Difference between revisions of "Bombs"

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(Removed links to old EVE wiki, added note about size of the item. Changed link from Bomber section of Frigate page to Stealth Bomber page.)
(Updated the damage dealt by bombs and added history section.)
 
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[[File:Icon electron bomb.png|left]]
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{{Hatnote|This page covers the ranged area-of-effect weapon launched by stealth bombers. For the "smartbomb", a ship-mounted area-of-effect weapon with different mechanics and legality, see [[smartbombs]].}}
{{Weapon Systems Links}}
 
'''Bombs''' are ranged untargeted area-of-effect weapons. Only [[Stealth Bomber|stealth bombers]] equipped with bomb launchers can use them. They are banned from use in [[Empire Space|empire space]], and so can only be used in [[System Security#Null Security|null sec]] or [[wormhole space]].
 
  
Bombs, when used in well coordinated groups, can be very effective at damaging or even destroying groups of clustered ships. They make excellent weapons for hit and run attacks on unsuspecting enemies.
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[[File:Icon electron bomb.png|left]]{{Weapon Systems Links}}
  
==How bombs work==
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'''Bombs''' are ranged, untargeted, area-of-effect (AoE) weapons. The use of bombs is restricted to [[Stealth Bomber|stealth bombers]], the only ships able to equip bomb launchers, and [[Upwell structures]]. They are banned from use in [[Empire Space|empire space]], and so can only be used in [[System Security#Null Security|null sec]] or [[wormhole space]].
[[File:QSM_bomb.gif‎|frame|left|alt=bomb exploding|<center>Bomb</center>]]
 
[[File:QSM_missile_orbit.gif‎‎|frame|alt=missile hitting orbiting target|<center>Missile</center>]]
 
Bombs are unlike normal weapon systems as they are unguided and do not require the pilot to lock his target prior to launch. When they are deployed, they will travel forward from the front of the bomb launcher in a straight line, continuing for a fixed amount of time (12 seconds for damage bombs, 7.5 seconds for Void and Lockbreaker bombs) until they reach a distance of 30km from the original launch point, where they will detonate. This detonation causes a large amount of damage of a single type to all ships within 15km radius of the detonation. This damage is indiscriminate and causes the same damage to all ships within the blast zone, including allies and the launching ship. As stealth bombers are notoriously squishy, it is likely that those that are caught within the blast radius will be destroyed. Do not continue flying in a straight line following the launch of a bomb and if flying with other bombers, be aware of their launch points as well.
 
  
Bombs take up 75&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> in a ships cargo hold, meaning that stealth bombers, with an average cargo hold of 260&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>, can only carry three at a time. Usually this isn't an issue since only one bomb will be launched per ship per bombing run, but it can be a logistical factor in larger operations.
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When used effectively, bombs can be very effective at damaging or even destroying groups of clustered ships. They make excellent weapons for hit-and-run attacks on unsuspecting enemies.
  
==Bomb types==
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==Types and effects==
Each bomb inflicts 6400 of raw damage, plus an additional 5% damage per level of {{sk|Covert Ops}} skill trained. Thus, a character with Covert Ops trained to IV would inflict 7680 raw damage. The damage of each bomb is of a single type and these are:
 
  
* ''Concussion bombs'' do kinetic damage
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There are seven different bomb types. The four most common bomb types deal large amounts of a single type of damage, and so are most effective when the enemy's fleet composition is known before deployment. Each of these bombs deals a base of 5800 damage of their respective type, which can be further increased by ship bonuses. Bomb damage scales based on the size of a target's signature radius (they have a fixed explosion radius of 400m) and is also mitigated by damage resistances as normal. Unlike missiles, the speed of a target does not influence the applied damage.
  
