Guide to combat sites: Difference between revisions

Combat sites are pockets in space filled with rats to shoot at. This guide focuses on [[Combat_sites#combat anomalies|Combat anomalies]], [[Combat_sites#Cosmic_signatures|cosmic signatures]] (unrated and DED rated) that are found in normal space. These sites normally contain faction named rats or structures that may contain faction or deadspace modules, faction blueprints and faction implants worth dozens or hundreds of millions of ISK.   

With the [[Expansions|"Into the Abyss" expansion]], a new type of combat sites was released. This is the [[Abyssal Deadspace|abyssal deadspace]] combat sites, which are entered through the use of filaments. While these are also technically combat sites, they are outside the scope of this article.     

{{note box|1= Be careful when operating near trade hubs in hi-sec space due to war targets. Clearing [[K-space]] anomalies and signatures should be treated in the same way as missioning. Read [[Tips_For_War|tips for surviving during war time]] for more information. }}

Competition for these combat sites can be very high so the faster you can find them and run them the less chance of another player finding your site and completing it before you do. The problem most new players to exploration encounter is that they require two ships: one for [[Probe scanning|probe scanning]] down the site with probes such as a [[Frigate#Exploration|T1 scanning frigate]] or a [[Frigate#Covert_Ops_Frigate|Covert Ops ship]] and a combat ship for running the sites, typically a [[cruiser]].

If you assemble a larger fleet, you can even try using smaller ships, like [[Cruiser|Cruisers]] and [[Cruiser#Logistics|T1 Logistic cruisers]] in harder low security sites, lowering the ISK and skill requirements even more.

With higher skills and ISK investment you can jump into ships that are made to fill both roles at the same time, in particular the [[Sisters of Eve]] ships [[Astero]] and [[Stratios]], [[Society of Conscious Thought]] ships [[Sunesis]] and [[Gnosis]]. But with decent scanning skills even a hull with no scanning bonuses will be able to scan down combat sites without issues.

Cosmic anomalies are the first type of exploration site, they appear automatically in the ship scanner whenever you enter a system. Cosmic anomalies come in a few varieties; this article deals only general site structure, see [[Cosmic Anomalies]] for a fuller listing.

Cosmic anomalies are ungated pockets in space. They have several waves of rats that spawn when a trigger is triggered. Usually next wave appears once the previous wave has been destroyed but on some sites destroying a specific ship will trigger next wave. The last wave can contain a faction commander spawn. This commander has different [[NPC Naming Convention|name]] from normal rats and can drop valuable faction module, implant or pirate faction ship blueprint copy. Destruction of the last wave can also escalate the site. If an escalation occurs a text window will pop up with escalation message and the escalation is added to expeditions page on journal.

Combat sites that appear as [[Cosmic Signatures]] are more advanced exploration sites that need to be [[Probe scanning|scanned down with probes]]. They are gated [[deadspace]] complexes with limits on what ships can enter.

Each [[Combat_sites#Cosmic_signatures|site]] is unique, with spawn triggers, defender waves, and escalation possibilities.

One often forgotten combat site group are [[Combat_sites#Chemical_labs|Chemical Labs]]. They only spawn in certain low security regions and show up as gas sites. They are defended by two defender waves and to get the valuables you need hack containers with data analyzer. They can drop drug related commodities, drug blueprint copies, drug related skillbooks and drug related implants.

More info on escalation is found in the [[Combat_sites#Expeditions|expeditions]] section.

'''To steal the site you have to land the final blow on the named rat or structure''' so that the wreck and loot is yours to take freely. This is '''not to be confused''' with stealing from other players' wrecks that appear '''yellow''' on your overview, which is expressly forbidden by Eve University rules and makes you a suspect, exposing you to EVE's [[Timers#Suspect_Timer|aggression mechanics]] and the very possible loss of your ship.

* Some explorers keep a spreadsheet or record of signature ID's of non combat sites that fall within the desired deep space probe signal strength so that they avoid probing them down more than once. This is useful if you are scanning a small or busy area frequently, then you only have to scan down any new signature ID that falls within your desired range. Eve university members are recommended to use [[WHC Mapper]] for this when scanning near any of the campuses.