Cruisers: Difference between revisions

'''Cruisers''' are EVE's medium-sized ships, larger than [[frigate]]s and [[destroyer]]s but still much smaller, faster and nimbler than [[battlecruiser]]s and [[battleship]]s. Cruisers mount medium-sized weapons and modules. Tech 1 cruiser hulls cost around 10 million ISK and tend to be the first major financial step up from frigates for new pilots.

There are four classes of Tech 2 cruisers, which are more powerful, more focused on a particular role and much more expensive than their Tech 1 equivalents:

* Recons: advanced force-multiplying electronic warfare platforms

* Heavy Assault Cruisers: powerful damage-dealers  

* Heavy Interdiction Cruisers: super-tacklers

* Logistics cruisers: remote repair platforms

Cruisers and destroyers are the only ship classes that currently have a Tech 3 version, the [[Strategic Cruiser|strategic cruisers]] and [[Tactical Destroyers|tactical destroyers]].

Each race has four tech 1 cruiser hulls, divided into several roles. One is an [[EWAR]] cruiser, one fills a [[logistics]] role, one is a tankier combat cruiser, while another is a speedier attack cruiser.

In PvP some tech 1 cruisers, such as the Gallente Thorax and the Minmatar Rupture, can bring surprising amounts of DPS to a fight. The electronic warfare cruisers can also be important in PvP, as they are slightly tougher ewar platforms than their frigate equivalents and in some cases can produce better ewar (the Caldari Blackbird, for example, can mount ECM with a longer range than the Griffin ECM frigate). In PvP cruisers can also fit tackle to provide some secondary tackling that's harder to scrape off than Tech 1 tackling frigates.

* {{Sh|Caracal|22}}: Missile ship. Good mission-runner. Unspectacular damage-dealer in PvP, but its ability to mount an impressive shield tank, microwarpdrive and rapid light missiles that apply damage well to small targets makes it a popular choice for PvP fleets.

* {{Sh|Stormbringer|22}}: Unique Vorton turret that hits multiple targets per cycle. Bonused for Shield resistances. Has extremely long range.

* {{Sh|Moa|22}}: Tanks well, designed to fight at range with railguns.

* {{Sh|Vexor|22}}: Versatile. Bonuses for hybrid turrets and drones. Drone bonuses make it good for PvE and PvP combat. Can match the Thorax for DPS, but it is less commonly used in this role than the Thorax, and is therefore less obvious when the enemy look for a high DPS, low tank ship to primary.

* {{Sh|Scythe Fleet Issue|22}}: Fast and evasive and oddly bonused to either autocannons or missiles. Similar to the Caracal when using missiles, similar to the Stabber when using autocannons.

* {{Sh|Phantasm|22}}: Another solid kiting ship, making use of the Sansha Afterburner bonus to stay evasive.

* {{Sh|Lachesis}}: (Combat) Very effective when shield-tanked with its 7 mid slots, a nightmare of a ship used either by, or as an answer to, small PvP gangs.

Heavy Assault Cruisers (commonly called "HACs") are extremely straightforward but powerful ships. They combine moderately high damage with extremely tough shields and armor, and can be used easily as fleet-issue short-ranged brawlers or long-ranged snipers. They are often slower than tech 1 cruisers, but still far faster than battlecruisers or battleships.

* {{Sh|Sacrilege|22}}: Extremely durable, but the slowest of the HACs, and its missiles suffer from short range and low damage output. However, it has effectively 3 utility/EWAR Mid slots, and is also one of the few ships effective in Dark [[Abyssal Deadspace|Abyssal]] Filaments.

* {{Sh|Eagle}22}}: Hybrid turret gunboat, sniping with railguns or unconventionally fit with blasters. Longest range of any sniping HAC, very durable, and popular in large fleets where it works like a more advanced and expensive [[Ferox]].

* {{Sh|Legion|22}}: Thick armor, choice between lasers and drones. Energy Neutralization as EWAR of choice

* {{Sh|Loki|22}} The most popular and versatile of the strategic cruisers. Shields or armor, projectiles or missiles. Stasis Webification as EWAR of choice