I just can't utilize Raven properly, need tips

Communications Center General Discussion
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I tried multiple Raven fits, for PvE and PvP and I just can’t deal proper damage to anything. I tried ratting, missioning, pvp, I always end up running away or blown up. I was most often fighting cruisers and frigs but even npc battleships won’t go down so easily, always need 5+ volleys.

For context, I got Caldari BS to 4, cruise, assault, rockets, heavy to 4, warheads, projection, bombardment, target navigation, rapid all to 4 as well. I got torpedoes at 5 but don’t use them much outside of pve.
I’m using T1 launchers and caldari navy missiles but still, my projected 4k alpha and 500+ dps just doesn’t seem to cut it. My drone skills aren’t much developed and I don’t use them much, but I’m not sure Raven is drone oriented bs, but just a fine addition.

How do I approach Raven so I can tank some and dish out some? I saw some videos on solo raven roams and they end up tanking a lot of stuff while knocking down smaller ships.

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Are we talking about PvE or PvP - because these are entirely different fits. PvE I can probably help you out with, but in truth not being able to run T2 cruise launchers and lacking Calder Battleship V (as well as all main missile skills to V) is probably shaving off at least 25% of your DPS.

If your end goal is L4 missioning, you’ll want to train into a Golem - the Raven (and even Navy Raven) just can’t keep up.

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Part of performance is your fit, part is how you fly it and are using it, part is how you are customizing it to match the profile of the targets you’re engaging.

You need to decide how you’re going to fight: long range/keep distance, or get in closer and tank some damage while using torps. You need to choose the right amount of ‘damage application’ for your targets - if you’re fighting more cruisers and frigs you’ll need missile application boosts as well as drones that can help with smaller targets.

Depending on the range and target, that will help pick rapid heavies vs. cruise vs. torpedoes. How close you’re fighting will dictate whether you’re putting more slots towards mobility or tank.

Raven is generally considered fair for PvE, not so great for PvP (unless part of some fleet types).

This discussion might help you make some better adjustments:

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You sell it and get a Golem instead. That’s how you properly utilize a Raven…

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The DPS number in the fitting window is a misleading stat, as part of making your (big) weapons work is through damage application because big weapons suck at hitting small/fast targets. For missiles this means that without help cruise missiles can struggle doing full damage even to battleships, let alone smaller targets.

There are several ways to help with this:

Once you have T2 cruise launchers you can use precision ammo which works far better than most people realise.

Painter is easiest and most obvious but it does require you to apply it to each and every target you shoot and if you use more than one weapon group you’ll need more painters.

Guidance computers with precision script are less effective than painters but once the module is/are activated you don’t have to do anything else which is far more chill. Guidance enhancers also help but not that much.

Another option is with rigs: Rigor and (to a lesser extent) Flare rigs will help missiles apply their damage. Beyond that there are some niche options that, for now, aren’t that interesting.

Try using a painter and see if that helps, if it does but you get bored/annoyed by it swap for a guidance computer. Then build from there, ideally you compound different solutions at the same time.

This all effectively means that if you have, or are given, a ship fit that lacks the ability to increase application it’s probably a ■■■■ fit.

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This is our standard level IV mission running Raven.
Cheaper side of the spectrum money wise.

I know it’s not the tech I variant but theoretically and practically the same fit and style of engagement applies for both.

Personally - after so many years in Eve - i enjoy choosing laziness over efficiency, so no active modules or targeting e.g. target painters or shield boosters. Warp in, micro jump drive (if needed), orbit at 100km and work or watch a movie…or two.

Has no problems what so ever & the damage application feels reasonably good for decent damage and site clearance time even with auto-targeting missiles. My argument for commonly faced problems especially with Raven is not utilizing it’s strenght - range & kite.

Want to improve the fit? Launch PYFA. Or buy more expensive implants.

