Difference between revisions of "Missiles"

Revision as of 18:37, 25 December 2015

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Fitting Missile Launchers . ( Discuss )

This article covers the basic operation of launcher based weapons systems. It explains how launchers work and describes the types and varieties of the missiles that they launch. It does not go into the specifics of how missile explosions do damage, nor does it cover launcher systems in the detail needed to fit a ship. For those see: Missile Damage and also Fitting Missile Launchers. For a complete list of ships that have bonuses for launcher weapons see Missile Ships.

Introduction: Doing Damage

The two most widely used types of weapon systems are Turrets and Launchers. Turrets fire a stream of damage bundles (projectiles, charges, laser beams) that travels in a straight line out from the turret as the turret moves to track the target. Launchers fire self-propelled bundles of damage (rocket, missile, torpedo) that chase down the target. (There are exceptions, drones, for example, but most weapons follow one of these patterns.)

turret tracking fast enough to hit target

Turret Tracks the Target

In each case, the actual damage done to the target depends on a number of factors. You can read the details in these two articles: Turret Damage / Missile Damage - but for now it is enough to recognize that the two weapons systems do damage in different ways. Given that the target is within range of the weapon, then the final damage to the target depends on the base damage of the weapon, the signature radius of the target and:

Missile Chases the Target

Turret: transversal speed of target, turret tracking, turret signature resolution, turret optimal range, turret range falloff

Launcher: velocity of target, explosion radius of missile, explosion velocity of missile, damage reduction factor

The difference, in simple terms, is that launchers will always "hit", but the damage done will vary depending on the size of the target and the speed of the explosion. On the other hand, turrets may miss the target, but a hit will always do at least a basic minimum amount of damage.

It may seem that a 100% chance to hit any target within range is a significant advantage, however this is balanced by other factors, including especially the firing speed of the weapon and the travel time of the damage bundle. In general, launched weapons fire more slowly and take more time to strike their targets, thus leaving their ships more open to retaliation. In any case, you can rest assured that neither type of weapons system has an advantage over the other in and of itself. The advantages arise from the ship bonuses, ship fittings, and pilot skills and experience.

The remainder of this article will deal with the mechanics and characteristics of launcher based weapons systems. These will be compared in general terms that do not provide the details required for fitting. For information about specific missiles and launchers, please refer to the article on Fitting Missile Launchers.

Note that launcher based damage bundles are often called "missiles", and that this term can refer to any of rockets, missiles, torpedoes and bombs (even though bombs have an entirely different physical mechanics).

Missile Range and Launcher Firing Rate

A missile does not so much hit a ship as explode near it. When a missile crosses the signature radius of its target, it blows up. The speed at which this explosion grows and the maximum size of the explosion determine the amount of damage done to the target.

File:Qsm missile sigrad.gif

Missile Explodes at Signature Radius

EVE uses a mathematical equation to compute the precise amount of damage that the explosion does to the ship, thus the details of what happens when a missile hits are somewhat complicated — and these are explained in Missile Damage.

Range

When fired, a missile will leave the launcher, quickly accelerate, and then proceed at its best speed directly at the target until it runs out of fuel. If it encounters the target during that time, it will explode - otherwise it will vanish. The approximate maximum distance that a missile will travel can be found by multiplying the speed of the missile by the number of seconds that its fuel will last. (The approximation is due to the slightly slower speed as the missile accelerates at launch. Also, missile travel time is expressed in whole seconds - this can matter when targeting at extreme range.^[1])

Maximum Distance ≈ Speed x Seconds of Fuel

Missile Launcher On-Screen Pop-Up

For example:

A Light Missile has a flight time of 5 seconds at a speed of 3750 m/s. The maximum distance it can travel is 5 x 3750 ≈ 18,750 m.
A torpedo has a flight time of 6 seconds at a speed of 1500 m/s. The maximum distance it can travel is 6 x 1500 ≈ 9,000 m.

This information, along with dps and type of damage, is shown when you move your mouse over the icon for a missile launcher while in space.

Although the terms "range" and "distance" are often used interchangeably, technically, the range answers the question of whether the missile can reach its target: is it "in" or "out" of range? If the target is stationary, then the maximum distance will be the missile's range. Normally, however, the target is moving, and the range depends on this motion.

Missile Catches Fleeing Target

Missile Does Not Catch Fleeing Target

If the target is moving directly away from the missile, then it will take the missile longer to reach the target than it would a stationary one. In fact, if the target is moving fast enough, the missile may not be able to reach it at all - in this case, the target would be considered "out of range." Note that the target does not have to be moving faster than the missile ... just fast enough to stay ahead of the missile until it runs out of fuel.

If the target is moving directly at the missile, then the missile will reach it much faster than it would reach a stationary target. In this case, the target may be "in range" even when it seems too far away to hit.

In most cases, however, the target will be moving in a curve with regard to the missile ship - possibly in an orbit, possibly curving towards or away from the launch. It is hard to specify the range, exactly, in these cases, but as always, the missile will head directly for the target, and it will continue as long as it has fuel. It's path is likely to be some sort of a spiral.

There is no way to control the path of a missile once it has been launched. It will point itself at its target and follow the target until it hits or runs out of fuel.

Firing Rate

After a launcher fires its missile, it must rest for a time before it fires again - this is called the "rate of fire". Turrets also have a firing rate, but launchers are much slower.

Weapon	Firing Rate (Seconds)	Average Base Damage (HP)
Cruise Missile Launcher	21	375
Light Missile Launcher	16	83
350 mm Railgun (Large)	7	34
Large Dual Heavy Beam Laser	7	34
Light Electron Blaster	2	9
Note that values are approximate; for comparison only.

There is a correlation between firing rate and the base weapon damage. In general, launchers fire more slowly, but their missiles do more damage; while turrets depend on a stream of quickly fired, but individually less potent damage bundles.

Launchers also have a "reload time". This is not the firing rate, but rather the time it takes to reload the launcher after all of its missiles have been fired. When the launcher is empty, it automatically checks the cargo bay and reloads the same missiles if any are available. If none are, it will sit empty. At any time, a pilot can stop the launcher from firing and reload from the cargo bay with the same or different missiles.

Summary

Launcher weapon systems do more damage per hit than turreted systems, but launchers fire slowly compared to turrets, and missiles take much longer to reach their targets.^[2] While damage, firing speed and travel time can be modified by means of skills and equipment, the relationships hold even with these improvements. This has tactical implications. With a low ranged, fast firing turret ship, the pilot wants to get in close and keep the target locked. With a long ranged, slowly firing missile ship, the pilot wants to stay beyond the target's range and go for a slower kill.

Launcher and Missile Classes and Types

Warning: The data shown here are for general discussions of weapons systems. Some details have been omitted. If you are fitting a ship, it is highly recommended that you use the in-game Compare Tool to evaluate the relative merits of the various launchers and missiles that you are considering. More detailed data are also listed in Fitting Missile Launchers.

Each launcher class can launch missiles of that class. E.g., Light Missile Launchers launch Light Missiles, as do Rapid Light Missile Launchers. Heavy Assault Missile Launchers launch Heavy Assault Missiles. Torpedo Launchers launch Torpedoes. And so on. Different types of launchers within the class vary the firing rate and other characteristics of the launchers. Typically the Tech 1 Arbalest, Limos and Malkuth launchers, as well as the Tech 2 launchers, use less CPU, have faster firing rates and are less prone to damage from overheating.

Each variety of EVE damage is available for each missile type. Inferno, Mjolnir, Nova and Scourge apply thermal, EM, explosive and kinetic damage, in that order. A given missile will apply only one variety of damage, and each missile category does the same number of hit points of damage.

Other missile types vary the flight time, base damage (hit points), and other characteristics of the missile.

Guristas, Caldari Navy and Dread Guristas missiles are little different from standard missiles except that they have higher base damage; Guristas least, and Dread Guristas most.
"Advanced" missile types come in sets:

Precision versus Fury: Precision missiles have a faster, smaller explosion and will do more damage to a small, fast target - while Fury missiles, with their larger, slower explosions do more damage against larger, slower targets.
Long Range versus Anti-ship: Javelin long range missiles travel considerably farther than their Rage counterparts; but the Rage missiles have a significantly larger base damage.

*The data here is from Rockets and Light Missiles, but the ratios hold for all the missile types.*
Missile	Flight Time	Velocity	Explosion Radius	Explosion Velocity	Base Damage
Standard Missile	5.0	3,750	40	170	83
Precision Missile	2.5	3,750	25	204	83
Fury Missile	3.75	3,750	69	143	116
Standard Rocket	2.0	2,250	20	150	33
Javelin Rocket	2.0	3,275	20	150	29.7
Rage Rocket	2.0	1,875	30	129	44.6

A launcher class and its associated missiles can be thought of as a weapons system, each of which fits best in a particular group of ships. Launchers require high power slots as well as launcher hardpoints. The power drain generally puts a lower bound on the ship size for each launcher class. Typically:

light and rocket launchers go in frigates and destroyers
rapid light, heavy and heavy assault launchers go in cruisers and battlecruisers
rapid heavy, torpedo and cruise launchers go in battleships
citadel launchers go in capital ships
torpedo launchers also go in T2 frigate Stealth Bombers, which have specialized attributes to accommodate them.

(Note that while bombs are fired from bomb launchers, they are unguided, area-of-effect weapons whose mechanics are not really comparable to missiles and turreted weapons.)

