Imicus
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The Imicus is a slow but hard-shelled frigate, ideal for any type of scouting activity. Used by merchant, miner and combat groups, the Imicus is usually relied upon as the operation's eyes and ears when traversing low security sectors. SHIP BONUSES
Gallente Frigate bonuses (per skill level):
Ship Attributes
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3 (0/2) 
5 
3
20 MW 
290 tf
330 m/sec
175 m³
Summary
The Imicus is the Gallente Exploration Frigate. Like all Tech I exploration frigates, the Imicus receives skill-dependent bonuses to scanner probe strength. The Imicus excels at locating cosmic signatures in all security levels of space. The Imicus also receives a role bonus (independent of pilot skill level) to relic and data analyzer virus strength, which helps the Imicus pilot crack exploration sites. With these two bonuses, the Imicus is a strong starter frigate for Gallente pilots interested in Exploration. And while Imicus pilots eventually skill into Tech II Covert Ops exploration ships (like the Helios), there isn’t much exploration content that the Imicus can’t complete.
The Imicus has four mid slots available for exploration and propulsion modules. Like any exploration frigate, the Imicus’ mids are usually fit with a microwarpdrive and a data and relic analyzer, which leaves one slot free for an additional assistance module—typically a Scan Rangefinding Array. (You might be tempted to put a shield extender here for defense, but a tackled explorer is a dead explorer, and shield extenders make you easier to tackle by increasing signature radius.) Low slots are best fit with inertial stabilizers and/or a warp stabilizer for faster escapes. Keep in mind that warp stabilizers reduce lock range and speed; having more than one makes locking exploration sites uncomfortably slow.
The exploration Imicus is also commonly fitted with a Compact or Improved Cloaking Device, so that the ship can cloak while probing signatures in unsafe space. The Imicus 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 Imicus 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 an Imicus that can carry over 1200 m3 of cargo. Or, by exchanging some of these for warp stabs, the Imicus can be made into a low-sec courier that can evade insta-pointing gate camps.
The Imicus 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.
Of the four exploration faction frigates, the Imicus is unique in that it can support up to four light drones (instead of three). If caught by a combat ship, one can equip ECM drones in the hope of breaking and/or preventing tackle. In addition, four light combat drones may also be stored in the drone bay for the purposes of running drone data sites.
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
New exploration Imicus pilots should read the UniWiki guides to Exploration and Bookmarks, as well as attend Bookmarks (CORE class) and Exploration (CORE class), to learn tips and tricks from veteran explorers.
Notes
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