NSC Mission Running Fits
Who are these fits for?
These fits are targeted at pilots without much experience in creating fits and who are new to the requirements of mission running. These fits will provide a common starting point for pilots and as their personal playstyle and tastes progress, they will be able to make ship selection and fitting choices more fitting to their personal wants and needs. There are a multitude of ships and fits that can be used to successfully run missions; these are just a focused selection. Some selections have been made to work best with character progression and to keep with a common weapon system throughout the flow of moving up to bigger ships. Feel free to move around between different progression paths and ships and weapon systems as your skill training time permits until you find something you like. Also note that these are generalized fits and may or may not be best suited to the "blitzing" (doing minimum required to complete requirements of mission and then turning it and getting the next mission) or "full clear" (killing all hostile ships and looting and salvaging their wrecks) styles of play. Feel free to modify these fits to suit your needs and playstyle preferences.
A Note on the Mission Running End Game in High vs Low/NullSec
This article includes fits for Marauder-class Tech 2 battleships for the sake of completion. For pilots running L4 missions near the NSC, using a marauder is not advised. While you are in bastion mode, you cannot warp off or move at all. In that minute that your bastion module is active and cycling, you can easily be combat-probed down and tackled by other players. More mobile, but still extremely potent, pirate battleships will be your end goal for running L4 missions down near the NSC. The same threat exists for high sec mission runners from war targets. If you are going fly a Marauder, keep in mind the implications of going into bastion mode and the risks you will be taking by doing so.
What makes a good mission fit?
A ship hull like the Vexor that is fit for PvP is not going to perform as well as a Vexor that is specifically fit for the rigors of running missions. While PvP encounters are typically short periods of intense damage and resource expenditure (cap, repairing, ammo clips), PvE encounters found in mission sites are of a different animal entirely. Mission running is an endurance activity and you will want to use a fit that reflects this fundamental difference. While creating a PvE mission fit, there are several key concepts to keep in mind that are important for mission runners.
Damage Selection
While running missions, you will fight a variety of enemies. Different factions' ships will deal different types of damage to your ship and they will be more vulnerable to different types of damage. In terms of offensive modules, this means we want to be able to pick the kind of damage we are sending towards hostile ships. Weapon systems and ship bonuses that provide the most flexibility in this regard will be the most optimal. Ship bonuses or weapon systems that lock you into only being able to deal one or two type of damage will not be able to adapt as well to different opponents and may find some missions more difficult. Most drone and missile boats will excel at being able to select the type of damage to apply, while laser ships will generally have the most difficulty adapting. Vessels using projectile weapons are fairly good at being able to choose the type of damage they want to shoot, but deal somewhat less damage when wanting to focus on applying kinetic damage. For ships with bonuses locking them into a specific damage type or those using lasers or hybrid weapons, drones can be a good stopgap to restore some adaptability.
The breakdown of common ammo choices for mission running is below. This breakdown demonstrates why projectile, missile, and drone fits are the preferred weapon systems for mission runners because of the damage lock-in of laser and hybrid weapon systems.
Projectile:
- Kinetic = Titanium Sabot (high tracking ammo type deals less dps than other damage types; may be better off shooting into secondary resist hole) - Thermal = Phased Plasma - EM = EMP - Explosive = Fusion
Laser:
- All ammo types are locked to majority EM with a smaller proportion of Thermal damage and choices are dependent on desired optimal - Short range, high damage = Multifrequency - Medium range, average damage = Standard - Long range, low damage = Microwave
Hybrid:
- All ammo types are locked to ~60% Kinetic and ~40% Thermal damage and choices are dependent on desired optimal - Short range, high damage = Antimatter - Medium range, average damage = Lead - Long range, low damage = Tungsten
Missile:
- Kinetic = Scourge - Thermal = Inferno - EM = Mjolnir - Explosive = Nova
Drone:
- Kinetic = Caldari - Thermal = Gallente - EM = Amarr - Explosive = Minmatar
Damage Application
Mobility
Survivability
As mentioned before, PvE content such as mission running is a different beast. One of the ways it is different is how you prepare your ship to survive incoming damage. In PvP, especially 1 versus 1, you are trying to deal as much damage to the enemy and kill him before he burns through your tank and kills you. This is generally referred to "buffer tanking". However in mission sites, there can be a dozen or many more hostile ships. You will generally need a lot more buffer tank than you can fit in order to live through harder missions. So PvE players turn to what is called "active tanking" or "passive tanking". Both of these types of tanking focus both on reducing incoming damage (speed/sig/resists) as well as restoring lost armor or shield hitpoints and being able to maintain restoring lost armor or shield hitpoints for a long time.
