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Most of the information here will be useful for anyone who uses drones. The sections on PvP and PvE combat each have a subsection devoted to the use of dedicated droneboats (ships with large dronebays and hull bonuses to drone damage, hitpoints and/or dronebay space). | Most of the information here will be useful for anyone who uses drones. The sections on PvP and PvE combat each have a subsection devoted to the use of dedicated droneboats (ships with large dronebays and hull bonuses to drone damage, hitpoints and/or dronebay space). | ||
= Advanced Drone Control = | == Advanced Drone Control == | ||
You can find the basic things you need to know to fit, launch and operate drones, and open the Drone Settings window, [[Drones#Drone_Basics|on the Drones page]]. This section discusses drones' range, automatic target selection, binding drone commands to keys, and the Assist, Guard, Scoop and Abandon functions. | You can find the basic things you need to know to fit, launch and operate drones, and open the Drone Settings window, [[Drones#Drone_Basics|on the Drones page]]. This section discusses drones' range, automatic target selection, binding drone commands to keys, and the Assist, Guard, Scoop and Abandon functions. | ||
===Range=== | |||
Your drones can attack anything within your drone control range, which is determined based on a base of 20km, modified by your training in Scout Drone Operation and Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing, and any Drone Link Augmentors you have fitted. Once you've ordered them to attack a target, your drones will pursue that target anywhere within your drone control range, whether or not you continue to have that target locked. | Your drones can attack anything within your drone control range, which is determined based on a base of 20km, modified by your training in Scout Drone Operation and Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing, and any Drone Link Augmentors you have fitted. Once you've ordered them to attack a target, your drones will pursue that target anywhere within your drone control range, whether or not you continue to have that target locked. | ||
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Note that sentry drones still need their target to be within your drone control range before they can open fire, even though they don't need to move and sometimes outrange your base drone control range with their own optimal range. | Note that sentry drones still need their target to be within your drone control range before they can open fire, even though they don't need to move and sometimes outrange your base drone control range with their own optimal range. | ||
===Aggressive Drones=== | |||
When set to aggressive, if they don't receive any orders from you, your drones will pick a target at random from among the entities (ships and other drones) hostile to you within your drone control range. If they are set to Focus Fire they will (hopefully) all pick the same target. Note that the target must be hostile ''to you''. (Incidentally, drones use the same target selection system as [[Missile_Launchers#Friend_or_Foe_Missiles|friend or foe missiles]].) | When set to aggressive, if they don't receive any orders from you, your drones will pick a target at random from among the entities (ships and other drones) hostile to you within your drone control range. If they are set to Focus Fire they will (hopefully) all pick the same target. Note that the target must be hostile ''to you''. (Incidentally, drones use the same target selection system as [[Missile_Launchers#Friend_or_Foe_Missiles|friend or foe missiles]].) | ||
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If you're jammed by ECM, or badly sensor-damped, releasing your drones with aggressive settings will at least get them to attack ''something''. If you're dissatisfied with their target selection, you can 'roll again' with another random selection by recalling them to your bay and re-releasing them, though this will take a little time. | If you're jammed by ECM, or badly sensor-damped, releasing your drones with aggressive settings will at least get them to attack ''something''. If you're dissatisfied with their target selection, you can 'roll again' with another random selection by recalling them to your bay and re-releasing them, though this will take a little time. | ||
===Hotkeys=== | |||
Most drone commands can be assigned to hotkeys. This can save you a lot of needless clicking in PvE, and a lot of wasted time in PvP. 'Engage' and 'Return and dock' are probably the most useful commands to bind. | Most drone commands can be assigned to hotkeys. This can save you a lot of needless clicking in PvE, and a lot of wasted time in PvP. 'Engage' and 'Return and dock' are probably the most useful commands to bind. | ||
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Sadly the launch command can't be bound to a key. | Sadly the launch command can't be bound to a key. | ||
===Assistance and Guarding=== | |||
The 'Assist' order will make your drones follow the gang member you've ordered them to assist, and attack whatever that gang member attacks. This can be useful in a number of circumstances: for example, if you're camping a gate with a bubble in nullsec and an enemy ship comes through and cloaks, if your drones are assigned to assist a friendly interceptor which then burns to the enemy's last observed position, the enemy can be uncloaked not only by the inty, but also by the drones orbiting it. | The 'Assist' order will make your drones follow the gang member you've ordered them to assist, and attack whatever that gang member attacks. This can be useful in a number of circumstances: for example, if you're camping a gate with a bubble in nullsec and an enemy ship comes through and cloaks, if your drones are assigned to assist a friendly interceptor which then burns to the enemy's last observed position, the enemy can be uncloaked not only by the inty, but also by the drones orbiting it. | ||
