View source for Instant align

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{{cleanup|This page needs an expansion and better linking to related pages (e.g. [[server tick]]).}}

Instant alignment ("insta-align") is the ability to enter warp within 2 seconds ("instawarp") from a dead stop. Ships fitted for instant alignment are usually used to avoid being [[Tackling|tackled]] when [[Travel fits|travelling]] through space, especially through [[Gate camps|gate camps]]

=Align time=
Align time is a measure of how long it takes your ship [[Warp mechanics#What_you_need_to_know_about_entering_warp|enter warp]] from a dead stop. Since it takes a minimum of 2 seconds (equivalent to 2 [[Server tick|sever ticks]]) for an enemy pilot to be able to [[Targeting#Targeting_time|lock]] and [[Tackling|tackle]] your ship, an align time of less than 2 seconds lets you escape to warp before an enemy can acquire a lock and activate a tackle module.

The align time for a given fit is listed in the navigation tab of the [[Fitting 101#Fitting_Window|fitting window]]. Remember that the align time given is for a ship at a dead stop: a ship in motion may align faster or slower depending on the course correction required.

The practical implications of having an insta-align ship include the ability to successfully warp off a (non-bubbled) gate after jumping and the ability to consistently escape as long as you initiate warp before an enemy begins to lock your ship. [[Interceptors#Fleet interceptors|Fleet Interceptors]] are a common [[Travel fits|travel fit]] as they have the added bonus of immunity to the effects of [[Interdiction_101#Warp_Disruption_Fields_.28Bubbles.29|bubbles]].

== Reducing align time ==
The align time of a ship is based on the ship's inherent '''mass''' and '''agility''' and bonuses to '''agility''' and '''inertia''' from '''skills''', '''modules''', '''rigs''' and '''implants'''. Bonuses relevant to align time are either referred to as '''agility''' (a positive value) or '''inertia''' (usually a negative value, unless referred to as ''"inertia modifier"'' then it's positive), which for all intents and purposes in EVE are the same. 
<p style="font-size:115%;">'''{{co|white|Skills}}'''</p>
Several skills affect your align time, starting with the most relevant skills:
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#222222;" | Skill
! style="background-color:#222222;" | Bonus
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Evasive Maneuvering|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% improved ship agility for all ships per skill level
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Spaceship Command|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 2% improved ship agility for all ships per skill level
|}
There are also special case skills, for certain ships fits with specific modules.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#222222;" | Skill
! style="background-color:#222222;" | Bonus
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Advanced Spaceship Command|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% Bonus per skill level to the agility of ships requiring Advanced Spaceship Command<small>&nbsp;<ref>Only relevant for [[Freighter]]s & [[Capital Ships]] including the {{sh|Orca}}, {{sh|Rorqual}} and {{sh|Bowhead}}.</ref></small>
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Armor Layering|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% reduction to armor plate mass penalty per level<small>&nbsp;<ref>Only relevant if you fit '''armor plates'''.</ref></small>
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Amarr Industrial|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% bonus to ship inertia modifier per level&nbsp;<ref name="industrial">Only relevant for some [[Industrial|industrial ships]], such as the smaller {{sh|Badger}}, {{sh|Nereus}}, {{sh|Sigil}} and {{sh|Wreathe}} as well as the larger {{sh|Bowhead}}.</ref>
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Caldari Industrial|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% bonus to ship inertia modifier per level&nbsp;<ref name="industrial"></ref>
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Gallente Industrial|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% bonus to ship inertia modifier per level&nbsp;<ref name="industrial"></ref>
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|Minmatar Industrial|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% bonus to ship inertia modifier per level&nbsp;<ref name="industrial"></ref>
|-
| style="padding:0px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Image:SkillBook.png|32px|link=]] {{sk|ORE Freighter|mult=yes}}
| style="padding:5px;" | 5% bonus to ship inertia modifier per level&nbsp;<ref name="industrial"></ref>
|}
<references/>
<p style="font-size:115%;">'''{{co|white|Modules & rigs}}'''</p>
While there are several modules that reduce inertia, some are stronger than others, leaving you with these modules as well as the one rig that helps reduce align time.
{| class="wikitable"
| style="background-color:#111111; padding:0px;" | [[image:icon_low_slot.png|32px|Low slot]]
| style="background-color:#111111; padding:0px;" | https://image.eveonline.com/Type/1405_32.png
| style="background-color:#222222; padding:5px;" | {{co|coral|Inertia Stabilizers II}} (-20% inertia modifier, +11% signature)
|-
| style="background-color:#111111; padding:0px;" | [[image:icon_low_slot.png|32px|Low slot]]
| style="background-color:#111111; padding:0px;" | https://image.eveonline.com/Type/2605_32.png
| style="background-color:#222222; padding:5px;" | {{co|coral|Nanofiber Internal Structure II}} (-15.75% inertia modifier, -20% structure HP)
|-
| style="background-color:#111111; padding:0px;" | [[image:icon_rigs.png|32px|Rig slot]]
| style="background-color:#111111; padding-top:0px; padding:0px;" | [[image:module_icon_propulsion_rig_tech2.png|32px|link=]]
| style="background-color:#222222; padding:5px;" | {{co|coral|Low Friction Nozzle Joints II}} (-14% inertia modifier, -10% armour hp&nbsp;<ref>The armour hit point penalty of '''Astronautic Rigs''' can be reduced by training the {{sk|Astronautics Rigging|mult=yes|icon=yes}} skill.</ref>)
|}
<references/>
<p style="font-size:115%;">'''{{co|white|Implants}}'''</p>
There are also [[implants]] that help reduce your align time, such as the {{co|coral|Eifyr and Co. 'Rogue' Evasive Maneuvering EM-7}} and the low- and mid-grade {{co|coral|Nomad}} set.

