Novice Frigates

Yearbook 2021
October 2021
Contents
Introduction T1 Frigates Navy Frigates Pirate Frigates
Solo PvP activity in 2021 4 Overview 10 Overview 25 Overview 36

Where to play? 5 Atron 11 Caldari Navy Hookbill 26 Astero 37

Rock-paper-scissors of frigate PvP 6 Breacher 12 Crucifier Navy Issue 27 Cruor 38

Overview of the meta 7 Condor 13 Federation Navy Comet 28 Damavik 39

What to train? 8 Executioner 14 Griffin Navy Issue 29 Daredevil 40

Incursus 15 Imperial Navy Slicer 30 Dramiel 41

Kestrel 16 Maulus Navy Issue 31 Garmur 42

Merlin 17 Republic Fleet Firetail 32 Skybreaker 43

Punisher 18 Vigil Fleet Issue 33 Succubus 44

Rifter 19 Rebalance history 34 Worm 45

Slasher 20 Rebalance history 46

Tormentor 21

Tristan 22

Rebalance history 23

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 2
Introduction

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 3
Solo PvP activity in 2021
Abyssal space
Total solo kills: 11,007
Wormholes Solo kills as % of total kills: n.a. Nullsec
Total solo kills: 61,051 (incl. unpiloted ships) Stargate jumps per 1 solo kill: n.a. Total solo kills: 137,879
Solo kills as % of total kills: n.a. Solo kills as % of total kills: 7.3%
Stargate jumps per 1 solo kill: n.a. Stargate jumps per 1 solo kill: 1,575

# Ship class % of solo kills # Ship class % of solo kills

3%
1 Strategic cruisers 18% 15%
1 Cruisers 20%

2 Frigates 17% 2 Interdictors 10%

35%
3 Interdictors 12% 3 Tactical destroyers 10%

4 Cruisers 10%
Total solo kills in 4 Combat BCs 9%
1H 2021
5 Tactical destroyers 8% 5 Battleships 8%
23%
399,510
Highsec and non-FW lowsec FW lowsec
Total solo kills: 93,306 Total solo kills: 96,267
Solo kills as % of total kills: 4.5% Solo kills as % of total kills: 8.4%
Stargate jumps per 1 solo kill: 5,791 Stargate jumps per 1 solo kill: 807
24%
# Ship class % of solo kills # Ship class % of solo kills

1 Cruisers 14% 1 Frigates 48% Focus of this report

2 Frigates 14% 2 Destroyers 14%

3 Strategic cruisers 11% 3 Cruisers 10%

4 Destroyers 11% 4 Assault frigates 6%

5 Combat BCs 11% 5 Tactical destroyers 5%

Note: data for 1H 2021. Raw data was collected via Zkillboard and EVE Online open API.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 4
Where to play in Factional Warfare?
Gallente-Caldari zone Amarr-Minmatar zone
Top systems by solo kills Structure by ship type Top systems by solo kills Structure by ship type

Tama 14 554 Tama 49% 18% 12% 21% Amamake 5 692 Amamake 55% 11% 10% 24%

Kedama 4 017 Kedama 63% 12% 11% 14% Kamela 1 572 Kamela 51% 16% 10% 24%

Sujarento 3 617 Sujarento 50% 25% 9% 15% Kourmonen 1 496 Kourmonen 24% 6% 9% 61%

Nisuwa 2 001 Nisuwa 58% 10% 9% 23% Lamaa 1 468 Lamaa 33% 10% 7% 51%

Old Man Star 1 417 Old Man Star 16% 3% 32% 48% Sosala 1 267 Sosala 43% 14% 18% 25%

Nagamanen 1 398 Nagamanen 54% 19% 8% 19% Huola 1 200 Huola 29% 8% 18% 45%

Heydieles 1 313 Heydieles 42% 12% 10% 37% Siseide 1 195 Siseide 61% 13% 7% 18%

Pynekastoh 1 257 Pynekastoh 57% 12% 5% 25% Klogori 1 147 Klogori 42% 16% 18% 24%

Hevrice 1 252 Hevrice 33% 13% 7% 47% Kinakka 1 084 Kinakka 24% 4% 26% 46%

Ouelletta 1 152 Ouelletta 35% 5% 16% 43% Auga 957 Auga 54% 15% 10% 22%

Reitsato 1 132 Reitsato 65% 11% 5% 19% Arzad 906 Arzad 39% 12% 19% 29%

Fliet 952 Fliet 49% 16% 8% 26% Aset 851 Aset 37% 20% 10% 34%

Akidagi 938 Akidagi 41% 18% 8% 32% Ardar 811 Ardar 59% 11% 7% 23%

Asakai 890 Asakai 57% 11% 3% 29% Floseswin 799 Floseswin 60% 16% 6% 18%

Deven 844 Deven 53% 14% 10% 23% Dal 796 Dal 55% 19% 9% 17%

Novice Frigates T1 Destroyers T1 / Navy / Pirate Cruisers Other ships

Note: data for 1H 2021 in Faction Warfare systems. Raw data was collected via Zkillboard and EVE Online open API.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 5
The rock-paper-scissors of frigate PvP
Anti kiting Brawling Scram kiting Web kiting Kiting
Range control: MWD/scram/web or MWD/ Range control: AB/scram/web or AB/ Range control: AB/scram/web Range control: AB/warp disruptor/web Range control: MWD/warp disruptor
AB/scram double web Optimal range: 7-10km Optimal range: 10-13km Optimal range: >20km
Optimal range: 0-4km Optimal range: 0-4km Weapons: pulses, beams, rockets, railguns, Weapons: beams, railguns, drones, rockets Weapons: light missiles, drones, beams;
Weapons: blasters, drones, autocannons Weapons: blasters, drones, autocannons drones on some ships railguns and pulses on some frigates

Anti kiting fits have close range damage, Tanky, close range, high damage fits that Similar to brawlers, but these fits fight at These are anti AB/scram/web fits, only Minimum tank, maximum speed, projection
but sacrifice tank or damage for speed require positional advantage at the start the edge of scram range. Brawling and present in FW. Same range control (AB/ and damage (usually in this order). Kiters
compared to normal brawlers. Main targets of the fight or some advantage in range scram kiting are the most common fits in web), but web kiters have advantage die quickly if scrammed by any close
are kiting fits with warp disruptor. control to apply damage consistently. FW space because of plex mechanics. because of longer optimal and tackle range. range ship.

You are in FW complex You are outside of FW complex

Opponent Anti kiting Brawling Scram kiting Web kiting Kiting Opponent Anti kiting Brawling Scram kiting Web kiting Kiting
You You
Anti kiting = O O P P Anti kiting = O O P P

Brawling P = P P P Brawling P = O O O

Scram kiting P P = P P Scram kiting P O = O O

Web kiting O P P = O Web kiting O O O = O

Kiting O P P P = Kiting O O O P =

Note: If one of the ships has significantly better range control in scram range (due to extra web, better base speed, ship bonuses, implants, etc.), then positional advantage doesn’t matter as much.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 6
Overview of the meta
1v1 win rates Comments
Novice frigates consist of 3 classes of combat
100% ships: T1 (12 frigates total), navy (8 frigates) and
Worm pirate (9 frigates, including Astero and Skybreaker).
90% Some limited edition frigates and combat fitted
Daredevil exploration frigates also can enter Novice
Succubus Dramiel
Astero complexes, but these cases are very rare and do
80% Garmur not affect the meta.
Damavik Navy Vigil Comet
With a few exceptions, each class holds its own
70% Cruor place in the food chain.
Hookbill
Navy Griffin T1 frigates, the cheapest and the weakest class,
Navy Crucifier Firetail Slicer win 25-45% of 1v1 engagements vs all novice
60%
frigates. Navy frigates win about 60-70% of 1v1
engagements, and pirate frigates reach 80-90% 1v1
Win rate

50% Navy Maulus win rate.

Breacher In 2021 Federation Navy Comet was the most
40% Tormentor popular novice frigate with over 6700 1v1
Kestrel Atron engagements vs novice frigates in FW systems.
Incursus Rifter
Worm has the highest 1v1 win rate (90%).
30% Tristan
Punisher Condor
Executioner Slasher Merlin
20%

10%

0%
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
1v1 engagements

Note: data for 1H 2021 in Faction Warfare systems. Raw data was collected via Zkillboard and EVE Online open API. Win rate was calculated excluding mirrors.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 7
What to train?
Gallente: hybrid weapons
This path opens 3 very popular and strong blaster brawlers with
Atron Comet Daredevil a side option of decent rail scram/web kiting fits. All of these
Balanced Borderline Borderline frigates are beginner-friendly, because they rely on buffer tank
vs class: 53% (#4) vs class: 61% (#2) vs class: 64% (#2) and close-range dps, not control and positioning.

vs all: 38% (#20) vs all: 76% (#7) vs all: 88% (#2) The downside is little variety in piloting styles and a lot of
mirror match-ups in FW environment.

Caldari: missiles
These frigates are the core of modern scram kiting meta. They
Kestrel Hookbill Garmur win fights based on control and require good positioning and
Balanced Balanced Borderline understanding of fits before an engagement. Several viable fits
vs class: 54% (#3) vs class: 50% (#3) vs class: 44% (#6) are available for every ship.

vs all: 38% (#19) vs all: 68% (#11) vs all: 81% (#6) If you are willing to cross-train into light missiles, Garmur is an
excellent kiter too.

