Ship Grimoire - Battlecruisers

Ship Grimoire
Chapter 2 Battlecruisers

So, you have all no doubt hopped onto EFT at some point, and built a dream boat, wondering whether that 30,000,000.00 ISK for a Drake for instance, is worth the hassle. Should you rig it, will it perform in PvP, and will it make the neighbors dog choke on his bone in surprise as you fly by thus ridding you of one more nuisance? Well, this comprehensive list will give you the bottom line on all those ships you wish you had a good excuse to buy, undock, or rig.

*Note: If you do not see your favorite ship listed here, it is either A) Flying Scrap Metal, B) Just Not Listed Yet, or C) I honestly do not have enough experience with it to do more than repeat what I have seen or heard.

Ratings: Between 1 and 10, 1 being very poor performance, 10 being the best possible performance.
Gangs:
Small - Around a half dozen pilots
Medium - Around a dozen pilots depending on fleet composition
Large - A dozen or more pilots depending on fleet composition





BATTLECRUISERS

Prophecy
Preferred: Medium to Large Gang PvP - Low Security
PvP Rating: 4 PvE Rating: 6
Strength: Tank
Weakness: Damage

Other than being a sexy devil the Prophecy's main claim to fame is its unnatural ability to create units of EHP. Before even unwrapping this beast you will find it crooning about how tough it is to break in PvP combat. Easily sporting a tank of well over 150k EHP with trimark rigs, the Prophecy is the epitome of buffered combat. However, this leaves it with a rather lackluster damage output that puts it at a tactical disadvantage versus its sister ship the Harbinger. After all, killing your opponent before they kill you is more important than all the EHP in the game. This also makes it an ideal ship for completing most L3s as it has a broad range of tanking ability that can fulfill the requirements for any L3 in the game.


Harbinger
Preferred: Medium to Large Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 6 PvE Rating: 3
Strength: Damage
Weakness: Tracking

The Harbinger is a PvP celebrity and is often flown by multitudes of pilots in the Providence area. Sporting damage statistics that put the most hardened pilot to shame, the Harbinger is a gunboat to the extreme. However, given the nature of combat in Providence, frequently being pitted against small frigate or cruiser sized hulls esp. Recons and now Stealth Bombers, the Harbinger is at a significant disadvantage. You will likely find most professional Harbinger pilots fitted with multiple tracking and sensor boosters to offset this. Having relatively little tanking ability it is best left to null security space as opposed to low security where sentry fire comes into play. This is also why the Harbinger is slightly ill-suited for L3s in PvE much like the Brutix.


Brutix
Preferred: Large Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 5 PvE Rating: 2
Strength: Damage
Weakness: Tank

Someone screwed up when they made such a beautiful ship with so little survivability. The Brutix is the classic killmail whore. Stealing your juicy top damages, killing blows, podkills, and the like, the Brutix is a beast with a zest for blood. This is also what makes it deceptively futile in low security combat situations, and quickly primaried in large gang combat. Like a moth to the flame, Brutix pilots are forced to close in deep within an enemy's tactical position, not likely to return, but likely to take a few out with them on the way. The Brutix is a relatively lesser PvP companion now compared to the Harbinger due to relying on blasters as opposed to pulses. The Brutix's poor tank is also the reason why it is very badly matched for most L3s with any moderate amount of incoming damage.


Myrmidon
Preferred: Medium Gang PvP - Low Or Null Security
PvP Rating: 5 PvE Rating: 5
Strength: Drones
Weakness: Weak Variant

The Myrmidon has a little bit of everything, tank, damage, drones, versatility, and the power to put them all to use. The only thing it does not have is any real significant advantage over battlecruisers of any other shape or size, nor the staying power to back up the field. Though good at everything, the Myrmidon suffers from the classic middle child syndrome. Not nearly as agile as its smaller counterpart, the Vexor, and with the tracking issues that come with medium sized weaponry, as well as lacking the EHP or variable fittings of the Dominix, the Myrmidon typically falls short of being anything more than average. But there is something to be said about being good at everything and worst at nothing not to mention the fact that it makes the Myrmidon proficient at completing any and all L3s in the game.


Ferox
Preferred: Medium Gang PvP - Low Security
PvP Rating: 2 PvE Rating: 2
Strength: Range
Weakness: Everything else...

