Last Updated on 2024-02-09 by Kshal Aideron
In Eve Online, exploration frigates are used to probe cosmic anomalies, wormholes and to hack relic and data sites. There are different types of explo frigs that a pilot can use. This article will discuss the different exploration frigates.
What is Exploration
Exploration is one of the “careers” that is mentioned during the career agent missions. In this activity, pilots often fly in ships that give bonuses to probe strength and hacking. They will then go to known (high, low, null) or wormhole space to try to hack relic and data site.
Further details about exploration will be discussed at a later date.
About Exploration Frigates
Frigates that get bonuses to exploration activities are known as “Exploration Class”. Exploration frigates come in T1, faction, and covert ops flavors.
T1 Exploration Frigates
There are 4 different frigates in this category, one for each faction. These frigates all get the same bonuses. In order to fly any of the frigates listed below, the pilot needs at least level 1 in the frigate skill in their faction of choice.
| 7.5% to Core and Combat Scanner Probe Strength | 5+ to Relic and Data Analyzer virus strength |
| 5% reduction in Salvager duration |
Magnate: the Amarr exploration frig. It has only 3 mid slots so enough for a prop mod, data and relic analyzer. In trade it has much better tank than the other 3 t1 hulls as well as more cargo space.
Probe: the Minmatar explo frig. It has 4 mid slots and is the fastest of all of them with a max velocity of 360m/sec.
Heron: the Caldari explo frig. With 5 mid slots, it’s one of the most desirable of the T1 hulls.
Imicus: the Gallente explo frig. It has 4 mid slots and is the slowest of the explo frigs. However, it does get an extra drone so it can be useful when it comes to using salvage drones or some dps drones to fend off rats.
Faction Exploration Frigates
There are two type of faction exploration frigates. There’s the relatively new empire faction frigs as well as the pirate faction frigs that have been around for awhile. Each ship has different bonuses.
In order to fly the Astero, a pilot must have level 3 of the Gallente and Amarr frigate skill. However, the other 4 faction frigs just need level 1 of frigate skill of the chosen faction.
| Astero (4 mids) | Magnate Navy Issue (3 mids) | Probe Fleet Issue (4 mids) | Heron Navy Issue (5 mids) | Imicus Navy Issue (4 mids) | |
| Faction | Sisters of Eve | Amarr | Minmatar | Caldari | Gallente |
| Frigate bonus per skill level | Gallente Frigate: 20% to drone hitpoints Amarr Frigate: 4% to all armor resistances | 7.5% to core and combat scanner probe strength 20% to small energy turret damage | 7.5% to core and combat scanner probe strength 12.5% to light missile and rocket rate of fire | 7.5% to core and combat scanner probe strength 30% to light missile and rocket damage | 7.5% to core and combat scanner probe strength 7.5% to small hybrid turret damate 10% to drone hit points and tracking speed |
| Role Bonus | 100% reduction in cloaking devices CPU requirement 37.5% to core and combat scanner probe strength 10+ to relic and data analyzer virus strength | 99% reduction in scan probe launcher CPU requirements 5+ to relic and data analyzer virus strength | 99% reduction in scan probe launcher CPU requirements 5+ to relic and data analyzer virus strength | 99% reduction in scan probe launcher CPU requirements 5+ to relic and data analyzer virus strength | 99% reduction in scan probe launcher CPU requirements 5+ to relic and data analyzer virus strength |
Covert Ops Exploration Frigates
The third category of explo frigs is those that can fit a covert ops cloaking device. This means that these ships can warp around while cloaked! This means that while probing down relic and data sites (as well as warping to them) you can be cloaked!
Before getting too excited about these frigates (they are awesome), realize they’re T2 frigates. This means a few things:
- These ships are available to Omega accounts only
- You need level 5 in the following skills:
- the frigate skill of your chosen faction
- Electronics upgrades
- You need level 1 in coverts ops
| Anathema (4 mids) | Cheetah (4 mids) | Buzzard (5 mids) | Helios (5 mids) | |
| Faction | Amarr | Minmatar | Caldari | Gallente |
| Frigate bonus per skill level | 5% to core and combat scanner probe deviation 15% reduction in warp drive capacitor need | 5% to ship max velocity when cloaked 15% reduction in warp drive capacitor need | 5% to core and combat scanner probe deviation 15% reduction in warp drive capacitor need | 5% to ship max velocity when cloaked 15% reduction in warp drive capacitor need |
| Covert Ops bonuses per skill level | 20% reduction in cloaking devices CPU requirement 10% bonus to core and combat scanner probe strength 10% reduction in survey probe flight time | Same as the Anathema | Same as the Anathema | Same as the Anathema |
| Role Bonus | 10+ bonus to relic and data analyzer virus strength Can fit covert cloaking device and cyno Cloak reactivation delay reduced to 5 seconds | Same as the Anathema | Same as the Anathema | Same as the Anathema |