Amarr: laser weapons

This is a kitey line-up of Amarr frigates. All of them are
Tormentor Slicer Succubus exceptional when piloted correctly, also Slicer and Succubus are
Balanced Balanced Borderline great at fighting against multiple opponents or larger ships.
vs class: 58% (#2) vs class: 35% (#7) vs class: 52% (#3) However, these frigates are unforgiving and need a well-skilled
vs all: 42% (#18) vs all: 62% (#15) vs all: 87% (#3) character and good piloting on grid because of issues with
capacitor and weapons tracking.

Minmatar: missiles & drones

These are probably the best 3 ships in each class in the hands
Breacher Navy Vigil Worm of an experienced pilot. For newer players, there are many
Borderline Balanced Overpowered practical problems: all frigates require cross-training into
vs class: 64% (#1) vs class: 67% (#1) vs class: 54% (#2) multiple weapons (and Worm is a lengthy racial cross-train
itself), others may be reluctant to fight them (especially Worm)
vs all: 47% (#17) vs all: 76% (#8) vs all: 90% (#1) and Breacher and Navy Vigil require good micromanagement.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 8
T1 Frigates

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 9
T1 frigates: overview
1v1 win rates Ship profiles
Ship Tier Weapons Tank AK B SK WK K
80%
Atron Balanced Hybrid Armor
Breacher Borderline Missiles Shield/Armor
Condor Balanced Missiles Shield/Armor
70%
Executioner Balanced Laser Armor
Incursus Balanced Hybrid Armor
Breacher
Kestrel Balanced Missiles Armor
60%
Tormentor Merlin Balanced Hybrid Shield

Kestrel Punisher Balanced Laser/Projectile Armor

Atron
Win rate

Rifter Balanced Projectile Armor

50% Condor Tristan
Punisher Slasher Underpowered Projectile Shield/Armor
Rifter
Incursus Tormentor Balanced Laser Armor
Slasher
Tristan Balanced Drones Shield/Armor
40% Executioner
Merlin
Overview
T1 frigates is a well-balanced class of novice ships. The most recent big rebalance - buff to close range ammo
30% damage in April 2020 - slightly improved the balance in this class. Previously two stronger frigates were
mostly unaffected: Breacher gained an additional viable fit with 2 webs and Rage rockets and for Tormentor
this buff was irrelevant. As a result, some weaker frigates have caught up, especially Kestrel, Atron, Condor,
Merlin and Incursus.
20% The meta in this class is all about brawling and scram kiting. Kiting and anti kiting are almost non-existent,
0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000 3 500 4 000 because all strong kiting fits (namely light missile Condor and kiting Tristan) were heavily nerfed at various
rebalances since 2014.
1v1 engagements

Note: data for 1H 2021 in Faction Warfare systems. Raw data was collected via Zkillboard and EVE Online open API. Win rate was calculated excluding mirrors.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 10
Atron
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Gallente T1 attack frigate with 4-3-3 slot layout, bonuses to tackle modules cap consumption, hybrid
turret falloff and damage. Usually Atrons are fitted and flown somewhere between brawling and scram
kiting ranges to utilise falloff weapon bonus. 70%

Fits Comments
Merlin
Brawl and scram kite 77% popularity Thanks to falloff bonus, Atron can brawl with void
60% Punisher
• High: 3x light neutron blaster or antimatter and scram kite with null using the
Rifter
same fit.
• Med: AB, scram, web
As an attack frigate, Atron has better base speed Slasher
Condor
• Low: DC, MFS, SAAR than T1 combat frigates and can scram kite against Incursus

Win rate
Executioner Breacher
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank stronger brawlers and brawl against stronger 50% Atron
Balanced
Tristan
Anti kite scram kiters. Kestrel

• High: 3x light neutron blaster This damage mitigation through control is the main Tormentor
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates win condition for this ship. Fights with frigates
• Med: AB, scram, MWD not vulnerable to this tactic (Tormentor, Breacher,
53% 38% • Low: DC, MAPC, SAAR Kestrel and Tristan) are challenging for Atron. 40%

• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank Atron can be fitted as a dangerous anti kiter, either
Top pilots Web kite 6% popularity with dual prop or a web. Although with the general
# Name Solo kills shift towards close range fighting in frigate PvP, it
• High: 3x 150mm railgun sees little use nowadays.
1 mr chunky 383 30%
• Med: AB, warp disruptor, web Web kiting fit is also very rare, because it has poor
2 Space Muffin 370 • Low: DC, MFS, SAAR damage and tank for the meta in novice plexes
• Rigs: 3x hull tank currently dominated by faction frigates.
3 Burntime 173
4 Blights Wretch 95 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Feth Dethahal 64 1v1 engagements

Note: kills during 1H 2021, only in the featured frigate and in FW systems.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 11
Breacher
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K Slasher

Minmatar T1 combat frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout, bonuses to missile rate of fire and active shield tank. Punisher
Popular fits are aimed at scram kiting with 1 or 2 webs and related tradeoffs between tank, damage and Tristan
control. 70% Merlin

Fits Comments Executioner

Condor Rifter

Kestrel
Scram kite - 1 web 45% popularity Standard scram kite fit with MASB in FW is forced Incursus
60%
• High: 3x rocket launcher to use faction ammo against AB frigates because of
poor application with rage. This results in subpar
• Med: AB, scram, web, MASB damage and general strategy relies on utilising Tormentor
• Low: DC, BCS, SAAR huge effective tank and outlasting the opponent.

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 1x shield EM resists, 1x shield Scram kite fit with 2 webs became viable after rage 50% Breacher
Borderline thermal resists ammo damage was increased by 15% in April 2020. Atron

Scram kite - 2 webs 44% popularity This fit has excellent control and full application
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates to any target - which results in 45% effective DPS
• High: 3x rocket launcher increase over fit with a single web. The downside
64% 47% • Med: AB, scram, 2x web is severely compromised tank. 40%
• Low: DC, BCS, SAAR Breacher used to have many niche fits, but changes
Top pilots • Rigs: 1x range, 2x hull tank to the meta in recent years made them largely
obsolete. You may occasionally encounter kiting fit,
# Name Solo kills Kite 9% popularity which is very similar to kiting Condor.
1 Alex Mixter 95 • High: 3x light missile launcher General recommendations: 30%

• Med: MWD, warp disruptor, TD, MASB • Manage your range, especially with Rage rockets.
2 Burntime 64
• Low: PDS, nano, overdrive Breacher has no missile range bonus.
3 Pink Pixie 30
• Rigs: 1x damage, 1x polycarbon, 1x shield EM • Pre-overheat active tank before every cycle and
4 Kalley Asanari 29 resists don’t overrep. 20%
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
5 Blights Wretch 29 • Recall and redeploy drones when they are taking 1v1 engagements
damage.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 12
Condor
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Caldari T1 attack frigate with 4-4-2 slot layout, bonuses to tackle modules cap consumption and kinetic
missile damage. Pure kiter by design, nowadays it is often used as a scram kiter with heavy control.
70%

Fits Comments
Kite 73% popularity Kiting Condor was the most popular T1 frigate Merlin
60%
• High: 3x light missile launcher in 2013-2014, but blanket nerf to light missiles at
the end of 2014 took this ship out of the meta as a
• Med: MWD, MSE, TD, warp disruptor collateral damage. Tristan
• Low: MAPC, nano Buff to rage ammo damage in April 2020 made

Win rate
Condor
• Rigs: 1x powergrid, 1x speed, 1x damage scram kiting fit much stronger and improved 50%
Balanced
Punisher
Scram kite 17% popularity Condor’s 1v1 win rate by about 12%.
Executioner Incursus
• High: 3x rocket launcher, neut Scram kiting Condor has the same role as dual Atron
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates web Breacher and Kestrel. The key differences for
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web Slasher
Condor are better control, neut in utility high slot,
48% 30% • Low: DC, SAAR but worse tank and damage. 40%
Tormentor Kestrel
Rifter
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank General recommendations:
Top pilots • In kiting fit, look for AB frigates out of position Breacher
# Name Solo kills and close range destroyers. Avoid anti kiters and
MWD brawlers. 30%
1 Kate Gnr 254
• In scram kiting fit, utilise superior control and
2 Darkon Chanlin 65 leave the fight if you are losing dps race. The
3 youp kim 61 main targets are all brawling frigates.

