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[[Category:Drones]][[Category:Guides]][[Category:Combat]]
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[[image:HobgoblinII-icon.png|left]]Drones are semi-autonomous vehicles launched from larger spacecraft designed to augment the launching ship's capabilities.
Drones are stored in, and launched from the [[Drone_bay|drone bay]] of a ship and require bandwidth to control.
As many as five drones may be deployed at a given time from non-[[Carrier|carrier]] ships given sufficient bandwidth and skills.

== Deployment ==

Drones are stored in the [[Drone_bay|drone bay]] of the ship and may be launched from there with sufficient [[Bandwidth|bandwidth]] and skills.
Note that drones in the cargo bay cannot be launched, and drones may not be moved from the cargo bay to the drone bay while in space.
The size of the [[Drone_bay|drone bay]] is measured in cubic meters (m³), in multiples of 5m³, with larger ships generally having larger space.
Ships with larger drone bays are able to deploy more and heavier drones.

=== [[Bandwidth|Bandwidth]] ===
When launched from the bay, drones require bandwidth; if there is insufficient bandwidth remaining, drones are not launched thus remaining in the [[Drone_bay|drone bay]].
This functions as a secondary limit to the usage of drones and can serve to limit [[Damage|damage]] just as less power grid and CPU limits the size and number of weapons on a ship.
Bandwidth is given in megabits per second (Mbit/sec) in multiples of 5Mbit/sec.
Most ships have bandwidth equal to their [[Drone_bay|drone bay]] size and can deploy as many drones as they can store, but some ships, mainly drone boats, have less bandwidth than [[Drone_bay|drone bay]] space, and are thus incapable of launching all of their drones at once.

The amount of [[Drone_bay|drone bay]] space and bandwidth varies by ship with larger ships generally having more.
In addition different factions have differing amounts of drone usage and space.
[[Gallente]] ships generally have the largest drone bays and bandwidth. Some [[Gallente|Gallente]] ships are specialized 'drone boats', designed specifically for the deployment and use of drones. They are able to use a large number of drones and have bonuses to drone usage.
The [[Amarr Empire]] also fields some ships with spacious drone bays, but not as many, or as large as the [[Gallente|Gallente]] ships.
[[Caldari]] ships have the smallest drone bays with some ships lacking drone bays entirely.

=== Skill ===
In addition to the limits placed on drone usage by the ships, there is also a skill limit on drone usage by the level of the [[Drones]] skill.

Each level of Drones allows you to launch one additional drone per skill level up to a maximum of five.
While the [[Damage|damage]] and durability of drones may be improved, no ship aside from carriers may launch more than five drones (there is a single exception, the incredibly rare [[Guardian-Vexor|Guardian-Vexor cruiser]], which is a ship that most players will never see, let alone own).
Carriers and their tier 2 version, [[Motherships|motherships]], may deploy more than five drones.
Each [[Carrier|carrier]] or [[Mothership|mothership]] may fit up to five drone control modules, each giving one additional drone and taking up a high slot.
In addition each [[Carrier|carrier]] has a bonus to the number of deployed drones based on the [[Carrier|carrier]] skills; carriers get one additional drone per level, [[Motherships|motherships]] get three.
With maximum skills and drone control modules the most a [[Carrier|carrier]] may deploy is fifteen drones and the most a [[Mothership|mothership]] may deploy is twenty five.

=== Range ===
Drone range on sub-capital ships can be increased in various ways.
The base range is 20km. [[Drone Avionics]] adds 5km per skill level, [[Advanced Drone Avionics]] adds 3km per skill level for all drones, not just EWAR drones.
The range can be increased with a [[Drone Link Augmentor I|Drone Link Augmenter]], increasing it by 20km per module.
[[Item_Database:Ship_Modifications:Rigs:Drone_Rigs|Drone Rigs]] increase range by 15km (tech 1) or 20km ([[Tech_2|tech 2]]).

== Types ==
There are various types of drones that can be utilized in multiple sizes.
The most common as well as the most varied group is the combat drones, in addition to combat drones there are [[Electronic_Warfare|electronic warfare]] and combat utility drones to hamper enemy vessels and assist friendly vessels as well as logistics drones to affect repairs on damaged vessels.
For [[Industrial|industrial]] pilots, there exist [[Mining|mining]] drones to gather ore.
In addition to the drones themselves, there exist a few modules that may be fitted to improve the abilities of the drones launched from the ship.

The different factions each have their own drones.
Drones may be used by any pilot regardless of the pilot's faction and the drones faction of origin, but each faction's drones have differing stats and abilities that should be taken into consideration before you decide to use them.