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People with drones assigned to assist or guard them have no direct control over those drones. | People with drones assigned to assist or guard them have no direct control over those drones. | ||
===Abandon=== | |||
The Abandon command does what it says on the tin: abandoned drones just sit there in space, and you no longer have any control over them. You can then launch another flight without recalling the abandoned ones. | The Abandon command does what it says on the tin: abandoned drones just sit there in space, and you no longer have any control over them. You can then launch another flight without recalling the abandoned ones. | ||
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If you enter a POS forcefield with drones out, they will automatically be abandoned. If you warp out without collecting your drones, or if you're blown up, they will also be abandoned. You can return to them and scoop them up (see below) but any passers-by will also be welcome to do this. | If you enter a POS forcefield with drones out, they will automatically be abandoned. If you warp out without collecting your drones, or if you're blown up, they will also be abandoned. You can return to them and scoop them up (see below) but any passers-by will also be welcome to do this. | ||
===Scooping=== | |||
If you have spare space in your dronebay, you can scoop abandoned drones straight into the bay, and then use them. This is occasionally useful in protracted PvP combat (you may see this tactic used, for example, in the unusual PvP format of the Alliance Tournament). | If you have spare space in your dronebay, you can scoop abandoned drones straight into the bay, and then use them. This is occasionally useful in protracted PvP combat (you may see this tactic used, for example, in the unusual PvP format of the Alliance Tournament). | ||
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If you don't have dronebay space, you can scoop abandoned drones into your cargo hold. You won't be able to use them immediately, but you can dock up and then move them to your dronebay, or sell them or reprocess them. | If you don't have dronebay space, you can scoop abandoned drones into your cargo hold. You won't be able to use them immediately, but you can dock up and then move them to your dronebay, or sell them or reprocess them. | ||
= Drones in PvE Combat = | == Drones in PvE Combat == | ||
Drones are a vital part of any PvE pilot's arsenal. The first part of this section describes the use of drones in general PvE, the second part discusses which drones you should bring to shoot each type of NPC, and the third part focuses on drone strategies for drone-specialist pilots flying dedicated droneboats. | Drones are a vital part of any PvE pilot's arsenal. The first part of this section describes the use of drones in general PvE, the second part discusses which drones you should bring to shoot each type of NPC, and the third part focuses on drone strategies for drone-specialist pilots flying dedicated droneboats. | ||
== General Use == | === General Use === | ||
Even if you never fly a dedicated droneboat, if you run missions or tackle exploration sites you will want to use drones. Why? As you begin to fly medium and large ships, frigate-sized NPC enemies become increasingly hard to kill. It may sometimes be impossible to kill them using medium-sized weapons (let alone large ones!) once they settle into a close orbit around you. | Even if you never fly a dedicated droneboat, if you run missions or tackle exploration sites you will want to use drones. Why? As you begin to fly medium and large ships, frigate-sized NPC enemies become increasingly hard to kill. It may sometimes be impossible to kill them using medium-sized weapons (let alone large ones!) once they settle into a close orbit around you. | ||
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But, with so many different racial variations in each drone size, which race's drones should you be using? | But, with so many different racial variations in each drone size, which race's drones should you be using? | ||
== Racial Drones and NPC Resistances == | === Racial Drones and NPC Resistances === | ||
Each NPC faction does and is weak to certain [[NPC Damage Types|damage types]]. As the article on drones explained, each race's drones do a particular damage type: | Each NPC faction does and is weak to certain [[NPC Damage Types|damage types]]. As the article on drones explained, each race's drones do a particular damage type: | ||
* Amarr drones do EM damage | * Amarr drones do EM damage | ||
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Navigation computers can help to mitigate the problem of travel time with heavy drones, and omnidirectional tracking links will help both kinds of drone to track smaller targets, and will help sentries to get a longer range. | Navigation computers can help to mitigate the problem of travel time with heavy drones, and omnidirectional tracking links will help both kinds of drone to track smaller targets, and will help sentries to get a longer range. | ||
==PvE Tactics== | |||
{{Deprecated}} | |||
(Note - As of the Retribution patch changes were made to NPC drone aggro, this section is deprecated see http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Drones_101#Using_Drones_for_PvE for more updated information on PvE Tactics.) | (Note - As of the Retribution patch changes were made to NPC drone aggro, this section is deprecated see http://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Drones_101#Using_Drones_for_PvE for more updated information on PvE Tactics.) | ||
When piloting drones into missions the usual strategy is for the drone boat to have a powerful active tank with combat drones suited to your enemy faction in the drone bay. The pilot gains and holds the aggro (attention) of the NPC enemies, releases the appropriate drones and orders them to attack, while supplementing their DPS with on-board weapons. | When piloting drones into missions the usual strategy is for the drone boat to have a powerful active tank with combat drones suited to your enemy faction in the drone bay. The pilot gains and holds the aggro (attention) of the NPC enemies, releases the appropriate drones and orders them to attack, while supplementing their DPS with on-board weapons. | ||