* ''Electron bombs'' do EM damage
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* {{co|wheat|Concussion Bombs}} deal [[image:icon_damage_kin.png|24px|link=]] Kinetic damage.
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* {{co|wheat|Electron Bombs}} deal [[image:icon_damage_em.png|24px|link=]] EM damage.
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* {{co|wheat|Scorch Bombs}} deal [[image:icon_damage_therm.png|24px|link=]] Thermal damage.
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* {{co|wheat|Shrapnel Bombs}} deal [[image:icon_damage_exp.png|24px|link=]] Explosive damage.
  
* ''Scorch bombs'' do thermal damage
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The remaining three bomb for types deal small amounts of omni damage, but have other disrupting effects on ships caught in the blast.
  
* ''Shrapnel bombs'' do explosive damage
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* {{co|wheat|Void Bombs}} neutralize 1,800 GJ of energy from the affected ships' capacitors.
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* {{co|wheat|Focused Void Bombs}} are similar to regular Void Bombs, but neutralize 15,000 GJ of energy in a much smaller area of effect. They are only effective against capital-sized ships.
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* {{co|wheat|Lockbreaker Bombs}} emit an ECM Burst of 12.5 strength to all sensor types.
  
* ''Void bombs'' do negligible omni damage but neutralize 1,800GJ of energy from their victims' capacitors
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Like all other bombs, Lockbreaker Bombs will apply ECM jamming to all ships in the area of affect, so they should be used with care. Because of the potential consequences of unexpected or badly-aimed Lockbreaker use, it is advisable to check with an FC before bringing or using Lockbreaker Bombs.
  
* ''Void bombs'' are similar to Void bombs, but neutralize 15,000GJ of energy in a much smaller area of effect. They are only effective against capital sized ships.
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==Mechanics==
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[[File:QSM_bomb.gif‎|frame|right|alt=bomb exploding|<center>Bomb</center>]]
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Bombs are an unusual weapon system, as on stealth bombers they are unguided, do not require a locked target to be launched, and depend on the launching ship's orientation to aim. Like missiles, deployed bombs are physical in-game objects while traveling to their destination, and thus can be destroyed by certain methods.
  
* ''Lockbreaker bombs'' do negligible damage but emit an ECM burst with a strength (on all sensor types) of 12.5
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Each bomb takes up 75&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> in a ship's cargo hold, meaning that stealth bombers, with an average cargo hold of 260&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>, can only carry three at a time. In most cases, this will not be an issue as only one bomb will be launched per ship per bombing run, but it can become a logistical factor in larger operations.
Note that Lockbreaker bombs will apply ECM jamming to everyone in the area of affect, both friend and foe, so use them with care. They are generally used to help with an emergency escape. Avoid using or maybe even carrying them unless agreed on in advance with the FC. 
 
Void and Lockbreaker bombs travel at 4,000m/s, so it only takes them 7.5s to travel 30km before they explode. Focused Void bombs are slightly slower at 2,000m/s, and so will take 15s to travel 30km.
 
  
===Stealth bomber types===
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===Speed and flight time===
Each of the four stealth bomber hulls has a damage bonus for one specific type of bomb
 
  
* ''Shrapnel'': Explosive damage best used in the [[Hound]]
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Once deployed, bombs travel forward from the front of the bomb launcher in a straight line, continuing until they reach a distance of 30km from the launch point, where they then detonate. Bombs travel at a constant, predetermined speed specific to the bomb's type, and thus also have a predetermined flight time that is useful for coordinating bombing runs.
  
* ''Concussion'': Kinetic damage best used in the [[Manticore]]
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* Pure damage bombs (Concussion, Electron, Scorch, and Shrapnel) travel at 2,500 m/s, and have a flight time of 12 seconds.
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* Void and Lockbreaker bombs travel at 4,000 m/s, and have a flight time of 7.5 seconds.
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* Focused Void bombs travel at 2,000 m/s, and have a flight time of 15 seconds.
  
*''Electron'': EM damage best used in the [[Purifier]]
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Upon detonation, bombs cause damage or other disrupting effects to all ships within a 15km radius of the detonation. These effects are indiscriminate, and are applied to all ships within the blast zone, including any allies and even the launching ship. As stealth bombers usually have few hit points or defenses, any bombers caught within a bomb's blast radius will likely be destroyed. Thus, bomber pilots should avoid flying in a straight line following the launch of a bomb, and should also be aware of the launch points of any other allied bombers present.
  
