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'''Black Ops''' battleships (also '''BLOPs''') are designed for covert operations behind enemy lines. To do this they have the ability to [[ | '''Black Ops''' [[battleships]] (also '''BLOPs''') are designed for covert operations behind enemy lines. To do this they have the ability to [[Jump drives|jump]], [[Jump drives#Bridging|bridge]], and [[conduit jump]] to any [[cyno]] especially [[Jump drives#Covert Cynosural Fields|covert cynos]]. Black Ops gameplay usually means: jump in, kill the target, get safe, jump out. | ||
Covert cynos help a lot with stealthy movements in hostile space as they are not visible systemwide like hard cynos. | Covert cynos help a lot with stealthy movements in hostile space as they are not visible systemwide like hard cynos. | ||
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== Bridging and conduit jumps == | == Bridging and conduit jumps == | ||
{{See also|Jump drives#Bridging|l1= Jump Bridge|Jump drives#Covert Cynosural Fields|l2=Covert Cynosural Fields|Conduit jump}} | |||
Black Ops are often only used for bridging or conduit jumps; for that they need to fit a Covert Jump Portal Generator. | Black Ops are often only used for bridging or conduit jumps; for that they need to fit a Covert Jump Portal Generator. | ||
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== Hot dropping == | == Hot dropping == | ||
Hot drop describes the practice to light a cyno directly on a target to then destroy said target. This is where Black Ops shine. The targets are usually PvE ships but it can also be a hauler/freighter or a short escalation in a PvP fight. The act of searching for targets and then dropping on them is often called “BLOPsing” (not to be confused with “blobbing”). It’s not clear if BLOPsing only refers to the pure use of Black Ops or also when Black Ops are only used for bridging and mixes of those. | Hot drop describes the practice to light a cyno directly on a target to then destroy said target. This is where Black Ops shine. The targets are usually PvE ships but it can also be a hauler/freighter or a short escalation in a PvP fight. The act of searching for targets and then dropping on them is often called “BLOPsing” (not to be confused with “blobbing”). It’s not clear if BLOPsing only refers to the pure use of Black Ops or also when Black Ops are only used for bridging and mixes of those. | ||
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=== BLOPs hunters === | === BLOPs hunters === | ||
The hunters are ships which are supposed to tackle targets and light a cyno. They are decisive to the success of a hot drop. The hunter also usually decides if the fleet takes a target. As the hunter has to be able to fit a (covert) cyno, the number of suitable hulls is limited. Let’s quickly discuss the common options. | The hunters are ships which are supposed to tackle targets and light a cyno. They are decisive to the success of a hot drop. The hunter also usually decides if the fleet takes a target. As the hunter has to be able to fit a (covert) cyno, the number of suitable hulls is limited. Let’s quickly discuss the common options. | ||
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== Use as a cyno platform == | == Use as a cyno platform == | ||
Black Ops hulls are also sometimes used to light hard cynos for bringing capital and supercapital ships into battle. Though more fragile than other battleships, Black Ops are tougher than [[Recon Ships|Force Recons]] which is the other ship group that can light hard cynos. Also recons struggle to fit a good armor tank. Therefore a Black Ops might be the choice when the rest of the fleet is armor based. As Black Ops are far more expensive than Force Recons, it is rarely considered worth the cost. | Black Ops hulls are also sometimes used to light hard cynos for bringing capital and supercapital ships into battle. Though more fragile than other battleships, Black Ops are tougher than [[Recon Ships|Force Recons]] which is the other ship group that can light hard cynos. Also recons struggle to fit a good armor tank. Therefore a Black Ops might be the choice when the rest of the fleet is armor based. As Black Ops are far more expensive than Force Recons, it is rarely considered worth the cost. | ||
== Fitting == | == Fitting == | ||
While the exact fitting obviously varies for the different hulls and also for every pilot a bit, there are some general fitting principles for Black Ops. All Black Ops have two utility high slots. It’s obvious that one of them is used for a cloak. Commonly a faction cloak is used to provide a bit more speed than a T2 cloak. If the Black Ops is used for bridging, the second utility high is used for the Covert Jump Portal Generator. As jumping costs a lot of capacitor, essentially all Black Ops fit a [[Capacitor Boosters|Capacitor Booster]]. You can already activate it while being in the jump tunnel so that you land combat ready. Further it’s not unusual to have a Large Standard Container in cargo as you can bring more cap charges this way. Most Black Ops also fit an [[MJD]] as a get away option. | While the exact fitting obviously varies for the different hulls and also for every pilot a bit, there are some general fitting principles for Black Ops. All Black Ops have two utility high slots. It’s obvious that one of them is used for a cloak. Commonly a faction cloak is used to provide a bit more speed than a T2 cloak. If the Black Ops is used for bridging, the second utility high is used for the Covert Jump Portal Generator. As jumping costs a lot of capacitor, essentially all Black Ops fit a [[Capacitor Boosters|Capacitor Booster]]. You can already activate it while being in the jump tunnel so that you land combat ready. Further it’s not unusual to have a Large Standard Container in cargo as you can bring more cap charges this way. Most Black Ops also fit an [[MJD]] as a get away option. | ||