[[Amarr|Amarr]] drones do [[EM|EM]] [[Damage|damage]], and have the second highest speed and tracking but have the lowest [[Damage|damage]] modifier.
There are also energy neutralizer and tracking disruptor models. Integrated, augmented and [[Fighter_Drones|fighter drones]] also do thermal [[Damage|damage]].

[[Caldari|Caldari]] drones do kinetic [[Damage|damage]]; they have the second lowest speed and tracking, but the second highest [[Damage|damage]] modifier.
They have [[ECM|ECM]] and shield maintenance variants. Integrated, augmented and [[Fighter_Drones|fighter drones]] also do thermal [[Damage|damage]].

[[Gallente|Gallente]] drones do the most [[Damage|damage]] but have the slowest speed and tracking; they do thermal [[Damage|damage]].
There are Armor repair and sensor dampening versions. Integrated, augmented and [[Fighter_Drones|fighter drones]] also do kinetic [[Damage|damage]].

[[Minmatar|Minmatar]] Drones have the highest speed and tracking, but do the second lowest [[Damage|damage]]; they do explosive [[Damage|damage]].
There is a webifier drone and target painting drones based off of [[Minmatar|Minmatar]] designs. Integrated, augmented and [[Fighter_Drones|fighter drones]] also do kinetic [[Damage|damage]].

=== Combat ===
Combat drones are designed to do [[Damage|damage]] to enemy ships and are the most common type of drone, being the most useful in most situations and having the least skills to use. Each drone does one type of [[Damage|damage]] based on the race that made them. There are [[Tech_II|tech II]] variants of all combat drones except fighters.
[[File:Attack of the drones.jpg|frameless|250px|left|alt=A Hobgoblin II attacking a NPC Pirate ship|A Hobgoblin II attacking a NPC Pirate ship]]

Integrated and Augmented drones are improved variants of [[Tech_I|Tech I]] and [[Tech_II|Tech II]] Light Scout, Medium Scout and Heavy Attack drones that are built from base versions using rogue drone parts, they are better than their base versions in most areas and do two [[Damage|damage]] types.
Their extravagant cost and limited availability coupled with the rate of drone loss makes them rare, however. 
 
 
 
 
 
Combat drones are broken into the following classes:

==== Light scout ====
[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Drones:Light_Scout_Drones|Light scout drones]] are the smallest class of drone available, taking up 5m³ and 5Mbit/sec per drone.
They are the swiftest drone available having the highest tracking, but are also the least durable and least damaging drones.
Due to their high speed and tracking, light drones are best for taking out [[Frigates|frigates]], destroyers and their [[Tech_II|tech II]] versions.
*[[Amarr|Amarr]] light drones [[Acolyte I|Acolyte I]] and [[Acolyte II|Acolyte II]]
*[[Caldari|Caldari]] light drones [[Hornet I|Hornet I]] and [[Hornet II|Hornet II]]
*[[Gallente|Gallente]] light drones [[Hobgoblin I|Hobgoblin I]] and [[Hobgoblin II|Hobgoblin II]]
*[[Minmatar|Minmatar]] light drones [[Warrior I|Warrior I]] and [[Warrior II|Warrior II]]

==== Medium scout ====
[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Drones:Medium_Scout_Drones|Medium scout Drones]] are middle of the road drones taking up 10m³ and 10Mbit/sec each.
They have mid-range speed and mid-range tracking as well as mid-range durability and [[Damage|damage]].
They are best suited destroying cruisers, [[Battlecruiser|battlecruiser]] and medium [[Tech_II|tech II]] ships, but their mid-range stats make them moderately useful against larger and smaller ships.
*[[Amarr|Amarr]] medium drones [[Infiltrator I|Infiltrator I]] and [[Infiltrator II|Infiltrator II]]
*[[Caldari|Caldari]] medium drones [[Vespa I|Vespa I]] and [[Vespa II|Vespa II]]
*[[Gallente|Gallente]] medium drones [[Hammerhead I|Hammerhead I]] and [[Hammerhead II|Hammerhead II]]
*[[Minmatar|Minmatar]] medium drones [[Valkyrie I|Valkyrie I]] and [[Valkyrie II|Valkyrie II]]