4 Corvus Onzo 35 20%

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
5 Yung 888 34 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 13
Executioner
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Amarr T1 attack frigate with 4-3-3 slot layout, bonuses to tackle modules cap consumption, energy
turret damage and activation cost. This is the best T1 web kiter thanks to excellent synergy between
speed, range and tackle cap bonus. 70%

Fits Comments
Web kite 58% popularity With only 3 med slots and weak tank, both web
60%
• High: 3x small focused beam laser and scram kiting fits need positional advantage in
plex as a key win condition. Without it, Executioner
• Med: AB, warp disruptor, web often runs out of tank before reaching optimal
• Low: DC, heat sink, SAAR range (web kiting Atron has the same problem). Merlin

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank One unique feature of web kiting fit is the ability 50% Executioner
Condor

Balanced Scram kite 20% popularity to kite other AB frigates outside of the web range Punisher
Atron
while doing respectable damage. Web kiting
• High: 3x small focused pulse laser Executioner can operate in web and even scram
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Incursus
Kestrel
• Med: AB, scram, web range to apply more damage, but it does not have Rifter
43% 28% • Low: DC, heat sink, SAAR to commit every time. 40%
Slasher

• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank Scram kiting Executioner has the same role as
Top pilots pulse Tormentor, but with more control, less tank
Breacher
and less damage. Tristan
# Name Solo kills
1 NeedsToBeReal 67 30%

2 GaiusOctavius 54
Tormentor
3 mr chunky 47
4 MalTreatment 40 20%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
5 Raszh 30 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 14
Incursus
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Gallente T1 combat frigate with 3-3-4 slot layout, bonuses to active armor tank and hybrid turret
damage. Incursus is a typical brawler with strong tank and close range damage.
70%

Fits Comments
Punisher
Brawl - 1 web 70% popularity Unlike Atron, Incursus has no falloff bonus, and its
60%
• High: 3x light neutron blaster damage drops very quickly as the range increases.
This, together with a lower base speed, defines the Executioner Merlin
• Med: AB, scram, web main weakness of Incursus - the lack of control.
• Low: DC, MFS, SAAR, overdrive There are two ways to deal with this problem that Slasher
Condor

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank determine the flavor of a standard fit. The first is 50% Incursus
Balanced Brawl - 2 webs the usual AB/scram/web combo with an overdrive
Atron
and the second is the full gank fit with 2 webs and Rifter
• High: 3x light neutron blaster no tackle.
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Tristan
• Med: AB, 2x web Both fits have the same engagement profile and
47% 31% • Low: DC, 2x MFS, SAAR strategy: get closer than 2 km to the target, and 40% Tormentor
Breacher
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank Incursus wins against the majority of T1 frigates.
Top pilots Anti kite Incursus also can be used as anti kiter, similar to
Kestrel

# Name Solo kills Atron, but slower and tankier. It is rarely used,
• High: 3x light neutron blaster because there are no popular T1 kiters left, and
1 Etymon 35 30%
• Med: AB, scram, MWD faster Atron is better at catching Garmurs and
• Low: DC, MFS, SAAR, overdrive Slicers.
2 yapma 31
• Rigs: 3x hull tank Dual rep fit is not viable for solo PvP, because
3 Docteur West 28 it has no control and cannot secure kills against
4 BoomBangGone 24 almost all frigates. 20%
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
5 MadMatt 420 19 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 15
Kestrel
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Caldari T1 combat frigate with 4-4-2 slot layout, bonuses to light missile and rocket damage and range.
Solo Kestrels almost always scram kite with rockets, light missile fits are used in fleets.
70%

Fits Comments Merlin

Incursus
Scram kite - 2 webs 79% popularity Of all T1 frigates, Kestrel benefited from the close Slasher
60%
• High: 3x rocket launcher range ammo damage buff the most. It was often fit Condor
with 2 webs for control even before that, and now Executioner
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web it got free 15% damage increase.
• Low: DC, SAAR In terms of the win rate, this buff promoted Kestrel Tormentor Tristan
Punisher Rifter Atron

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank from an average 1v1 frigate to the clear second 50% Kestrel
Balanced Scram kite - 1 web 12% popularity best, only behind Breacher.

• High: 3x rocket launcher Engagement profile and general approach to

Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates engagements are similar to other rocket scram
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, web kiters - Breacher and Condor.
54% 38% • Low: DC, BCS 40%
One unique feature of Kestrel is the bonus to
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x shield buffer missile range, which means that in some cases it Breacher
Top pilots can engage at the end of a heated web range and
# Name Solo kills close distance to scram range later.

1 Space Muffin 82 30%

2 Mary Alice Brandon 70

3 Jorrien 59
4 Red Venue 55 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500
5 uMillenium 39 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 16
Merlin
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Caldari T1 combat frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout, bonuses to hybrid turret damage and shield resistances.
Merlin is a pure brawler with strong buffer tank and close range damage.
70%

Fits Comments
Brawl - 1 web 71% popularity At 0 km blaster Merlin is the best T1 frigate, but
60%
• High: 3x light neutron blaster because of its slow speed it cannot do anything
against scram or web kiting frigates set up in
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, web position.
• Low: DC, MFS, MAPC The general strategy is to camp FW complexes and Rifter

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 1x shield EM resists, 1x shield warp in only to other blaster brawlers. 50% Merlin
Balanced buffer Attack frigates and some faster combat frigates can
Executioner
Brawl - 2 webs MSE warp into Merlin and still be able to burn off before
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates running out of tank.
• High: 3x light neutron blaster Slasher
Incursus

38% 24% • Med: AB, MSE, 2x web With double webs Merlin can fight weaker scram
40%
kiters, but this fit loses surprise effect when Merlin Condor Tristan
• Low: 2x MFS, MAPC has to burn 10-20 seconds to the target.
Top pilots • Rigs: 1x damage, 1x shield EM resists, 1x shield Rail Merlin is out of the meta, because Breacher,
Atron
Kestrel
# Name Solo kills buffer Kestrel and Tormentor are better in scram kiting
Brawl - 2 webs MASB role. 30% Punisher Breacher
1 Teal’c 79 40
• High: 3x light neutron blaster
2 Veliathon 36 Tormentor
• Med: AB, MASB, 2x web
3 Helmi Virtanan 34 • Low: DC, 2x MFS
4 Amodos Oblivion 32 • Rigs: 1x damage, 1x shield EM resists, 1x shield 20%
0 100 200 300 400
thermal resists
5 Ser Dontos Hollard 31 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 17
Punisher
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Amarr T1 combat frigate with 4-2-5 slot layout, bonuses to energy turret activation cost and armor
resistances. Punisher is slow and very tanky brawler that can use any close range turret weapon,
because it has no weapon damage bonus. 70% Merlin

Fits Comments
Slasher
Brawl - autocannon 37% popularity Only 2 medium slots mean that all solo scram fits
60%
• High: 3x 200mm autocannon are not able to control the engagement range and
have to track well enough to apply without a web
• Med: AB, scram and project damage to 10 km.
• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, multispectrum coating, 2 main solo brawling fits satisfy both conditions: Executioner
2x 400mm steel plate

Win rate
autocannon fit with more tank and less damage and 50% Punisher Condor
Balanced • Rigs: 1x damage, 2x trimarks pulse fit with less tank and more damage.
Kestrel
Rifter

Brawl - pulse 11% popularity Blaster Punishers are the best T1 frigate fleet
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates doctrine in FW, but in solo they lack projection to
• High: 3x dual light pulse laser Tristan
be viable.
46% 28% • Med: AB, scram 40% Atron
The default medium slots are AB + scram, but Tormentor
• Low: DC, 2x heat sink, 400mm steel plate, SAAR MWD + scram and AB + web can be good in some Incursus
Top pilots • Rigs: 1x damage, 2x trimarks situations.
# Name Solo kills Kite 18% popularity Kiting Punisher is off-meta, but it is quite popular
• High: 3x small focused pulse laser and has high win rates. However, it is more 30%
1 Ciba Lexlulu 41
difficult to handle than similar Slicer fits because of
• Med: MWD, warp disruptor worse tank and range.
2 Fusada 37 Breacher
• Low: heat sink, nano, overdrive, capacitor power
3 Loxia Tsukaya 31 relay, SAAR
4 Southern Tier 25 • Rigs: 3x range 20%
0 50 100 150 200
5 terminator9999 21 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 18
Rifter
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Minmatar T1 combat frigate with 3-3-4 slot layout, bonuses to projectile turret rate of fire and falloff.
Thanks to excellent base speed, Rifter has good control for a frigate with 3 medium slots and can use
falloff bonus to scram kite or brawl. 70%

Fits Comments
Scram kite 60% popularity Standard 200mm autocannon Rifter is a reactionary Condor
60%
• High: 3x 200mm autocannon frigate. This fit is weaker than specialized scram
kiters and brawlers in their roles, but it is able to Slasher
• Med: AB, scram, web scram kite against all brawlers and brawl against
Executioner
Incursus
• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, 200mm steel plate, scram kiters if they have the same standard 3
SAAR medium slots. Punisher

Win rate
50% Rifter
Balanced • Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank 150mm autocannon Rifter gains a lot of tank, but Kestrel
Merlin
Brawl 19% popularity loses range control and turns into a slow brawler
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates similar to Merlin. This fit has poor damage at scram Tristan
• High: 3x 150mm autocannon range and usually is not competitive against scram Tormentor
47% 33% • Med: AB, scram, web kiters. 40%
Atron

• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, 400mm steel plate, Arty Rifter has the same role as beam Executioner
Top pilots SAAR and rail Atron and similar engagement profile.
• Rigs: 3x trimarks One significant difference is weaker cap, because Breacher
# Name Solo kills as a combat frigate Rifter has no bonus to tackle
Web kite 13% popularity modules activation cost. 30%
1 Derek Parfit 118
• High: 3x 280mm artillery
2 Marta Joringer 98
• Med: AB, warp disruptor, web
3 xxMACKxx 60 • Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, overdrive, SAAR
4 Leper Gnomee 44 • Rigs: 1x damage, 1x speed, 1x hull tank 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500
5 Blights Wretch 43 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 19
Slasher
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Minmatar T1 attack frigate with 4-4-2 slot layout, bonuses to tackle modules cap consumption, projectile
turret damage and tracking speed. Slasher is the fastest T1 frigate, which is compensated by weak tank
and poor damage. 70%

Fits Comments
Brawl 29% popularity Slasher is not competitive on tank and damage
60%
• High: 3x 150mm autocannon, neut against any other T1 frigate, so it has to use other Executioner
strengths to win. There are two of them - speed Merlin
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, web and actually useful utility high slot. Condor

• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer Slasher is so fast that in scram range with 1 web

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 1x powergrid, 1x shield buffer it has similar control to slower T1 frigates with 50% Slasher
Underpowered Kite 12% popularity
2 webs. Against combat T1 frigates with 1 web
Atron
Slasher can quickly establish the range it wants. Incursus
• High: 3x 280mm artillery
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates For brawling fit the key feature is the ability to
• Med: MWD, small shield extender, warp permanently run neut. Primary targets for it are Rifter
44% 27% disruptor, web cap dependent turret frigates and rocket frigates 40%
Kestrel Tristan
• Low: gyrostabilizer, nano (that rely on cap to web and apply damage).
Top pilots • Rigs: 1x falloff, 1x powergrid, 1x polycarbon Kiting Slasher has weak damage, but as a
Punisher

completely cap stable fit it is not on a timer to Tormentor

# Name Solo kills Anti kite 11% popularity
leave.
1 Helmi Virtanan 71 • High: 3x 125mm autocannon 30%
Anti kite Slasher is the best T1 anti kiter. For a
• Med: MWD, MSE, scram, AB kiter, it is difficult to kite this fit during its approach
2 tINTENKILLA 55
• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer on MWD and to hit it once it is on close orbit on
3 Darkon Chanlin 44 AB. However, since Slasher is rare solo frigate, in
• Rigs: 1x shield buffer, 1x shield EM resists, 1x Breacher
4 Mooney Suzuki 27 powergrid these situations its intentions are generally clear 20%
for a kiter in position. 0 50 100 150 200 250
5 The Mighty Scarface 25 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 20
Tormentor
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K
Executioner
Amarr T1 combat frigate with 3-3-4 slot layout, bonuses to energy turret damage and activation cost. Merlin
Tormentors are scram kiters by design with both pulse and beam lasers, although they can brawl
reasonably well with some tankier pulse laser fits. 70%

Fits Comments Slasher

Scram kite - beam 65% popularity Tormentor was left behind recent power creep Punisher
60%
• High: 3x small focused beam laser created by the buff to close range T2 ammo, Incursus
because increased conflag damage was almost Condor Rifter Tristan
• Med: AB, scram, web irrelevant for this ship. After the meta settled, this Atron
• Low: DC, heat sink, overdrive, SAAR top 2 T1 frigate with 65% 1v1 win rate in 2019 turned
into fourth or fifth frigate with a win rate just

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank 50% Tormentor
Balanced Second web instead of scram in the medium slot is
slightly above 50% in 2021.
Kestrel
common as well. Tormentor is no longer the best scram kiting T1
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates frigate, now it is only on par with Breacher and Breacher
Scram kite - pulse 17% popularity Kestrel. Beam Tormentor still has higher damage
58% 42% • High: 3x small focused pulse laser than these rocket scram kiters, but it has weaker 40%
• Med: AB, scram, web control and issues with tracking in some situations.
Top pilots • Low: DC, heat sink, 200mm plate, SAAR Fits and engagement profile remained mostly the
same as in 2019. One important change is that pulse
# Name Solo kills • Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank fit is no longer competitive against blaster brawlers
1 Teal’c 79 68 at 0 km, so all Tormentors have to be either set 30%
up in FW complex or be fitted with 2 webs. This
2 Mooney Suzuki 61 led to a further decrease in popularity of pulse fits,
3 Timur Vazar 30 because at scram range beams are better in any
metric.
4 Mary Alice Brandon 25 It is important to remember that Tormentor has 20%
0 50 100 150 200 250
5 Roji Boogiepop 22 little buffer in hull, and to use all charges SAAR 1v1 engagements
should be activated early.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 21
Tristan
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Gallente T1 combat frigate with 3-3-3 slot layout, bonuses to drone HP, hybrid turret and drone tracking.
Tristan is the only drone focused T1 frigate, which gives it good versatility in combat styles.
70%

Fits Comments Executioner

Merlin
Brawl For many years since light missiles nerf in 2014 Slasher
60%
• High: 2x light neutron blaster, neut Tristan have been the most popular T1 frigate. In
Punisher
2021, it still is the most popular frigate, but power
• Med: AB, scram, web creep and multiple nerfs over the years brought it Rifter
Incursus
• Low: DC, DDA, SAAR to the “jack of all trades, king of none” state.

Win rate
Atron
• Rigs: 3x hull tank It can brawl, scram kite and kite reasonably well, 50% Tristan
Balanced For scram kiting, replace blasters with 125mm although it is worse than specialized frigates for
Kestrel
railguns. these roles. In brawling, the issue is poor damage,
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates and in scram kiting and kiting - poor control due to Condor
Kite a low base speed and only 3 medium slots. Tormentor
51% 32% • High: empty General recommendations: 40%
• Med: MWD, MSE, warp disruptor • In brawling and scram fits engage at the most
Top pilots • Low: 2x DDA, nano appropriate range for a specific match-up and
# Name Solo kills • Rigs: 1x shield EM resists, 2x shield buffer commit only when drones secured advantage in
the dps race.
1 Red Venue 75 Neut 30%
• In kiting fit manage individual drones if they are Breacher
• High: 3x neuts taking damage (return and re-engage).
2 Docteur West 62
• Med: AB, cap booster, scram • In neuting fit overheat neuts for 3 cycles and
3 Silencer Creed 55
• Low: DC, EANM, SAAR stagger them afterwards, orbit 500m.
4 DarkPiper 44 • Rigs: 3x hull tank 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Logan DeGreaux 43 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 22
Rebalance history: T1 frigates
Frigate 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Atron
Hull rigs
Breacher LML nerf

(+) Damage, speed, fitting (+) Speed Rage missiles buff

Condor
LML nerf Rage missiles buff
Executioner
Lasers buff
Incursus
Hull rigs
Kestrel
(+) Speed Rage missiles buff
Merlin
Punisher Lasers buff

(+) Fitting, capacitor (+) Fitting, +1 turret, +1L

Rifter Projectiles buff

(+) Falloff, speed, (-) Tracking (+) Fitting Artillery fitting buff -1H, +1L (+) Damage, autocannons buff
Slasher
Projectiles buff (+) Fitting Artillery fitting buff Autocannons buff
Tormentor
Lasers buff (+) Drone bay
Tristan DDA nerf

Hull rigs, acolytes buff (-) Tank, speed; neut tiericide (-) Speed Close range turrets, missiles dps buff

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 23
Navy Frigates

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 24
Navy frigates: overview
1v1 win rates Ship profiles
Ship Tier Weapons Tank AK B SK WK K
80%
Hookbill Balanced Missiles Shield/Armor
Navy Crucifier Balanced Laser Armor
Comet Borderline Hybrid Armor
70%
Navy Griffin Balanced Hybrid Shield
Navy Vigil
Slicer Balanced Laser Armor
Comet Navy Maulus Underpowered Drones Armor
60%
Firetail Balanced Projectile Shield/Armor
Navy Vigil Balanced Missiles Shield/Armor
Win rate

50% Hookbill Overview

Navy Griffin
Navy frigates have 2 distinct ship classes: “combat” (straightforward upgrades of some T1 frigates) and “ewar”
Navy Crucifier (frigates with ewar bonuses tweaked to be useful only in solo PvP).
40% Ewar navy frigates were introduced in December 2015. These frigates are mostly good at solo PvP in FW, but
Firetail they never gained any significant popularity despite various changes in the meta and redesigns over the last 6
Slicer years.
Current meta in this class is very scram kite heavy. There is only one popular brawler (Comet), one kiter
30% (Slicer) and one web kiter (Navy Vigil). Fits for scram kiting frigates are often build around dealing with a
blaster Comet, which is currently the most popular ship of all novice frigates, including T1 frigates. For this
reason you will almost always see double webs on scram kiting navy frigates in FW.
Navy Maulus
20%
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
1v1 engagements

Note: data for 1H 2021 in Faction Warfare systems. Raw data was collected via Zkillboard and EVE Online open API. Win rate was calculated excluding mirrors.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 25
Caldari Navy Hookbill
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Caldari faction combat frigate with 3-5-2 slot layout, bonuses to light missile and rocket damage and
velocity. Hookbill is a flexible frigate thanks to 5 medium slots, currently it is the best faction scram
kiter with excellent control and damage. 70% Firetail

Navy Maulus
Fits Comments
Scram kite - armor 87% popularity Rage missiles damage buff in April 2020 elevated Navy Griffin
60%
• High: 3x rocket launcher Hookbill up to one of the best faction frigates.
Unlike T1 missile frigates, Hookbill does not have
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web, TD to sacrifice tank to use 2 webs, so this rebalance
• Low: DC, SAAR turned out to be free 15% damage buff for all
standard fits.

