Interceptors: Difference between revisions

As for most support ships, the basic rule for fitting interceptors is: fit for your role, then for tank, and then use what's left for damage. For a fleet interceptor, that means that a T2 point and MWD (essential), enough targeting range to support the point, a speed tank (possibly with a DCU2 for buffer) and some short-range weapons to take care of drones. Combat inties should focus more on their weapons and tank first, maybe fitting a small repper or plate depending on the enemy, and often swap the point for a scram.

When deciding on midslots and rigs, thought should be given to the inty's purpose. For example, you might want to fit sensor boosters and targeting speed rigs in order to catch fast ships and pods; speed and webifier(s) to lock down fast enemy ships over a longer fight; or damage and tank in order to fight toe-to-toe with other fast frigates. Much of this decision will depend on personal preference and playstyle, so experimentation is generally encouraged: although there are plenty of fellow corpmates and alumni who have been there, tried that, and are more than willing to give an opinion on your latest idea.

===High slots===

Weapons are generally small turrets with high tracking or rocket launchers. Fleet interceptors will mainly want to be shooting drones, and possibly use defenders to mitigate incoming missile damage. Combat inties will focus more on their weapons, ideally firing Scorch/Barrage/Null etc in order to dictate range better.

Almost all inties will fit an MWD first. Fleet inties will generally fit disruptors in order to get tackle earlier and make most of their bonus range, while combat inties fit scrams in order to counter other ships' MWDs better. Fleet inties should not fit scrams unless they really know what they are doing: unless the inty pilot is very good at controlling range, using a scram means getting too close to enemy scram range. If a fleet inty gets scrammed, it will most likely explode a few seconds later. When fitting a disruptor, make sure you have the targeting range to use all of your overheated point range. A signal amplifier or Small Ionic Field Projector rig will help here.

===Low slots===

Most inties will fit at least a couple of Overdrive Injector System IIs or Nanofibre Internal Structure IIs for speed. Generally, a mix of raw speed and agility is recommended since orbit velocity is more useful than total speed. Agility is useful to be able to warp faster, orbit more accurately and change direction more quickly (to minimise the time when angular velocity is low). Fleet interceptors will generally fit at least two low slots for speed, with a third used for a DCU2, but if a fourth lowslot is available then a Signal Amplifier II or a fitting module like an MAPC might be used. Even in a fleet interceptor, speed is not everything: inties generally have plenty of speed already and speed mods quickly suffer heavy stacking penalties. Fitting more than three speed mods or rigs is a waste: it will not noticeably increase speed and will reduce tank.

Combat inties will use more of their lowslots for damage and tank. Tank can include DCU2, adaptive nano plating, an armor repper, or a small armor plate. If possible, tank should be matched to the expected enemy fleet composition, including engagement duration and estimated incoming damage. Low DPS spread over a few small encounters (say frigate fights) is ideal for a repper, but a plate is more suited to larger fleets over a longer period.

===Rigs===

Rig to taste. Rigs can be used to boost targeting, damage, speed, and tank (particularly in filling explosive holes against Warrior drones). Pilots should be careful fitting speed rigs, though, as they are roughly half as effective as lowslot modules and will be subject to hefty stacking penalties if more than one lowslot has been used for speed. See Morty's [[Module_Stacking_and_Speed_Modules|in-depth comparison]] for more details; in summary, fitting more than three speed mods or rigs is a waste.