The Ferox is an oddity in the field of battle as it rarely fills any role besides sniper. Given that sniper gangs are highly specialized, this means that the Ferox is relegated to infrequent operations and the back burner. And due to its ship size, the damage yield on its weaponry is subpar at best, leaving it pale in comparison to ranged ships such as the Rokh or Cerberus. Due to this, the Ferox is a poor substitute for almost any other battlecruiser in the game for L3s with the exception of the Brutix.


Drake
Preferred: Any Size Gang PvP - Low or Null Sec
PvP Rating: 8 PvE Rating: 8
Strength(s): Numerous
Weakness: Alpha Damage

One of the most common ships in the game the Drake has just about everything going for it except damage output. Versatile, agile, tough, and dominating, the Drake is an asset in any gang, at any time. Sporting anything from a capless, hybrid, or even active tank with missile ranges that are unmatched for its class and weaponry system, the Drake out classes most other battlecruisers. However, the nature of shield mechanics means that the Drake is especially weak to alpha strike damage. Despite it's generally average damage output, the Drake is a mainstay of PvP combat; just do not expect it to dominate any killmails except in small to medium sized gangs. The Drake is considered the only battlecruiser in the game that can solo L4 missions, though the speed of completion leaves something to be desired.


Cyclone
Preferred: Medium Gang PvP - Low Security
PvP Rating: 2 PvE Rating: 2
Strength: Tank
Weakness: Everything else...

Much like the Ferox the Cyclone suffers from having only one thing going for it, its tank. The Cyclone generally performs well below average in every other way, thus leaving it more of a distraction in PvP combat rather than an asset. With a bonus to artillery damage, which merely brings them up to snuff with regular weaponry due to artillery's already low damage output, one should not expect much out of the Cyclone in combat. Though somewhat manageable for L3s, the Cyclone is a poor substitute for its bigger brother, the Hurricane.


Hurricane
Preferred: Medium to Large Gang PvP - Low or Null Security
PvP Rating: 4 PvE Rating: 5
Strength: Speed
Weakness: Autocannons

The Hurricane, formerly one of the most well renowned battlecruisers in the game, has lost some of its flair since the nano nerf and other subsequent changes to the game mechanic. Being mostly reliant on a natural speed and better than average tank, the Hurricane performs a role comparable to the Harbinger but without quite the punch, placing it somewhere in between a Brutix and Harbinger in performance. In L3s the Hurricane easily out performs most other battlecruisers and holds its own.

Ship Grimoire - Cruisers

Ship Grimoire
Chapter 1 Cruisers

So, you have all no doubt hopped onto EFT at some point, and built a fantasy boat, wondering whether that 5,000,000.00 ISK for a Vexor for instance, is a total waste of ISK. Should you fly it at all, will it perform in PvP, and will it make the ladies throw their bras and panties at you as you fly by? Well, this comprehensive list will give you the bottom line on all those ships you wish you had a good excuse to buy, undock, or fly.

*Note: If you do not see your favorite ship listed here, it is either A) Flying Scrap Metal, B) Just Not Listed Yet, or C) I honestly do not have enough experience with it to do more than repeat what I have seen or heard.

Ratings: Between 1 and 10, 1 being very poor performance, 10 being the best possible performance.
Gangs:
Small - Around a half dozen pilots
Medium - Around a dozen pilots depending on fleet composition
Large - A dozen or more pilots depending on fleet composition





CRUISERS

Omen
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 5 PvE Rating: 3
Strength: Damage
Weakness: 15 Mbit/sec

Frequently overlooked and underrated the Omen is much like the Thorax; high damage output, paper thin tank. The downside is that the Omen cannot field five medium drones like a Thorax, which is likely why it is easily considered the underdog of the Amarr cruisers. However, being a T1 variant of the Zealot, its damage output scales greatly with skill points and weaponry. It performs noticeably well in L2 missions as it is able to quickly deal with incoming alpha before it is overwhelmed.


Maller
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 2 PvE Rating: 1
Strength: Tank
Weakness: 0 Mbit/sec

The Maller, often lauded for having a serious tank for a cruiser, is nothing more than a floating asteroid in a small gang. Although good for adding weight to a smaller gang, the Maller merely delays the inevitable realization that without even moderate damage output or some secondary role to play, it is rare that you will see this ship in a PvP setting. Fielding no drones whatsoever, this cruiser is a flying coffin in any PvE mission above L1 difficulty.


