Drake
RELATED UNI-WIKI REFERENCES
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Development SHIP BONUSES
Caldari Battlecruiser bonuses (per skill level):
Ship Attributes
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Summary
The Drake, well-known for its excellent tanking abilities, is a very popular PvE and PvP ship. In PvE, the Drake can be passively shield-tanked for a stronger tank than a battleship, making L3 missions easy and L4 missions a possibility. However, without very good missile skills L4's will take a long time.
In PvP, the Drake has the ability to field a massive buffer tank. While the Drake can be fit with Heavy Assault Missile Launchers, regular Heavy Missile Launchers are much more common due to the easier fitting and the very short range on HAMs. With Heavy Missile Launchers, the DPS of a Drake is not very impressive for a battlecruiser, but it has a long range for its class.
The Drake is quite easy to skill for and pilot competently. Its tank bonus makes it forgiving of mistakes, and missiles are an easy to use weapon system that doesn't require the pilot to worry much about angular velocity and range. While it's easy to make it a good L3 mission boat, it's hard to make it fantastic: it is quite slow, without T2 launchers and ammo it only does okay DPS, and clever piloting can't be used to increase missile damage like it can with turrets.
Skills
- You can start missioning with III, but upgrade Caldari Battlecruiser to at least IV to take advantage of the Drake's DPS and shield resistance buffs that come with every extra level in the skill.
- Missile launcher skills depend on your use for the Drake. L3 mission fits use Heavy Missiles; train to IV and use XR-3200 (Meta 3), Arbalest (Meta 4), or Caldari Navy HMLs. Drakes are widely used in factional PvP, and Heavy Assault Missiles can be trained for that to IV minimum. T2 launchers and the accompanying T2 ammo requires Heavy Missiles/Heavy Assault Missiles V and Heavy Missile Specialization/Heavy Assault Missile Specialization to at least I; this is a 10-day-ish train that isn't worth it if your intent is only to get to L4 missions. However, it can be worth it: you'll get to use T2 HMLs on your Tengu down the road, and if you're grinding reputation, there are a lot more L3 missions in your future.
- Train your missile skills to at least III and upgrade to IV ASAP: Missile Launcher Operation, Rapid Launch, Warhead Upgrades, Missile Projection, Target Navigation Prediction, and Missile Bombardment. Guided Missile Precision is another missile skill, but has Missile Launcher Operation V as a prerequisite. You'll need both eventually.
- Along with the requisite Engineering and Electronics skills required for adequately fitting most ships, train Weapon upgrades to IV to help alleviate fitting problems. Weapon upgrades V and Advanced Weapon Upgrades will be needed eventually as you seek to fit more ships.
- Drones V, and Combat Drone Operation, Drone Interfacing, Drone Avionics, Drone Navigation, Drone Durability, and Drone Sharpshooting at III is the starting point.
- Due to the Drake's inherent bonus to shield resistances, Shield Operation, Shield Management, and Tactical Shield Manipulation should be trained to at least IV to improve shield capacity, recharge rate and impenetrability.
- Shield Upgrades should be trained to IV to allow the use of T2 Shield Hardeners, Resistance Amplifiers, Shield Power Relays, Shield Extenders and Shield Rechargers. This is really important; T2 shields represent a huge increase in survivability.
- EM Shield Compensation, Thermic Shield Compensation, Kinetic Shield Compensation, and Explosive Shield Compensation trained to level IV to further improve shield resistances.
- Finally, Hull Upgrades should be trained to level IV to allow use of the T2 Damage Control module.