For active tanking, you generally will want two dedicated resist modules fit. Mission ships are not omni-tanked like PvP ships are (you never know who or what will be attacking you in PvP!). You'll carry resist modules for all 4 types of damage and swap them out in station after you accept a mission and can see what kind of rats you'll be fighting. Fit resist modules for the two types of damage that the mission's rats will be shooting at you. Next, you will have a module that consumes capacitor and restores shield or armor. You more commonly see shield tanked ships in PvE because you don't need the mid slots for control (scrams, ECM, etc) like you would in PvP and using a shield tank allows you to fit damage boosting modules in your low slots. Shield boosters also restore shield hitpoints right at the beginning of their cycle time so provide a more immediate restoration of ship health.
Capacitor Management
Alphas - Fits for L1 -> L3 Progression
These fits are for alpha clones looking to explore the world of mission running. Due to the limitations on what skills can be trained, some fits will not perform as well as others in this section. Fits can also be used for adjacent levels of missions in some cases (an Algos can probably do most level 2 missions or a Caracal can do some level 3 missions). Those wishing to maximize their LP gains by running level 3 missions quickly can looking into getting a navy fleet issue cruiser and maximize the skills (as much as an alpha clone can) relevant to it. The Gnosis is the only battlecruiser an alpha clone can fly and with pretty much maxed out alpha skills, you can do some level 4 missions, though you may find your LP gains per hour are high by completing many level 3 missions in a navy cruiser in the time it would take you to complete a single level 4 mission in a Gnosis.
Amarr
Day 1 - Tormentor
Small Focused Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Small Focused Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Small Focused Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
1MN Monopropellant Enduring Afterburner
Small Compact Pb-Acid Cap Battery
X5 Enduring Stasis Webifier
Prototype Thermal Plating I
'Element' Kinetic Plating I
Extruded Compact Heat Sink
Small 'Accommodation' Vestment Reconstructer I
Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Small Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Small Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Hornet I x2
Warrior I x2
Microwave S x3
Standard S x3
Multifrequency S x3
'Aegis' Explosive Plating I x1
'Spiegel' EM Plating I x1
L1 - Dragoon (Update after October Patch)
Small Focused Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Small Focused Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Small Focused Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Small Compact Pb-Acid Cap Battery
Small 'Accommodation' Vestment Reconstructer I
AE-K Compact Drone Damage Amplifier
Prototype Kinetic Armor Hardener I
Prototype Thermal Armor Hardener I
Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Small Capacitor Control Circuit I
Small Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Hobgoblin I x5
Hornet I x5
Warrior I x5
Microwave S x3
Standard S x3
Multifrequency S x3
Prototype EM Armor Hardener I x1
Prototype Explosive Armor Hardener I x1
L2 - Arbitrator (Update after October Patch)
Heavy Modulated Energy Beam I
Drone Link Augmentor I
Heavy Modulated Energy Beam I
10MN Y-S8 Compact Afterburner
Medium Compact Pb-Acid Cap Battery
Eutectic Compact Cap Recharger
Denny Enduring Omnidirectional Tracking Link
Medium 'Accommodation' Vestment Reconstructer I
Prototype Kinetic Armor Hardener I
Prototype Thermal Armor Hardener I
AE-K Compact Drone Damage Amplifier
AE-K Compact Drone Damage Amplifier
Medium Ancillary Current Router I
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Hammerhead I x5
Acolyte I x5