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=== Bridging fits === | === Bridging fits === | ||
Bridging fits obviously have to fit a Covert Jump Portal Generator. Often you just slap it onto a combat fit. But people also often use dedicated bridging fits. Dedicated bridgers usually fit expanded cargoholds to carry more fuel with them. Sometimes they even fit cargo rigs. Further they often fit modules to increase the sensor strength such as sensor boosters with ECCM scripts so that they are harder to scan down i.e. harder to catch. Burst jammers are also an option so that in case the bridger get tackled he can get free. | Bridging fits obviously have to fit a Covert Jump Portal Generator. Often you just slap it onto a combat fit. But people also often use dedicated bridging fits. Dedicated bridgers usually fit expanded cargoholds to carry more fuel with them. Sometimes they even fit cargo rigs. Further they often fit modules to increase the sensor strength such as sensor boosters with ECCM scripts so that they are harder to scan down i.e. harder to catch. Burst jammers are also an option so that in case the bridger get tackled he can get free. | ||
=== Implants === | === Implants === | ||
Black Ops are relatively expensive hulls and it makes sense to have your Black Ops pilot dedicate a clone to it. Especially since implants can increase the performance a lot. | Black Ops are relatively expensive hulls and it makes sense to have your Black Ops pilot dedicate a clone to it. Especially since implants can increase the performance a lot. | ||
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=== Frigate escape bay === | === Frigate escape bay === | ||
Black Ops have a frigate escape bay like all battleships. When choosing a frigate there is the question if you should try to save your pod or provide fighting utility. If you want to save your pod, the [[Astero]] and [[Metamorphosis]] are noteworthy for Black Ops as they are the only hulls which can both take a Black Ops bridge and are allowed in the frigate escape bay. Thus it’s a good option to get bridged home by other fleet members. Even if there is no bridge available the two frigates have a fairly easy time to escape due to their cloaks, though bubbles can be an issue. (The Metamorphosis can, incidentally, also be fit to instawarp.) The other popular option to save a clone would be a [[Succubus]] with a 10mn afterburner fitted as it is fast and can’t be scrammed. If you don’t care about your pod (i.e. you don’t use any expensive implants) you might look towards EWAR frigates like the [[Griffin]] or [[Kitsune]] as you then can help your friends. If you work solo, you could use a more DPS focused ship like an [[assault frigate]]. | |||
Black Ops have a frigate escape bay like all battleships. When choosing a frigate there is the question if you should try to save your pod or provide fighting utility. If you want to save your pod, the Astero | |||
== Skills == | == Skills == | ||
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== PvE == | == PvE == | ||
Black Ops Battleships are not usually considered good PvE hulls, as other T1 and faction battleships fight better and cost less. However, they do still see some use in running [[escalations]] in null security space, as they gain enormous safety advantages from their jump drives. By using alt accounts in covert cyno ships, a Black Ops can jump directly in and out of the escalation system, without risking travel through potentially hostile systems along the way; because jump drives can be activated while in combat, the Black Ops can immediately jump out of the system at the first sign of danger. | Black Ops Battleships are not usually considered good PvE hulls, as other T1 and faction battleships fight better and cost less. However, they do still see some use in running [[escalations]] in null security space, as they gain enormous safety advantages from their jump drives. By using alt accounts in covert cyno ships, a Black Ops can jump directly in and out of the escalation system, without risking travel through potentially hostile systems along the way; because jump drives can be activated while in combat, the Black Ops can immediately jump out of the system at the first sign of danger. | ||
Beyond this, some pilots have taken to using the Marshal as a more general-purpose PvE ship, relying on its CONCORD-unique bonus to local repair modules to give it a defensive edge. Unfortunately, more often than not this only results in extremely expensive Marshal losses, as the ship's extremely high price does not directly translate to high effectiveness or high piloting skill with it. | Beyond this, some pilots have taken to using the [[Marshal]] as a more general-purpose PvE ship, relying on its CONCORD-unique bonus to local repair modules to give it a defensive edge. Unfortunately, more often than not this only results in extremely expensive Marshal losses, as the ship's extremely high price does not directly translate to high effectiveness or high piloting skill with it. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The number of kills by Black Ops nearly doubled from July 2021 to August 2021 and remained high since then, see [https://zkillboard.com/group/898/stats/ zkill stats]. This was due to a number of explicit and implicit buffs to Black Ops (even though there was also an implicit nerf). | The number of kills by Black Ops nearly doubled from July 2021 to August 2021 and remained high since then, see [https://zkillboard.com/group/898/stats/ zkill stats]. This was due to a number of explicit and implicit buffs to Black Ops (even though there was also an implicit nerf). | ||