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank 50% Hookbill
Balanced TD should be replaced with missile disruptor In terms of piloting, Hookbills almost always scram Slicer
Comet
against missile ships. Replacing TD with MASB is kite with Rage missiles. There are 3 flavors:
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates also viable in many match-ups. • Fits with no tank modules in medium slots rely
on ewar to win fights. These fits are strong
50% 68% Scram kite - shield
against turret frigates, mediocre against missile 40%
Navy Vigil
• High: 3x rocket launcher frigates (due to the lower impact of MD relative
Top pilots • Med: AB, scram, 2x web, MSE to TD) and weak against drone frigates.
# Name Solo kills • Low: DC, BCS • Fits with MSE or triple tank with MASB tend to Navy Crucifier

• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x shield buffer compete in straightforward dps races - similar to

1 Pink Pixie 124 30%
rail Comet and arty Firetail.
Scram kite - polarized
2 Paulo Rin 105 • Polarized fits appeared since April 2020. They
• High: 3x polarized rocket launcher reach absurd damage for a scram kiter (well over
3 Kon Run Khamez 62 • Med: AB, scram, 2x web, MSE 350 dps) and are very strong when used with
4 Iv d’Este 51 • Low: 2x BCS positional advantage. 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Thomas Inhibenson 47 • Rigs: 3x shield buffer 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 26
Crucifier Navy Issue
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Amarr faction ewar frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout, bonuses to small energy turret damage and weapon
disruptor effectiveness. Although by design this is an “electronic warfare” frigate, in practice it is often
fit with 2 webs for better control and used as a typical combat scram kiter. 70%

Fits Comments
Hookbill

Scram kite - beams 43% popularity Navy Crucifier is an interesting and fairly
60%
• High: 2x small focused beam laser strong frigate, but for many years it has been
overshadowed by Comet and Hookbill that perform
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web better in its roles.
• Low: DC, heat sink, SAAR Both beam and pulse fits are viable and about

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank equally popular. 50% Navy Crucifier
Balanced Scram kite / brawl - dual rep 40% popularity Beam Navy Crucifier is used exactly like beam Firetail

• High: 2x small focused pulse laser, neut Tormentor with an extra web. However, this does
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates not give a significant advantage in the league of
• Med: AB, scram, web, cap booster faction frigates, where double web fits are very
45% 62% • Low: DC, SAR, SAAR popular. 40%
Comet

• Rigs: 1x powergrid, 2x active armor tank Pulse fits lean towards brawling, because damage
Top pilots Scram kite / brawl - other pulse fits with Scorch is really poor relative to many other Slicer

# Name Solo kills options for scram kiting. Navy Griffin

• High: 2x small focused pulse laser
Unfortunately, these and some other control- 30%
1 Mooney Suzuki 62 • Med: AB, scram, web, TD oriented brawlers struggle against frigates like
Navy Vigil
2 JustWaffle Alar 24 • Low: DC, heat sink, SAAR blaster Comets and TD Hookbills - and since they
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank take up over half of all engagements, pulse fits are
3 Huan Lee 15 hardy viable in the current meta.
There are many viable medium slot combinations:
4 Prima Calva 14 scram + 2x web, scram + web + TD, 2x web + TD, 20%
0 20 40 60 80
5 Ash ‘Knight 13 scram + web + MASB. 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 27
Federation Navy Comet
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Gallente faction combat frigate with 3-3-4 slot layout, bonuses to small hybrid turret damage and
tracking. Comet is by far the most popular faction frigate thanks to its simplicity, versatility, excellent Slicer
tank and damage. 70% Firetail

Fits Comments
Brawl 71% popularity Comet is the most popular frigate in FW, therefore
60%
• High: 2x small neutron blaster, neut good understanding of this ship is critical in the Navy Crucifier
current meta. Navy Griffin
• Med: AB, scram, web
Comet wins straight dps races vs all T1 and faction
• Low: DC, 2x MFS, SAAR frigates (and some pirate frigates as well). Its only Hookbill

Win rate
• Rigs: 3x hull tank serious weakness is control - only 3 medium slots 50% Comet
Borderline Second web instead of scram and MWD instead of in the league of faction frigates mean that Comet is
AB for anti-kiting are common. Drones for scram often controlled by double web fits.
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates range fits should be 1 damage set and 1 ECM set. The majority of Comets in FW are AB blaster
brawlers. These fits prefer to have either positional
61% 76% Scram kite 25% popularity
advantage, or 2 webs, or an overdrive instead of 40%
• High: 2x 150mm railgun, neut one MFS to facilitate issues with control. A set of Navy Vigil
Top pilots • Med: AB, scram, web ECM drones can be used as a last chance to reset
• Low: DC, 2x MFS, SAAR control.
# Name Solo kills
• Rigs: 3x hull tank Rail fit is more flexible, because it is not vulnerable
1 Lerq Staw 594 30%
to scram kiting – currently the most popular
Kite style among faction frigates. A neut is mandatory
2 Theroine 282
• High: 2x 150mm railgun to counter fits that rely on damage mitigation
3 Lucian Lockard 253 • Med: MWD, cap booster, warp disruptor by tracking (double web Kestrels, Condors, TD
Slashers and Hookbills, etc.).
4 Killer Rasta 111 • Low: DC, 2x MFS, SAAR 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
5 Maxim Leshiy 109 • Rigs: 3x optimal range 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 28
Griffin Navy Issue
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Caldari faction ewar frigate with 3-5-2 slot layout, bonuses to small hybrid turret damage, ECM drone
jam duration and penalties to drone damage, HP and drone control range. Usually Navy Griffin is used a
Navy Vigil
shield brawler and occupies the same role as a blaster Comet. 70%

Fits Comments
Navy Crucifier

Brawl 60% popularity Since its introduction to the game in late 2015,
60%
• High: 2x small neutron blaster, neut Navy Griffin survived several different designs.
Firetail

• Med: AB, MSE, scram, 2x web First, it was an odd coin flip frigate under the old
ECM mechanics. In October 2018, it was taken
• Low: DC, MAPC out of the meta as a collateral damage of ECM

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x shield buffer nerf. And after more than 2 years since then, in 50% Slicer
Balanced Brawl - polarized 7% popularity November 2020, it was redesigned into ECM drone Navy Griffin
frigate with a unique penalty to drone damage.
• High: 2x polarized small neutron blaster
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Modern Navy Griffin can both brawl and scram
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, 2x web kite, with the former being more popular. 5 medium Comet
47% 65% • Low: 2x MFS slots provide good control, although Navy Griffin 40%
Hookbill
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x shield buffer still loses the battle of control to other frigates with
Top pilots Burst jammer and sensor dampener with scan
2 webs because it has terrible top speed.
# Name Solo kills resolution script can used instead of 2 webs for This means Navy Griffin is quite sensitive to
ECM focused range control. positional advantage in plex, especially when
1 ninouh 50 30%
fighting against Hookbills, Navy Vigils and arty
Scram kite 3% popularity Firetails.
2 Victor Von Voodini 14
• High: 2x 150mm railgun, neut ECM drones in this frigate act as a pocket sand -
3 Rian Beorn 14 • Med: AB, MSE, scram, 2x web jams are not required to win a fight, but they will
4 Jay Makin 9 • Low: DC, MFS make it much easier or provide an opportunity to 20%
escape. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
5 Gori Thane 9 • Rigs: 1x damage, 1x powergrid, 1x shield buffer 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 29
Imperial Navy Slicer
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Amarr faction combat frigate with 3-2-5 slot layout, bonuses to small energy turret damage and optimal
range. It is the only strong kiter among all T1 and faction frigates, and a starting point for anyone who
wants to learn kiting in frigates. 70%

Fits Comments Navy Maulus

Navy Crucifier
Kite - beams 58% popularity 5 low and only 2 medium slots, energy weapons
60%
• High: 2x small focused beam laser and bonus to optimal range make Slicer a natural
kiter. It is also the only cheap and effective kiting
• Med: MWD, warp disruptor frigate - all pirate and T2 alternatives are at least 3
• Low: SAAR, 2x heat sink, 2x nano times more expensive.
Hookbill

Win rate
• Rigs: 3x optimal range Kiting Slicers can be fitted with both beams and 50% Navy Griffin Slicer
Balanced Kite - pulses 39% popularity pulses. Under perfect piloting, beam fit is stronger
because of higher damage and longer range, but it
• High: 2x small focused pulse laser has poor tracking and capacitor and more difficult
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Firetail
• Med: MWD, warp disruptor to manage.
35% 62% • Low: SAAR, 2x heat sink, 2x nano Slicers can be fitted as brawlers with surprising 40%

• Rigs: 3x optimal range amount of tank and damage thanks to 5 low slots.
Top pilots Brawl
However, these fits are rare.
# Name Solo kills General recommendations for kiting fits:
• High: 2x small focused pulse laser
• Don’t rush to tackle ships that want to fight 30%
1 NeedsToBeReal 189 • Med: AB, scram anyway. Save cap and tackle only when you’re
Comet
2 Mord Raven 142 • Low: DC, 2x heat sink, multispectrum coating, winning the fight or control everything on grid.
SAAR • Let opponents chase you and don’t chase them Navy Vigil
3 Vinny Bagadonuts 142
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank yourself.
4 Killer Rasta 83 Web instead of scram and variations of this fit with • Don’t auto orbit or use approach when you want 20%
0 100 200 300 400 500
5 Asdw Deninard 78 400mm plate are all viable. to reduce distance to target. Double click in 1v1 engagements
space at a wide angle instead.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 30
Maulus Navy Issue
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control
AK B SK WK K

Gallente faction ewar frigate with 2-3-4 slot layout, bonuses to drone hitpoints, drone tracking speed
and scram range. Navy Maulus has some niche uses, but it has fallen off the meta after a damage buff to
turret based ships in April 2020.

