistances
EM
electromagnetic resistance
50
THR
thermal resistance
45
KIN
kinetic resistance
25
EXP
explosive resistance
10
Shields
Shield Capacity
shield hitpoints
400 HP
Shield Resistances
EM
electromagnetic resistance
0
THR
thermal resistance
20
KIN
kinetic resistance
40
EXP
explosive resistance
50


Summary

The Heron is the Caldari Exploration Frigate. Like all Tech I exploration frigates, the Heron receives skill-dependent bonuses to scanner probe strength. The Heron excels at probing cosmic signatures in all security levels of space. The Heron also receives a role bonus (independent of pilot skill level) to relic and data analyzer virus strength, which helps the Heron pilot crack exploration sites. With these two bonuses, the Heron is a strong starter frigate for Caldari pilots interested in Exploration. And while Heron pilots eventually skill into Tech II Covert Ops exploration ships (like the Buzzard), there isn’t much exploration content that the Heron can’t complete.

The Heron has five mid slots, the most of any T1 exploration frigate. This gives the Heron the most room to fit exploration and propulsion modules, and arguably makes the Heron the strongest of the four racial T1 explorers. Like the other three racial variants, the Heron’s mids are typically fitted with a microwarpdrive and a data and relic analyzer. This leaves two slots for additional assistance modules—most commonly Scan Rangefinding and Pinpointing Arrays, or shield extenders. (There are single modules that do both data and relic analysis and that would leave even more room, but they aren’t worth the decrease in performance and/or increased cost.)

The exploration Heron is also commonly fitted with a Compact or Improved Cloaking Device, so that the ship can cloak while probing signatures in unsafe space. The Heron cannot, however, fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device. So, when cloaked, it cannot warp and suffers a significant penalty to speed.

Tech I exploration frigates have the largest cargo capacity of any frigate. This makes the Heron a speedy freight courier and distribution mission runner. By fitting the ship with expanded cargohold modules and cargohold optimization rigs, it is possible to build a Heron that can carry nearly 1000 m3 of cargo. Or, by exchanging the cargo modules for warp stabs, the Heron can serve as a low-sec courier that can evade insta-pointing gate camps.

The Heron can be fit for combat probing, by using an Expanded Probe Launcher in place of the standard Core Probe Launcher. However, combat probing requires considerably greater in-game and pilot skill than site probing. Successful combat probers need to be able to locate targets in a single quick scan, or at most two. Pilots that have the Astrometrics skill levels required to do this, and have the experience necessary to use D-Scan intelligence to pinpoint those targets before scanning, are typically already trained into Covert Ops frigates anyway.

Skills

While it is possible to explore with very minimal skills, having at least Astrometrics III, Astrometric Rangefinding II, Archaeology II, and Hacking II will make exploring much more enjoyable. Power Grid Management III and Jury Rigging I will help with getting a basic functional fit. The author does not recommend a serious attempt at exploration without these minimum skills. Also keep in mind that training the racial frigate skill will significantly improve your probe scanning strength.

Tactics

While exploring in dangerous space (especially Wormholes which lack local chat) you should be constantly using the Directional scanner (default hotkey is the "V" key), even while hacking cans in a site. This will warn you of enemy ships. In general it is best to assume any ship you see is hunting you, even other explorers.

While not designed for combat, one can still combat fit an exploration frigate to catch unsuspecting solo gankers off guard. When fitting for combat, as with other races' exploration frigates the Heron has a severe shortage of power grid while having a huge CPU reservoir. In addition, the ship has no bonus to any specific weapon type, so it is generally best to fit missile or rockets to save on power grid for prop mods and a repper. The large CPU left over can then be used to fit a range of damage, resist or EWAR mods. In particular, pairs of Medium Ancillary Shield Boosters (which consume this large amount of CPU) are common on PvP-fit Herons and allow it to stand even against some combat-oriented T1 frigates.

New exploration Heron pilots should read the UniWiki guides to Exploration and Bookmarks, as well as attend Bookmarks (CORE class) and Exploration (CORE class), to learn tips and tricks from veteran explorers.

Notes

Herons are a type of long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds.