The Amarr Basic Ship and Skill Guide is intended to give fitting and skill recommendations for Amarr ships in both Player vs. Environment (PVE) and Player vs. Player (PVP) encounters.

This is a work in progress, and the guide's Discussion Thread is on the Eve University forum. Please direct comments, suggestions, and corrections to that thread.

10 reasons to fly Amarr

Amarr is the best because it is. You can't argue with simple truth.
Freak'n LAZORS!!!
Men armour tank. Shields or whatever is the red bar above your manly tank.
Amarr discovered how to jump around space. So everyone else would be stuck on boring planets without us anyways.
Did anyone mention the freak'n lazors?
There is no six and this is because we Amarr decided it would be that way.
Symmetry anyone?
Have you seen the Amarr Battleship lineup? If you were locked at the time then not for long.
We haz Lazors.
Amarr have enslaved every other race they have encountered. 'Nuff said.

Amarr General Information

Amarr are one of the four character races, and like the others, have a distinct line of ships with specific quirks and capabilities. Amarr ships use armour tanking to protect themselves and primarily employ turrets, specifically Energy Turrets (lasers) to do damage. Amarr are characterized by the following:

Armour tanking. This is the most popular tanking method for PvP, and is also the norm for Gallente and some Minmatar ships (making it the standard for Remote Repairing). Amarr ships have high base armour, and several ships have direct bonuses to armour resists (T1 examples: Punisher, Maller, Prophecy, and Abaddon).
Energy turrets. These are unique to Amarr vessels and no other races' ships have bonuses for lasers. Laser turrets offer an excellent middle ground by incorporating good range, tracking, and damage when compared to either projectiles or hybrids (the other types of turret weapon systems), which tend to have either poor range or tracking. Frequency crystals, the laser ammo type, can be changed instantly and Tech 1 crystals are unlimited ammunition as they never degrade or shatter. However, lasers are limited to EM and Thermal damage.
Capacitor. Amarr pilots rely heavily on their capacitors. Lasers are highly cap-intensive, to such a degree that some Amarr vessels have laser capacitor usage bonuses instead of damage bonuses. Thus, Amarr ships tend to have larger capacitors than other races' ships, and many Amarr pilots prioritize capacitor skills.
Drones. Amarr are very effective at using drones, offering the only hulls with drone bonuses outside of the Gallente lineup.
Speed. Amarr ships tend to have lower than average base speeds, and, given that Armour tanking tends to directly compromise ships' speed, tanked Amarr fits are often ponderous. If, however, less tank is required Amarr ships' numerous low slots let them overtake even Minmatar ships at a cost.
EWAR. The Amarr racial EWAR is tracking disruption (TD), which reduces the optimal range, falloff, and tracking speed of hostile turrets. Tracking disruption is very difficult to counter, but is limited as it is only effective against ships with turrets; it has no affect on missile or drone systems.

In PvP, Amarr ships have been a 'flavor of the month' for much more than a month, and can be extremely useful in nearly all roles. Exceptional armour tanks, big capacitors, and laser systems excellent combination of damage and range make Amarr ships popular for PvP.

Note, however, that the E-Uni starting PvP roles of tackler and EWAR can be difficult for new Amarr pilots as Amarr ships don't excel at these roles with low SP. Amarr frigates have very few mid slots and the Punisher is quite slow while the Executioner is very fragile. The Amarr EWAR is Tracking Disruption (TD) and, although it is extremely useful in certain circumstances, it has no effect on ships that do not use turrets to do damage, such as missile or drone boat.

Amarr ships tend to stick to the formula of lots of armour for defense and lots of lasers for damage, and there are fewer 'exceptions to the rule' than there are in the other races' lineups. Because of this Amarr are sometimes thought to be, from one point of view, the 'simplest' race to fly. Breaking the mould may be more restrictive and less rewarding than it is when flying other races' ships; the opportunities are there but they are more skill intensive and require greater sacrifices. New pilots are best served by playing to the Amarr formula until they know when and how to break the rules.