**SUMMARY**
SHIP fits LAUNCHER which fits MISSILE that comes in TYPES (Guristas, Rage, Precision, etc.) that comes in DAMAGE VARIETIES (EM, thermal, kinetic, explosive)

The following tables list launcher systems in terms of the ships into which they are usually fitted. Note that some details are missing - for a complete listing of the characteristics of a launcher or missile, use the in-game Show Info window. See Fitting Missile Launchers for more details on specific launcher types. T1 ships with bonuses for launchers and/or missiles are also listed. For information on T2 and T3 ships, please read Missile Ships.

Frigate and Destroyer Based

T1 bonused ships

Frigates: Condor, Kestrel, Breacher
Destroyers: Corax, Talwar

*Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.*
Launcher	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Missile Type	Flight Time (s)	Velocity (m/s)	Explosion Radius (m)	Explosion Velocity (m/s)	Base Damage (hp)
Rocket	4	5	10	Rocket	2	2,250	20	150	33
Light Missile	6	16	10	Light	5	3,750	40	150	83

Cruiser and Battlecruiser Based

T1 Bonused Ships

Cruisers: Caracal, Bellicose, Sacrilege
Battlecruisers: Drake, Cyclone

*Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.*
Launcher	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Missile Type	Flight Time (s)	Velocity (m/s)	Explosion Radius (m)	Explosion Velocity (m/s)	Base Damage (hp)
Rapid Light Missile	73	7.8	35	Light	5	3,750	40	150	83
Heavy Assault Missile	108	8	10	Heavy Assault	4	2,250	125	101	100
Heavy Missile	100	15	10	Heavy	6.5	4,300	140	81	142

Note: Rapid Light Launchers have an unusually long reload time.

Battleship Based

T1 Bonused Ships

Battleships: Raven, Typhoon

*Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.*
Launcher	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Missile Type	Flight Time (s)	Velocity (m/s)	Explosion Radius (m)	Explosion Velocity (m/s)	Base Damage (hp)
Rapid Heavy Missile	960	6.48	35	Heavy	6.5	4,300	140	81	142
Cruise Missile	1,450	20.68	10	Cruise	14	4,700	330	69	375
Torpedo	1,750	18	10	Torpedo	6	1,500	450	71	450

Notes:

Rapid Heavy Launchers have an unusually long reload time.
Each race has a T2 Frigate class Stealth Bomber (Manticore, Hound, Purifier, Nemesis) that has a 99.65% reduction in Torpedo Launcher powergrid requirements. These ships are also bonused for torpedo damage and stealth.

Capital Ship Based

*Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.*
Launcher	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Missile Type	Flight Time (s)	Velocity (m/s)	Explosion Radius (m)	Explosion Velocity (m/s)	Base Damage (hp)
Citadel Cruise	100,000	35.20	10	Citadel Cruise	15	5,700	2,000	40	1,500
Citadel Torpedo	100,000	25.50	10	Citadel Torpedo	7.5	3,500	3,000	35	2,000

Specialized

*Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.*
Launcher	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Missile Type	Flight Time (s)	Velocity (m/s)	Explosion Radius (m)	Explosion Velocity (m/s)	Base Damage (hp)
Light Missile	6	16	10	Light Defender	10	8000	-	-	60
Heavy Missile	100	15	10	Heavy Defender	10	7,500	-	-	74
Light Missile	6	16	10	Auto-Targeting Light	5	3,750	40	170	62
Heavy Missile	100	15	10	Auto-Targeting Heavy	6.5	4,300	81	140	107
Cruise Missile	1,450	20.68	10	Auto-Targeting Cruise	14	4,700	69	330	281
Bomb	10	10	160	Bomb	12	2,500	-	-	6,400

Notes

When fired, a Defender Missile will target an enemy missile that has been launched at your ship. Defenders kill one missile at a time and are more likely to hit missiles fired at you from long range. Defenders are generally considered to be of less value than offensive missiles fitted into the same launcher.
When fired, an Auto-Targeting Missile will locate and target the nearest enemy ship or drone which has previously fired on you. Since they cannot be aimed, auto-targeting missiles are usually passed over in favor of regular missiles.
Bombs are included here for reference. Although they are launched, bombs are unguided, area of effect weapons. They do not follow the mechanics of missiles and have their own wiki page.

Related Skills and Equipment

Skills

The standard fitting skills, and the general targeting skills — especially Signature Analysis, Target Management, and Long Range Targeting — are essential to the use of missile launchers. Navigation skills that improve the velocity or maneuverability of your ship will also be useful: Navigation, Evasive Maneuvering, Fuel Conservation, and High Speed Maneuvering. Since most missile ships depend on shield tanks, you might also want to beef up your basic shield skills: Shield Compensation, Shield Management, and Shield Operation.

In addition, Eve offers pilots a number of skills specific to launched weapons systems. If you are new to missiles, train these at least to Level 3, and train higher in the ones that seem most useful to you.

Primary Missile Skills

There are eight specific missile skills, one for each class of missile. Each of the basic skills will let you load and fire that class of missile. In addition, each level of the skill will improve your damage by 5% when using that particular class of missile. These are somewhat cumulative - that is, you need LIght Missiles III to train Heavy Missiles, and Heavy Missiles III to train Cruise Missiles ... and other dependencies apply.

Various levels of Missile Launcher Operation are needed to train these primary skills, and since Missile Launcher Operation gives a bonus to firing rate (which is essentially a DPS bonus), it makes sense to train it quickly to Level III and eventually to Level V.

Example: The Primary Skill For Light Missiles

Light Missiles

Attributes: Perception, Willpower

Multiplier: 2x

Price: 20k ISK

Prerequisites: Missile Launcher Operation II

I required for: T1 and Faction charges

III required for: Heavy Assault Missiles I; Heavy Missiles I

V required for: T2 charges; Light Missile Specialization I

Note the prerequisite items near the bottom. You cannot, for example, train Light Missiles until you have trained Missile Launcher Operation to Level 2. You cannot use T1 or Faction missiles until you train Light Missiles to Level 1, and you cannot use T2 missiles until you train Light Missiles to Level 5.
Most pilots train the primary skills for Rockets and Light Missiles at least to Level III first, and then move on to larger missiles and launchers as they move to larger ships.

Launcher Support Skills

These skills apply to missile launchers. They increase firing rate and damage, and they improve the accuracy of missiles against smaller, faster targets.

Missile Launcher Operation 2% Bonus to missile launcher rate of fire per skill level. This gives a bonus to DPS — and it is a prerequisite for many other missile skills. Train this one first.
Missile Bombardment 10% more flight time for all missiles per level. If you are planning to use a long range or "kiting" strategy, train this higher.
Guided Missile Precision 5% decreased factor of signature radius for all missile explosions per level of skill. Proficiency at this skill increases the accuracy of a fired missile's exact point of impact, resulting in greater damage to small targets.
Missile Projection 10% bonus to all missiles' maximum velocity per level. Another range increase that is especially useful for "kiting".
Rapid Launch 3% bonus to missile launcher rate of fire per level. Essentially, a DPS increase. Train this one to Level V.
Target Navigation Prediction 10% decrease per level in factor of target's velocity for all missiles. As with Guided Missile Precision, this makes missiles more effective against small targets.
Warhead Upgrades 2% bonus to all missile damage per skill level. Another DPS increase, smaller than Rapid Launch, but still worth training.

Missile Specialization Skills

Some missile classes also have a "Specialization" skill. This gives you access to T2 launchers and missiles, and it provides a 2% bonus per level to the rate of fire of modules that require the specialization.

Equipment

Widely used equipment is listed here. See Fitting Missile Launchers for the full list.

Ballistic Control Systems are passive, low slot modules which increase missile damage and rate of fire. Stacking penalties apply, but many larger ships still fit three of them. Target Painters increase the signature radius of a target and make it easier to hit.

Missile Launcher Rigs come in four sizes, one for each sized launcher. All of the rigs have an increase in cpu use as their penalty. The Bay Loading Accelerator increases the rate of fire, the Hydraulic Bay Thrusters increase missile velocity, and the Warhead Calefaction Catalyst increases missile damage. Also of potential use are the Targeting Rigs, especially the Small Ionic Field Projector, which increases targeting range.

Tactics and Strategy

Turrets versus Launchers

It is difficult to compare qualitatively different weapons systems based on technical specifications. For example, here are two close range systems that are often mounted on Frigates.

*Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.*
Launcher	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Missile Type	Flight Time (s)	Velocity (m/s)	Explosion Radius (m)	Explosion Velocity (m/s)	Base Damage (hp)
Rocket	4	5	10	Rocket	2	2,250	20	150	33

Turret	Power (MW)	Firing Rate (s)	Reload Time (s)	Optimal Range (m)	Falloff (m)	Tracking Speed (rad/s)	Damage Modifier	Charge	Base Damage (hp)
Ion Blaster	4	2	5	1,000	1,500	0.438	1.8	Lead	8

The first problem is that although both systems function by delivering damage at a distance, the turret's primary effectiveness is based in the blaster, while the launcher's primary effectiveness is based in the rocket. And it is very hard to compare the tracking speed, optimal range and falloff of the one with the flight time, explosion radius and explosion speed of the other. <br\><br\>In addition, the chart cannot take into account the ability of the pilot to keep the blaster within tracking range on the one hand, nor the ability of the pilot to evade damage while the rockets travel to the target on the other. <br\><br\>Consequently, the decision to use rockets over blasters or vice-versa should not depend on a comparison of the two weapons systems, but rather on a comparison of pilot and ship abilities. Does your ship have bonuses for one type of system or the other? Is it better suited for an armor tank (blasters) or shields (rockets)? And does the pilot have roughly the same skills in rockets as in blasters?<br\><br\> The bottom line: don't waste time debating over weapons systems. Improve your skills, find a ship that matches, and then find the right fit for that ship.

As an example, consider the T2 Caldari Hawk Assault Frigate.

