Frigates

T1 Frigates

In pvp tech 1 frigates will generally just be tacklers, with a point, web, speed mod, overdrives etc in lowslots & midslots, irrelevant dps or nos etc in highslots. The notable exception is the Rifter, which is one of the best combat T1 frigates, possibly the best. In a dogfighting fit with autocannons, afterburner, web and scram, it can take on most other frigs, and even some larger targets, and win (watch out for the Taranis (the Gallente combat interceptor) and all the assault frigates though). The Punisher and Incursus are the Amarr and Gallente equivalents, but they don't quite reach the level of the Rifter.

Shuttles

Shuttles are designed to provide a cheap and fast way to travel between systems. They are cheap to construct and buy off the market, owing to the lack of fitting slots for modules and their limited cargo space, but they move rather fast for their price, thus making them an excellent choice for travel. While shuttles have been known to be used in the role of scout or survey ships, their most common use is as intermediary travel in order to pick up other, more expensive ships.

• Amarr Shuttle
• Caldari Shuttle
• Gallente Shuttle
• Minmatar Shuttle

Rookie Frigates

Little more than armed shuttles, rookie ships are the basic tech I frigates that new pilots start with, and that are given free of charge to any pilot who docks his pod at a station he has no ships at.

• Impairor (Amarr)
• Ibis (Caldari)
• Velator (Gallente)
• Reaper (Minmatar)

Mining

Mining frigates all have bonuses geared toward mining. While they're a great start for any would-be miner, they are notoriously bad in combat situations.

• Tormentor (Amarr)
• Bantam (Caldari)
• Navitas (Gallente)
• Burst (Minmatar)

Electronic Warfare

Electronic Warfare frigates all have bonuses to EW modules, such as the Target Painter, ECM modules, Remote Sensor Damper and Tracking Disruptor. In a small pack mixed with some damage-dealing ships, they can be formidable.

• Crucifier (Amarr)Tracking disruption/EWAR support.
• Griffin (Caldari) ECM.
• Maulus (Gallente) Dampeners/EWAR support.
• Vigil (Minmatar) Target painter.

Exploration

Geared toward exploration, the 'Exploration' class of T1 Frigates all have bonuses to help pilots scan with probes. Fitted with a Core Probe launcher, they can make a good cheap alternative to the Tech 2 Covert Ops variants.

• Magnate (Amarr)
• Heron (Caldari)
• Imicus (Gallente)
• Probe (Minmatar)

Tackler

Tackler frigates, often called 'Fast Frigates', are built to align and accelerate quickly. This makes them ideal as platforms for tackling larger vessels, as they can reach them and use relevant modules a great deal faster than most. These ships are also ideal for fast travel or small cargo runs and they make a great alternative to a shuttle, especially in losec or during wars, as they can typically enter warp from cloak before the enemy can lock them.

• Executioner (Amarr)
• Condor (Caldari)
• Incursus (Gallente)
• Slasher (Minmatar)

Damage Dealer

Damage Dealer frigates are typically split into two sub categories, Launcher and Turret, as they have slightly different focuses. In general, they tend to have the ability to take a little more damage than their counterparts and deal out a little more damage in return, but they are little match for a larger ship when alone. Interestingly, the Gallente have two turret-focussed ships, as they do not tend to use missiles - although the Tristan can fit launchers, it receives no bonus for them.

Launcher

• Inquisitor (Amarr)
• Kestrel (Caldari)
• Breacher (Minmatar)

Turret

• Punisher (Amarr)
• Merlin (Caldari)
• Atron (Gallente)
• Tristan (Gallente)
• Rifter (Minmatar)

T2 Frigates

Interceptors

These are the primary tacklers in anything but 0.0 (where dictors and hics take over). They have the highest scan resolution of any class, and only the Vigil (the Minmatar electronic warfare frigate) can match their sub-warp speed. Their main purpose is tackling, and that's what they do best, but many interceptors can also be refit to be effective combat ships in an interceptor only gang. Their firepower and tank will be low compared to other types of ships, but they have the advantage of very high speed (even when tank & gank fitted) and awesome agility.

• Claw: Fastest Interceptor, decent dogfighter.
• Siletto: Perhaps the best tackle interceptor due to slot layout.
• Taranis: Slower Interceptor, one of the best dogfighting frigates.
• Ares: Gallente tackle interceptor.
• Crow: Kite missile spam.
• Raptor: Caldari tackle interceptor rather overshadowed by the crow despite having a longer range point.
• Crusader: Pulse with scorch and Kite outside web range.
• Malediction: Amarr tackle interceptor.

Covert Ops

Cov-ops frigates can warp while cloaked, and are used as scouts and for probing either exploration sites or enemy ships down. They can also be used for tackling things they've scouted or probed out, but that's only for experienced people that know what they can and can't hold long enough for help to arrive, and which targets are worth the risk.

• Anathema (Amarr)
• Buzzard (Caldari)
• Helios (Gallente)
• Cheetah (Minmatar)

Stealth Bombers

No tank, all gank. Stealth bombers are super high dps/alpha frigates that can warp cloaked and don't have a sensor recalibration delay after decloaking. They are the bane of large ships, especially in nullsec, where they can also launch bombs (basically a large, higher damage smartbomb). They have trouble hitting small targets with their torpedoes though. In groups, flown well, stealth bombers can take down carriers.

• Purifier (Amarr)
• Manticore (Caldari)
• Nemesis (Gallente)
• Hound (Minmatar)

Electronic Attack Ships

These vary a lot from race to race. Basically, they are frigate sized version of the combat recon ships.

• Sentinel (Amarr)
• Kitsune (Caldari)
• Keres (Gallente)
• Hyena (Minmatar)

Assault Ships

Frigates with good tanks and usually high dps. If you get tackled by one of these, you're generally not going anywhere: they're a pain to get rid of when properly fitted. Their disadvantage compared to interceptors is that they're slower, and often sacrifice their MWD and fit an AB instead to survive longer after tackling a target.

• Retribution (Amarr)
• Vengeance (Amarr)
• Harpy (Caldari)
• Hawk (Caldari)
• Enyo (Gallente)
• Ishkur (Gallente)
• Wolf (Minmatar)
• Jaguar (Minmatar)

Faction Frigates

• Amarr Navy Slicer
• Caldari Navy Hookbill
• Cruor
• Daredevil
• Dramiel
• Gallente Navy Comet
• Republic Fleet Firetail
• Silver Magnate
• Succubus
• Worm

Rare/Unique Frigates

• Silver Magnate
• Gold Magnate