In PvE, Amarr ships are more restricted when running missions. Due to the ability of lasers to only do Thermal and EM damage many of the rats become more difficult to combat then they would be otherwise. Within Amarr space, against Blood Raider and Sansha NPC factions, Amarr ships are arguably the most effective but they have a difficult time with other factions. This is a concern for some Eve University pilots who want to try missioning close to home, as the University is based in Minmatar space where Angel NPCs are more common. There are many effective work arounds to be discovered though, such as the Arbitrator PvE fittings or using alternative turret weapons systems.

Cross training into or out of Amarr can be more skill intensive than other cross training. The most viable prospect is probably Gallente (armour tanking, gunnery and drone synergies) with Minmatar second (some gunnery and armour tanking synergies). Caldari have the fewest skills in common, despite some Khanid missile ships at the Amarr Tech 2 level, and could require the most retraining.

Amarr Skills Guide

The skills which are important to Amarr characters are the same skills which are crucial to any pilot who wants to maximize turret weapon damage, survive with an armour tank, and use drones effectively, backed up by solid support and fitting skills. Here are the primary skills associated with this goal together with the specific emphasis for Amarr pilots if applicable for each of the skill categories:

Core Skills

Corporation Management

None

Drones

The drone skills core to Amarr success are generally the same as those any pilot will want.

Drone Skills

Basic Drone Skills

Drones (Allows Operation of One Additional Drone Per Level)
Scout Drone Operation (Drone Control Range Increased by 5 km Per Skill Level. Level 5 also unlocks tech 2 drones)
Heavy Drone Operation (5% Bonus to Heavy Drone Damage Per Level)

Drone Ability Modifiers

Drone Durability (5% Bonus to Drone Shield, Armor, and Hull Hit Points Per Level)
Drone Navigation (5% Increase to Drone Speed Per Level)
Drone Sharpshooting (5% Increase in Drone Optimal Range Per Level)

Drone Damage Modifiers

Drone Interfacing (20% Bonus to All Drone Damage/Mining Yield Per Level)
Combat Drone Operation (5% Bonus to Medium/Light Drone Damage Per Level)

Electronics

Electronics skills contain a bit of a mix which are crucial for all pilots including fitting and targeting skills.

Electronics Skills

Basic Skills

Electronics (5% Bonus to CPU Output Per Skill Level)
Electronics Upgrades (5% Reduction in CPU Need of Sensor Upgrades)

Targeting Skills

Long Range Targeting (5% Bonus to Targeting Range Per Skill Level)
Multitasking (1 Extra Target Per Skill Level, Up to Maximum Allowed By Your Ship)
Signature Analysis (5% Improved Targeting Speed Per Level)
Targeting (1 Extra Target Per Skill Level, Up to Maximum Allowed By Your Ship)

PVP Specific Skills

Propulsion Jamming (5% Reduction to Warp Scrambler/Web Capacitor Use Per Level)

Engineering

Engineering has some of the most important capacitor skills and very important fitting skills. Energy Managment and Energy Systems Operations are as close to mandatory for Amarr pilots as it gets in EVE.

Engineering Skills

Basic Skills

Energy Grid Upgrades (5% Reduction in CPU Needs of Energy Grid Module Upgrades Per Skill Level)
Energy Management (5% Bonus to Capacitor Capacity Per Skill Level)
Energy Systems Operation (5% Bonus to Capacitor Recharge Rate Per Skill Level)
Engineering (5% Bonus to Ship Powergrid Output Per Skill Level)

PVP Specific Skills

Energy Emission Systems (5% Reduced Capacitor Need for Energy Emission Weapons)

Gunnery

Gunnery is the home of everything damage dealing for turret users. All of the skills are important with first priority being with those that accentuate the distinct characteristics of lasers: high cap usage, excellent damage at range, decent tracking, huge optimal and small falloff ranges.