==== Heavy attack ====
[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Drones:Heavy_Attack_Drones|Heavy Attack Drones]] are the largest of the standard drones and take up 25m³ and use 25Mbit/sec.
They are the slowest, and have the least tracking, but do the most [[Damage|damage]] and have the most durability of the basic drones.
Due to their low tracking and speed they are best used to attack Battlecruisers and larger.
*[[Amarr|Amarr]] heavy drones [[Praetor I|Praetor I]] and [[Praetor II|Praetor II]]
*[[Caldari|Caldari]] heavy drones [[Wasp I|Wasp I]] and [[Wasp II|Wasp II]]
*[[Gallente|Gallente]] heavy drones [[Ogre I|Ogre I]] and [[Ogre II|Ogre II]]
*[[Minmatar|Minmatar]] heavy drones [[Berserker I|Berserker I]] and [[Berserker II|Berserker II]]

==== Sentry ====
[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Drones:Sentry_Drones|Sentry Drones]] are more specialized drones designed for sniping, taking up the same space as heavy drones and requiring the same bandwidth. While the other drones orbit their target at high speed, sentries sit where they are deployed from and fire at enemies from long range. They have a long optimal and falloff as well as more [[Damage|damage]] and durability, but they have very low tracking speed and are immobile once deployed. Because of this, Sentry drones are best used against large targets or from long ranges. A sentry drone cannot attack targets that are outside its owner's drone control range, even if they are within its own optimal range.
*[[Amarr|Amarr]] sentry drone [[Curator I|Curator I]] and [[Curator II|Curator II]]
*[[Caldari|Caldari]] sentry drone [[Warden I|Warden I]] and [[Warden II|Warden II]]
*[[Gallente|Gallente]] sentry drone [[Garde I|Garde I]] and [[Garde II|Garde II]]
*[[Minmatar|Minmatar]] sentry drone [[Bouncer I|Bouncer I]] and [[Bouncer II|Bouncer II]]

==== Fighters ====
[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Drones:Fighters|Fighters]] are a specialized class of drones.
Though they are controlled in the same way, they actually are able to warp to follow targets.
In addition the launching pilot can place them under the control of another pilot that has the necessary bandwidth and drone control spots available.
Fighters are 5000m³ and require 25Mbit/sec to deploy and control.
Due to their large size, fighters can only be deployed from a [[Carrier|carrier]] or [[Mothership|mothership]], their large size and high [[Damage|damage]] make them suited for attacking [[Battleships|battleships]] and larger.
They also do a secondary type of [[Damage|damage]] in addition to the standard racial [[Damage|damage]].
{{note|Drone modules do affect fighters. For example: Drone Damage Amplifier will increase the damage output of fighters. Tracking Computers will increase the tracking of fighters.}}

==== Fighter Bombers ====
[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Drones:Fighter_Bombers|Fighter Bombers]] are a specialized class of drones above Fighters.
Though they are controlled in the same way, they actually are able to warp to follow targets.
Fighters are 5000m³ and require 500Mbit/sec to deploy and control.
Due to their large size, fighter bombers can only be deployed from a [[Mothership|mothership]], their large size and very high [[Damage|damage]] make them suited for attacking [[Item_Database:Ships:Capital_Ships|capital ships]] and [https://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/Item_Database:Structures:Sovereignty_Structures sovereignty structures]. It is very unlikely Fighter Bombers will ever be used against sub-capital ships due to the low tracking abilities and the low signature radius of the sub-capital ships.
They also do a secondary type of [[Damage|damage]] in addition to the standard racial [[Damage|damage]].

{{note|Drone modules do affect fighters bombers. For example: Drone Damage Amplifier will increase the damage output of fighters bombers. Tracking Computers will increase the tracking of fighter bombers.}}

=== [[Electronic_Warfare|Electronic warfare]] ===
Like combat utility drones, [[Item_Database:Drones:Electronic_Warfare_Drones|Electronic Warfare (EWar) Drones]] don't actively [[Damage|damage]] their targets, however they can be indispensable if used correctly.
[[EWAR|EWar]] drones reduce the effectiveness of enemy weapons while improving that of you and your allies.

====Tracking disruptor ====
Tracking disruptor drones, based on [[Amarr|Amarr]] combat models, reduce the tracking speed of their targets.
This has the effect of lowering [[Damage|damage]] and chance to hit of the target's turrets, and in extreme cases may prevent them from hitting smaller targets entirely.

The Tracking disruptor drones, based on [[Amarr|Amarr]] combat models come in three sizes:
* [[Acolyte_TD-300|Acolyte TD-300]]
* [[Infiltrator_TD-600|Infiltrator TD-600]]
* [[Praetor_TD-900|Praetor TD-900]]

==== [[ECM|ECM]] ====
[[ECM|ECM]] drones have the ability to jam their targets.
This has the effect of breaking that ship's target locks and preventing it from re-locking for a short time. This silences all offensive weapons except those that do not require a locked target, such as drones and FOF [[Missiles|missiles]]; even those weapons cannot be re-directed without a locked target. By breaking your enemy's lock, ECM drones can also be used to help you to escape when you are [[Warp_Scrambled|warp scrambled]].