Solo and Small Gang PvP Hawk

Hawk: Solo and Small Gang PvP Hawk

EFT

[Hawk, Solo and Small Gang PvP Hawk]
150mm Light AutoCannon II
Rocket Launcher II
Rocket Launcher II
Rocket Launcher II
Rocket Launcher II

1MN Afterburner II
X5 Prototype Engine Enervator
J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I
Medium Ancillary Shield Booster
Medium Ancillary Shield Booster

Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Pseudoelectron Containment Field I

Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I

Cap Booster 50 x1
EMP S x1
Scourge Rage Rocket x1

FITTING DIFFICULTY

EVE VERSION

ODY 1.0

ALPHA CAN USE

UNSET

EFT

SKILLS

NOTES

RECOMMENDED SKILLS

NOTES

The Hawk is an excellent solo brawler, capable of taking on virtually any ship smaller than a cruiser at short range. You will usually want to activate one MASB at a time, as it will restore almost the entirety of your shield in one activation thanks to the Hawk's bonus.
As fitted, with all skills at V and before boosts, this ship has 5.8 K EHP, flies at 924 m/s (1199 m/s with AB on overheat) and align in 5.1 s (3.6 s with AB off). The ship signature radius is 42.7 m
Damage is 201 dps within 12.7 km, but the ship can repair 413 EHP/s indefinitely (or as long as it carries cap boosters)

The ship does well at solo PvP. It has five mid slots, which favors shields, as does its bonus to shield boosters. However, the pilot will need high level skills in a number of areas to be able to fly this ship.

Damage and Range

Missile weapons are best at doing damage to larger, slower targets at longer range. This is not to say that a pilot cannot kill small, fast targets with the right missiles, or that there are no short range missile boats. Rather, the most common applications of launcher fitted ships tend to be as a longer range, heavy damage weapon.

Fleet Roles

As noted in the article on Missile Damage:

While a missile can apply up to 100% of the Base Damage to a ship in some situations, damage is often reduced by two factors:

If the target ship is moving faster than the explosion velocity of the missile. Think of this as a fast ship being able to somewhat outrun the explosion.
If the signature radius of the target ship is smaller than explosion radius of the missile. Think of this as a small ship flying through a large explosion and only being hit by a part of it.

Because of this missiles are usually most effective against bigger, slower targets. To this end, missile ships often find themselves in the "sniper" role, assigned to picking off specific targets (such as logistics vessels) in the enemy fleet. In small fleet encounters there may be few, if any, such targets, and the encounter may in fact be over before the missile ship's damage begins to matter. As a result, missile ships are most often found in larger fleets.^[3]

Kiting

As a strategy "kiting" is a plan to engage the enemy from a distance, always fleeing just fast enough to stay outside of the enemy's range while remaining inside your own range. Since kiting ships need speed and longer ranged weapons, shield tanked missile boats are good for this approach.

As a tactic, kiting requires a "hit and run" mentality. You want to approach your target until you are close enough to shoot, fire your missile, and watch. If the enemy flees, you want to pursue; if the enemy attacks, you want to flee ... at a speed approximately the same or a bit more than the enemy ... firing all the time. Because missiles will chase the target without any further guidance from your ship, you are not restricted to any particular flight path. You simply want to be sure that your missiles will have time to reach the target.

PvE enemies tend to be rather fanatical, locking on when they see you and never giving up. This makes kiting a popular strategy when running Missions. It takes longer to kill the NPCs, and the resulting loot can be scattered over a wide area, but your ship will take relatively little damage, and since you are already running, if you decide to break off, it is usually easy to get away.

PvP is much more difficult in this regard. Inexperienced pilots may chase you to their deaths, but experienced pilots will just let you run. PvP kiting is more likely to show up in gangs of fast ships that hit and run from multiple directions at once ... a kind of "wolfpack" attack that leaves their target unable to either run or close on a target.

Footnotes and References

^ If the flight time is a fraction, EVE rounds it up or down. At times, this produces considerable departures from the computed range. See Interesting fact about missile mechanics for details.
^ For example, with a firing time of around 40 seconds, 1400 mm artillery is slower than any launcher. This is a rarity, though.
^ There do exist doctrines for entire fleets of missile ships. Fleets of Stealth Bombers, for example, are common, and there is even an E-UNI group, the UniBombers, dedicated to this style of combat.

Difference between revisions of "Missiles"

