Do level 4 missions in cheaply fitted battleships (videos included)

PvE Gameplay Center Missions
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So I thought I do some experiment by doing level 4 mission only in battleships fitted only by cheap modules (tech 1 and 2) and I was surprised by that how easy most missions are even if you don’t spend money on faction and deadspace gear. From this experiment, youtube videos born. Right now I have hundreds of videos uploaded which shows that it is possible to do all level 4 missions in cheap battleships. Of course the ship’s hull won’t be cheaper, but the fit is. It is also reduces the risk of being ganked, since gankers are usually go after marauders and faction battleships (but the risk is still there!).

Here is an example fit for the Typhoon which can easily do all level 4 missions:

Cheap Typhoon fit for level 4 missions

[Typhoon, *Simulated Typhoon Fitting]
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Reactive Armor Hardener
Large Armor Repairer II

100MN Monopropellant Enduring Afterburner
Missile Guidance Computer II
Missile Guidance Computer II
Large Cap Battery II
Cap Recharger II

Cruise Missile Launcher II
Cruise Missile Launcher II
Cruise Missile Launcher II
Cruise Missile Launcher II
Cruise Missile Launcher II
Cruise Missile Launcher II
Small Tractor Beam II

Large Explosive Armor Reinforcer I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I

Hornet II x5
Wasp II x4

Nova Auto-Targeting Cruise Missile I x100
Mjolnir Cruise Missile x100
Missile Range Script x2
Nova Fury Cruise Missile x1000
Scourge Fury Cruise Missile x816
Mjolnir Fury Cruise Missile x1256
Nova Precision Cruise Missile x982
Mjolnir Precision Cruise Missile x2020
Scourge Precision Cruise Missile x796
Missile Precision Script x2

You find the videos on my channel at youtube.com/@gyokzoli

I always included the fit for the given ship in the description of the video as well and a mission guide too.

Please note that, I’m not claiming that I made the best fits. It is very likely that you can improve my fits even by using only tech 1 and 2 modules. I’m also not claiming that my way is the best way to do level 4 missions. I simply demonstrate that you don’t need a lot of money for such missions and you can be fine.

I usually go for maximum DPS and moderate tank. The tank wouldn’t usually hold in all missions, but I can kill the NPCs before they do that to my ship. My goal is to finish the missions ASAP, so the hourly income can be high. I do at least 20 level 4 missions with each of the battleships, so I have evidence that the fit is working, and I so not skip the harder ones.

These are the ships I already uploaded and published videos about, you find a playlist for each ships on my channel:

  • Raven
  • Apocalypse
  • Dominix
  • Tempest
  • Megathron
  • Abaddon
  • Hyperion
  • Maelstrom
  • Rokh
  • Apocalypse Navy Issue
  • Tempest Fleet Issue
  • Leshak
  • Golem
  • Vargur

Every week, 1 video gets published in each of the playlists. Some only has 1 or 2 published, others might have already been finished with 20+.

I plan to record videos with all battleships in the game apart from a few exception which are the Babaroga and Marshal, since gankers would constantly hunt for me even if I had a very cheap fit, and the Scorpion since the latter has only bonus for electronic warfare which is useless in PvE and it is not fun to do level 4 mission with 400 DPS.

The following battleships are already in the works (but as I stated earlier, I will do videos with practically all battleships):

  • Armageddon
  • Typhoon
  • Praxis
  • Scorpion Navy Issue
  • Armageddon Navy Issue
  • Dominix Navy Issue
  • Megathron Navy Issue

I also started recording level 4 mission videos with the following faction cruisers and heavy assault ships, so you can expect playlists with these ships in the near future (there will be much more ships, including battlecruisers and command ships as well in the future).

  • Cerberus
  • Deimos
  • Vedmak
  • Ikitursa
  • Ishtar
  • Sacrilege
  • Zealot
  • Vigilant

Are cruiser hulls better than battleships for level 4 missions? No, but they are more fun! The missions are usually harder with them and you have to pay more attention, but many missions can be done with these ships as well.