The [[ECM|ECM]] drones, based on [[Caldari|Caldari]] combat models come in three sizes:
*[[Hornet_EC-300|Hornet EC-300]]
*[[Vespa_EC-600|Vespa EC-600]]
*[[Wasp_EC-900|Wasp EC-900]]

More details about ECM drones can be found in the [[Electronic_Warfare_(Combat)#ECM|Electronic warfare guide]].

==== Sensor dampener ====
Sensor dampeners are slightly less devastating than [[ECM|ECM]] drones, but are nonetheless, very useful.
These drones of [[Gallente|Gallente]] make, reduce the range and speed of enemy targeting systems.
If a ships can be disrupted before it achieves target locks, it can add precious seconds of time before their guns begin to fire.
In addition the range penalty can be devastating to [[Sniper|sniper]] ships and will break any locks that are at longer range than the sensors are reduced to.

The sensor dampener drones, based on [[Gallente|Gallente]] combat models come in three sizes:
* [[Hobgoblin_SD-300|Hobgoblin SD-300]]
* [[Hammerhead_SD-600|Hammerhead SD-600]]
* [[Ogre_SD-900|Ogre SD-900]]

====Target painter ====
As opposed to the rest of the [[EWAR|EWar]] drones that harm the enemy, painter drones help allies.
They increase the [[Signature_radius|signature radius]] of the target ship.
This has a few effects, the first is that it decreases the time required to lock the painted vessel allowing weapons to be brought to bear sooner.
Additionally the larger sig radius improves the chance to hit and [[Damage|damage]] of turret weapons and increases the [[Damage|damage]] of [[Missiles|missiles]].
The target painter drones, based on [[Minmatar|Minmatar]] combat models come in three sizes:
* [[Warrior_TP-300|Warrior TP-300]]
* [[Valkyrie_TP-600|Valkyrie TP-600]]
* [[Berserker_TP-900|Berserker TP-900]]

=== Combat utility drones ===
Utility drones don't do any [[Damage|damage]] themselves but they do assist othervise taking down enemies.

[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Utility_Drones|Energy neutralizer drones]], of similar make to [[Amarr|Amarr]] combat drones, drain the [[Capacitor|capacitor]] of the target vessel and come in three sizes, as with combat drones the size of the drone should be tailored to the size of the target. Energy neutralizers are effective against most targets since most modules require [[Capacitor|capacitor]] to use, the exceptions are passive tankers and projectile and missile users. They come in three sizes:
* [[Acolyte_EV-300|Acolyte EV-300]]
* [[Infiltrator_EV-600|Infiltrator EV-600]]
* [[Praetor_EV-900|Praetor EV-900]]

[[Item_Database:Drones:Combat_Utility_Drones|Stasis webifier drones]], based on the Berserker heavy drone, slow their targets down, preventing them from escaping as well as allowing that ship to be hit more easily by lowering its transversal velocity; they should be used against anything breaking the speed limit. They are only available as heavy drones:
* [[Berserker_SW-900|Berserker SW-900]]

=== Logistics ===
[[Item_Database:Drones:Logistic_Drones|Logistics Drones]] are the direct opposite of combat drones.
They do no [[Damage|damage]], and don't harm the enemy or assist friendly weapons, instead they repair [[Damage|damage]] taken by your allies.
This can be used to fix damaged ships after a battle or keep a ship in the fight longer by performing combat repairs.
Logistics drones come in [[Caldari|Caldari]] designed shield booster models and [[Gallente|Gallente]] made armor repair units.
They come in three sizes with the larger drones repairing more [[Damage|damage]] and [[Tech_II|Tech II]] versions repairing more [[Damage|damage]] than the [[Tech_I|tech I]] versions.
The standard [[Tech_I|tech I]] variants are:

=== [[Mining|Mining]] ===
In addition to the combat and support models, [[Item_Database:Drones:Mining_Drones|Mining Drones]] exist to assist [[Industrial|industrial]] players.
There are three types of [[Mining|mining]] drones and a [[Tech_II|tech II]] version.
The [[Civilian Mining Drone]] is the fastest but mines the least amount of ore, the [[Mining Drone I]] is the middle ground, but is a good fit for most pilots and ships and can often outperform the other [[Mining|mining]] drone types.
[[Mining|Mining]] drones and civilian [[Mining|mining]] drones take up 5m³ and 5MBit/sec.
[[Harvester Mining Drone|Harvester Mining Drones]] gather twice as much ore as [[Mining|mining]] drones but are nearly twice as slow, they take up 10m³ and require 10Mbit/sec to control.