Revision as of 18:37, 25 December 2015

Contents

Introduction: Doing Damage

Missile Range and Launcher Firing Rate

Range

Firing Rate

Summary

Launcher and Missile Classes and Types

Frigate and Destroyer Based

Cruiser and Battlecruiser Based

Battleship Based

Capital Ship Based

Specialized

Related Skills and Equipment

Skills

Primary Missile Skills

Launcher Support Skills

Missile Specialization Skills

Equipment

Tactics and Strategy

Turrets versus Launchers

Solo and Small Gang PvP Hawk

Damage and Range

Fleet Roles

Kiting

Footnotes and References

Further Reading

Navigation menu

Personal tools

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UniWiki

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{merge|Fitting Missile Launchers}}
 {{Weapon Systems Links}}
-'''Missiles launchers''' are an unusual weapon system, different to the three kinds of [[Turrets|turret]]. This page explains the different kinds of missile and missile launcher, and the factors which control missile damage.
+This article covers the basic operation of launcher based weapons systems. It explains how launchers work and describes the types and varieties of the missiles that they launch. It does not go into the specifics of how missile explosions do damage, nor does it cover launcher systems in the detail needed to fit a ship. For those see: [[Missile Damage]] and also [[Fitting Missile Launchers]]. For a complete list of ships that have bonuses for launcher weapons see [[Missile Ships]].
-The Caldari are the main missile-using race, though there are a several Minmatar ships as well as a few T2 Amarr ships which also use missiles. Almost no Gallente ships are designed for missile use. For a list of ships which use missile launchers, refer to [[Missile Ships]].
+== Introduction: Doing Damage ==
+The two most widely used types of weapon systems are Turrets and Launchers. Turrets fire a stream of damage bundles (''projectiles, charges, laser beams'') that travels in a straight line out from the turret as the turret moves to track the target. Launchers fire self-propelled bundles of damage (''rocket, missile, torpedo'') that chase down the target. (''There are exceptions, drones, for example, but most weapons follow one of these patterns''.)
+[[File:QSM_track_on.gif‎‎|frame|left|alt=turret tracking fast enough to hit target|Turret Tracks the Target]]
+In each case, the actual damage done to the target depends on a number of factors. You can read the details in these two articles: [[Turret Damage]] / [[Missile Damage]] - but for now it is enough to recognize that the two weapons systems do damage in different ways. Given that the target is within range of the weapon, then the final damage to the target depends on the base damage of the weapon, the signature radius of the target and:
+[[File:QSM_missile_orbit.gif‎|frame|alt=missile hitting an orbiting target|Missile Chases the Target]]
-==Overview==
+* ''Turret'': transversal speed of target, turret tracking, turret signature resolution, turret optimal range, turret range falloff
-Like turrets, missile launchers come in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes (for frigates and destroyers; cruisers and battlecruisers; battleships; and capital ships, respectively). Missile launchers do not use capacitor to fire.
+* ''Launcher'': velocity of target, explosion radius of missile, explosion velocity of missile, damage reduction factor
-Within each size there is usually a kind of launcher that fires short-ranged, high-DPS missiles, and a kind of launcher that fires long-ranged missiles that do less DPS. Frigates, for example, can mount rocket launchers -- which fire short-ranged, higher-DPS rockets -- or light missile launchers -- which fire longer-ranged, lower-DPS light missiles.
+The difference, in simple terms, is that launchers will always "hit", but the damage done will vary depending on the size of the target and the speed of the explosion. On the other hand, turrets may miss the target, but a hit will always do at least a basic minimum amount of damage.
-The long-ranged varieties of missiles are 'guided' and the short-ranged varieties of missile are 'unguided'. This distinction isn't ''that'' significant -- you don't have to manually aim rockets!
+It may seem that a 100% chance to hit any target within range is a significant advantage, however this is balanced by other factors, including especially the firing speed of the weapon and the travel time of the damage bundle. In general, launched weapons fire more slowly and take more time to strike their targets, thus leaving their ships more open to retaliation. In any case, you can rest assured that neither type of weapons system has an advantage over the other in and of itself. The advantages arise from the ship bonuses, ship fittings, and pilot skills and experience.
-===Warheads===
+The remainder of this article will deal with the mechanics and characteristics of launcher based weapons systems. These will be compared in general terms that do not provide the details required for fitting. For information about specific missiles and launchers, please refer to the article on [[Fitting Missile Launchers]].
-Each type of missile comes with four different warheads. Each one does one of the four different damage types (electromagnetic, thermal, kinetic and explosive); other than that, they are identical. So, for instance, you can buy Scourge (kinetic), Inferno (thermal), Nova (explosive) and Mjolnir (EM) light missiles.
+<span style="color:#768d31">Note that launcher based damage bundles are often called "missiles", and that this term can refer to any of rockets, missiles, torpedoes and bombs (even though [[bombs]] have an entirely different physical mechanics).  </span>
-Such variety can be bewildering at first, but the warheads are actually color-coded in the images on the market screen and in your cargo hold: blue warheads are EM, red warheads are thermal, green warheads are kinetic and yellow ones are explosive.
+== Missile Range and Launcher Firing Rate ==
+A missile does not so much hit a ship as explode near it. When a missile crosses the [[signature radius]] of its target, it blows up.  The speed at which this explosion grows and the maximum size of the explosion determine the amount of damage done to the target. [[File:Qsm_missile_sigrad.gif‎|frame|right|alt=animation of missile hit|Missile Explodes at Signature Radius]] EVE uses a mathematical equation to compute the precise amount of damage that the explosion does to the ship, thus the details of what happens when a missile hits are somewhat complicated — and these are explained in [[Missile Damage]].
+=== Range ===
+When fired, a missile will leave the launcher, quickly accelerate, and then  proceed at its best speed directly at the target until it runs out of fuel. If it encounters the target during that time, it will explode - otherwise it will vanish. The approximate maximum distance that a missile will travel can be found by multiplying the speed of the missile by the number of seconds that its fuel will last. (''The approximation is due to the slightly slower speed as the missile accelerates at launch. Also, missile travel time is expressed in whole seconds - this can matter when targeting at extreme range''.<ref>If the flight time is a fraction, EVE rounds it up or down. At times, this produces considerable departures from the computed range. See [http://forum.eveuniversity.org/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=95249&p=810154 Interesting fact about missile mechanics] for details.</ref>)
-Faction missiles (like the Caldari Navy Mjolnir) are available and offer a useful increase in DPS for a price. They're unlikely to be worth it in PvE, but if you're flying as a damage-dealer in PvP it's a good idea to invest in one or two magazines' worth of them if you can afford it.
+ Maximum Distance ≈ Speed x Seconds of Fuel
+[[File:QSM_missleHeadsUp.jpg‎|400px|thumb|Missile Launcher On-Screen Pop-Up]]
+For example:
+* A Light Missile has a flight time of 5 seconds at a speed of 3750 m/s. The maximum distance it can travel is 5 x 3750 ≈ 18,750 m.
+* A torpedo has a flight time of 6 seconds at a speed of 1500 m/s. The maximum distance it can travel is 6 x 1500 ≈ 9,000 m.
-====Selecting rat specific warheads====
+This information, along with dps and type of damage, is shown when you move your mouse over the icon for a missile launcher while in space.
-Most ships that focus on missiles for damage generally receive a 5% (higher) damage bonus towards one type of warhead. In the case of the Caldari ships (which are most frequently used) this bonus goes towards kinetic damage. But rats might be weaker against another damage type.
-In the table below it shows the optimal, unbonused, damage type in the second column for each kind of ship. <br>
+Although the terms "range" and "distance" are often used interchangeably, technically, the range answers the question of whether the missile can reach its target: is it "in" or "out" of range? If the target is stationary, then the maximum distance will be the missile's range. Normally, however, the target is moving, and the range depends on this motion.
-The third column shows the relative damage dealt with that damage type taking only resists into account, so no speed or signature radius. (e.g. damage on Frigates is usually lower than on larger ship, but this affects all damage types equally.)<br>
+[[File:QSM_missile_catchyes.gif‎‎|frame|left|alt=missile catching a fleeing target|Missile Catches Fleeing Target]]
-The following columns show the relative damage using Kinetic Missiles at each bonus level.<br>
+[[File:QSM_missile_catchno.gif‎|frame|left|alt=missile fails to catch a fleeing target|Missile Does Not Catch Fleeing Target]]
-The bold cells indicate the % at which the use of Kinetic missiles becomes better, if at any percentage.<br>
+If the target is moving directly away from the missile, then it will take the missile longer to reach the target than it would a stationary one. In fact, if the target is moving fast enough, the missile may not be able to reach it at all - in this case, the target would be considered "out of range." Note that the target does not have to be moving faster than the missile ... just fast enough to stay ahead of the missile until it runs out of fuel.
+If the target is moving directly at the missile, then the missile will reach it much faster than it would reach a stationary target. In this case, the target may be "in range" even when it seems too far away to hit.
-{| cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border="1"
+In most cases, however, the target will be moving in a curve with regard to the missile ship - possibly in an orbit, possibly curving towards or away from the launch. It is hard to specify the range, exactly, in these cases, but as always, the missile will head directly for the target, and it will continue as long as it has fuel. It's path is likely to be some sort of a spiral.
-! Ship type !! Best unbonused !! Relative DPS !! +5% Kinetic !! +10% Kinetic !! +15% Kinetic !! +20% Kinetic !! +25% Kinetic
-|-
+There is no way to control the path of a missile once it has been launched. It will point itself at its target and follow the target until it hits or runs out of fuel.
-||Angel Frigate || Explosive || 94.5 || 89.3 || 94.3 || '''''99.3''''' || 104.3 || 109.3
+ {{clear}}
-|-
+=== Firing Rate ===
-||Angel Cruiser || Explosive || 74.5 || 69.8 || '''''74.8''''' || 79.8 || 84.8 || 89.8
+After a launcher fires its missile, it must rest for a time before it fires again - this is called the "rate of fire". Turrets also have a firing rate, but launchers are much slower.
+{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;font-size:80%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+! scope="col" width="200px" style="background-color:#222222;" text-align:left" | <small>Weapon</small>
+! scope="col" width="80px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (Seconds)</small>
