Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

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

Magnate, Amarr T1 exploration frigate

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.

Frigate Bonus (per skill level)
Role Bonus
7.5% to Core and Combat Scanner Probe Strength5+ 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.

Astero exploration ship

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)
FactionSisters of EveAmarrMinmatarCaldariGallente
Frigate bonus per skill levelGallente 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 Bonus100% 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)
FactionAmarrMinmatarCaldariGallente
Frigate bonus per skill level5% 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 level20% 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 AnathemaSame as the AnathemaSame as the Anathema
Role Bonus10+ 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 AnathemaSame as the AnathemaSame as the Anathema

By Kshal Aideron

Eve main: Kshal Aideron Corp: FUN Inc NPSI community FC and newbro queen

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