Smash and Grab

"You might think we're all about loot and plunder, smash and grab tactics, but the Guristas are more than that. We're about power, betrayal, and fear. That is our currency, our lifestyle, our credo."

Smash and Grab is the Guristas Pirates Epic Arc which takes place in the Gurista controlled Venal Null Security Region.

Overview

You will fight:

• Frigates
• Destroyers
• A few Cruisers

You will get:

• 1x Dread Guristas ECM Multispectral Jammer for completing Knockout Punch
• 1x Gila Blueprint Copy (one run) and +30% base Guristas Pirates Faction Standing from completing the final Mission
• ~80M ISK
• ~20% Guristas Corporation Standings (with no derived standings)

You will lose:

• minor amount of Gallente Federation Faction Standing
• between 2.4% and 12% Caldari State Faction Standing

Preparations

Smash and Grab takes place in the Venal Null Security Region. Consider that:

• The Local Market may not stock items or they may be expensive - stock up on everything you might need
• Capsuleers may hunt you down - think about how you'll avoid them
• There are few Stations where you can dock up to repair and refit - have a fit for all occasions
• Jump Gates may be encased in Warp Interdiction Spheres that prevent warping - learn more about bubbles

Consider buying:

• A ship capable of fitting an Interdiction Nullifier to help with navigating Warp Interdiction Spheres/Probes
• Plenty of ammo
• Nanite Repair Paste
• A Travel fit
• Ship fittings that can deal more than 150 DPS or a Tractor Beam I and a weapon that deals damage over 20 km for Spy Games

Starting Agents

Smash and Grab Starting Agents

Agent	Corporation	Faction	System	Region	Mission
Arment Caute	Federal Intelligence Office	Gallente Federation	Orvolle	Placid	Enemy of my Enemy
Atma Aulato	Ytiri	Caldari State	Obe	The Forge	Turning Coat
Yada Vinjivas	Guristas	Guristas Pirates	Taisy	Lonetrek	Recruitment Drive

Ships and fits

Pirate epic arc fitting

General tactics

• Think of this like a PvP mission with some PvE sprinkled in. The big difference here is that you're not going to be PvP'ing head-on -- you're going to be PvP'ing by out-piloting, outsmarting, and avoiding your enemies.
• Periodically check your star map for ship kills, pod kills, and jumps in the last hour. Compare these systems against your mission route to see if you can avoid those systems, or wait until the action has subsided.
• Keep an eye on local, but never speak. You don't want to give away the fact that you're active.
• The D-scan button is hotkeyed, and there is no downside to mashing it constantly. Do a 360 scan every few seconds while running your missions. Look for combat scanner probes first and foremost (this is the only way pirates can find you inside a mission's deadspace pocket), but also keep an eye out for other ships so you know who's active in the system. You'll see lots of assault frigates and interceptors flown by other missioners and those hunting them.
• Some missions include waves of frigates and destroyers that can be quite punishing. Don't be afraid to cherry pick a few, dock up, repair, rinse, and repeat.
• Many of the missions can be accepted and completed without docking; be sure to always "Start Conversation" with the agent to see if you can talk to them remotely.
• Be familiar with survival techniques like the cloak/MWD trick before you attempt these missions.
• To be even safer, go with a cheap frigate first and make tactical gate bookmarks and instant-undocks.

External Links

• Games Chruker Smash and Grab Guide
• Guristas Epic Arc guide by Jowen Datloran (pdf)
• EVE-Survival
• Smash and Grab in a Malediction
• Smash and Grab in a Crow