+! scope="col" width="80px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Average Base Damage (HP)</small>
+|-
+| Cruise Missile Launcher|| 21 || 375
+|-
+| Light Missile Launcher|| 16 || 83
+|-
+| 350 mm Railgun (Large)|| 7 || 34
+|-
+| Large Dual Heavy Beam Laser|| 7  || 34
 |-
-||Angel Battlecruiser || Explosive || 69.0 || 65.0 || '''''70.0''''' || 75.0 || 80.0 || 85.0
+| Light Electron Blaster|| 2 || 9
 |-
-||Angel Battleship || Explosive || 55.6 || 50.2 || 55.2 || '''''60.2''''' || 65.2 || 70.2
+| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | <small>Note that values are approximate; for comparison only.</small>
-|-
-||Angel Elite Frigate || Explosive || 60.2 || 53.0 || 58.0 || '''''63.0''''' || 68.0 || 73.0
-|-
-||Angel Elite Cruiser || Explosive || 34.2 || 32.4 || '''''37.4''''' || 42.4 || 47.4 || 52.4
-|-
-||Blood Raider Frigate || EM || 94.4 || 79.6 || 84.6 || 89.6 || '''''94.6''''' || 99.6
-|-
-||Blood Raider Cruiser || EM || ''75.6'' || 60.6|| 65.6 || 70.6 || ''75.6'' || 80.6
-|-
-||Blood Raider Battlecruiser || EM || 69.0 || 55.0 || 60.0 || 65.0 || '''''70.0''''' || 75.0
-|-
-||Blood Raider Battleship || EM || 55.3 || 40.5 || 45.5 || 50.5 || '''''55.5''''' || 60.5
-|-
-||Blood Raider Elite Frigate || EM || 52.0 || 38.4 || 43.4 || 48.4 || '''''53.4''''' || 58.4
-|-
-||Blood Raider Elite Cruiser || EM || 36.0 || 27.4 || 32.4 || '''''37.4''''' || 42.4 || 47.4
-|-
-||Drones Frigate || EM || 94.9 || 80.3 || 85.3 || 90.3 || '''''95.3''''' || 100.3
-|-
-||Drones Cruiser || EM || ''75.3'' || 60.3 || 65.3 || 70.3 || ''75.3'' || 80.3
-|-
-||Drones Battlecruiser || EM || 69.0 || 55.0 || 60 || 65.0 || '''''70.0''''' || 75.0
-|-
-||Drones Battleship || EM || 55.3 || 40.5 || 45.5 || 50.5 || '''''55.5''''' || 60.5
-|-
-||Drones Elite Frigate || EM || ''58.4'' || 43.4 || 48.4 || 53.4 || ''58.4'' || 63.4
-|-
-||Drones Elite Cruiser || EM || 34.2 || 26.2 || 31.2 || '''''36.2''''' || 41.2 || 46.2
-|-
-||Gurista || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic
-|-
-||Mercenaries || Kinetic/Thermal || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic
-|-
-||Sansha Nation|| EM || EM || || || || ||
-|-
-||Serpentis || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || Kinetic || || ||
 |}
+There is a correlation between firing rate and the base weapon damage. In general, launchers fire more slowly, but their missiles do more damage; while turrets depend on a stream of quickly fired, but individually less potent damage bundles.
+Launchers also have a "reload time". This is not the firing rate, but rather the time it takes to reload the launcher after all of its missiles have been fired. When the launcher is empty, it automatically checks the cargo bay and reloads the same missiles if any are available. If none are, it will sit empty. At any time, a pilot can stop the launcher from firing and reload from the cargo bay with the same or different missiles.
-This list is still incomplete and the damage results were observed on non elite ships, which generally have different resist profiles.
+=== Summary ===
+Launcher weapon systems do more damage per hit than turreted systems, but launchers fire slowly compared to turrets, and missiles take much longer to reach their targets.<ref>For example, with a firing time of around 40 seconds, 1400 mm artillery is slower than any launcher. This is a rarity, though.</ref> While damage, firing speed and travel time can be modified by means of [[#Related Skills and Equipment|skills and equipment]], the relationships hold even with these improvements. This has tactical implications. With a low ranged, fast firing turret ship, the pilot wants to get in close and keep the target locked. With a long ranged, slowly firing missile ship, the pilot wants to stay beyond the target's range and go for a slower kill.
-===T2 Missiles===
+== Launcher and Missile Classes and Types ==
+{{ note box | <small>'''Warning''': The data shown here are for general discussions of weapons systems. Some details have been omitted. If you are fitting a ship, it is highly recommended that you use the in-game [[Show Info and Compare Tool|Compare Tool]] to evaluate the relative merits of the various launchers and missiles that you are considering. More detailed data are also listed in [[Fitting Missile Launchers]].</small> | italics = yes }}
-Just as there are T2 ammo types that only T2 turrets can fire, so there are T2 missiles that only T2 launchers can fire.
+Each launcher class can launch missiles of that class. E.g., Light Missile Launchers launch Light Missiles, as do Rapid Light Missile Launchers. Heavy Assault Missile Launchers launch Heavy Assault Missiles. Torpedo Launchers launch Torpedoes. And so on. Different types of launchers within the class vary the firing rate and other characteristics of the launchers. Typically the Tech 1 Arbalest, Limos and Malkuth launchers, as well as the Tech 2 launchers, use less CPU, have faster firing rates and are less prone to damage from overheating.
-Unguided T2 missiles come in two varieties: Javelin and Rage. (These names appear within the missile name on the market, so you would look for a Inferno Javelin Rocket or a Inferno Rage Rocket.) Javelin missiles have a better range (see below for an explanation of missile range) but reduced damage, and loading them reduces your ship's maximum speed. Rage missiles do more damage but have a shorter range, and loading them increases your ship's [[Signature|signature radius]].
+Each variety of EVE damage is available for each missile type. <span style="color:#fa8d84"> Inferno</span>, <span style="color:#71c4f8">Mjolnir</span>, <span style="color:#f8e97c">Nova</span> and <span style="color:#73dc76">Scourge</span> apply <span style="color:#fa8d84">thermal</span>, <span style="color:#71c4f8">EM</span>, <span style="color:#f8e97c">explosive</span> and <span style="color:#73dc76">kinetic</span> damage, in that order. A given missile will apply only one variety of damage, and each missile category does the same number of hit points of damage.
-Guided T2 missiles also come in two varieties: Precision and Fury. (Again, this means on the market you look for Mjolnir Precision Light Missiles and Mjolnir Fury Light Missiles, for example.) Precision missiles have an easier time hurting smaller targets, but they have lower ranges and damage than their T1 equivalents, and loading them reduces your ship's maximum speed. Fury missiles do more damage but at a somewhat reduced range, and loading them increases your ship's signature radius.
+Other missile types vary the flight time, base damage (hit points), and other characteristics of the missile.
+*Guristas, Caldari Navy and Dread Guristas missiles are little different from standard missiles except that they have higher base damage; Guristas least, and Dread Guristas most.
+*"Advanced" missile types come in sets:
+:# ''Precision versus Fury'': Precision missiles have a faster, smaller explosion and will do more damage to a small, fast target - while Fury missiles, with their larger, slower explosions do more damage against larger, slower targets.
+:# ''Long Range versus Anti-ship'': Javelin long range missiles travel considerably farther than their Rage counterparts; but the Rage missiles have a significantly larger base damage.
+{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:80%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+|+ ''<small>The data here is from Rockets and Light Missiles, but the ratios hold for all the missile types.</small>''
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | Missile
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | Flight Time
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | Velocity
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | Explosion Radius
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | Explosion Velocity
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | Base Damage
+|-
+| Standard Missile|| 5.0 || 3,750 || 40 || 170  || 83
+|-
+| Precision Missile|| 2.5 || 3,750 || 25 || 204  || 83
+|-
+| Fury Missile|| 3.75 || 3,750 || 69 || 143 || 116
+|-
+| Standard Rocket|| 2.0 || 2,250 || 20 || 150 || 33
+|-
+| Javelin Rocket|| 2.0 || 3,275 || 20 || 150 || 29.7
+|-
+| Rage Rocket||  2.0 || 1,875 || 30 || 129 || 44.6
+|}
-==Missile Characteristics==
+A launcher class and its associated missiles can be thought of as a ''weapons system'', each of which fits best in a particular group of ships. Launchers require high power slots as well as launcher hardpoints. The power drain generally puts a lower bound on the ship size for each launcher class. Typically:
+* light and rocket launchers go in frigates and destroyers
+* rapid light, heavy and heavy assault launchers go in cruisers and battlecruisers
+* rapid heavy, torpedo and cruise launchers go in battleships
+* citadel launchers go in capital ships
+* torpedo launchers also go in T2 frigate [[Stealth Bombers]], which have specialized attributes to accommodate them.
-===Range===
+(''Note that while [[bombs]] are fired from bomb launchers, they are unguided, area-of-effect weapons whose mechanics are not really comparable to missiles and turreted weapons''.)
-Missile '''range''' is simpler than turret range, because missiles don't have a combination of optimal and falloff, but it's also less obvious, because you don't see a figure for it when you show info on your missiles. You can get a rough (over)estimate of missile range by multiplying the missile's '''Max Velocity''' figure (in meters-per-second) with its '''Max Flight Time''' (in seconds) -- so a missile that flies for 10s at 3,000m/s will have a range of about 30,000m, or 30km.
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;  margin: 2em auto 1em auto; border: 3px solid darkgreen;"
+|+ '''SUMMARY'''
+|- style="height: 80px;"
+|style="background-color:#222222; padding-left: 2em;padding-right: 2em; "|<small>'''SHIP''' fits '''LAUNCHER''' which fits '''MISSILE''' that comes in TYPES (Guristas, Rage, Precision, etc.) that comes in DAMAGE VARIETIES (EM, thermal, kinetic, explosive)</small>
+|}
-Velocity and flight time will be modified by your skills ([[Missile Launchers#Missile Support Skills|see below]]) and possibly by ship bonuses too (the [[Caracal]], for example, has a per-level bonus to missile velocity).
-However, missiles don't generally fly straight in one direction to hit a stationary target. If your target is not staying still your missiles must chase them around, which may reduce their range somewhat. Furthermore, missiles aren't launched at their top speed -- they have to accelerate for a bit, which also reduces their range.
+The following tables list launcher systems in terms of the ships into which they are usually fitted.  Note that some details are missing - for a complete listing of the characteristics of a launcher or missile, use the in-game [[Show Info and Compare Tool|Show Info]] window. See [[Fitting Missile Launchers]] for more details on specific launcher types. T1 ships with bonuses for launchers and/or missiles are also listed. For information on T2 and T3 ships, please read [[Missile Ships]].
-The [[Eve Fitting Tool]] can give you an estimated range with your skills.
+=== Frigate and Destroyer Based ===
+''T1 bonused ships''
+* Frigates: [[Condor]], [[Kestrel]], [[Breacher]]
+* Destroyers: [[Corax]], [[Talwar]]
-===Damage===
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+|+ <small>''Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.''</small>
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Launcher</span>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Missile Type</span>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Flight Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Velocity (m/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Radius (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Velocity (m/s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Rocket_Launchers Rocket]|| 4 || 5 || 10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Rockets:Standard_Rockets Rocket]  || 2 || 2,250 || 20 || 150 || 33