* ''Scorch'': Thermal damage best used in the [[Nemesis]]
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===Destroying bombs===
  
Bombs, like all weapon systems, deliver less damage to smaller targets and in general a single bomb will not in itself deliver sufficient damage to destroy any ship. It is usual for bombers to fly in a wing to deliver a large amount of area of effect damage to as many ships as possible. It is possible for bombs to be destroyed in flight, the 12 second flight time allows a fast locking ship to identify lock and destroy the target however the pilot would have to be expecting the launch and as the bomber remains cloaked prior to deployment this is an unlikely scenario.  
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Like missiles, bombs have very few hit points, and can be destroyed by defender missiles, smartbombs, and even other bombs. While the nature of the former two methods means that not all enemies will have such defenses at their disposal, the interference of friendly bombs can be a very real concern during larger fleet operations. All bombs have a very small signature radius which decreases the damage they will take from other bombs, but in larger fleet operations this on its own is not enough to avoid destroying friendly bombs without taken additional precautions.
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Defender missiles will never target standup bombs and standup [[Guided Bombs|guided bombs]] (bombs deployed by Upwell structures). They should not be counted upon for the successful defense of a fleet attacking a structure. Nor should they be counted upon for the defense of structures by a fleet, as the act of targeting anything breaks tether and makes you vulnerable to attack and counter-bombing runs.
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Each of the four damage-dealing bomb types has a 99.8% resistance to its own damage type. Therefore, it is necessary for groups of bombers to choose one damage type and all use the corresponding bomb. This minimizes the risk of bombs being lost to friendly fire during large bombing runs.
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==Ship bonuses==
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Each of the four racial stealth bomber hulls has a damage bonus for one specific type of bomb linked to the {{sk|Covert Ops}} skill. Each damage bonus corresponds to that race's preferred damage type.
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* {{sh|Hound}}: 5% bonus to [[image:icon_damage_exp.png|24px|link=]] {{co|wheat|Shrapnel}} bombs
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* {{sh|Manticore}}: 5% bonus to [[image:icon_damage_kin.png|24px|link=]] {{co|wheat|Concussion}} bombs
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* {{sh|Purifier}}: 5% bonus to [[image:icon_damage_em.png|24px|link=]] {{co|wheat|Electron}} bombs
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* {{sh|Nemesis}}: 5% bonus to [[image:icon_damage_therm.png|24px|link=]] {{co|wheat|Scorch}} bombs
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Bombs deliver less damage to smaller targets and in general a single bomb will not in itself deliver sufficient damage to destroy any ship. It is usual for bombers to fly in a wing to deliver a large amount of area of effect damage to as many ships as possible. It is possible for bombs to be destroyed in flight, the 12 second flight time allows a fast locking ship to identify lock and destroy the target however the pilot would have to be expecting the launch and as the bomber remains cloaked prior to deployment this is an unlikely scenario.  
  
 
Like missile damage, Bomb damage can be modified by the signature radii of the target ships, which is compared to the bomb's explosion radius of 400m. But unlike missile damage, bomb damage cannot be modified by the target ships' speeds.
 
Like missile damage, Bomb damage can be modified by the signature radii of the target ships, which is compared to the bomb's explosion radius of 400m. But unlike missile damage, bomb damage cannot be modified by the target ships' speeds.
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A frigate that has an MWD on at the moment of detonation is likely to die to one bomb, however, because of the MWD's signature-quintupling side effect. The deployment of a target painter also serves to increase the signature radius of the targeted ship.
 
A frigate that has an MWD on at the moment of detonation is likely to die to one bomb, however, because of the MWD's signature-quintupling side effect. The deployment of a target painter also serves to increase the signature radius of the targeted ship.
  