Hobgoblin I x5
Hornet I x5
Warrior I x5
Microwave M x2
Standard M x2
Multifrequency M x2
Optimal Range Script x1
Tracking Speed Script x1
Prototype EM Armor Hardener I x1
Prototype Explosive Armor Hardener I x1
L3 - Gnosis (Lasers)
Heavy Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Heavy Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Heavy Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Heavy Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Heavy Modulated Pulse Energy Beam I
Drone Link Augmentor I
50MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
X5 Enduring Stasis Webifier
Tracking Computer II
Tracking Computer II
Medium Cap Battery II
Medium Cap Battery II
Prototype Kinetic Armor Hardener I
'Refuge' Adaptive Nano Plating I
Prototype Thermal Armor Hardener I
Heat Sink II
Medium Armor Repairer II
Heat Sink II
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Medium Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Hornet I x5
Vespa I x5
Microwave M x5
Standard M x5
Multifrequency M x5
Optimal Range Script x2
Tracking Speed Script x2
Prototype EM Armor Hardener I x1
Prototype Explosive Armor Hardener I x1
Warrior I x5
Valkyrie I x5
You can carry a full flight of 5 medium and 5 light drones for each racial damage type. Put the drones that will deal the most damage to the rats in the upcoming mission in your drone bay and put the other 3 flights of medium drones and the other 3 flights of small drones in your normal cargo bay. The Gnosis has a very large cargo bay for being a battlecruiser and so you will have plenty of cargo space to spare to haul around the extra drones.
Caldari
Day 1 - Kestrel
'Arbalest' Rocket Launcher I
'Arbalest' Rocket Launcher I
'Arbalest' Rocket Launcher I
'Arbalest' Rocket Launcher I
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Upgraded Kinetic Deflection Amplifier I
1MN Y-S8 Compact Afterburner
Upgraded Thermal Dissipation Amplifier I
Ballistic Control System I
Ballistic Control System I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Scourge Rocket x2000
Mjolnir Rocket x2000
Inferno Rocket x2000
Nova Rocket x2000
Upgraded Explosive Deflection Amplifier I x1
Upgraded EM Ward Amplifier I x1
L1 - Corax
L2 - Caracal
L3 - Gnosis (Missiles)
Gallente
Day 1 - Incursus
Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I
Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I
Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I
1MN Monopropellant Enduring Afterburner
X5 Enduring Stasis Webifier
Small Compact Pb-Acid Cap Battery
Small 'Accommodation' Vestment Reconstructer I
'Element' Kinetic Plating I
Prototype Thermal Plating I
Vortex Compact Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Small Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Small Capacitor Control Circuit I
Small Hybrid Collision Accelerator I
Warrior I x1
Tungsten Charge S x5000
Lead Charge S x5000
Antimatter Charge S x5000
'Aegis' Explosive Plating I x1
'Spiegel' EM Plating I x1
L1 - Algos
L2 - Vexor (Update after October Patch)
L3 - Gnosis (Hybrids)
Minmatar
Day 1 - Rifter (Update after October Patch)
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
1MN Y-S8 Compact Afterburner
Limited Multispectrum Shield Hardener I
Counterbalanced Compact Gyrostabilizer
Mark I Compact Power Diagnostic System
Mark I Compact Shield Power Relay
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Titanium Sabot S x4000
Fusion S x4000
Phased Plasma S x4000
EMP S x4000
L1 - Thrasher
L2 - Rupture
L3 - Gnosis (Projectile)
Omegas - Fits for L1 -> L4 Progression
Projectile Path
L1 & L2 - Thrasher
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
'Arbalest' Rocket Launcher I
5MN Y-T8 Compact Microwarpdrive
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Small Core Defense Field Purger I
Titanium Sabot S x10000
Fusion S x10000
Phased Plasma S x10000
EMP S x10000
Scourge Rocket x500
Mjolnir Rocket x500