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Light_Missile_Launchers Light Missile]|| 6 || 16 || 10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Light_Missiles Light]  || 5 || 3,750 || 40 || 150 || 83
+|}
-Every missile has a base figure for damage. Pilot skills and ship bonuses will bump up the raw damage of the missile when it's loaded into a launcher. It also has an '''explosion velocity''' (in m/s) and an '''explosion radius''' (in meters). When it hits a target, these figures interact with the target's '''velocity''' (also in m/s) and '''[[Signature|signature radius]]''' (also in meters) to determine the real damage dealt.
+=== Cruiser and Battlecruiser Based ===
+''T1 Bonused Ships''
+* Cruisers: [[Caracal]], [[Bellicose]], [[Sacrilege]]
+* Battlecruisers: [[Drake]], [[Cyclone]]
-If the target's signature radius is ''smaller'' than the missile's explosion radius, there will be a penalty to the missile's damage. There is no damage bonus when the target's signature radius is ''larger'' than the missile's explosion radius, however -- this is mostly a mechanism to make sure that the missiles used by large ships aren't too effective against small ships.
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+|+ <small>''Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.''</small>
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Launcher</span>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Missile Type</span>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Flight Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Velocity (m/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Radius (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Velocity (m/s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Rapid_Light_Missile_Launchers Rapid Light Missile]|| 73 ||7.8 ||35 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Light_Missiles Light]  || 5 || 3,750 || 40 || 150 || 83
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Heavy_Assault_Launchers Heavy Assault Missile]|| 108 ||8 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Heavy_Assault_Missiles Heavy Assault]  || 4 || 2,250 || 125 || 101 || 100
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Heavy_Launchers Heavy Missile]|| 100 ||15 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Heavy_Missiles Heavy]  || 6.5 || 4,300 || 140 || 81 || 142
+|}
-Target Painters aimed at the target, various modules such as shield extenders and active Microwarpdrives fitted on the target can increase the target's signature radius. Rigor Catalyst rigs will reduce your missiles' explosion radius. The previously-mentioned Guided Missile Precision skill reduces the explosion radius of your guided missiles (but not your unguided ones).
+Note: Rapid Light Launchers have an unusually long reload time.
-If the target's velocity is ''higher'' than the missile's explosion velocity there will be a penalty to the missile's damage. Again, there is no damage bonus when the target's velocity is ''lower'' than the missile's explosion velocity.
+=== Battleship Based ===
+''T1 Bonused Ships''
+* Battleships: [[Raven]], [[Typhoon]]
-Stasis webifiers will slow a target down. You can also fit Flare Catalyst rigs to increase your missiles' explosion velocity. [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Target_Navigation_Prediction Target Navigation Prediction] will reduce the effect of your target's velocity.
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+|+ <small>''Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.''</small>
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Launcher</span>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Missile Type</span>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Flight Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Velocity (m/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Radius (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Velocity (m/s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Rapid_Heavy_Missile_Launchers Rapid Heavy Missile]|| 960 || 6.48 || 35 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Heavy_Missiles Heavy]  || 6.5 || 4,300 || 140 || 81 || 142
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Cruise_Launchers Cruise Missile]|| 1,450 ||20.68 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Cruise_Missiles Cruise]  || 14 || 4,700 || 330 || 69 || 375
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Torpedo_Launchers Torpedo]|| 1,750 ||18 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Torpedoes Torpedo]  || 6 || 1,500 || 450 || 71 || 450
+|}
-Both potential damage penalties are calculated and only the largest penalty is applied. For example, if a target ships velocity is generating a penalty greater than it's signature radius adding addition Target Painters will have no effect on the damage. To hit for full damage it is necessary for the target to have BOTH a signature radius equal or larger than the missiles explosion radius and a velocity lower than  the missiles explosion velocity. A more detailed explaination is available under [http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Missile_Damage Missile Damage]
+Notes:
+* Rapid Heavy Launchers have an unusually long reload time.
+* Each race has a T2 Frigate class [[Stealth Bomber]] ([[Manticore]], [[Hound]], [[Purifier]], [[Nemesis]]) that has a 99.65% reduction in Torpedo Launcher powergrid requirements. These ships are also bonused for torpedo damage and stealth.
-==Kinds of Missiles==
+=== Capital Ship Based ===
-In the tables all figures are base figures for the standard T1 missile, ''not'' modified by any pilot skills or ship bonuses. The figure for refire rate is included because sometimes the difference in DPS between short- and long-ranged varieties of missile is in the rate of fire not the pure damage. The figure is the base refire rate of the vanilla T1 Meta 0 launcher.
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+|+ <small>''Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.''</small>
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Launcher</span>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Missile Type</span>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Flight Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Velocity (m/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Radius (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Velocity (m/s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Citadel_Launchers Citadel Cruise] || 100,000 ||35.20 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Citadel_Cruise_Missiles%20 Citadel Cruise]  || 15 || 5,700 || 2,000 || 40 || 1,500
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Citadel_Launchers Citadel Torpedo] || 100,000 || 25.50 || 10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Citadel_Torpedoes Citadel Torpedo]  || 7.5 || 3,500 || 3,000 || 35 || 2,000
+|}
-===Small===
+=== Specialized ===
-{| border="1"
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
-! Missile !! Flight Time (s) !! Max Speed (m/s) !! Damage !! Exp. Velocity (m/s) !! Exp. Radius (m) !! Refire Rate (s)
+|+ <small>''Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.''</small>
-|-
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Launcher</span>
-||Rocket || 2 || 2250 || 33 || 150 || 20 || 5
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
-|-
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
-||Light Missile || 5 || 3750 || 83 || 170 || 40 || 16/7.8†
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Missile Type</span>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Flight Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Velocity (m/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Radius (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Velocity (m/s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Light_Missile_Launchers Light] Missile|| 6 || 16 || 10 ||  [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Defender Light Defender]  || 10 || 8000 || - || - || 60
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Heavy_Launchers Heavy] Missile|| 100 ||15 ||10 ||  [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Defender Heavy Defender]  || 10 || 7,500 || - || - || 74
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Light_Missile_Launchers Light] Missile || 6 || 16 || 10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Auto-Targeting:Standard_Auto-Targeting Auto-Targeting Light]  ||  5 || 3,750 || 40 || 170 || 62
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Heavy_Launchers Heavy] Missile || 100 ||15 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Auto-Targeting:Standard_Auto-Targeting Auto-Targeting Heavy]  || 6.5 || 4,300 || 81 || 140 || 107
+|-
+| [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Missile_Launchers:Cruise_Launchers Cruise] Missile || 1,450 ||20.68 ||10 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Missiles:Auto-Targeting:Standard_Auto-Targeting Auto-Targeting Cruise]  || 14 || 4,700 || 69 || 330 || 281
+|-
+|  [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Bomb_Launchers Bomb] || 10 ||10 || 160 || [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ammunition_&_Charges:Bombs Bomb]  || 12 || 2,500 || - || - || 6,400
 |}
-† Light missiles can be loaded in Light Missile Launchers or Rapid Light Missile Launchers. RLMLs are cruiser-sized anti-frigate launchers: they fit on cruisers and battlecruisers, but fire light missiles. They fire faster than Light Missile Launchers, but have a long (35s) reload time.
+Notes
+* When fired, a ''Defender Missile'' will target an enemy '''missile''' that has been launched at your ship. Defenders kill one missile at a time and are more likely to hit missiles fired at you from long range. Defenders are generally considered to be of less value than offensive missiles fitted into the same launcher.
+* When fired, an ''Auto-Targeting Missile'' will locate and target the nearest enemy ship or drone which has previously fired on you. Since they cannot be aimed, auto-targeting missiles are usually passed over in favor of regular missiles.
+* ''Bombs'' are included here for reference. Although they are launched, bombs are unguided, area of effect weapons. They do not follow the mechanics of missiles and have [[bombs|their own wiki page]].
-* Light Missile Launchers work well in Level 1 missions on a [[Kestrel]]. In PvP the Kestrel and the [[Crow]] can try to use the range of light missiles to kite other frigates.
+== Related Skills and Equipment ==
-* Rapid Light Missile Launchers ("RLMLs") go very nicely on a [[Caracal]] to make an anti-frigate platform for Level 2 missions, or for frigate-hunting in PvP. They are also sometimes fitted as supplementary weapons on [[Rupture]]s and [[Hurricane]]s.
-===Medium===
+===Skills===
+The [[Fitting_Guidelines#Train_fitting_skills| standard fitting skills]], and the general [[targeting]] skills — especially {{sk|Signature Analysis}}, {{sk|Target Management}}, and {{sk|Long Range Targeting}} — are essential to the use of missile launchers. Navigation skills that improve the velocity or maneuverability of your ship will also be useful: {{sk|Navigation}}, {{sk|Evasive Maneuvering}}, {{sk|Fuel Conservation}}, and {{sk|High Speed Maneuvering}}. Since most missile ships depend on shield tanks, you might also want to beef up your basic shield skills: {{sk|Shield Compensation}}, {{sk|Shield Management}}, and {{sk|Shield Operation}}.
-{| border="1"
+In addition, Eve offers pilots a number of skills specific to launched weapons systems. If you are new to missiles, train these at least to Level 3, and train higher in the ones that seem most useful to you.
-! Missile !! Flight Time (s) !! Max Speed (m/s) !! Damage !! Exp. Velocity (m/s) !! Exp. Radius (m) !! Refire Rate (s)
-|-
+==== Primary Missile Skills ====
-||Heavy Assault Missile || 4 || 2250 || 100 || 101 || 125 || 8
