Supercarriers
A Supercarrier is a super-capital ship that technically falls into the Carrier grouping for skill purposes, though due to its immense size and scope is considered by most pilots to be in a class of its own. Supercarriers are the second-largest class of ship within EVE, only outclassed by Titans.
Like Titans, Supercarriers are not able to dock in stations or outposts, and can only dock in Extra Large citadels, Keepstars.
Bonuses
General
All supercarriers have definitive bonuses that allow them to fulfill their designated roles:
- Can deploy 5 flights of fighters (2 more than regular carriers), and are the only class of ship that can launch Heavy Fighters.
- Can fit Burst Projectors.
- Can fit 3 Warfare Links.
Race-Specific
In addition, supercarriers are role-specific by the race in which they belong. The following benefits are listed by race, based on the pilot's racial Carrier skill:
Amarr (Aeon)
- 5% bonus to Fighter damage
- 4% bonus to all armor resistances
- 5+ bonus to ship warp core strength
- 5% reduction in Weapon Disruption Burst Projector cycle time
- 2% bonus to Armored Warfare and Information Warfare Links effectiveness
Caldari (Wyvern)
- 5% bonus to Fighter damage
- 4% bonus to all shield resistances
- 5+ bonus to ship warp core strength
- 5% reduction in ECM Jammer Burst Projector cycle time
- 2% bonus to Siege Warfare and Information Warfare Links effectiveness
Gallente (Nyx)
- 10% bonus to Fighter damage
- 5% bonus to Fighter hitpoints
- 5+ bonus to ship warp core strength
- 5% reduction in Sensor Dampening Burst Projector cycle time
- 2% bonus to Armored Warfare and Skirmish Warfare Links effectiveness
Minmatar (Hel)
- 10% bonus to Fighter damage
- 5% bonus to Fighter velocity
- 5+ bonus to ship warp core strength
- 5% reduction in Target Illumination Burst Projector cycle time
- 2% bonus to Siege Warfare and Skirmish Warfare Links effectiveness
Sansha's Nation (Revenant)
Caldari Carrier bonuses (per skill level):
- 5% bonus to Fighter damage
- 20% bonus to Afterburner velocity bonus
- 3+ bonus to ship warp core strength
Amarr Carrier bonuses (per skill level):
- 5% bonus to Fighter damage
- 5% bonus to Fighter weapon explosion radius and explosion velocity
- 3+ bonus to ship warp core strength
Serpentis (Vendetta)
Minmatar Carrier bonuses (per skill level):
- 3+ bonus to ship warp core strength
- 5% bonus to Fighter velocity
- 10% bonus to Stasis Webification Burst Projector effectiveness
Gallente Carrier bonuses (per skill level):
- 3+ bonus to ship warp core strength
- 5% bonus to Fighter hitpoints
- 10% bonus to Fighter damage
Use
Offensively, supercarriers are a powerful anti-capital ship asset. With a large number of Heavy Fighter flights deployed, capital ships take a brutal assault when swarmed by them. Carriers and dreadnaughts fall quickly to a supercarrier, while a similar supercarrier or titan may take longer.
In addition to the massive damage Heavy Fighters offer, suppercarriers are able to support their fleet through various types of Burst Projectors. These modules give suppercarriers the ability to apply electronic and capacitor warfare effects in an area of effect while at range.
Weaknesses
Supercarriers' defining offensive weapons are Heavy Fighters, which are very effective against structures, other capitals and large subcapitals like battleships, but they will have a hard time applying damage to anything smaller.
While supercarriers have very high warp core strength, they can still be prevented from warping by interdiction bubbles, mobile warp disruption fields, warp disruption field generators, or simply a large enough number of conventional warp disruptors and warp scramblers.
Finally, a supercarrier is at its most vulnerable while under construction. To construct a supercarrier, a capital ship assembly array must be anchored and deployed within a POS shield, inside a system where the owner holds sovereignty. The construction time on supercapitals is very long and an occupied CSAA will make a tempting strategic target for enemy alliances.