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There are however some variations on this idea: | There are however some variations on this idea: | ||
===Delegation=== | |||
This method is a very slight variation and is often adopted by players who have bigger ships. Aggro is gained and held in the same manner as before, but the drones are simply set to Aggressive and told to Focus Fire, and then left free to pick targets of their own choosing. | This method is a very slight variation and is often adopted by players who have bigger ships. Aggro is gained and held in the same manner as before, but the drones are simply set to Aggressive and told to Focus Fire, and then left free to pick targets of their own choosing. | ||
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This leaves the pilot free to salvage wrecks, only changing drones if a new wave enters the room (to avoid the drones taking aggro) or if different sized drones are required to handle larger/smaller ships. | This leaves the pilot free to salvage wrecks, only changing drones if a new wave enters the room (to avoid the drones taking aggro) or if different sized drones are required to handle larger/smaller ships. | ||
===AFK Combat=== | |||
An extreme version of the above approach is to arrange things so that you don't need to even be at your computer: | An extreme version of the above approach is to arrange things so that you don't need to even be at your computer: | ||
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This can be a slow way to run missions, but its demands on your own time are much lower than running missions quickly in a traditional manner. | This can be a slow way to run missions, but its demands on your own time are much lower than running missions quickly in a traditional manner. | ||
===Drone Tanking=== | |||
This was a tactic used in the past where the pilot would seed disposable drones on the battlefield to draw fire. This has since been changed and no longer works. You may be able to draw aggro on an active small done and remote rep it to divert some fire from large weaponry. | This was a tactic used in the past where the pilot would seed disposable drones on the battlefield to draw fire. This has since been changed and no longer works. You may be able to draw aggro on an active small done and remote rep it to divert some fire from large weaponry. | ||
===Notable PvE Droneboats=== | ===Notable PvE Droneboats=== | ||
====Gallente==== | |||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Vexor Vexor]: should walk all over L2 missions | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Vexor Vexor]: should walk all over L2 missions | ||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Myrmidon Myrmidon]: does L3s, might do easier L4s; active armor tank or passive shield tank both work well on this ship | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Myrmidon Myrmidon]: does L3s, might do easier L4s; active armor tank or passive shield tank both work well on this ship | ||
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* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar]: BS-sized dronebay and bandwidth in a cruiser-sized hull; tanks very well with armor or with a passive shield tank; good for exploration in dangerous space | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar]: BS-sized dronebay and bandwidth in a cruiser-sized hull; tanks very well with armor or with a passive shield tank; good for exploration in dangerous space | ||
====Amarr==== | |||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Arbitrator Arbitrator]: the best PvE T1 Amarr cruiser, if you have drone skills | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Arbitrator Arbitrator]: the best PvE T1 Amarr cruiser, if you have drone skills | ||
====Gurista==== | |||
The Guristas are an NPC pirate faction whose ships combine Caldari traits (missiles and shield tanks) with Gallente-style drone bonuses and dronebays | The Guristas are an NPC pirate faction whose ships combine Caldari traits (missiles and shield tanks) with Gallente-style drone bonuses and dronebays | ||
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* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Rattlesnake Rattlesnake]: a Dominix with cruise missiles and a shield tank; only BS which can passive shield tank like a Drake; active shield tank also works; L4s are a cakewalk, can also be used to tank L5s | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Rattlesnake Rattlesnake]: a Dominix with cruise missiles and a shield tank; only BS which can passive shield tank like a Drake; active shield tank also works; L4s are a cakewalk, can also be used to tank L5s | ||
= Drones and Mining = | == Drones and Mining == | ||
[[Drones#Mining_Drones|Mining drones]] are usually a minor augmentation to the mining power of a dedicated mining ship. (The main exception to this are mining drones used by Vexors and Arbitrators, which have mining drone bonuses and are sometimes used by trainee miners as a stepping-stone towards dedicated mining ships.) | [[Drones#Mining_Drones|Mining drones]] are usually a minor augmentation to the mining power of a dedicated mining ship. (The main exception to this are mining drones used by Vexors and Arbitrators, which have mining drone bonuses and are sometimes used by trainee miners as a stepping-stone towards dedicated mining ships.) | ||
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There is one rig, the Drone Mining Augmentor, which will increase the yield of mining drones. However, most mining ships may have other options for their rig slots which would be more useful. | There is one rig, the Drone Mining Augmentor, which will increase the yield of mining drones. However, most mining ships may have other options for their rig slots which would be more useful. | ||
= Drones in PvP Combat = | == Drones in PvP Combat == | ||