+There are [[Skills:Missiles|eight specific missile skills]], one for each class of missile. Each of the basic skills will let you load and fire that class of missile. In addition, each level of the skill will improve your damage by 5% when using that particular class of missile. These are somewhat cumulative - that is, you need LIght Missiles III to train Heavy Missiles, and Heavy Missiles III to train Cruise Missiles ... and other dependencies apply.
-|-
-||Heavy Missile || 6.5 || 4300 || 135 || 81 || 140 || 15/6.5†
+Various levels of Missile Launcher Operation are needed to train these primary skills, and since Missile Launcher Operation gives a bonus to firing rate (which is essentially a DPS bonus), it makes sense to train it quickly to Level III and eventually to Level V.
-|}
-† Heavy missiles can be loaded in Heavy Missile Launchers or Rapid Heavy Missile Launchers. RHMLs are basttleship-sized anti-cruiser launchers: they fit on battleships, but fire heavy missiles. They fire faster than Heavy Missile Launchers, but have a long (35s) reload time.
+{{example | Example: The Primary Skill For Light Missiles
-* Heavy Assault Missile ("HAM") Launchers have high fitting requirements, so high that once you've used a Caracal's rig and low slots to get enough grid and CPU to fit them, you don't get very good DPS. They work well on a PvP Drake, however. The [[Sacrilege]] [[Cruiser#Heavy Assault Cruisers|HAC]] has bonuses specifically for HAMs.
+[[File:Light missile 64 bit icon.png]] '''Light Missiles'''
-* Heavy Missile Launchers ("Heavies", "HMLs") are the standard weapon for Level 3-running Drakes. The [[Cerberus]] HAC can use them to snipe, sort-of.
-===Large===
+[[Image:Implants.png|link=|16px]] ''Attributes'':	Perception, Willpower
-{| border="1"
+[[Image:Multiplier.png|link=|16px]] ''Multiplier'':	2x
-! Missile !! Flight Time (s) !! Max Speed (m/s) !! Damage !! Exp. Velocity (m/s) !! Exp. Radius (m) !! Refire Rate (s)
-|-
-||Torpedo || 6 || 1500 || 450 || 71 || 450 || 18
-|-
-||Cruise Missile || 14 || 4700 || 375 || 69 || 330 || 20.7
-|}
-* Torpedo Launchers ("Torps"), the launchers for torpedoes are fitted on PvP [[Raven]]s for close-up DPS, and on [[Typhoon]]s for an armor-[[Spider Tanking|RR]]-capable missile platform. The [[Golem]] [[Battleship#Marauders|marauder]] has bonuses which let it use torpedoes with long ranges in PvE.
+[[Image:Isk.png|link=|16px]] ''Price'':	20k ISK
-* The [[Frigate#Stealth Bombers|stealth bombers]] are T2 frigates with special fitting bonuses which let them fit Torpedo Launchers for high-alpha surprise attacks. Since [[Bombs|bombs]] can't be used in [[System_Security#Empire_Space|empire space]] this is the stealth bomber's only weapon in highsec and lowsec.
-* Cruise Missile Launchers are the PvE weapons for the Raven and in some unusual PvE Typhoon fits.
-===Extra Large===
+[[Image:Skill.png|link=|16px]] ''Prerequisites'':	Missile Launcher Operation II
-{| border="1"
+[[Image:Skill.png|link=|16px]] ''I required for'':	T1 and Faction charges
-! Missile !! Flight Time (s) !! Max Speed (m/s) !! Damage !! Exp. Velocity (m/s) !! Exp. Radius (m) !! Refire Rate (s)
-|-
-||Citadel Torpedo || 15 || 1,750 || 2,000 || 20 || 2,000 || 34
-|-
-||Citadel Cruise Missile || 20 || 4,250 || 1,500 || 29 || 1,750 || 44
-|}
-* These are for capital ships, particularly the [[Phoenix]] [[Capital Ship#Dreadnoughts|dreadnought]]. They can be supplementary weapons on the [[Leviathan]] [[Capital Ship#Titans|titan]]. Like other XL weapons, they are good against stationary installations and other capital ships, but struggle to hurt battleships and anything smaller.
+[[Image:Skill.png|link=|16px]] ''III required for'':	Heavy Assault Missiles I; Heavy Missiles I
-===Defender Missiles===
+[[Image:Skill.png|link=|16px]] ''V required for'':	T2 charges; Light Missile Specialization I
-Defender missiles are anti-missile missiles. There is only [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Defender_I one kind], which can be loaded in any missile launcher. Defenders only target missiles fired at the ship that launches them. They always target the closest of incoming missiles. They have a base speed of 7,500m/s and a base flight time of 10s.
+}}
-Defenders are unpopular and not very useful. This is because:
+*Note the prerequisite items near the bottom. You cannot, for example, train Light Missiles until you have trained Missile Launcher Operation to Level 2. You cannot use T1 or Faction missiles until you train Light Missiles to Level 1, and you cannot use T2 missiles until you train Light Missiles to Level 5.
-* PvE rats usually don't major on missiles.
+*Most pilots train the primary skills for Rockets and Light Missiles at least to Level III first, and then move on to larger missiles and launchers as they move to larger ships.
-* Defenders have a better chance to intercept long range missiles which spend more time arriving, but most uses of missiles in PvP involve short range missiles.
-* If there's a group of missiles from grouped missile launchers, defenders attack the missiles one by one rather than attacking the whole stack.
-So loading defenders tends to be less efficient than simply loading damage-dealing missiles and trying to kill the enemy before they kill you. Agony Unleashed have, however, [http://www.eve-ivy.com/forums//viewtopic.php?p=255185#p255185 reportedly] found that a defender launcher on an interceptor can help it to stay alive a little longer while holding a missile ship down.
-=== Auto-Targeting Missiles  ===
+==== Launcher Support Skills ====
+These skills apply to missile launchers. They increase firing rate and damage, and they improve the accuracy of missiles against smaller, faster targets.
+*{{sk|Missile Launcher Operation}} 2% Bonus to missile launcher rate of fire per skill level. This gives a bonus to DPS — and it is <span style="color:#eeffcc"> a prerequisite for many other missile skills.</span> Train this one first.
+*{{sk|Missile Bombardment}} 10% more flight time for all missiles per level. If you are planning to use a long range or "kiting" strategy, train this higher.
+*{{sk|Guided Missile Precision}} 5% decreased factor of signature radius for all missile explosions per level of skill. Proficiency at this skill increases the accuracy of a fired missile's exact point of impact, resulting in greater damage to small targets.
+*{{sk|Missile Projection}} 10% bonus to all missiles' maximum velocity per level. Another range increase that is especially useful for "kiting".
+*{{sk|Rapid Launch}} 3% bonus to missile launcher rate of fire per level. Essentially, a DPS increase. Train this one to Level V.
+*{{sk|Target Navigation Prediction}} 10% decrease per level in factor of target's velocity for all missiles. As with Guided Missile Precision, this makes missiles more effective against small targets.
+*{{sk|Warhead Upgrades}} 2% bonus to all missile damage per skill level. Another DPS increase, smaller than Rapid Launch, but still worth training.
-Auto-Targeting (previously referred to as Friend or Foe (FoF)) missiles, found under 'auto-targeting' in the market menus, are missiles which don't rely on locked targets in order to fire. When activated, they will fire on the nearest hostile (ship/drone which has aggressed you).
+==== Missile Specialization Skills ====
+Some missile classes also have a "Specialization" skill. This gives you access to T2 launchers and missiles, and it provides a 2% bonus per level to the rate of fire of modules that require the specialization.
+*[[Skills:Missiles#Rockets_and_light_missiles|Rockets and Light Missiles]]
+*[[Skills:Missiles#Heavy_Missiles|Heavy Missiles]]
+*[[Skills:Missiles#Cruise_Missiles_and_Torpedoes|Cruise Missiles and Torpedoes]]
-Auto-Targeting missiles will only activate successfully if there are suitable targets within range. Auto-Targeting missiles will not fire if there are no suitable targets within range, and they cannot be run "hot" in preparation.
+=== Equipment ===
+Widely used equipment is listed here. See [[Fitting Missile Launchers]] for the full list.
-Auto-Targeting missiles will not fire on a cloaked ship. Auto-Targeting missiles will fire on a decloaked ship if it previously aggressed you, without waiting for them to re-aggress.
+[https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Turrets_&_Bays:Weapon_Upgrades:Ballistic_Control_Systems Ballistic Control Systems] are passive, low slot modules which increase missile damage and rate of fire. Stacking penalties apply, but many larger ships still fit three of them. [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Equipment:Electronic_Warfare:Target_Painters Target Painters] increase the signature radius of a target and make it easier to hit.
-There are only Auto-Targeting versions of the three guided kinds of missile -- light, heavy and cruise missiles -- which can be loaded into their corresponding launchers. Each version comes with the usual four different warheads for four different kinds of damage.
+[https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Modifications:Rigs:Missile_Launcher_Rigs Missile Launcher Rigs] come in four sizes, one for each sized launcher. All of the rigs have an increase in cpu use as their penalty. The Bay Loading Accelerator increases the rate of fire, the Hydraulic Bay Thrusters increase missile velocity, and the Warhead Calefaction Catalyst increases missile damage. Also of potential use are the [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Ship_Modifications:Rigs:Targeting_Rigs Targeting Rigs], especially the Small Ionic Field Projector, which increases targeting range.
-{| border="1"
+== Tactics and Strategy ==
-|-
-! Missile
-! Flight Time (s)
-! Max Speed (m/s)
-! Damage
-! Exp. Velocity (m/s)
-! Exp. Radius (m)
-|-
-| Auto-Targeting Light Missile
-| 5
-| 3750
-| 62
-| 170
-| 40
-|-
-| Auto-Targeting Heavy Missile
-| 6.5
-| 4300
-| 102
-| 81
-| 140
-|-
-| Auto-Targeting Cruise Missile
-| 14
-| 4700
-| 281
-| 69
-| 330
-|}
-As you can see, Auto-Targeting missiles have the same flight characteristics and explosion profiles as their normal cousins, but do a bit less damage.
-Auto-Targeting missiles are rarely useful, but they can help if you can't target because of [[EWar 101 Guide#Electronic_Counter_Measures_.28ECM.29|ECM jamming]] or (more rarely) [[EWar 101 Guide#Remote_Sensor_Dampening_.28damps.2C_RSD.29|sensor dampeners]], particularly if you only have a few enemies (the fewer enemies you have, the better the chance that your Auto-Targeting missiles will hit the one you want them to hit).
-==Missiles' Role==
-===PvE: Dominance===
-Missiles, on Caldari ships, are very popular for PvE combat. Unlike almost all other weapon systems in Eve they can not only switch between any of the four damage types, but also purely deal only one damage type. It is therefore very easy to target [[NPC_Damage_Types#A_brief_Summary_of_NPC_Damage_Types|the weaknesses]] of NPC enemies with missiles.
-Furthermore, missiles are simple to use: with no falloff they are either in range or out of range and, while target speed and signature radius can affect their damage, they don't require that pilots think about tracking and angular velocity.
+=== Turrets versus Launchers ===
+It is difficult to compare qualitatively different weapons systems based on technical specifications. For example, here are two close range systems that are often mounted on Frigates.
+{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+|+ <small>''Based on T1, Level I equipment ... for comparison only. Use in-game data for fitting.''</small>
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Launcher</span>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Missile Type</span>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Flight Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Velocity (m/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Radius (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="90px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Explosion Velocity (m/s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="80px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| Rocket|| 4 || 5 || 10 || Rocket || 2 || 2,250 || 20 || 150 || 33