Fits Comments
Kite Navy Maulus was introduced at the peak of Tristan
• High: empty domination in T1 frigates meta in December 2015.
The fear of creating another borderline drone
• Med: MWD, warp disruptor, scram frigate led to weak ship stats: Navy Maulus is very
• Low: DC, 2x DDA, SAAR slow and heavy, has the least number of active
• Rigs: 3x hull tank slots of all faction frigates, the same damage bonus
Underpowered Scram kite
as Tristan and no utility slots.
Not enough data
It got worse after April 2020, when all turret ships
• High: empty received bonuses to damage. As of now, Navy
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates
• Med: MWD, MSE, warp scrambler Maulus is the least used faction frigate with by far
24% 51% • Low: nano, 3x DDA the worst solo win rate.

• Rigs: 1x polycarbon, 1x EM shield resist, 1x shield Since Navy Maulus is not competitive against any
Top pilots buffer faction frigate in normal scram range, all viable fits
are built around kiting with long range scram for
# Name Solo kills control.
1 ninouh 19 There are 2 main fits: one for kiting with warp
disruptor and using scram for screening and the
2 nextONE04 12
other is pure “scram kiting” that relies only on
3 Casius Falco 8 bonus to scram range. Scram kiting fit requires
scram with an extended range (faction or abyssal).
4 Apocrit Vespulus 6
5 Neniaituar 6

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 31
Republic Fleet Firetail
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K

Minmatar faction combat frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout, bonuses to small projectile turret damage and
optimal range. The standard fit is a scram kiter with artillery, which has good synergy with Firetail
speed, agility and bonus to turret optimal range. 70%

Fits Comments
Navy Maulus

Scram kite 50% popularity Thanks to excellent base speed, Firetail has good
60%
• High: 2x 280mm howitzer artillery, rocket range control relative to other T1 and faction
launcher frigates. With 2 webs it can quickly establish a Slicer
desired range even at a positional disadvantage at
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web the start of an engagement.
Navy Crucifier
• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, SAAR

Win rate
The most popular Firetail fit is scram kiting with 50% Firetail
Balanced • Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank artillery. It is weaker than Hookbill in terms of tank
Brawl 38% popularity and damage, and it also requires more precision
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates in piloting because of bad turret tracking. Artillery
• High: 2x 200mm light autocannon, neut Firetail, however, has excellent range control
37% 63% • Med: AB, MSE, scram, web and can be more opportunistic when choosing 40%
Navy Griffin

• Low: DC, 2x gyrostabilizer engagements.

Top pilots • Rigs: 1x EM shield resist, 2x shield buffer Brawling fit is completely outclassed by Comet,
but, again, has more flexibility - it has better
# Name Solo kills Anti kite control, neut and can scram kite brawlers when
• High: 2x 200mm light autocannon, neut needed. 30% Hookbill
1 Valdgir Munchausen 115 Comet
• Med: MWD, MSE, scram, web Anti kiting fits are rare, because their performance
2 Lhorenzho 82
• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, overdrive does not really justify the extra cost over T1 anti
3 AlexSpise A1 50 kiters. Regardless, it is important to keep in mind
• Rigs: 1x EM shield resist, 2x shield buffer this opportunity when engaging against Firetail in a Navy Vigil
4 Gozya Sama 36 Dual prop fit with MAPC is also viable for anti kiting frigate. 20%
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
5 Jebi Vjetar 34 kiting. 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 32
Vigil Fleet Issue
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 80%
AK B SK WK K Firetail
Slicer
Minmatar faction ewar frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout, bonuses to web range, rocket damage and rocket
explosion velocity. Common Navy Vigil styles are web kiting with javelin rockets or scram kiting with Navy Crucifier

rage rockets. 70%

Fits Comments
Comet
Scram kite 52% popularity Navy Vigil is strong, but neglected frigate in a
60%
• High: 2x rocket launcher, 150mm autocannon modern meta. It has 2 unique bonuses for a class Hookbill
of faction frigates: extended web range and rocket
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, web missiles application.
• Low: DC, 2x BCS The former makes possible extreme web kiting fits

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x range, 2x shield buffer with optimal engagement range of around 15 km 50% Navy Vigil
Balanced Anti kite fit is the same with MWD instead of AB. with javelin rockets. The latter means that Navy
Vigil is the only missile frigate than can apply full
Web kite 29% popularity
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates rage rockets damage to AB frigates with only one
• High: 2x rocket launcher, neut web.
67% 76% • Med: AB, MASB, warp disruptor, web Scram kite Navy Vigil is very similar to rail Comet. 40%

• Low: DC, BCS, SAAR It has the same control in scram range, slightly
Top pilots • Rigs: 1x range, 2x hull tank
worse tank x dps, but no issues with tracking to
compensate.
# Name Solo kills Identical fit with second web instead of MASB is Web kiting fit is very strong with positional
1 Alex Mixter 84 viable, especially when engaging at a positional advantage, because it can control and outtank all 30%
Navy Griffin
disadvantage. faction AB brawlers and scram kiters by web
2 Lufax 72
kiting outside of their web range.
3 Lerq Staw 65
4 Blights Wretch 44 20%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
5 Forty Winks 36 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 33
Rebalance history: navy frigates
Frigate 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Hookbill
LML nerf (+) Damage Rage missiles buff
Navy Crucifier
Release
Comet
Hull rigs
Navy Griffin
Release ECM nerf (+) Redesign
Slicer
Lasers buff
Navy Maulus
Release Scram tiericide Close range turrets, missiles dps buff
Firetail
Projectiles buff (+) Tracking Artillery fitting buff Autocannons buff
Navy Vigil
Release Web tiericide Rage missiles buff

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 34
Pirate Frigates

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 35
Pirate frigates: overview
1v1 win rates Ship profiles
Ship Tier Weapons Tank AK B SK WK K
80%
Astero Balanced Drones Armor
Cruor Underpowered Laser Armor
Damavik Balanced Precursor Armor
70%
Daredevil Borderline Hybrid Armor

Daredevil Dramiel Balanced Precursor Shield/Armor

Garmur Borderline Missiles Shield/Armor
60%
Skybreaker Weak Vorton Shield
Succubus Borderline Laser Shield/Armor
Worm
Win rate

Succubus Dramiel Worm Overpowered Drones Shield

50%
Damavik
Overview
Garmur
Pirate frigates are the strongest class of publicly available ships allowed to enter novice complexes in FW.
40% Most of them have unique combat bonuses that slightly bend standard 1v1 styles. For example, beam Succubus
is an AB kiter and rocket Garmur is limited by a web range, even though technically it is a scram kiter.
1v1 engagements between pirate frigates are quite rare - usually they engage T1 and navy frigates (over 85%
of all 1v1 engagements) and multiple opponents. For this reason, the quality of ships in this class is judged by
30% their efficiency against weaker classes and the ability to fight outnumbered, not 1v1 win rates in the class.
Cruor
Specifically for solo PvP in FW environment, this is the most diverse and unbalanced class of novice frigates.
Astero The top performers are Worm, Succubus and Garmur - all very efficient at killing weaker frigates and fighting
outnumbered as well as Daredevil - a 1v1 powerhouse in FW complexes.
20%
0 50 100 150 200 250
1v1 engagements

Note: data for 1H 2021 in Faction Warfare systems. Raw data was collected via Zkillboard and EVE Online open API. Win rate was calculated excluding mirrors.

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 36
Astero
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K

Sisters of EVE covert ops frigate with 2-4-4 slot layout, bonuses to armor resistances and drone HP.
Although technically Astero is not a PvP ship, it is well capable of killing all T1 and many faction 80% T1 Destroyers

frigates.

Fits Comments 70%

Scram kite - 1 rep Astero’s main strength is incredible tank - bonus to

• High: neut, covert ops cloaking device resists, 4 low slots and generous CPU means that
Navy Frigates
it can reach 200 dps active tank with a single non- 60%
• Med: AB, cap booster, scram, web ancillary rep.
• Low: DC, SAR, reactive armor hardener, Astero also has 3 sets of HP bonused drones.
multispectrum energized membrane

Win rate
For solo frigate PvP it means Astero’s damage 50% Astero
Balanced • Rigs: 2x auxiliary nano pump, 1x nanobot is realistically unavoidable - so even though the Assault
Frigates
accelerator damage is very poor, it still sets a timer for a vast
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Replace AB and scram with MWD and warp majority of solo frigate fits.
40%
disruptor for a baseline kiting fit. The extension of acceleration gate activation radius
26% 87% in FW allowed Astero to warp in plexes cloaked.
Scram kite - 2 reps
This leaves much smaller than usual time window
Top pilots • High: neut, covert ops cloaking device to react for a ship inside a plex and explains
30%
• Med: AB, cap booster, scram, web hundreds of kills against T1 frigates and high
# Name Solo kills overall win rate. Pirate
• Low: DC, 2x SAR, multispectrum energized Worm Frigates (all)
1 Diana Kim 270 membrane All match-ups with Astero are straightforward:
20%
2 Sir Yag 110 • Rigs: 2x auxiliary nano pump, 1x nanobot • if Astero can tank and has control, it wins
accelerator (typical for Astero vs T1 frigates);
3 Mika Firestorm 108
• if Astero can tank and opponent has control, it is Dramiel
4 Evgen Escobar 77 a draw (typical for Astero vs faction frigates); 10%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Kaivarian Coste 60 • if Astero cannot tank, it loses. 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 37
Cruor
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K

Blood Raiders pirate frigate with 4-3-4 slot layout, bonuses to web range, small energy turret damage,
energy nosferatu and energy neutralizer drain amount and special for Blood Raiders’ ships nosferatu 80%
mechanics.