Fitting
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay
XR-3200 Heavy Missile Bay
Small Tractor Beam I
Large F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
Large F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
M51 Iterative Shield Regenerator
M51 Iterative Shield Regenerator
M51 Iterative Shield Regenerator
Ballistic Control System I
Ballistic Control System I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Hobgoblin I x5
Scourge Heavy Missile x1
- Caldari Battlecruiser III
- Caldari Cruiser III
- Caldari Frigate IV
- Combat Drone Operation III
- Drone Interfacing III
- Drone Navigation III
- Drone Sharpshooting III
- Drones V
- Energy Grid Upgrades II
- Energy Management III
- Energy Systems Operation III
- Evasive Maneuvering III
- Guided Missile Precision III
- Heavy Missiles III
- Jury Rigging III
- Long Range Range Targeting III
- Mechanic III
- Missile Bombardment III
- Missile Launcher Operation V
- Missile Projection III
- Rapid Launch III
- Science III
- Scout Drone Operation III
- Shield Management III
- Shield Operation III
- Shield Rigging I
- Shield Upgrades III
- Signature Analysis III
- Spaceship Command IV
- Light Missiles III
- Tactical Shield Manipulation III
- Target Navigation Prediction III
- Targeting III
- Warhead Upgrades III
- Weapon Upgrades I
- It is recommended to fit a T2 shield tank as soon as possible.
- Upgrade XR-3200 HMLs to Arbalest HMLs as soon as you can afford them; they're a major DPS increase.
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Small Tractor Beam I
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Kinetic Deflection Amplifier II
Thermic Dissipation Amplifier II
10MN Afterburner II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Beta Reactor Control: Shield Power Relay I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Hobgoblin II x5
Scourge Heavy Missile x1
Mjolnir Heavy Missile x1
- Missile Launcher Operation V
- Shield Upgrades III
- Tactical Shield Manipulation IV
- Energy Grid Upgrades II
- Drones V
- Caldari Battlecruiser IV
- Missile Bombardment III
- Guided Missile Precision III
- Missile Projection III
- Weapon Upgrades V
- Rapid Launch III
- Target Navigation Prediction III
- Warhead Upgrades III
- Shield Management V
- Scout Drone Operation V
- Engineering IV
- Electronics IV
- Mechanic III
- Jury Rigging III
- Advanced Weapon Upgrades I
- Shield Operation IV
- Shield Upgrades IV
- Shield Compensation IV
- Heavy Missiles V
- Heavy Missile Specialization IV
- Combat Drone Operation III
- Shield Rigging I
- Caldari Frigate IV
- Caldari Cruiser III
- Spaceship Command IV
- It is recommended to fit a T2 shield tank as soon as possible.
- Training missile support skills will increase DPS output.
- Use Meta 4 items if you cannot fit T2.
- With very good tank and dps skills you may use three Ballistic Control Systems and only one Shield Power Relay.
- Amend the passive shield resistance modules (amplifiers) to the resistance you need for your mission.
- Swap your afterburner for a second Adaptive Invulnerability Field if you encounter problems with your tank.
- You can use Warrior drones against Angels instead of Hobgoblins.
- Mjolnir Heavy Missiles deal more damage against Sansha and Bloodraiders even if you have Battlecruiser IV.
- Optional in the highslot: Drone Link Augmentor instead of Small Tractor Beam I, but this will require a CPU implant.
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Small Energy Neutralizer II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Stasis Webifier II
Warp Scrambler II
Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Power Diagnostic System II
Damage Control II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Warrior II x5
Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Assault Missile x1
- Caldari Battlecruiser IV
- Missile Bombardment III
- Missile Launcher Operation III
- Guided Missile Precision III
- Missile Projection III
- Missile Launcher Operation V
- Heavy Assault Missiles V
- Heavy Assault Missile Specialization I
- Tactical Shield Manipulation IV
- Energy Grid Upgrades II
- Drones V
- Rapid Launch III
- Target Navigation Prediction III
- Warhead Upgrades III
- Shield Management V
- Thermodynamics V
- Scout Drone Operation V
- Engineering IV
- Electronics IV
- Mechanic III
- Jury Rigging III
- Energy Emission Systems II
- Propulsion Jamming IV
- Shield Operation IV
- Shield Upgrades IV
- Shield Compensation IV
- Combat Drone Operation III
- Shield Rigging I
- Caldari Frigate IV
- Caldari Cruiser III
- Spaceship Command IV
- It is required to fit a T2 shield tank on battlecruisers or larger according to E-UNI wartime regulations.
