Hacking: Difference between revisions

{{Exploration links}}

The goal of hacking is to '''find and disable the Container’s System Core'''. You do this by maneuvering a Virus through the board of nodes that represents the Container’s electronics.

Nodes are:

* gray if neither explored or adjacent to explored nodes

If the new node is empty it will briefly display a number between 1 and 5. The number is the distance to the nearest node with a System Core, Utility Subsystem or Data Cache.

Instead of being empty a node may contain:

'''Finding and disabling the System Core is the goal of hacking.'''

|+ Difficult System Cores are defended by advanced Defensive Subsystems

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* once a Sleeper Cache will release a deadly toxic gas, activate turrets or put up other obstacle

'''Defensive Subsystems prevent you from exploring adjacent nodes until they are disabled.'''

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|[[File:Firewall_node.png]]

|'''Firewalls''' have high Coherence and low Strength.  

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|[[File:Antivirus_node.png]]

|'''Anti-Virus''' have low Coherence, but high Strength.

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|[[File:Restorer_node.png]]

|'''Restoration Nodes''' give 20 extra Coherence to a random Defensive Subsystem at the end of each turn. They are a high priority target.

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|[[File:Supressor_node.png]]

|'''Virus Suppressors''' lower your Virus Strength by 15. Your Virus Strength cannot go below 10. They are a high priority target.

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When you click the Utility Subsystem it will be added to a free utility slot.

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|[[File:Self_repair2.png]]

|'''Self Repairs''' increase your Virus Coherence by 5-10 each turn for the three turns. Use it immediately as your Virus doesn't have a maximum Coherence value.

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|[[File:Kernel_rot2.png]]

|'''Kernel Rots''' reduce a System’s Coherence by 50%. Use it on high Coherence Systems.

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|[[File:Polymorphic_shield.png]]

|'''Polymorphic Shields''' nullify the next two System attacks against your Virus. Use it before attacking high Strength Systems.

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|[[File:Secondary_vector2.png]]

|'''Secondary Vectors''' reduce a System’s Coherence by 20 each turn for three turns. Use it against a Suppressor Defensive Subsystem.

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|[[File:Data cache2.png]]

|'''Data Caches''' can contain either a Defensive or Utility Subsystem.

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== Skills ==

* {{sk|Archaeology|price=yes|mult=yes}}: Required skill for the use of Relic Analyzer modules. Gives +10 Virus Coherence per level.

** Relic Analyzers require Archaeology, and are a fairly cheap mid-slot module used to interact with Container structures. A good amount of your income as an explorer will come from accessing these Container structures, so note this skill's importance!

** Also like Archaeology, higher skill levels make hacking easier, and {{sk|Hacking|V}} will give you access to the Data Analyzer II module, which gives better bonuses, and is needed for Data Sites in NullSec or Wormholes.

Hacking can be done in any ship that has mid slots for Data and/or Relic Analyzers. However, exploration ships have a role bonus for both Virus and scan Strength.

Covert Operation ships are the direct upgrade from Tech 1 Exploration Frigates. They get a +10 bonus to Virus Strength, +10% (50% max) per level bonus to scanning, and can use Covert Ops Cloaking Device II.

* {{sh|Helios}}

* {{sh|Cheetah}}

* {{sh|Astero}} Frigate.  (CPU is low, making it hard to fit an Expanded Probe Launcher.)

* {{sh|Stratios}} Cruiser.

* {{sh|Nestor}} Battleship. Role Bonus: 50% bonus to Core and Combat Scanner Probe strength. Cannot fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device II.

* {{sh|Legion}}

* {{sh|Proteus}}

* {{sh|Loki}}

Data Analyzer or Relic Analyzer allow you to hack Data and Relic Sites. There is no additional high, mid or low slot equipment to make hacking easier.

Full list of normally used scanning equipment:

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The T1 module has a base 40 Virus Coherence and 20 Strength, with the T2 Version has an additional +20 Virus Coherence (60 total) and +10 Virus Strength (30 total)

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The T1 module has a base 40 Virus Coherence and 20 Strength, with the T2 Version has an additional +20 Virus Coherence (60 total) and +10 Virus Strength (30 total)

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Integrated Analyzers get bonus Coherence from both Archaeology and Hacking skills as well as rigs and implants.

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The slot 9 implants that improve Virus Coherence and Strength.

{| class="wikitable"  

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| +5 Virus Coherence for Relic and Integrated Analyzers

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| +5 Virus Coherence for Data and Integrated Analyzers

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| -40 Virus Coherence and +20 Virus Strength for Data and Integrated Analyzers

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The slot 10 EY-1005 implant improves Virus Coherence.

{| class="wikitable"  

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| +5 coherence for Data, Relic and Integrated analyzers

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* '''Use the 1-5 numbers to guide your movement''' around the board.  For example, if you're approaching an edge or corner of the grid, and the number 5 shows up, then trying to explore anything towards that corner/edge is not useful, because you know that there cannot be anything good within 5 nodes.  In general, you want to click in directions that make the numbers smaller. Because the numbers disappear as you move along, you need to remember where there were 5's, so you know which areas not to bother going back to later.

* '''Use the Rule of Six'''. This rule is slightly complicated, but can make your life when hacking much easier. The rule is that if you have a node that has six edges leading away from it ( a "complete" node with no missing nodes in the hexagon around it), then that node is guaranteed to 1) Have no Defensive Subsystems in it OR 2) be adjacent to the System Core. What that means in practice is that you can use these squares to move safely through the board, and any Defensive Subsystems you find tell you where the System Core is.  It is usually worthwhile to try to reach and use areas of the map with many of these "complete" nodes when hacking. You can find a video tutorial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5uQC74VvVQ here].

[[Category:Exploration]]