While it is possible to explore with very minimal skills, having at least {{sk|Astrometrics|III}}, {{sk|Astrometric Rangefinding|II}}, {{sk|Archaeology|II}}, and {{sk|Hacking|II}} will make exploring much more enjoyable. {{sk|Power Grid Management|III}} and {{sk|Jury Rigging|I}} will help with getting a basic functional fit. The author does not recommend a serious attempt at exploration without these minimum skills. Also keep in mind that training the racial frigate skill will significantly improve your probe scanning strength.
While it is possible to explore with very minimal skills, having at least {{sk|Astrometrics|III}}, {{sk|Astrometric Rangefinding|II}}, {{sk|Archaeology|II}}, and {{sk|Hacking|II}} will make exploring much more enjoyable. {{sk|Power Grid Management|III}} and {{sk|Jury Rigging|I}} will help with getting a basic functional fit. The author does not recommend a serious attempt at exploration without these minimum skills. Also keep in mind that training the racial frigate skill will significantly improve your probe scanning strength.
==Fitting==
==Fittings==
{{ShipFitting|
For more info on fittings, please click [[Heron/Fittings|here]]
notes=The Cargo Scanner lets you decide which cans to grab.</li><li>This ship is very fragile, but is capable of the MWD/Cloak trick.</li><li>For highsec use, the cloak is unecesary</li><li>Consider dropping the cloak and "wallet tanking" (AKA it's so cheap who cares?)}}{{ShipFitting|
notes=Originally designed for the Libold FFA, this heron is fit for short-ish range 1v1 frigate combat. Be careful what you engage with it though, since as an exploration frigate with little to no tank it cannot stand up to most combat frigates without being able to control range; hopefully with the double webs, scam, and good piloting this should not be a problem. (Still, expect to die a lot).}}{{ShipFitting|
notes=T2 the nanofibers if money and skills allow</li><li>Can fit combat and core scanner probes.</li><li>The hornets *might* save you if you're tackled at a gate, if you deploy them in time and get a jam off.}}
Development The Heron has good computer and electronic systems, giving it the option of participating in electronic warfare. But it has relatively poor defenses and limited weaponry, so it's more commonly used for scouting and exploration.
SHIP BONUSES
Caldari Frigate bonuses (per skill level): 7.5% bonus to Core and Combat Scanner Probe strength 5% reduction in Salvager duration Role Bonus: 5+ bonus to Relic and Data Analyzer virus strength
Base Time to Warp is essentially the time needed for this ship to align and accelerate until it reaches 75% of its top speed and goes to warp. The time displayed here is the base calculated time with no account for any warp related skills, modules or any other effects.
Drones
Drone Capacity
35 m³
Drone Bandwidth
15 Mbit/sec
Targeting
Max Tgt. Range
37.50 km
Max Locked Targets
4
Gravimetric Sensor
12 points
Sig. Radius
40 m
Scan Res.
430 mm
Structure
Structure Hitpoints
200 HP
Mass
1,150,000 kg
Volume
18,900 m³
Cargo Capacity
400 m³
Armor
Armor Hitpoints
200 HP
Armor Resistances
EM
50
THR
45
KIN
25
EXP
10
Shields
Shield Capacity
400 HP
Shield Resistances
EM
0
THR
20
KIN
40
EXP
50
Summary
The Heron is the Caldari T1 exploration and scanning frigate. It is a good ship for rookies and veterans who are interested in exploration but do not have the skills for the T2 version, the
. Bonuses to scanning, archaeology, and hacking modules make this ship very effective for looting exploration sites, as well as being a valuable hacker in the Override Transfer Array vanguard incursion site.
The 5 Mid Slots allows all the 4 required exploration modules in addition to a free slot. This is often used for a Scan Rangefinder Array or other boosts until the Capsuleer has enough scanning skills to skip these. An aspiring Capsuleer will also find Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrades useful for scanning down difficult sites although eventually these should be replaced with rigs that increase your virus strength and coherence.
Skills
While it is possible to explore with very minimal skills, having at least Astrometrics III, Astrometric Rangefinding II, Archaeology II, and Hacking II will make exploring much more enjoyable. Power Grid Management III and Jury Rigging I will help with getting a basic functional fit. The author does not recommend a serious attempt at exploration without these minimum skills. Also keep in mind that training the racial frigate skill will significantly improve your probe scanning strength.
While not designed for combat, one can still combat fit an exploration frigate to catch unsuspecting solo gankers off guard. When fitting for combat, as with other races' exploration frigates the Heron has a severe shortage of power grid while having a huge CPU reservoir. In addition, the ship has no bonus to any specific weapon type, so it is generally best to fit missile or rockets to save on power grid for prop mods and a repper. The large CPU left over can then be used to fit a range of damage, resist or EWAR mods.
Can Use Covert Ops Cloak
3 (2/1) 
5 
3
15 MW 
300 tf
306 m/sec
190 m³
