Skills:Drones
From EVE University Wiki
Some training in the Drones category is essential for most PvE and PvP combat. Drones are a useful source of additional DPS, and they are also a key defence against small ships for large ships.
Almost every ship larger than a destroyer has a dronebay. Caldari ships tend to have the smallest dronebays, but even Caldari pilots should aim to be able to field a full flight of five light drones when they start flying battlecruisers.
You can find some particular recommendations for drone skills to train here.
Advanced Drone Interfacing
Allows the use of the Drone Control Unit module. One extra module can be fitted per skill level. Each fitted Drone Control Unit allows the operation of one extra drone.
 Attributes:
|
 
|
 Multiplier:
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Advanced Drone Interfacing |
 Price:
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<span style="cursor: help;" title="The skillbook for this skill costs Advanced Drone Interfacing ISK">Advanced Drone Interfacing ISK |
 Alpha max level:
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<span style="cursor: help;" title="Alpha pilot can train and use this skill to at most level Unknown">Unknown |
 Prerequisites:
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Drone Interfacing V, Drones V |
 Notes:
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Amarr Drone Specialization
Specialization in the operation of advanced Amarr drones. 2% bonus to advanced Amarr drone damage per level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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5x |
| Price:
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2-4M ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
II |
| Prerequisites:
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Drones V |
| Notes:
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The Amarr Drone Specialization skill is not sold by NPC stations so prices will vary widely. |
Caldari Drone Specialization
Specialization in the operation of advanced Caldari drones. 2% bonus to advanced Caldari drone damage per level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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5x |
| Price:
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3-9M ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
II |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V |
| Notes:
|
The Caldari Drone Specialization skill is not sold by NPC stations so prices will vary widely. |
Combat Drone Operation
Skill at controlling scout drones. 5% Bonus to drone damage of light and medium drones per level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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Combat Drone Operation |
| Price:
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<span style="cursor: help;" title="The skillbook for this skill costs Combat Drone Operation ISK">Combat Drone Operation ISK |
| Alpha max level:
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<span style="cursor: help;" title="Alpha pilot can train and use this skill to at most level Unknown">Unknown |
| Prerequisites:
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Drones III |
| Notes:
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A 5% drone damage bonus is not to be sniffed at, and most combat pilots should train this skill to IV. |
Drone Durability
Increases drone hit points. 5% bonus to drone shield, armor and hull hit points per level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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5x |
| Price:
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100k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
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IV |
| Prerequisites:
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Drones IV |
| Notes:
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Your drones are usually only attacked if you mismanage PvE aggro, or attack a frigate or another droneboat with them in PvP, so Durability may be a lower priority than some of the damage skills. But it's still an important drone support skill. |
Drone Interfacing
Allows a captain to better maintain its drones. 20% bonus to drone damage, drone mining yield per level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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5x |
| Price:
|
750k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
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III |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V |
| Notes:
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Each level of Drone Interfacing is like having another drone. Excellent support skill. |
Drone Navigation
Skill at controlling drones at high speeds. 5% increase in drone MicroWarpdrive speed per level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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1x |
| Price:
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100k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
IV |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones IV |
| Notes:
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Faster drones means they get to the target and deal damage, and then return to you when you need them back, quicker. High levels in Drone Navigation also help your drones chase fast PvP targets like interceptors. |
Drone Sharpshooting
Increases drone optimal range.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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1x |
| Price:
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150k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
IV |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V |
| Notes:
|
Possibly not so important for normal combat drones, which can move around on their own. If you rely on long-ranged, stationary sentry drones then this skill will help them. |
Drones
Skill at remote controlling drones. Can operate 1 drone per skill level.