[Raven Navy Issue, *Caldari State Navy Raven]
Missile Guidance Enhancer II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Missile Guidance Enhancer II

500MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Republic Fleet Large Cap Battery
Missile Guidance Computer II
EM Shield Amplifier II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Micro Jump Drive

Cruise Missile Launcher 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
Cruise Missile Launcher II

Large Thermal Shield Reinforcer II
Large Warhead Rigor Catalyst II
Large Core Defense Field Extender II

Hornet II x10
Vespa II x5

Scourge Auto-Targeting Cruise Missile I x1
Mjolnir Auto-Targeting Cruise Missile I x1
Nova Auto-Targeting Cruise Missile I x1
Inferno Auto-Targeting Cruise Missile I x1
Missile Precision Script x1
Nanite Repair Paste x1
Memory Augmentation - Standard x1
Zainou ‘Deadeye’ Rapid Launch RL-1003 x1
Zainou ‘Deadeye’ Target Navigation Prediction TN-903 x1
Neural Boost - Standard x1
Ocular Filter - Standard x1
Zainou ‘Snapshot’ Cruise Missiles CM-603 x1
Cybernetic Subprocessor - Standard x1
Agency ‘Pyrolancea’ DB5 Dose II x1
Zainou ‘Gnome’ Shield Management SM-703 x1
Zainou ‘Deadeye’ Guided Missile Precision GP-803 x1

ㅤIsaki Andas
ㅤCEO, Caldari Research & Development

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That’s actually an RNI fit, but other than the 2-launcher difference and possible fitting issues (RNI has a bit more PG/CPU), it might still work. Not much tank with a Raven though so definitely need to work the MJD and MWD to minimize incoming damage.

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With battleship PvP you must be very strategic. If using torpedoes you will need webs, grapplers, target painters, neuts and application mods such as guidance enhancers, guidance computers, rigors and flare catalysts to apply damage to smaller targets. MJD is also a good idea. MWD is optional considering you’re practically immobile even with MWD. But it depends on the ship and setup. You will need some kind of tank as well but you may want to focus on damage application to smaller targets as those will be your biggest threat.

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Yes as stated.

Long range & good damage application in exhange for tank & can confirm this working - wouldn’t recommend without personal experience. Emphasis on range & speed tanking.

I’ve found that for a good majority of the time, burning out to orbit with MWD is sufficent enough. Tank rarely drops below 50% and MJD often sees its use only as a utility module to get to the acceleration gate or mission item faster.

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Thanks! Will definetely try it out

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Yeah, skills are probably the biggest problem, but still for level 4s on pretty much every required skill for decent missile combat I’m still shocked I deal so low damage. I was thinking golem, but I want to fly regular raven cuz of its pricing and its availability (also its simplicity). I’d like to warp into 5+ ships (pvp) and get at least 3 killmails before I die.

I know missiles are very variable regarding their application to different targets, but that’s why I’m asking this here to find help optimizing a raven fit for pretty much any circumstance so I can roam freely and engage most targets.

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Yes I’m very aware of that. Which makes me ask a question: Should I go raw tank, or shield boost? And if so, is there a shield boost cap stable raven fit? Can it be done?

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I think 5 volles for BS are normal without perfect skills. I used to fly cruise missile Typhoon when alpha, and I think it took me about 5 volleys to kill npc battleships IIRC.

2-3 for bc and regular cruises, 4 for elite cruisers, 2 for frigates. PVE in battleships isn’t exactly fast… Maybe marauders are faster, too much skill points for that so I never learned.

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It depends on the setup, but a shield boost fit does tend to take up more resources. Battleship tanking is tricky because your options are actually kind of limited. XLASB is sub-optimal because you’re using a mod that most cruisers can fit no problem. If you go normal XL shield booster, you also then need to add cap boosters, invuln, shield mods, etc. In order to make it worthwhile, and all those mods take up valuable resources that can otherwise be spent on utility and damage application.

If you go that route you’re likely to end up a sitting duck with a decent shield boost tank that won’t actually help during a fight as you can’t keep anyone locked down or kill them and you die a slow painful death.

With that in mind, active tanking setups definitely CAN work in battleship PvP, but they take more dedication, more resources and again you’ll be sacrificing damage application. I suspect other battleships besides Raven would do active tanking better, at least in PvP.

Raven doesn’t get a shield boost bonus anyway. Battleships in general have an advantage of naturally big EHP. Just a damage control goes a long way and you get role bonus for shield extenders, plates and bulkheads.

When making a battleship PvP setup, or any PvP setup, remember you need to use every last bit of PG and CPU to maximize your advantage while trying to fully utilize ship bonuses.

I haven’t actually flown battleships in PvP, but I have enough pvp experience to know that you ain’t gonna hit crap all with a Raven unless you dedicate your setup to damage application

Now I’m looking at the Raven and I can’t help but wonder why anyone would choose Torpedoes over Rapid Heavies, which seem to do damn near the same DPS while applying 10x as much vs a basic Comet setup, at least in PYFA.