Inferno Rocket x500
Nova Rocket x500
L3 - Hurricane
Prototype 'Arbalest' Rapid Light Missile Launcher
425mm Medium 'Scout' Autocannon I
425mm Medium 'Scout' Autocannon I
425mm Medium 'Scout' Autocannon I
425mm Medium 'Scout' Autocannon I
425mm Medium 'Scout' Autocannon I
425mm Medium 'Scout' Autocannon I
Large Shield Extender II
Kinetic Deflection Field II
Thermal Dissipation Field II
50MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Hammerhead II x3
Warrior II x2
Titanium Sabot M x5000
Fusion M x5000
Phased Plasma M x5000
EMP M x5000
Scourge Light Missile x500
Inferno Light Missile x500
Mjolnir Light Missile x500
Nova Light Missile x500
Explosive Deflection Field II x1
EM Ward Field II x1
L4 (T1) - Maelstrom
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
800mm Heavy 'Scout' Repeating Cannon I
X-Large Clarity Ward Enduring Shield Booster
'Copasetic' Particle Field Acceleration
100MN Afterburner II
Tracking Computer II
Pith C-Type Thermal Dissipation Field
Pith C-Type Kinetic Deflection Field
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Acolyte II x5
Warrior II x5
Vespa II x5
Titanium Sabot L x3000
Fusion L x3000
Phased Plasma L x3000
EMP L x3000
Optimal Range Script x1
Tracking Speed Script x1
Pith C-Type Explosive Deflection Field x1
Pith C-Type EM Ward Field x1
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
X-Large Shield Booster II
Shield Boost Amplifier II
100MN Afterburner II
Tracking Computer II
Gist C-Type Thermal Dissipation Field
Gist C-Type Kinetic Deflection Field
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Acolyte II x5
Warrior II x5
Vespa II x5
Titanium Sabot L x3000
Fusion L x3000
Phased Plasma L x3000
EMP L x3000
Optimal Range Script x1
Tracking Speed Script x1
Gist C-Type Explosive Deflection Field x1
Gist C-Type EM Ward Field x1
L4 (T2) - Machariel
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
Small Tractor Beam I
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
Pith C-Type Kinetic Deflection Field
Pith C-Type Thermal Dissipation Field
Gist C-Type X-Large Shield Booster
Shield Boost Amplifier II
500MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Republic Fleet Tracking Enhancer
Republic Fleet Tracking Enhancer
Republic Fleet Tracking Enhancer
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Damage Control II
Large Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Large Semiconductor Memory Cell II
Large Semiconductor Memory Cell I
Valkyrie SW-600 x5
Hornet II x5
Vespa II x5
Phased Plasma L x3001
Titanium Sabot L x3000
Fusion L x3000
EMP L x3000
Pith C-Type Explosive Deflection Field
Pith C-Type EM Ward Field
L4 (HighSec) - Vargur
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
Small Tractor Beam I
Bastion Module I
Small Tractor Beam I
800mm Repeating Cannon II
800mm Repeating Cannon II
Salvager I
Large Micro Jump Drive
Tracking Computer II
Tracking Computer II
X-Large Shield Booster II
Gist C-Type Thermal Dissipation Field
Gist C-Type Kinetic Deflection Field
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Damage Control II
Large Projectile Metastasis Adjuster I
Large Projectile Burst Aerator II
Hornet II x5
Vespa II x5
Titanium Sabot L x3000
Fusion L x3000
Phased Plasma L x3000
EMP L x3000
Optimal Range Script x2
Tracking Speed Script x2
Pith C-Type Explosive Deflection Field
Pith C-Type EM Ward Field
Missile Path
L1 & L2 - Corax
L3 - Drake
L4 (T1) - Raven
L4 (T2) - Barghest
L4 (HighSec) - Golem
Drone Path
L1 & L2 - Algos
L3 - Myrmidon
L4 (T1) - Dominix
L4 (T2) - Rattlesnake
L4 (HighSec) - Multiple Options
Wherefore art thou lasers?
L1 - Dragoon (Update after October Patch)
L2 - Arbitrator (Update after October Patch)
L3 - Prophecy
L4 (T1) - Armageddon
L4 (T2) - Nightmare
L4 (HighSec) - Paladin
Fits made with the template and EFT parser located here: https://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Template:ShipFitting
