Heron
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The Heron has good computer and electronic systems, giving it the option of participating in electronic warfare. But it has relatively poor defenses and limited weaponry, so it's more commonly used for scouting and exploration. SHIP BONUSES
Caldari Frigate bonuses (per skill level):
Ship Attributes
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3 (2/1) 
5 
3
15 MW 
300 tf
306 m/sec
190 m³
Summary
The Heron is the Caldari Exploration Frigate. Like all Tech I exploration frigates, the Heron receives skill-dependent bonuses to scanner probe strength. The Heron excels at probing cosmic signatures in all security levels of space. The Heron also receives a role bonus (independent of pilot skill level) to relic and data analyzer virus strength, which helps the Heron pilot crack exploration sites. With these two bonuses, the Heron is a strong starter frigate for Caldari pilots interested in Exploration. And while Heron pilots eventually skill into Tech II Covert Ops exploration ships (like the Buzzard), there isn’t much exploration content that the Heron can’t complete.
The Heron has five mid slots, the most of any T1 exploration frigate. This gives the Heron the most room to fit exploration and propulsion modules, and arguably makes the Heron the strongest of the four racial T1 explorers. Like the other three racial variants, the Heron’s mids are typically fitted with a microwarpdrive and a data and relic analyzer. This leaves two slots for additional assistance modules—most commonly Scan Rangefinding and Pinpointing Arrays, or shield extenders. (There are single modules that do both data and relic analysis and that would leave even more room, but they aren’t worth the decrease in performance and/or increased cost.)
The exploration Heron is also commonly fitted with a Compact or Improved Cloaking Device, so that the ship can cloak while probing signatures in unsafe space. The Heron cannot, however, fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device. So, when cloaked, it cannot warp and suffers a significant penalty to speed.
Tech I exploration frigates have the largest cargo capacity of any frigate. This makes the Heron a speedy freight courier and distribution mission runner. By fitting the ship with expanded cargohold modules and cargohold optimization rigs, it is possible to build a Heron that can carry nearly 1000 m3 of cargo. Or, by exchanging the cargo modules for warp stabs, the Heron can serve as a low-sec courier that can evade insta-pointing gate camps.
The Heron can be fit for combat probing, by using an Expanded Probe Launcher in place of the standard Core Probe Launcher. However, combat probing requires considerably greater in-game and pilot skill than site probing. Successful combat probers need to be able to locate targets in a single quick scan, or at most two. Pilots that have the Astrometrics skill levels required to do this, and have the experience necessary to use D-Scan intelligence to pinpoint those targets before scanning, are typically already trained into Covert Ops frigates anyway.
Skills
While it is possible to explore with very minimal skills, having at least Astrometrics III, Astrometric Rangefinding II, Archaeology II, and Hacking II will make exploring much more enjoyable. Power Grid Management III and Jury Rigging I will help with getting a basic functional fit. The author does not recommend a serious attempt at exploration without these minimum skills. Also keep in mind that training the racial frigate skill will significantly improve your probe scanning strength.
Tactics
While not designed for combat, one can still combat fit an exploration frigate to catch unsuspecting solo gankers off guard. When fitting for combat, as with other races' exploration frigates the Heron has a severe shortage of power grid while having a huge CPU reservoir. In addition, the ship has no bonus to any specific weapon type, so it is generally best to fit missile or rockets to save on power grid for prop mods and a repper. The large CPU left over can then be used to fit a range of damage, resist or EWAR mods.
New exploration Heron pilots should read the UniWiki guides to Exploration and Bookmarks, as well as attend Bookmarking 101 and Exploration 101 practicals, to learn tips and tricks from veteran explorers.
Notes
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