===Bomb resistances===
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== History ==
Bombs have a small number of hitpoints and can be destroyed by smartbombs or by other bombs. This means that if a wing of bombers launches a mixture of bomb types at the same time and in the same direction, the first bomb to explode will probably destroy all the other bombs before they have a chance to go off and deal damage themselves.
 
  
Each of the four damage-dealing bombs has a 99.8% resistance to its own damage type. It is therefore necessary for groups of bombers to choose one damage type and all use that kind of bomb. That way, when the first bombs explode, the other bombs' resistance to their own damage type will let them survive the damage and explode themselves.
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On 2022-03-08 bomb damage got increased from 5200 to 5800 to compensate for the resist module stat increase in the same patch. At the same time bomb armor HP got increased from 75 to 88 apparently so that the same bomb run sizes remain possible.<ref>https://www.eveonline.com/news/view/patch-notes-version-20-03</ref>
 
 
==Bombing tactics==
 
A good introduction to bombing can be found at [[Bombing 101]].
 
  
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== References ==
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{{reflist}}
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* Credit to Hallan Turrek, from his guide "A Merry Life and a Short One"
 
* Credit to Hallan Turrek, from his guide "A Merry Life and a Short One"
 
* Credit to Space Junkie for "Flying Stealth Bombers In EVE Online"
 
* Credit to Space Junkie for "Flying Stealth Bombers In EVE Online"
 
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-->
[[Category:PvP]]
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[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Ship Fitting]]
 

Latest revision as of 07:04, 22 June 2022

This page covers the ranged area-of-effect weapon launched by stealth bombers. For the "smartbomb", a ship-mounted area-of-effect weapon with different mechanics and legality, see smartbombs.
Icon electron bomb.png


Bombs are ranged, untargeted, area-of-effect (AoE) weapons. The use of bombs is restricted to stealth bombers, the only ships able to equip bomb launchers, and Upwell structures. They are banned from use in empire space, and so can only be used in null sec or wormhole space.

When used effectively, bombs can be very effective at damaging or even destroying groups of clustered ships. They make excellent weapons for hit-and-run attacks on unsuspecting enemies.

Types and effects

There are seven different bomb types. The four most common bomb types deal large amounts of a single type of damage, and so are most effective when the enemy's fleet composition is known before deployment. Each of these bombs deals a base of 5800 damage of their respective type, which can be further increased by ship bonuses. Bomb damage scales based on the size of a target's signature radius (they have a fixed explosion radius of 400m) and is also mitigated by damage resistances as normal. Unlike missiles, the speed of a target does not influence the applied damage.

  • Concussion Bombs deal Icon damage kin.png Kinetic damage.
  • Electron Bombs deal Icon damage em.png EM damage.
  • Scorch Bombs deal Icon damage therm.png Thermal damage.
  • Shrapnel Bombs deal Icon damage exp.png Explosive damage.

The remaining three bomb for types deal small amounts of omni damage, but have other disrupting effects on ships caught in the blast.

  • Void Bombs neutralize 1,800 GJ of energy from the affected ships' capacitors.
  • Focused Void Bombs are similar to regular Void Bombs, but neutralize 15,000 GJ of energy in a much smaller area of effect. They are only effective against capital-sized ships.
  • Lockbreaker Bombs emit an ECM Burst of 12.5 strength to all sensor types.

Like all other bombs, Lockbreaker Bombs will apply ECM jamming to all ships in the area of affect, so they should be used with care. Because of the potential consequences of unexpected or badly-aimed Lockbreaker use, it is advisable to check with an FC before bringing or using Lockbreaker Bombs.

Mechanics

bomb exploding
Bomb

Bombs are an unusual weapon system, as on stealth bombers they are unguided, do not require a locked target to be launched, and depend on the launching ship's orientation to aim. Like missiles, deployed bombs are physical in-game objects while traveling to their destination, and thus can be destroyed by certain methods.