Arbitrator
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 5 PvE Rating: 4
Strength: Drones
Weakness: Turrets

The Arbitrator, much like the Vexor, is a drone boat that can field up to five medium drones with a bonus to damage per skill level in racial cruiser. However, the Arbitrator plays more of a logistics role in that it receives a bonus to tracking disruptor effectiveness. This classes it in a role that is not filled by many other cruisers, both dealing significant drone damage and having a utility bonus. The Arbitrator is not seen in small pitched combat very often, but those who fly it will quickly find it adds a layer of protection to the entire gang. Having comparable capabilities compared to the Vexor, the Arbitrator comes in as a close second in dishing out the pain in L2s missions, and will still easily complete them.


Vexor
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 6 PvE Rating: 5
Strength: Damage, Tank
Weakness: Utility

The Vexor is a staple in standard small gang combat and you will usually see at least one stray pilot floating around dealing death in a cruiser gang with this damage heavy cruiser. Being able to both field five medium drones and dish out blaster damage via a bonus to hybrid turrets, the Vexor is versatile in the way it can take out its foes. This ship is a miniature Dominix in every way and is very popular among newer pilots. It also doubles as an excellent mission runner and will effectively neutralize any L2 on the map.


Thorax
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 5 PvE Rating: 3
Strength: Damage
Weakness: Blasters

The Thorax, like the Omen, is a damage dealer. It has the added bonus of being able to field five medium drones however, which puts it a class above the Omen in versality. However, being a far cry from the range that a Vexor is capable of it is easily kited by hostile pilots and dispensed with from a distance. Thanks for nerfing blasters CCP, btw. Still a staple in almost all gang combat where sentry fire is not a factor, the Thorax is well loved and likely holds this spot more out of a sense of legacy than usefulness.


Caracal
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 3 PvE Rating: 2
Strength: Range
Weakness: 10 Mbit/sec

The Caracal, or "Crapacal", as some of us like to call it is the black horse of cruisers. Not really fitting in an ideal role in any way, it is more of a hanger-on in gang combat than a useful asset. Though it does have the added advantage of ranged damage like its T2 variant the Cerberus, it fields a poor tank and useless drone bandwidth. This ship though good for training purposes, should be left in the hangar once the pilot becomes accustomed to combat operations.


Blackbird
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 4 PvE Rating: 1
Strength: Electronic Warfare
Weakness: Tank, 0 Mbit/sec

The Blackbird is a surprisingly good ship for PvP but is often overlooked or ignored by pilots seeking more pew pew than jam jam. Unable to do any significant damage on its own, the blackbird is a floating liability in space that performs a role that most gangs could greatly benefit from. Given the recent nerf to the jamming range of such ships as the Falcon, the Blackbird has become a perfectly viable alternative due to being cheap and disposable. Fit T2 jammers on this puppy, and you have a miniature Falcon for around 10,000,000.00 ISK. Unfortunately, due to having no drone bandwidth, damage, or tank role bonuses whatsoever, this ship should never see the inside of a mission pocket unless it is in a wormhole where Electronic Warfare is effective against Sleeper rats.


Stabber
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 3 PvE Rating: 1
Strength: Speed
Weakness: Everything else...

The Stabber. To be honest, I only see pirates flying these, and these are cheap pirates who cannot afford a Vagabond. Why do they fly them? Because they are afraid to lose a ship, even a cheap one. These speedy devils have a few advantages as a relatively heavy tackle in null security, but other than that, I would not expect to perform much of any other kind of role in a ship of this low caliber. Even in PvE it will perform poorly due to low artillery damage and a laughable 5 Mbit/sec bandwidth.


Rupture
Preferred: Small Gang PvP - Null Security
PvP Rating: 6 PvE Rating: 5
Strength: Tank
Weakness: Artillery

The Rupture, suffers from the curse of relative anonymity among newer players still under the impression that all things Minmatar perform poorly with low skill points. The Rupture, lovingly nicknamed the "Ruppy" by veteran pilots, actually performs exceedingly well for a ship of its size. Having a naturally high tank and base speed, versatile damage range, and able to field five small drones, this cruiser has the best of both worlds. In small gang combat, a Rupture will be able to effectively engage and often speed tank any target larger than itself, and take quite a few hits to boot. In PvE it performs on par with a Vexor due to its versatile nature and speed.