| Attributes:
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|
| Multiplier:
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1x |
| Price:
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30k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
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V |
| Prerequisites:
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None |
| Notes:
|
The basic skill of the Drones category. Prerequisite for most other drone skills and an essential skill to train to level V for any combat pilot who flies anything with a 25m3 or larger dronebay. |
Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing
Allows operation of electronic warfare drones. 3000m drone control range bonus per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing |
| Price:
|
<span style="cursor: help;" title="The skillbook for this skill costs Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing ISK">Electronic Warfare Drone Interfacing ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
<span style="cursor: help;" title="Alpha pilot can train and use this skill to at most level Unknown">Unknown |
| Prerequisites:
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Drones V, Electronic Warfare IV, Electronics I |
| Notes:
|
The drone control range bonus applies to all types of drones, not just electronic warfare drones. ECM drones are a useful ace-in-the-hole in PvP. |
Fighter Bombers
Allows operation of fighter bomber drones. 20% increase in fighter bomber damage per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
|
Fighter Bombers |
| Price:
|
<span style="cursor: help;" title="The skillbook for this skill costs Fighter Bombers ISK">Fighter Bombers ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
<span style="cursor: help;" title="Alpha pilot can train and use this skill to at most level Unknown">Unknown |
| Prerequisites:
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Fighters V, Drone Interfacing V, Drones V, Leadership V |
| Notes:
|
Only of interest to supercarrier pilots, since only supercarriers can use fighter bombers. |
Fighters
Allows operation of fighter drones. 20% increase in fighter damage per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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12x |
| Price:
|
75M ISK |
| Alpha max level:
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Alpha pilot can not train this skill. |
| Prerequisites:
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Drone Interfacing V, Drones V, Leadership V |
| Notes:
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Only carriers and supercarriers can use fighters. |
Gallente Drone Specialization
Specialization in the operation of advanced Gallente drones. 2% bonus to advanced Gallente drone damage per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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5x |
| Price:
|
3-9M ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
II |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V |
| Notes:
|
The Gallente Drone Specialization skill is not sold by NPC stations so prices will vary widely. Gallente drones are very popular because they have good damage modifiers, and a damage type (thermal) which is reliably useful against most PvE and PvP enemies. |
Heavy Drone Operation
Skill at controlling heavy combat drones. 5% Bonus to heavy drone damage per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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5x |
| Price:
|
500k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
III |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V |
| Notes:
|
Not all races have subcapital ships with big enough dronebays to justify using heavy drones, but Gallente battleship pilots, Amarr pilots who fly the Armageddon and Minmatar pilots who fly the Typhoon should train for them. |
Mining Drone Operation
Skill at controlling mining drones. 5% Bonus to mining drone yield per skill level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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2x |
| Price:
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50k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
Alpha pilot can not train this skill. |
| Prerequisites:
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Drones I, Mining II |
| Notes:
|
A useful support skill for miners. |
Minmatar Drone Specialization
Specialization in the operation of advanced Minmatar drones. 2% bonus to advanced Minmatar drone damage per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
|
5x |
| Price:
|
3-9M ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
II |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V |
| Notes:
|
The Minmatar Drone Specialization skill is not sold by NPC stations so prices will vary widely. Minmatar drones are very popular for PvP because they are the fastest drones and although they don't do as much raw damage as Gallente drones they do explosive damage, which hits most armor tanks hard. |
Repair Drone Operation
Allows operation of logistic drones. 5% increased repair amount per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
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3x |
| Price:
|
200k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
II |
| Prerequisites:
|
Drones V, Drone Durability I |
| Notes:
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Repair drones can be a useful augmentation to a remote repair effort, but don't expect them to perform nearly as well as a properly fitted and piloted logistics ship. Remember that you can't order your drones to repair yourself. |
Scout Drone Operation
Skill at controlling scout combat drones.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
|
Scout Drone Operation |
| Price:
|
<span style="cursor: help;" title="The skillbook for this skill costs Scout Drone Operation ISK">Scout Drone Operation ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
<span style="cursor: help;" title="Alpha pilot can train and use this skill to at most level Unknown">Unknown |
| Prerequisites:
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Drones I |
| Notes:
|
A useful skill, and also the prerequisite for some more advanced drone skills. |
Sentry Drone Interfacing
Skill at controlling sentry drones. 5% bonus to Sentry Drone damage per level.
| Attributes:
|
|
| Multiplier:
|
5x |
| Price:
|
650k ISK |
| Alpha max level:
|
Alpha pilot can not train this skill. |
| Prerequisites:
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Drone Interfacing IV, Drones V, Drone Sharpshooting IV |
| Notes:
|
Sentry drones are specialised, and large, and so like heavy drones they're mostly of interest to pilots who can fly ships with 125m3 or more of space in their dronebay. Level V lets you use T2 sentry drones. |