+|}
+ {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
+! scope="col" width="150px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <span style="color:#bfbb7d">Turret</span>
+! scope="col" width="50px" style="background-color:#222222;"  | <small>Power (MW)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Firing Rate (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Reload Time (s)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Optimal Range (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="70px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Falloff (m)</small>
+! scope="col" width="90px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Tracking Speed (rad/s) </small>
+! scope="col" width="60px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Damage Modifier</small>
+! scope="col" width="100px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <span style="color:#bfbb7d"> Charge</span>
+! scope="col" width="80px" style="background-color:#222222;" | <small>Base Damage (hp)</small>
+|-
+| Ion Blaster|| 4 || 2 || 5 || 1,000 || 1,500 || 0.438 ||1.8 || Lead  ||   8
+|}
-It's probably inaccurate to say that missiles are plain ''better'' than guns for PvE, but guns may require more training time to become as effective.
+{|
+|-
+|The first problem is that although both systems function by delivering damage at a distance, the turret's primary effectiveness is based in the blaster, while the launcher's primary effectiveness is based in the rocket. And it is very hard to compare the tracking speed, optimal range and falloff of the one with the flight time, explosion radius and explosion speed of the other. <br\><br\>In addition, the chart cannot take into account the ability of the pilot to keep the blaster within tracking range on the one hand, nor the ability of the pilot to evade damage while the rockets travel to the target on the other. <br\><br\>Consequently, the decision to use rockets over blasters or vice-versa should not depend on a comparison of the two weapons systems, but rather on a comparison of pilot and ship abilities. Does your ship have bonuses for one  type of system or the other? Is it better suited for an armor tank (''blasters'') or shields (''rockets'')? And does the pilot have roughly the same skills in rockets as in blasters?<br\><br\> The bottom line: don't waste time debating over weapons systems. Improve your skills, find a ship that matches, and then find the right fit for that ship. || {{example | As an example, consider the T2 Caldari [[Hawk]] Assault Frigate.
-===PvP: The Delayed Damage Problem===
+{{ShipFitting|
+ship=Hawk|
+shipTypeID=11379|
+fitName=Solo and Small Gang PvP Hawk|
+fitID=-quot-Standard-quot--Dual-MASB-Hawk|
+high1name=150mm Light AutoCannon II|
+high1typeID=2881|
+high2name=Rocket Launcher II|
+high2typeID=10631|
+high3name=Rocket Launcher II|
+high3typeID=10631|
+high4name=Rocket Launcher II|
+high4typeID=10631|
+high5name=Rocket Launcher II|
+high5typeID=10631|
+mid1name=1MN Afterburner II|
+mid1typeID=438|
+mid2name=X5 Prototype Engine Enervator|
+mid2typeID=4025|
+mid3name=J5b Phased Prototype Warp Scrambler I|
+mid3typeID=5439|
+mid4name=Medium Ancillary Shield Booster|
+mid4typeID=32772|
+mid5name=Medium Ancillary Shield Booster|
+mid5typeID=32772|
+low1name=Nanofiber Internal Structure II|
+low1typeID=2605|
+low2name=Pseudoelectron Containment Field I|
+low2typeID=5837|
+charge1name=Cap Booster 50 x1|
+charge1typeID=264|
+charge2name=EMP S x1|
+charge2typeID=185|
+charge3name=Scourge Rage Rocket x1|
+charge3typeID=24471|
+charge4name=open|
+charge5name=open|
+rig1name=Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I|
+rig1typeID=31716|
+rig2name=Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I|
+rig2typeID=31716|
+difficulty=2|
+warsop=A|
+warsopReason=|
+version=ODY 1.0|
+shipDNA=11379:2881;1:10631;4:438;1:4025;1:5439;1:32772;2:2605;1:5837;1:31716;2::|
+skills=|
+notes=The Hawk is an excellent solo brawler, capable of taking on virtually any ship smaller than a cruiser at short range. You will usually want to activate one MASB at a time, as it will restore almost the entirety of your shield in one activation thanks to the Hawk's bonus.</li><li>As fitted, with all skills at V and before boosts, this ship has 5.8 K EHP, flies at 924 m/s (1199 m/s with AB on overheat) and align in 5.1 s (3.6 s with AB off). The ship signature radius is 42.7 m</li><li>Damage is 201 dps within 12.7 km, but the ship can repair 413 EHP/s indefinitely (or as long as it carries cap boosters)}}
-Missiles take time to travel to their target, while gun turrets deal damage as soon as they fire (assuming they hit). This means that, particularly in large fleets, long range missiles can arrive too late, after the volley damage from all the turret ships has already destroyed the primary target. In long-range battles between similarly-sized large fleets, missile ships are often therefore asked to shoot the enemy's support ships rather than following the primary and secondary targets.
+The ship does well at solo PvP. It has five mid slots, which favors shields, as does its bonus to shield boosters. However, the pilot will need high level skills in a number of areas to be able to fly this ship.
+}}
+|}
-This has given rise to the belief that missiles are useless in PvP, which isn't true. Short-ranged missiles which don't have much travel time anyway suffer less from delayed damage, which explains the prevalance of HAM Drakes, torp Ravens and torp Typhoons (the latter in RR gangs, since Ravens don't armor-tank well). Gangs of stealth bombers can achieve impressive ganks using torpedoes, and the AML Caracal is very good at killing frigates or forcing them away from a fleet. Missiles aren't useless in PvP, though they perhaps have more specialized and niche applications than standard gun turrets.
+=== Damage and Range ===
+Missile weapons are best at doing damage to larger, slower targets at longer range. This is not to say that a pilot cannot kill small, fast targets with the right missiles, or that there are no short range missile boats. Rather, the most common applications of launcher fitted ships tend to be as a longer range, heavy damage weapon.
-==Missile Support Skills==
+==== Fleet Roles ====
-Besides the skills which let you use missiles and their launchers themselves, Eve has a number of support skills which make your missiles more effective. Any pilot serious about using missiles should train these skills.
+As noted in the article on [[Missile Damage]]:
-*{{sk|Missile Bombardment}} 10% more flight time for all missiles per level (effectively a range increase).
+{{Color box | color=#222222 | border=#ffeeee | While a missile can apply up to 100% of the Base Damage to a ship in some situations, damage is often reduced by two factors:
-*{{sk|Missile Launcher Operation}} 2% reduced refire time for all launchers per level. A useful bonus to DPS and a prerequisite for other useful skills.
+* If the target ship is moving faster than the explosion velocity of the missile. Think of this as a fast ship being able to somewhat outrun the explosion.
-*{{sk|Guided Missile Precision}} Target sig radius has 5% less influence on the damage of all missile types per level. Great when you want to hurt smaller ships.
+* If the signature radius of the target ship is smaller than explosion radius of the missile. Think of this as a small ship flying through a large explosion and only being hit by a part of it. }}
-*{{sk|Missile Projection}} 10% faster missiles per level. Another range increase.
-*{{sk|Rapid Launch}} 3% reduced refire time per level. Useful DPS increase.
-*{{sk|Target Navigation Prediction}} 10% reduction per level in the influence of target's velocity on your damage, for all missiles (guided and unguided). Also great for hurting smaller ships.
-*{{sk|Warhead Upgrades}} 2% more damage per level. Another useful DPS increase.
-Skills which, although not filed under Missiles on the Character Sheet, are still very useful for missile users include:
+Because of this missiles are usually most effective against bigger, slower targets. To this end, missile ships often find themselves in the "sniper" role, assigned to picking off specific targets (''such as logistics vessels'') in the enemy fleet. In small fleet encounters there may be few, if any, such targets, and the encounter may in fact be over before the missile ship's damage begins to matter. As a result, missile ships are most often found in larger fleets.<ref>There do exist doctrines for entire fleets of missile ships. Fleets of [[Stealth Bombers]], for example, are common, and there is even an E-UNI group, the [[UniBombers]], dedicated to this style of combat.</ref>
-* The [[Fitting_Guidelines#Train_fitting_skills|fitting skills]], which will make it easier to fit launchers (especially the powergrid- and CPU-hungry T2 launchers) onto your ship.
+==== Kiting ====
-* Targeting skills. {{sk|Signature Analysis}} lets you lock the enemy faster and is important for any combat pilot. {{sk|Target Management}} lets you queue more targets. {{sk|Long Range Targeting}} lets you target at longer ranges.
+As a strategy "kiting" is a plan to engage the enemy from a distance, always fleeing just fast enough to stay outside of the enemy's range while remaining inside your own range. Since kiting ships need speed and longer ranged weapons, shield tanked missile boats are good for this approach.
-==Related Modules==
+As a tactic, kiting requires a "hit and run" mentality. You want to approach your target until you are close enough to shoot, fire your missile, and watch. If the enemy flees, you want to pursue; if the enemy attacks, you want to flee ... at a speed approximately the same or a bit more than the enemy ... firing all the time. Because missiles will chase the target without any further guidance from your ship, you are not restricted to any particular flight path. You simply want to be sure that your missiles will have time to reach the target.
-There are a few modules and rigs which affect missiles.
-* Missile Guidance Computers – these are active, scriptable, mid slot modules that give bonuses to missile velocity, missile flight time, explosion radius of missiles, and explosion velocity of missiles. Using ‘Missile Precision Script’ or ‘Missile Range Script’ you can double the bonus to either range or application, sacrificing the other.
+PvE enemies tend to be rather fanatical, locking on when they see you and never giving up. This makes kiting a popular strategy when running Missions. It takes longer to kill the NPCs, and the resulting loot can be scattered over a wide area, but your ship will take relatively little damage, and since you are already running, if you decide to break off, it is usually easy to get away.
-* Ballistic Control Systems - these are passive, low slot modules which increase missile damage and rate of fire.
-* Missile Guidance Enhancers – these are passive, low slot modules that give bonuses to missile velocity, missile flight time, explosion radius of missiles, and explosion velocity of missiles.
-There are also numerous rigs which affect missiles, all at the cost of increased CPU requirements for launchers.
+PvP is much more difficult in this regard. Inexperienced pilots may chase you to their deaths, but experienced pilots will just let you run. PvP kiting is more likely to show up in gangs of fast ships that hit and run from multiple directions at once ... a kind of "[[wolfpack]]" attack that leaves their target unable to either run or close on a target.
-* Bay Loading Accelerator - Increases missile launchers' rate of fire.
+== Footnotes and References ==
-* Hydraulic Bay Thrusters - Increases missile velocity.
+{{reflist}}
-* Rocket Fuel Cache Partition - Increases missile flight time.
-* Warhead Calefaction Catalyst - Increases missile damage.
-* Warhead Flare Catalyst - Increases explosion velocity.
-* Warhead Rigor Catalyst - Decreases explosion radius.
 ==Further Reading==