== Upgrades ==
In addition to the actual drones, there exist a few modules that you can fit to you ship to improve your drones. These [[Item_Database:Drones:Drone_Upgrades|drone upgrades]] can be very useful on drone ships that rely on drone [[Damage|damage]].
Two of these modules fit in the ship high slot while the other two fit in the mid slots.

=== [[Drone Link Augmentor I]] ===
The first modules is the [[Drone Link Augmentor I]], this module adds an extra 20km of drone control range so you can send your drones to affect targets further away from your ship. They are most useful if you have low levels in the range-improving skills, or for sniping with sentry drones.
This module takes up a high slot.

=== [[Drone Navigation Computer I]] ===
The second module is the [[Drone Navigation Computer I]]; this module increases the speed of drones.
There are two effects of this, first it takes less time to get into firing range so the drones do more [[Damage|damage]].
Second faster drones are better able to keep up with their target, and thus stay withing optimal range; by staying in optimal range, drones do more [[Damage|damage]].
This module takes up a mid slot.

=== [[Omnidirectional Tracking Link I]] ===
The third module is the [[Omnidirectional Tracking Link I]].
The tracking link improves the range and tracking speed on all drones.
This allows them to do better [[Damage|damage]] against smaller, faster moving targets and also gives them a bit more range.
As the range of regular drones is rather small, the range increase isn't worth much, but on sentries whose optimal and falloff are huge, these modules can make a large improvement to their sniping ability.

Although it is not mentioned in their description, the bonuses granted by these modules are subject to stacking penalties, so there are limited returns from fitting more than 1 or 2 of them.

This module takes up a mid slot.

=== [[Drone Control Unit I]] ===
The final module can only be fitted to a [[Carrier|carrier]] or [[Mothership|mothership]].
The [[Drone Control Unit I]] fits to a high slot and allows the use of an additional drone and one unit can be fitted per level in [[Advanced Drone Interfacing]] for a maximum of 5 additional drones.
If you plan to use a [[Carrier|carrier]] for attack, this module is for you.

== Notable drone ships ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" border="1" cellspacing="0"
! [[Ship]] !! Class (role) !! [[Bandwith|Mbit/sec]] !! [[Drone bay|DB]] m³ !! [[TNoSLN]] || [[L5SN]]
|-
! align="left" | [[Ishkur]]
| align="left" | a [[Assault Ship]] (Assault)
| 25 || 25 (+25) || 20 || 3
|-
! align="left" | [[Curse]]
| align="left" | a [[Recon]] (Combat)
| 50 || 150 || 36 || 4
|-
! align="left" | [[Pilgrim]]
| align="left" | a [[Recon]] (Force)
| 50 || 150 || 36 || 4
|-
! align="left" | [[Myrmidon]]
| align="left" | b [[Battlecruiser]] (Warfare Link)
| 75 || 150 || 13 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Vexor]]
| align="left" | b [[Cruiser]]
| 75 || 100 || 9 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Arbitrator]]
| align="left" | b [[Cruiser]]
| 50 || 150 || 9 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Gila]]
| align="left" | b [[Cruiser]]
| 125 || 400 || 20 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Dominix]]
| align="left" | c [[Battleship]]
| 125 || 375 || 13 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Rattlesnake]]
| align="left" | c [[Battleship]]
| 125 || 400 || 22 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Typhoon]]
| align="left" | c [[Battleship]]
| 125 || 175 || 13 ||
|-
! align="left" | [[Eos]]
| align="left" | c [[Command Ship]] (Fleet Command)
| 75 || 150 (+75) || 40 || 6
|-
! align="left" | [[Ishtar]]
| align="left" | c [[Heavy Assault Ship]] (Heavy Assault)
| 125 || 125 (+250) || 34 || 5
|-
! align="left" | [[Sin]]
| align="left" | c [[Battleship]] ([[Black_Ops|Black Ops]])
| 125 || 400 || 53 || 7
|-
! align="left" | [[Carrier]]
| align="left" | d [[Capital ship]]
| 375 || Varies || 52 || 8
|-
! align="left" | [[Supercarrier]]
| align="left" | d [[Super Capital]]
| 12500 || Varies || 55 || 8
|-

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