But without any battleship experience I decided to play it safe and go with Torps.

[Raven, Raven fit]

Reactor Control Unit II
Damage Control II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Signal Amplifier II

Warp Scrambler II
Stasis Webifier II
Heavy Stasis Grappler II
Target Painter II
Heavy F-RX Compact Capacitor Booster, Navy Cap Booster 3200
Dread Guristas X-Large Shield Booster
Large Micro Jump Drive

Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Scourge Torpedo
Heavy Energy Neutralizer II

Large Bay Loading Accelerator II
Large EM Shield Reinforcer I
Large Thermal Shield Reinforcer I

Now this is just a quick prototype and certainly not the best way to fly a Raven in PvP. But for my style of flying, I would start with something like this, it seems to have decent enough utility and damage application while still having somewhat of a tank.

I went with a T2 Bay Loading Accelerator and a Dread Guristas XL Shield Booster because they’re both actually pretty cheap and I would say a couple mods like that are worth it on a battleship. The DG SB saves enough CPU to let the rest of the setup fit easier.

I would try something like that and then tweak it and improve according to your liking. Again, it’s definitely not the best Raven fit, but it’s a strategic gank-style setup that would be used for small-scale PvP.

Signal Amplifier because if you actually understand PvP in this game, you know that being jammed is one of your biggest threats especially in a battleship. Sig amp nearly doubles your sensor strength, gives you more targeting range and makes you lock targets faster. It’s not guaranteed to help you against a jamming ship, but it’s better than nothing.

The idea is that you hopefully have enough utility to lock MFs down with scram, web, grappler, heavy neut and target painter, and then nuke them with torps. If the fight goes your way, you MJD out of harms way and ride off into the sunset.

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A Paladin at max skills will one-shot anything up to a battlecruiser, and even some battlecruisers. It will 2-3 shot battleships.

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The problem with that is you’ve mentioned both PvE (NPC battleships, missioning, ratting) and PvP (fly into 5 targets and take down at least 3) as your goals. You’ve also mentioned fighting targets from frigates to battleships. So a “one good fit for all” isn’t going to work.

A PvP fit Raven is going to require modules that will be near-useless in a PvE fight, and fighting frigates is a different fit than fighting BCs or BSs. Trying to do everything with a base ship (Raven) that’s not that flexible of it is the likely source of your repeated issues with it.

You could try picking two builds: one for PvE, one for PvP. Then pick your target size. If it’s mostly Cruiser/BC/BS, then you focus your DPS output on those and carry drones to handle the frigates. If it’s mostly Frig->Cruiser, then you’ll choose a different missile setup and carry drones to help with bigger ships.

You’ll also have to decide if your fighting style is going to be warp in at range, MJD for distance, then strike and kite from long range (so range is part of your defense, common in PvE), or if you’re going to warp in to the group and duke it out at close range and go down fighting (more the style for the 5+ PvP targets).

Smaller targets you might lean towards rapid heavies. Larger targets at range, Cruise. Larger targets closer in, Torps. Those are the sort of choices that will affect a build, there won’t be an effective “one size fits all” on a Raven, as far as I’ve seen.

You’ve had some PvE-trending fits and suggestions above, for some PvP ‘go down fighting’ ideas you might check these:

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Stick with level 3s until you understand how to kill smaller ships. Cruise missiles are basically useless against Cruiser down unless you are using the more accurate ones vs. the damage ones.

Cruise are great against BC and BS from range. Your tank is range. You should be 100 km off the target. Use a MJD when you land on grid. Take out BS/BC first with dmg missiles. If smaller ships get close, MJD away in a direction that will be a tangent to the remaining BS_____I_____small ships approaching you.

If done right you’ll get a few scratches from the small stuff at the end, but your local shield regen/booster should handle the incoming damage fairly well if you are giving yourself enough range.

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A battleship in L3’s would be horribly slow. A Drake would nuke the mission and warp out before a Raven even halfway cleared it. There are even more smaller NPC ships in L3’s than there are in L4’s.

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^ This

That’s what drones are for…

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I would recommend not using a raven… But that’s just me. If you wanna use one I would recommend doing lower level missions and using the correct launcher types depending on target size. Drones are for smaller targets. Make sure you are using the correct ammo damage type for the enemy you are shooting. A good active tank is basically required for late game pve so get those skills up also. Even if your weapon skills are low so long as you have enough ammo and a damn good tank you’ll survive long enough to kill everything usually.