Each bomb takes up 75 m3 in a ship's cargo hold, meaning that stealth bombers, with an average cargo hold of 260 m3, can only carry three at a time. In most cases, this will not be an issue as only one bomb will be launched per ship per bombing run, but it can become a logistical factor in larger operations.

Speed and flight time

Once deployed, bombs travel forward from the front of the bomb launcher in a straight line, continuing until they reach a distance of 30km from the launch point, where they then detonate. Bombs travel at a constant, predetermined speed specific to the bomb's type, and thus also have a predetermined flight time that is useful for coordinating bombing runs.

  • Pure damage bombs (Concussion, Electron, Scorch, and Shrapnel) travel at 2,500 m/s, and have a flight time of 12 seconds.
  • Void and Lockbreaker bombs travel at 4,000 m/s, and have a flight time of 7.5 seconds.
  • Focused Void bombs travel at 2,000 m/s, and have a flight time of 15 seconds.

Upon detonation, bombs cause damage or other disrupting effects to all ships within a 15km radius of the detonation. These effects are indiscriminate, and are applied to all ships within the blast zone, including any allies and even the launching ship. As stealth bombers usually have few hit points or defenses, any bombers caught within a bomb's blast radius will likely be destroyed. Thus, bomber pilots should avoid flying in a straight line following the launch of a bomb, and should also be aware of the launch points of any other allied bombers present.

Destroying bombs

Like missiles, bombs have very few hit points, and can be destroyed by defender missiles, smartbombs, and even other bombs. While the nature of the former two methods means that not all enemies will have such defenses at their disposal, the interference of friendly bombs can be a very real concern during larger fleet operations. All bombs have a very small signature radius which decreases the damage they will take from other bombs, but in larger fleet operations this on its own is not enough to avoid destroying friendly bombs without taken additional precautions.

Defender missiles will never target standup bombs and standup guided bombs (bombs deployed by Upwell structures). They should not be counted upon for the successful defense of a fleet attacking a structure. Nor should they be counted upon for the defense of structures by a fleet, as the act of targeting anything breaks tether and makes you vulnerable to attack and counter-bombing runs.

Each of the four damage-dealing bomb types has a 99.8% resistance to its own damage type. Therefore, it is necessary for groups of bombers to choose one damage type and all use the corresponding bomb. This minimizes the risk of bombs being lost to friendly fire during large bombing runs.

Ship bonuses

Each of the four racial stealth bomber hulls has a damage bonus for one specific type of bomb linked to the Covert Ops skill. Each damage bonus corresponds to that race's preferred damage type.

  • MinmatarHound: 5% bonus to Icon damage exp.png Shrapnel bombs
  • CaldariManticore: 5% bonus to Icon damage kin.png Concussion bombs
  • AmarrPurifier: 5% bonus to Icon damage em.png Electron bombs
  • GallenteNemesis: 5% bonus to Icon damage therm.png Scorch bombs

Bombs deliver less damage to smaller targets and in general a single bomb will not in itself deliver sufficient damage to destroy any ship. It is usual for bombers to fly in a wing to deliver a large amount of area of effect damage to as many ships as possible. It is possible for bombs to be destroyed in flight, the 12 second flight time allows a fast locking ship to identify lock and destroy the target however the pilot would have to be expecting the launch and as the bomber remains cloaked prior to deployment this is an unlikely scenario.

Like missile damage, Bomb damage can be modified by the signature radii of the target ships, which is compared to the bomb's explosion radius of 400m. But unlike missile damage, bomb damage cannot be modified by the target ships' speeds.

This means that frigates can often survive one or two bombs because, although frigates don't have many effective hitpoints, they have very small signature radii. A frigate that has an MWD on at the moment of detonation is likely to die to one bomb, however, because of the MWD's signature-quintupling side effect. The deployment of a target painter also serves to increase the signature radius of the targeted ship.

History

On 2022-03-08 bomb damage got increased from 5200 to 5800 to compensate for the resist module stat increase in the same patch. At the same time bomb armor HP got increased from 75 to 88 apparently so that the same bomb run sizes remain possible.[1]

References