==Advanced==
===Do I know how insta locking works?===
First, a good article about the [https://www.themittani.com/features/understanding-eve-online-server-tick server ticks], so you know how EVE Online is working server side.
After reading that article, you know how long 1 [[Server tick|tick]] takes(1 sec for the lazy people). And you want your ship, if possible, out within 2 ticks(before the third starts, because otherwise your enemy has the 3rd tick to tackle you). So as long as your ship is faster than 2 secs align time, you are mostly safe from even instant locking ships. All thanks to game mechanics. \o/
Yes, there is a "but" as you can [https://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/360lbq/busting_the_travelceptor_myth/ read] here. But I doubt that WTs are able to pull it off. :)
And another nice [http://eve.501gu.de/misc/travelceptor_vs_instalocker.png graph] about instalocking and how it works.

Conclusion: If your ship can align within 2 secs and your enemy has a bad internet connection(or his scan resolution is to low), you are pretty much safe from getting shot at/tackled.

===Can warp core stabs help me to stay safe on my travel?===
Yes! And No! Probably... depends. Maybe.
How do stabs save you from WT's? They negate the effect of one point per stab. And while you can still warp if you get scramed with 2 stabs in your fit, it will still disable your MWD. So if you see that your ship can't get the 2 seconds align time, you can maybe use enough stabs to get out. 
Or not. Even if you can get 8 warpcore stabs(this will keep you from aligning in less than 2 seconds), a single ship can still lock you down. They are called [[Cruiser#Heavy_Interdiction_Cruisers|HICs]]. Those little buggers can use a point that ignores all your stabs and keeps you from warping. But it won't shut down your MWD, so you could still try to crash the gate and jump away from the HIC.

Conclusion: While you can try and travel in a ship that is slower than 2 secs align by using warp core stabs, they can just bring enough points/scrams or a HIC to keep you from warping.

But no rule without exception:
When can you ignore the <2 sec align time and stacking warp core stabs? Here is the short list:
*Cloaky ships
**Cov Ops cloak
**If you feel comfortable to use the cloak+MWD trick, do so, but they can still catch you with fast ships (As the align takes 10 seconds, which is long enough for a fast ship to decloak you and since the MWD is causing a signature bloom, insta lock you)
*Close to a campus that is able to form a QRF in a reasonable time and enough buffer to last untill help arrives. (Not a very good idea)

=Further reading=
Since align times are rounded up to the nearest second, align times of 1.01s and 1.99s are, in effect, equivalent. Similarly, an align time of 2.01s is equivalent to an align time of 3s. In order to align instantly, you must have an align time of less than or equal to 2.00s. A detailed explanation can be found in [https://english.eve-guides.fr/index.php?article=105 this Eve-Guides.fr article].

The [[Cloak trick|Microwarp Drive Cloak trick]] manipulates cloaking mechanics to mimic instant alignment for slow-aligning industrial ships.

[[Category:Game mechanics]]


[[Category:Game mechanics]]