Fits Comments 70%

Scram kite - pulse nos 61% popularity Without capacitor warfare Cruor has mediocre
• High: 2x small focused pulse laser, 2x nos damage and tank, so its general win condition is
to mitigate some of the opponents damage or tank 60%
• Med: AB, scram, web with capacitor warfare.
T1 Destroyers

• Low: DC, heat sink, 2x SAR This means A-type (or abyssal equivalents) nos
Assault
Frigates

Win rate
• Rigs: 2x auxiliary nano pump, 1x nanobot or neuts must be used. The difference between 50%
Underpowered accelerator 5 km and 9 km optimal neuting range is critical Navy Frigates

Brawl - pulse neut for a viability of this frigate in many match-ups.

Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Price for high-meta nos and neuts is the main
• High: 2x small focused pulse laser, 2x neut limiting factor of Cruor’s popularity - currently its 40%
29% 71% • Med: AB, scram, web performance per cost is bad in both T2 and proper
• Low: DC, heat sink, multispectrum coating, high-meta fits.
Top pilots 200mm steel plates In FW, Cruor is usually a scram kiter. Full neut
30% Pirate
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x trimarks fits can brawl, but not very well because of poor Frigates (all)
# Name Solo kills control. Good targets for Cruor are scram range
Scram kite - beams 24% popularity
1 Jimbob Rock 21 capacitor reliant frigates.
• High: 2x small focused beam laser, nos, neut Despite long web, Cruor cannot play an anti kiting 20%
2 Joeey Ormand 10
• Med: AB, scram, web role well and should avoid kiters with positional
3 Tania Angel 9 • Low: DC, heat sink, multispectrum coating, advantage.
4 Sazarc 8 SAAR 10%
0 20 40 60 80
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank
5 Kassi Othelia 8 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 38
Damavik
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K

Triglavian frigate with 3-3-3 slot layout and relevant combat bonuses to light entropic disintegrator
damage, armor resistances and energy neutralizer capacitor need. Damavik tends to be an all-in 80%
brawler, because that is the only range where its bonuses and turret mechanics synergize well.

Fits Comments 70%

Brawl AB 73% popularity Damavik was released in May 2018 alongside

• High: light entropic disintegrator, 2x neut Vedmak and Leshak. Initially Damavik was
designed as a kiter with 2 medium slots and bonus 60%
• Med: AB, scram, web to optimal range, but several rebalances later it was
Daredevil

• Low: DC, multispectrum coating, 200mm steel turned into current tanky short-ranged brawler.
plates

Win rate
There are many similarities between Damavik 50%
Balanced
Pirate
• Rigs: 3x trimarks and double neut Cruor. Both must apply neuts Frigates (all) Navy Frigates

Brawl MWD 24% popularity to control range and win dps races (so Damavik
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates needs high-meta neuts too), both are slow and need T1 Destroyers
• High: veles light entropic disintegrator, 2x neut good range control to apply damage. Both are also 40%
49% 72% • Med: MWD, cap booster, scram similarly rare because of poor performance per Assault
cost. Frigates
• Low: DC, multispectrum energized membrane,
Top pilots SAR Damavik has 2 main fits:
30%

# Name Solo kills • Rigs: 1x auxiliary nano pump, 1x nanobot • Fit with MWD is designed to close the distance
accelerator, 1x powergrid during the initial approach and outlasting the
1 Alexa Iridium 41 opponent until they run out of cap. It has better
engagement profile than fit with AB, but it is 20%
2 Andrew Faarr 19
much more expensive.
3 rljpdx 11 • Fit with AB excels at picking off many popular
4 Auraus Porcaleus 10 brawlers, but it gets hard countered by kiters 10%
and web kiters. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
5 Jimbob Rock 9 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 39
Daredevil
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K

Serpentis frigate with 3-3-4 slot layout and bonuses to web effectiveness, small hybrid turret damage
and falloff. By many Daredevil is perceived as a blaster brawler, but actually it can very well cover 80% Navy Frigates
various roles thanks to 90% web, high base speed and turret falloff bonus. Dramiel
T1 Destroyers

Fits Comments 70%

Succubus

Garmur
Brawl standard 44% popularity Daredevil’s distinctive feature is 90% T2 web. It Pirate
Frigates (all)
• High: 2x light neutron blaster alone gives better control than 2 ordinary T2 webs Assault
that combined slow down a target by only 84%. 60% Frigates
• Med: AB, scram, web
This means Daredevil with AB has similar control
• Low: DC, 2x MFS, SAAR to many dual web frigates and can hold on to a

Win rate
• Rigs: 3x hull tank positional advantage when it has one. 50% Daredevil
Borderline For anti kite fit MWD and an overdrive instead of In the current meta blaster fits are only slightly
AB and second MFS. more popular than rail. All blaster fits prefer to Worm
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates have positional advantage, polarized fit especially.
Web kite 42% popularity Damavik
40%
Blaster Daredevil out of position will struggle
64% 88% • High: 2x 150mm railgun against stronger scram kiters, although not as
• Med: AB, warp disruptor, web much as blaster Comet. In optimal range, however,
Top pilots • Low: DC, MFS, overdrive, SAAR blaster fits win straight dps races against all
30%
frigates.
# Name Solo kills • Rigs: 3x hull tank
Rail fits usually web kite, because 90% web
1 Rain Rosino 127 Polarized 6% popularity provides sufficient control on its own and extra 3-5
• High: 2x light neutron blaster km help to mitigate damage. Good faction web is 20%
2 Hale Adam 70
• Med: AB, MSE, web required for this fit.
3 Lakota Ellecon 65 Thanks to high base speed blaster Daredevil with
• Low: 3x MFS, nano
4 W0lf Crendraven 51 MWD is very strong anti kiter, although it is rarely 10%
• Rigs: 2x shield buffer, 1x powergrid used in this role. 0 100 200 300 400
5 Saint Lucifer 42 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 40
Dramiel
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90% Astero
AK B SK WK K T1 Destroyers

Angel Cartel frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout and bonuses to warp speed, small projectile turret damage,
falloff and tracking speed. Dramiel is one of the most flexible novice frigates with many viable 80%
variations of autocannon and artillery fits.
Navy Frigates
Fits Comments 70%
Assault
Brawl shield 46% popularity Unlike many other pirate frigates, Dramiel has no Frigates

• High: 2x 200mm autocannon, neut unique combat bonuses and has similar style to
some strong faction frigates. In 2021 there are 3 60%
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, web meta Dramiel fits:
• Low: DC, 2x nano • Autocannon shield fit has nano to compensate
Garmur
Succubus Pirate

Win rate
• Rigs: 3x shield buffer for the lack of range control due to a single web. 50% Dramiel Frigates (all)
Balanced Similar fit with 150mm autocannons and Even though on paper its stats do not look good,
gyrostabilizer is good too. permanent neut, selectable damage and amazing
mobility provide respectable engagement profile. Worm
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates
Brawl armor 29% popularity
40%
• Autocannon armor fit has enough control to set
51% 87% • High: 2x 200mm autocannon, neut range against any other novice frigate in scram
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web range. The downside is that this fit is not great at
Top pilots • Low: DC, 200mm steel plates, SAAR both brawling and scram kiting and has to adjust
30%
its style against every specific opponent.
# Name Solo kills • Rigs: 3x hull tank
• Artillery scram kite fit is effectively the same
1 Blights Wretch 704 Scram kite 15% popularity as artillery Firetail with better control and more Daredevil
• High: 2x 280mm howitzer artillery damage. Again, this fit has no impressive stats, 20%
2 Hale Adam 144
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web but it is surprisingly difficult to pin down and kill
3 Srota Buddhist 90 when piloted correctly.
• Low: DC, gyrostabilizer, SAAR
4 Ace of Finalgon 75 Shield Dramiels with MWD and scram are 10%
• Rigs: 1x damage, 2x hull tank excellent anti kiters, although in FW these fits are 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Derek Parfit 56 rare. 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 41
Garmur
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K
T1 Destroyers

Mordu’s Legion frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout and bonuses to warp scrambler and disruptor range,
missile damage and velocity. Garmur ship bonuses and weapons excel at kiting, although it can play 80%
anti kiting and scram kiting roles quite well.

Fits Comments 70%

Kite - defensive scram 73% popularity About 3 out of 4 Garmurs in FW kite. The main Worm Navy Frigates
• High: 3x light missile launcher differences between kiting fits is the defensive
scram and a solution to short lock range (rigs or 60% Assault
• Med: MWD, MSE, scram, warp disruptor sensor booster).
Frigates

• Low: BCS, nano, MAPC As a general rule, the more isk is invested in the

Win rate
• Rigs: 1x polycarbon, 2x lock range fit, the better sensor booster kite Garmur becomes, 50% Garmur
Borderline Kite - sensor booster since it gets essentially 2 extra rig slots.
Dramiel Pirate
• High: 3x light missile launcher Cheaper kiting fits, however, have to use defensive
Frigates (all)
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates scram to protect themselves against anti kiters,
• Med: MWD, sensor booster, MSE, warp disruptor because their tackling range and speed are much 40%
44% 81% • Low: BCS, nano, MAPC worse. That said, at least cheaper faction warp
• Rigs: 2x polycarbon, 1x agility or speed disruptor is needed to properly utilize kite Garmur Daredevil

Top pilots Some prefer to use this fit with TD/MD and second
strengths.
30%

# Name Solo kills BCS instead of MSE and MAPC. Rocket Garmurs fly like standard scram kiters
(actually, their control is limited by web range, so
1 Gori Thane 119 Scram kite 24% popularity in practice they web kite). Both double web and
Succubus
• High: 3x rocket launcher missile range rigs are required to properly apply 20%
2 Gucci Uzi 112
• Med: AB, scram, 2x web damage with Rage rockets from the ideal range.
3 Wet Owl 99 Against ships larger than a frigate, refit to TD/MD
• Low: DC, BCS, SAAR is viable.
4 The Vyraj 86 • Rigs: 1x polycarbon, 2x missile range 10%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Egonaria 77 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 42
Skybreaker
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control
AK B SK WK K

EDENCOM frigate with 1-4-3 slot layout and bonuses to shield resistances and small vorton projector
damage. As of 2021, Skybreaker is useless in solo PvP and almost never used.