- Training missile support skills will increase DPS output.
- Use Meta 4 items if you cannot fit T2 weapons. Meta 4 (Arbalest) HAM Launchers are fairly affordable compared to their Heavy Missile variant.
- However due to the often fatal nature of PvP, T2 weapons are often suggested and strongly recommended, as they give a significant DPS boost.
- T2 HAM Launchers also offer the use of T2 ammo. Rage (Higher DPS, for larger targets) and Javelin (Lower dps, for smaller, faster targets).
- Faction ammo is strongly recommended to gain an advantage on the battlefield.
- Your role as a HAM Drake in an E-UNI fleet is as a super-heavy tackle and as short-range dps. Your shield buffer tank will be much higher than most of your peers, and so your goal is to fit as much DPS as possible, and get right up on the enemy's faces to gain their attention.
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Small Energy Neutralizer II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Stasis Webifier II
Stasis Webifier II
Warp Scrambler II
10MN Microwarpdrive II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Damage Control II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Warrior II x5
Caldari Navy Scourge Heavy Missile x1
- Caldari Battlecruiser IV
- Missile Bombardment III
- Missile Launcher Operation III
- Guided Missile Precision III
- Missile Projection III
- Missile Launcher Operation V
- Heavy Assault Missiles V
- Heavy Assault Missile Specialization I
- Tactical Shield Manipulation IV
- Energy Grid Upgrades II
- Drones V
- Rapid Launch III
- Target Navigation Prediction III
- Warhead Upgrades III
- Shield Management V
- Thermodynamics V
- Scout Drone Operation V
- Engineering IV
- Electronics IV
- Mechanic III
- Jury Rigging III
- Energy Emission Systems II
- Propulsion Jamming IV
- Shield Operation IV
- Shield Upgrades IV
- Tactical Shield Manipulation IV
- Shield Compensation IV
- Combat Drone Operation III
- Shield Rigging I
- Caldari Frigate IV
- Caldari Cruiser III
- Spaceship Command IV
- It is required to fit a T2 shield tank on battlecruisers or larger according to E-UNI wartime regulations.
- Training missile support skills will increase DPS output.
- Use Meta 4 items if you cannot fit T2 weapons. Meta 4 (Arbalest) HAM Launchers are fairly affordable compared to their Heavy Missile variant.
- However due to the often fatal nature of PvP, T2 weapons are often suggested and strongly recommended, as they give a significant DPS boost.
- T2 HAM Launchers also offer the use of T2 ammo. Rage (Higher DPS, for larger targets) and Javelin (Lower dps, for smaller, faster targets).
- Faction ammo is strongly recommended to gain an advantage on the battlefield.
- Your role as a HAM Drake in an E-UNI fleet is as a super-heavy tackle and as short-range dps. Your shield buffer tank will be much higher than most of your peers, and so your goal is to fit as much DPS as possible, and get right up on the enemy's faces to gain their attention.
Tactics
If you are coming to the Drake from L2 missions, you are probably used to flying into the middle of the NPCs and killing everything. That's a good way to get yourself killed in an L3 mission; many feature enough NPC firepower to overwhelm even a Drake's tank. Here are a few pointers to start L3 missioning in a Drake:
- If the mission is unfamiliar to you, read about it on EVE Survival.
- Because the Drake is passively tanked, you have no tools apart from running to mitigate excessive damage. If your shield drops to 50%, align to a celestial and start your afterburner. If it drops to the 25% alarm, warp out, dock, and then come back for more later. When you do come back, warp in at a long range (like 50 or 100km).
- Shoot the biggest NPCs first (usually other battlecruisers); they're the ones damaging you the most.
- Against Sansha and Blood Raiders, use Mjolnir Heavy Missiles unless you have Caldari Battlecruiser V. In all other cases, use Scourge Heavy Missiles.
- Orbiting the NPC blob at 30km works reasonably well.
Notes
This vessel qualifies for the University PYOS and BYOM programs.