As with PvE, drones are an essential part of PvP for almost everyone: very few PvP pilots can get away without training drone skills and learning how to use them. This section discusses the selection and use of normal damage-dealing drones for general PvP, the pros and cons of using ewar and logistics drones, and finally the use of dedicated droneboats in PvP | As with PvE, drones are an essential part of PvP for almost everyone: very few PvP pilots can get away without training drone skills and learning how to use them. This section discusses the selection and use of normal damage-dealing drones for general PvP, the pros and cons of using ewar and logistics drones, and finally the use of dedicated droneboats in PvP | ||
==Combat Drone Selection== | ===Combat Drone Selection=== | ||
The simplest PvP use of the dronebay on most ships is as a source of extra DPS. Even when flying ships with only 5m<sup>3</sup> of space, like the Stabber or Griffin, having a light scout drone's additional DPS can't hurt. | The simplest PvP use of the dronebay on most ships is as a source of extra DPS. Even when flying ships with only 5m<sup>3</sup> of space, like the Stabber or Griffin, having a light scout drone's additional DPS can't hurt. | ||
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Armor logistics drones can also be a helpful way to use your spare dronebay space for post-combat use, especially if you're in a small fleet on a longer roam with no dedicated logistics ships. You will be very popular with pilots whose ships are still alive, but damaged, especially if they're in small ships which even drones can repair quickly outside combat. | Armor logistics drones can also be a helpful way to use your spare dronebay space for post-combat use, especially if you're in a small fleet on a longer roam with no dedicated logistics ships. You will be very popular with pilots whose ships are still alive, but damaged, especially if they're in small ships which even drones can repair quickly outside combat. | ||
==Dedicated Droneboats in PvP== | ===Dedicated Droneboats in PvP=== | ||
Dedicated droneboats have large dronebays and bandwidth for their size, and deal the majority of their DPS through drones. This has advantages . . . | Dedicated droneboats have large dronebays and bandwidth for their size, and deal the majority of their DPS through drones. This has advantages . . . | ||
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===Notable PvP Droneboats=== | ===Notable PvP Droneboats=== | ||
====Gallente==== | |||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Ishkur Ishkur]: AF with potential 50m<sup>3</sup> dronebay; one of the best AFs, good DPS ship or sticky tackler; good solo | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Ishkur Ishkur]: AF with potential 50m<sup>3</sup> dronebay; one of the best AFs, good DPS ship or sticky tackler; good solo | ||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Vexor Vexor]: tough, flexible secondary tackle/DPS ship; shield-tank and fit blasters for more DPS than a Thorax!; good solo | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Vexor Vexor]: tough, flexible secondary tackle/DPS ship; shield-tank and fit blasters for more DPS than a Thorax!; good solo | ||
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* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Sin Sin]: despite its drone bonuses, its primary function is to create covert cyno bridges, not to use drones; not noticeably better ''as a droneboat'' than the Dominix, but massively more expensive | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Sin Sin]: despite its drone bonuses, its primary function is to create covert cyno bridges, not to use drones; not noticeably better ''as a droneboat'' than the Dominix, but massively more expensive | ||
====Amarr==== | |||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Sentinel Sentinel]: ewar, capacitor warfare and drones in one frigate hull; superb 1v1 ship, decent small gang support | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Sentinel Sentinel]: ewar, capacitor warfare and drones in one frigate hull; superb 1v1 ship, decent small gang support | ||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Arbitrator Arbitrator]: flexible combination of ewar and DPS; shield or armor tank; good solo or gang support ship | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Arbitrator Arbitrator]: flexible combination of ewar and DPS; shield or armor tank; good solo or gang support ship | ||
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* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Pilgrim Pilgrim]: cloaky Curse, with a shorter range; good surprise solo/small gang ship; can be a heavy scout/initial tackler | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Pilgrim Pilgrim]: cloaky Curse, with a shorter range; good surprise solo/small gang ship; can be a heavy scout/initial tackler | ||
====Gurista==== | |||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Worm Worm]: similar to the Ishkur; held back by rockets' weakness but can mount a superb shield tank (for a frigate) | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Worm Worm]: similar to the Ishkur; held back by rockets' weakness but can mount a superb shield tank (for a frigate) | ||
* [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Gila Gila]: similar to the Ishtar, with missiles instead of hybdrid turrets, and a bigger dronebay | * [http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Gila Gila]: similar to the Ishtar, with missiles instead of hybdrid turrets, and a bigger dronebay | ||
(Unless you're quite rich, the Rattlesnake doesn't offer a great deal more than the Dominix for PvP, given its expense.) | (Unless you're quite rich, the Rattlesnake doesn't offer a great deal more than the Dominix for PvP, given its expense.) | ||
=See Also= | ==See Also== | ||
* See the [[Tips_and_Tricks#Drone_Usage|Tips and Tricks]] section on drones for information about drone use in combat. | * See the [[Tips_and_Tricks#Drone_Usage|Tips and Tricks]] section on drones for information about drone use in combat. | ||