Command Destroyer

Command Destroyers (sometimes called CMDDs) are T2 destroyers designed for fleet support. They can fit one Command Burst module, but often fit a Command Processor rig to fit a second Command Burst. Further, they have a 2% bonus to their factions' Command Bursts for each level of  Command Destroyers, and a 95% reduction in powergrid requirements for Command Bursts. This makes them the only viable sub-cruiser-size hulls to use command bursts.

Their other defining feature is the ability to fit a Micro Jump Field Generator (MJFG, or boosh). This module jumps the Command Destroyer and up to 25 capsuleer ships in a 6 km radius 100 km in the direction the Command Destroyer faces as long as they are not scrammed or invulnerable (for example due to gate cloak or tether). MJFGs have a base activiation time of 9 seconds. The jump only happens after this spool-up time, which is reduced by 5% for each level of  Command Destroyers and  Micro Jump Drive Operation. Command destroyers are the only ships smaller than battlecruisers that can micro-jump, and, moreover, the only ships of any size or class that can take other ships with them in a micro-jump. When Command Destroyers are fitted for booshing, they are commonly referred to as booshers.

On top of these bonuses and abilities, they all have a 50% reduction in Microwarpdrive signature radius bloom. The empire factions' Command Destroyers also have a 4% bonus to resists for their respective faction's tank per level of the relevant T1 destroyer skill. This results in a 20% resist bonus, as a pilot must have their T1 faction destroyer skill at V to sit in the ship in the first place. They also have a 10% damage bonus per level. The Triglavian command destroyer doesn't follow this pattern but has a 10% range and a 20% damage bonus but no resist bonus.

The different Command Destroyer hulls are:

•  Pontifex
•  Bifrost
•  Stork
•  Magus
•  Draugur

Tactics

The ability to use Command Bursts makes Command Destroyers typical force multipliers because they improve the performance of all ships in the fleet. While Command Bursts are straight forward in their tactical use, the Micro Jump Field Generators lead to more creative tactics. This ranges from booshing ships off from gates or stations to prevent them from jumping or docking, over splitting hostile fleets (expecially logi) to make it easier to kill them. It is worth to note that while Command Destroyers are usually fleet ships they can also used as solo ships. There are some pilots who use an alt account on a command destroyer as a "backpack", to provide their main ship with command bursts (Skirmish bursts, most commonly) when their main ship is otherwise flying solo.

Fitting

If the Command Destroyer's primary role is to provide Command Burst, a Command Processor rig is usually fitted to allow two active Command Bursts. Some fits even fit two Command Processors to allow three Command Bursts, although these fits usually sacrifice weapons and tank to do so.

Command Destroyers often fit a Micro Jump Field Generator. Besides that, they can be afterburner or microwarpdrive fitted, sometimes even both. They often fit a warp srambler. So that they can decide when to drop scram because scram prevents ships from being booshed. All other fleet members should only use warp disruptors on targets in such a context. ECM bursts are another common module. These allow the ship to try to break hostile target locks in case the Command Destroyer or fleet members are scrammed, which would prevent the fleet from booshing out.

The slot layout and bonuses usually force an armor tank for the Pontifex and Magus, and a shield tank for the Stork and Bifrost. In a fleet context you normally fit a buffer tank, while solo fits can have an active tank.

A defender missile launcher is a popular choice to protect the fleet from bombs.

History

Command Destroyers were introduced in the Frostline expansion (Dec 2015).

The Draugur was introduced in the Invasion Chapter 1 expansion (May 2019), alongside the Nergal and Ikitursa.

In the beat around the boosh patch from 2019-11-12, the Micro Jump Field Generator got nerfed so that it would only boosh up to 25 capsuleer ships at once. The booshing doctrines which have been popular up to that patch became unfeasible on a large scale.

See Also

Command Destroyer forum thread, by CCP Rise