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Why stop there? I used to run level 4s in a claw, and others have used Assault Frigs.

Do videos for all ships!!!

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Go on. Most L4 are pretty easy and if fun is the main intention and not most ISK/hour, simple T1 battleships offer a huge variety of options.

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If you team it up with a second account it gets even easier with less thinking in fitting and also less investment in modules needed.

2 Likes
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Multiboxing is bad mmm’kay.

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Well if the goal was to give nothing of value to the gankers, it surely is the best strategy. You could even try to fly your missions with only tech 1 modules for the lulz…and it wouldn’t matter anyhow if you lost your equipment that only costs peanuts to gankers or a disconnect…

2 Likes
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I did lvl 4’s in T2 cruisers. But I’m old in the game so they were maxed out. Their fast, nimble and cheap if you lose one. No one’s perfect…

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If someone wants to gank you just for the lol’s, fit won’t matter. We’ll call these the 1%’ers, and they’ll bring everything and the kitchen sink. On the other hand, depending on the security level of the system(s) you operate in - you can usually get away with a little bling.

There’s a ganking tool I found that shows the number of Catalysts, Talos or bombers it takes to gank you based on your EHP, CONCORD decoying, system security, damage type, etc.

1 Like
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Of course, the point of my experiment is not to be 100% safe from ganking. I had to know if level 4 mission running is totally fine with only using T1 and T2 modules or not. And it is, practically with all battleships. So I started making videos since it could also help other people in the game.

2 Likes
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It’s fine doing the missions with T1 or T2 fittings. I used meny years ago to do lvl 4 in a T2/named fit Domi. Now time is of the essence and I like to churn out four missions an hour so a better fit and ship are needed.

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Marauders for the win. Some fits are already pushing almost 3k DPS out to 100km or more. If I could get a Pirate Marauder (any Pirate Marauder) I’d be such a happy camper…

Imagine a Guristas ‘Rattle’ Marauder… or a Angel ‘Mach’ Marauder…

1 Like
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I can hit at 200km in my Golem. Not sure what my DPS is off the top of my head though.

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Yes, but you lose a lot of DPS in lost volleys at extreme ranges. Unless you’re counting volleys, the ideal range for a cruise missile Golem is around 50-60km (3.5-4sec travel time).

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Just some constructive criticism… your Marauder fits are paper thin. They should be passive tanked and feature at least 300k EHP minimum. This requires the gank fleet to bring upwards of 30+ pilots to be successful.

High-grade Amulet (armor) and Nirvana (shield) implant sets are a definite must.

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If you know what you are doing and how to thwart gank attempts, even 75k eHP is more than enough.

One can run missions with a huge buffer tank but it is absolutely not a requirement. Any fit that can withstand what the NPCs deal in damage is sufficient…

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The players being ganked with paper-thin active fits obviously don’t know what they’re doing! Just because you can run an active fit in high-sec doesn’t mean that you should…

Passive tanked for the win! If you don’t have at least 250k EHP on a battleship you shouldn’t even be undocking…

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Well BS is a logical choice to run L4’s. They’re designed that way so low SP beginners could jump on and try they luck. The only question - how effective/efficient they are. In the end it’s all about time you’ve spent on completing the mission. Once you realize that you’d start thinking on how to improve you isk/hr ratio.

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Other than Burners, you can opt to blitz certain missions with a combination Hecate/Machariel. For full clears/salvage, Marauders are the only way to go (T1 or Faction battleships are just too slow).

In high-sec you can typically earn 60m+ ISK/hour and up depending on what missions you run, how you run them, the system security and the type of corporation/LP. Skill dependent, of course.

200m+ ISK/hour is not unheard of, though it can burn you out fairly quickly.

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True, we all knew that after hours and hours of testing different hulls and fits. In the and there are very few of those which won effective/efficiency game over others.

As of OP are lvl 4 doable with T1 BS yes, should you do it by using them if you have an optional tools, no.

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Only if you don’t have any other choice…