Gunnery Skills

Basic Skills

Common Skills
- Advanced Weapon Upgrades (5% Reduction to Capacitor Needs of Turrets/Launchers)
- Controlled Bursts (5% Reduction to Capacitor Needs of Turrets Per Skill Level)
- Gunnery (2% Bonus to Turret Rate of Fire Per Skill Level)
- Motion Prediction (5% Bonus to Tracking Speed Per Skill Level)
- Rapid Firing (4% Bonus to Turret Rate of Fire Per Skill Level)
- Sharpshooter (5% Bonus to Turret Optimal Range Per Skill Level)
- Surgical Strike (3% Bonus to Turret Damage Per Skill Level)
- Weapon Upgrades (5% Reduction in CPU Need of Turrets/Launchers/Smartbombs Per Skill Level)
Small Energy Turret (Frigates/Destroyers)
- Small Energy Turret (5% Bonus to Small Turret Damage Per Skill Level)
Medium Energy Turret (Cruiser/Battlecruiser)
- Medium Energy Turret (5% Bonus to Medium Turret Damage Per Skill Level)
Large Energy Turret (Battleship)
- Large Energy Turret (5% Bonus to Large Turret Damage Per Skill Level)

T2 Gunnery Skills

Industry

None

Leadership

None

Learning

The Learning skills stand alone as extremely important to all and are well covered in other guides.

Mechanic

Mechanic skills are where the skills for armour tanking are found and are essential to anyone counting on their armour to keep them alive.

Mechanic Skills

Basic Armor Tanking Skills

Advanced Armor Tanking Skills

Missile Launcher Operation

None

Navigation

Navigation is another category that is not particularly more applicable to Amarr pilots than those of other races. Note however, that some help reduce capacitor usage and accordingly have the second order effect of making more available for other purposes.

Navigation Skills
Acceleration Control Afterburner Evasive Maneuvering Fuel Conservation High Speed Maneuvering Navigation Warp Drive Operation

Science

Jump clones and implants are extremely important tools for any pilot.

Science Skills
Cybernetics Infomorph Psychology Science as a prerequisite only

Social

None

Spaceship Command

The following skills allow you to fly Amarr ships and are therefore fundemental.

Spaceship Command Skills
Amarr Battleship Amarr Cruiser Amarr Frigate Battlecruisers Destroyers Spaceship Command

Subsystems

None

Trade

None

Skill Plans

So what do these core skills mean? If you went through them one by one and maxed them all out (except where noted), without any implants, learning skills first, it would take you 1165 days 16 hours and change as a brand new Amarr pilot. Yes, that is a little over 3 years. Yes, you would be the king of Amarr T1 pilots. Yes, it would be very very silly. However, if this is your first kick at the cat and you have no idea where to start you will not be wrong to start training ANY of the skills on this list and a well rounded Amarr pilot will end up with some degree of all of them over an average career.

Tech 2 Tank

Here are the skills and prerequisites you will need to utilise a Tech 2 Armour Tank - something you will want to aspire to if you plan to PvP or Mission as an Amarr pilot.

Tech 2 Armour Tank Skills
Hull Upgrades at level V Mechanic at level V Repair Systems at level IV Jury Rigging at level III Armor Rigging at level I

You will want to learn the compensation skills to a minimum of 3, and preferably higher, to maximize your tank.

Armour Compensation Skills
EM Armor Compensation Explosive Armor Compensation Kinetic Armor Compensation Thermic Armor Compensation

Tech 2 Energy Turrets

Here are the skills and prerequisites you will need to utilise a Tech 2 Energy Turret - because that means more pew pew!

Each type of Energy Turret requires a specific specialization skill. Note that each larger size specializations will incorporate the smaller size specialization with all its prerequisites. Here they are with applicable prerequisites:

Beam Lasers
Small Beam Laser Specialization Small Energy Turret V Sharpshooter III Medium Beam Laser Specialization Small Beam Laser Specialization IV Medium Energy Turret V Sharpshooter IV Large Beam Laser Specialization Medium Beam Laser Specialization IV Large Energy Turret V Sharpshooter V

Pulse Lasers
Small Pulse Laser Specialization Small Energy Turret V Motion Prediction III Medium Pule Laser Specialization Small Pulse Laser Specialization IV Medium Energy Turret V Motion Prediction IV Large Pulse Laser Specialization Medium Pulse Laser Specialization IV Large Energy Turret V Motion Prediction V