Fits Comments
Scram kite Skybreaker in its current design is completely
• High: small vorton projector unusable for PvP in FW (and, arguably, for PvP
anywhere).
• Med: AB, MSE, scram, web
Skybreaker has mediocre control even by the
• Low: DC, 2x vorton tuning system standards set by faction frigates and no meaningful
• Rigs: 2x shield buffer, 1x powergrid damage. In fact, it needs 2 webs to even apply full
Weak damage to AB frigates, so in reality Skybreaker’s
Not enough data
damage rarely exceeds 100 dps.
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates In January-June 2021 Skybreaker was only on 20
solo killmails in FW total. For perspective, the next
n.a. n.a. least popular pirate frigate, Damavik, was on 248
killmails in the same period against novice frigates
Top pilots only.
# Name Solo kills
1 Nihilaus Vause 17
2 Rixx Javix 1
3 MolRob 1
4 Mgaati en Daire 1

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 43
Succubus
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K
T1 Destroyers
Sansha Nation frigate with 3-4-3 slot layout and bonuses to afterburner velocity, small energy turret
damage and tracking speed. Beam fits kite with one medium slot dedicated to screening module and 80%
Garmur
pulse fits usually scram kite with Scorch.
Navy Frigates

Fits Comments 70%

Kite - beams shield 67% popularity Succubus has a powerful AB bonus that provides
• High: 2x small focused beam laser decent control for a shield frigate with 4 medium Assault
slots and unmatched signature tanking. 60% Frigates
• Med: AB, MSE, warp disruptor, web
Although neither tank nor damage are great,
• Low: DC, 2x heat sink Succubus has several unique combat features Pirate

Win rate
• Rigs: 2x optimal range, 1x powergrid thanks to its bonused AB. It can kite aggressively Succubus Frigates (all)
50%
Borderline Kite - beams armor against several opponents, because getting webbed
Dramiel
and scrammed doest not mean instant death. It
• High: 2x small focused beam laser can keep tackle on and kill larger ships thanks to
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates
• Med: AB, scram, warp disruptor, web signature tanking. It has no issues with cap during 40% Worm
52% 87% • Low: DC, SAAR, heat sink prolonged engagements, a typical problem for most
laser based kiters.
• Rigs: 3x optimal range
Top pilots Scram kite - pulses 26% popularity
In a modern meta about 2 out of 3 Succubuses
30%
Daredevil
will kite around 18-20km with beams and Standard
# Name Solo kills • High: 2x small focused pulse laser loaded. Sometimes these fits are armor tanked to
1 easy city 101 • Med: AB, MSE, scram, web cover popular MWD brawlers at the expense of
tank, but the majority are shield tanked. 20%
2 Gt brothers 77 • Low: DC, 2x heat sink
Active tanked scram kite pulse fits have mostly
3 exxna soprano 60 • Rigs: 1x shield EM resists, 2x shield buffer fallen out of the meta after Surgical Strike update in
For brawling polarized fit nano instead of DC and 3 April 2020. These days pulse Succubuses are often
4 Barathrum Zinfandel 55 shield buffer rigs. polarized and aim to brawl in conflag range. 10%
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
5 Blights Wretch 46 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 44
Worm
Profile 1v1 win rates
Roles Tank Damage Control 90%
AK B SK WK K T1 Destroyers

Guristas frigate with 3-4-2 slot layout and bonuses to shield resistances, kinetic and thermal missile
Navy Frigates
damage, light combat drone damage and hitpoints. In FW Worm does not have enough control to pin 80%
down most targets in scram range and usually used as a kiter.
Astero

Fits Comments 70%

Kite Worm has two design features that combined make

• High: light missile launcher it oppressive in the environment of novice plexes.
The first one is drone damage that cannot be killed 60% Succubus
• Med: MWD, MSE, warp disruptor, drone or mitigated in any reasonable way. The second Daredevil
navigation computer feature is buffer tank that varies from excellent on Dramiel Pirate
Frigates (all)
• Low: 2x DDA a kiting fit to absurd on a scram range fit.

Win rate
50% Worm
Overpowered • Rigs: 1x shield EM resists, 1x shield buffer, 1x It means every fight against Worm will be a dps
Assault
lock range race, and winning it is difficult considering that Frigates
Wins vs class Wins vs all frigates Fourth medium slot can be used with various both tank and damage of Worm are well above
modules (defensive scram, web, TD/MD), average. Besides, poor control - a major weakness 40%
54% 90% depending on the situation. Drone navigation of Worm - is largely irrelevant, because even if
Garmur
computer is usually the default choice. Worm loses the war of control, it still wins the grid.
Top pilots Scram kite Most Worms are fitted for kiting to fully utilise the
30%
ability to aggress drones and pull range if situation
# Name Solo kills • High: 3x rocket launcher is not favorable. Even though the fit is quite slow
1 CDLoon 178 • Med: MWD, MSE, scram, web for a kiter, excellent tank and consistent drone
• Low: DC, DDA damage usually leave only slim chances of winning 20%
2 Egonaria 63 even for an anti kiter engaging out of position.
• Rigs: 1x shield EM resists, 2x shield buffer
3 Tyria Omaristos 56
For full tank Worm fit MSE and MAPC instead of
4 Jimbob Rock 53 web and DDA. 10%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
5 Markos Tunak 52 1v1 engagements

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 45
Rebalance history: pirate frigates
Frigate 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Astero
DDA nerf Close range turrets, missiles dps buff
Cruor
(+) Redesign Lasers buff Nos, neut tiericide
+1M, -1L
Damavik
Release (+) Redesign
Polarized weapons
Daredevil
Hull rigs Web tiericide
Dramiel
(+) Warp speed Projectiles buff Artillery fitting buff Autocannons buff
Garmur
Release LML nerf Scram tiericide Rage missiles buff
Skybreaker
Release EDENCOM weapons buff
Lasers buff
Succubus
(+) Redesign
Worm
(+) Redesign DDA nerf (-) Fitting; -1L Close range turrets, missiles dps buff

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 46
About
About the author Ship tiers Abbreviations
T Sky • WEAK. Weak ship is unflyable. Either it is completely outclassed by AB Afterburner
a much better ship which performs almost identical role or it has slot AC Autocannon
• I have been doing frigate PvP since 2013 and ANP Adaptive nano plating
layout that doesn’t support its role.
writing about it since 2014. Zkillboard page BCS Ballistic control system
for my main character: https://zkillboard.com/ • UNDERPOWERED. Underpowered ship is outperformed by
Cap Capacitor
character/92777234/ stronger ships in the same class, but has a niche role and can be
DC Damage control
good in some situations. DDA Drone damage amplifier
• Permanent links for this and other reports
are on http://evefrigates.blogspot.com/ • BALANCED. Balanced ship is good and competitive. It performs in DPS Damage per second
one or two broad roles determined by the ship design. EANM Multispectrum energized membrane
EHP Effective hitpoints
Links and credits • BORDERLINE. Borderline ship is strong and does well too many
things for its intended design. However, it is not oppressive and can
EWar Electronic warfare
FW Factional warfare
be killed in weaker ships after proper counter refitting.
• http://eveoganda.blogspot.com/ Pictures for the front page, last page LML Light missile launcher
and segment separators are made by Rixx Javix. This is the link to his • OVERPOWERED. Overpowered ship outclasses most other ships in MAPC Micro auxiliary power core
blog with further information. the same class or role and it is oppressive overall. MASB Medium ancillary shield booster
MD Missile disruptor
• https://zkillboard.com/ Zkillboard is the source of killmail IDs and MSE Medium shield extender
hashes. MWD Microwarpdrive
• https://esi.evetech.net/ui/?version=latest Open EVE API that I used to Nano Nanofiber internal structure
collect killmail data. Neut Energy neutralizer
Nos Energy nosferatu
• https://www.eveonline.com/articles/patch-notes Ship and module
PG Powergrid
rebalance history.
SAR Small armor repairer
• Special thanks to many EVE players who helped me with in-game SAAR Small ancillary armor repairer
testing and suggestions over the last 8 years. Scram Warp scrambler
T1/T2 Tech 1/Tech 2
TD Tracking disruptor
Web Stasis webifier

Novice Frigates Yearbook 2021 < Previous Back to contents Next > 47
EVE Online and the EVE logo are the registered trademarks of CCP
hf. All rights are reserved worldwide. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. EVE Online, the EVE logo, EVE
and all associated logos and designs are the intellectual property of
CCP hf. All artwork, screenshots, characters, vehicles, storylines,
world facts or other recognizable features of the intellectual property
relating to these trademarks are likewise the intellectual property of
CCP hf.