Minmatar Level 3 / 4 high sec mission running - best fits, ships, etc?

Hi there

I’ve played Eve in the past but took an 8-9 year gap, I’ve just resubbed as an Omega to see what’s new. I used to solo L4 quite easily but they made them harder quite a while ago now and I had problems after that as I recall. I’m planning to try L3 again and am wondering, as someone with 32M SP and mainly Minmatar racial skills, what would be the best setup to safely and easily do L3 missions in high sec? Which battlecruiser, HAC, or whatever? What works for you?

My skills in T2 are lacking and T3 are non existent. But I can work on this. I am planning to stick around a while and aim for level 4-5 mastery of whatever the best ship is.

Given the choice between long range and autocannons, I generally prefer to pick off stuff at range and avoid being scrammed or taking too much DPS at once.

Also when I do finally go back to L4 solo mission running, what are the most foolproof ships and setups for that?

Final question, are there any big corps dedicated to mission running in High Sec I might be able to join for a while? Which don’t get constantly war decced :slight_smile:

PS. Faction items such as shield boosters are fine as long as they are not too expensive, I seem to remember using a pith booster or amplifier or something in the past but I don’t have it now.
Thanks very much.

Hurricane will work well for l3

Maelstrom for l4 ,missile option typhoon variants.

Foolproof…
…overtanked cap stable Vargur works like charm.

As for setups don’t have any,

Take care have fun.

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NPC do not scram - they disrupt. So Large Micro Jump drvie will get your ship into safety any time.
Optimal mission runners boats line is often concidered following:
Sniping Dominix with sentry drones (selectable damage type, LMJD away and kill everything from 100 + km distance using range tank to add more DPS modules)
Rattlesnake / machariel combo (Rattlesnake to full clear, machariel for mission blitz)
Maradeurs (Mission runners tool from CCP)
You start working on your drones / gallente BS skills, cause all 3 T1 ships require them. Machariel with autocannons seems to be your ship of choice for now, for both L3 and L4, just remember to check eve-survival info to get triggers right.

[Dominix, cheap expendable L4 sniper]

Inertial Stabilizers II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Damage Control II
Shadow Serpentis Large Armor Repairer

Large Micro Jump Drive
AML Compact Omnidirectional Tracking Link, Optimal Range Script
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II, Optimal Range Script
Federation Navy Omnidirectional Tracking Link, Optimal Range Script
F-90 Compact Sensor Booster, Targeting Range Script

Tachyon Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Radio L
Tachyon Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Radio L
Tachyon Modulated Energy Beam I, Imperial Navy Radio L
Drone Link Augmentor II
Drone Link Augmentor II
Drone Link Augmentor II

Large Drone Control Range Augmentor II
Large Ionic Field Projector I
Large Drone Scope Chip II

Bouncer II x5 // pick right kind of sentries to match NPC resistance hole
Warden II x5
Curator II x5
Hobgoblin II x5

[Machariel, Blitz Machariel cheap]

Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Gyrostabilizer II
Shadow Serpentis Large Armor Repairer
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II

Tracking Computer II, Tracking Speed Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Shadow Serpentis 500MN Microwarpdrive
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 400

800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
800mm Repeating Cannon II, Hail L
Small Tractor Beam II

Large Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II
Large Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer II
Large Polycarbon Engine Housing II

Berserker II x4
Warrior II x5

[Rattlesnake, 190 km range full clear]

Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II

Large Micro Jump Drive
Shadow Serpentis Sensor Booster, Targeting Range Script
Pith C-Type Large Shield Booster
Astro-Inertial Compact Missile Guidance Computer, Missile Precision Script
Large Cap Battery II
Astro-Inertial Compact Missile Guidance Computer
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Precision Script

Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Caldari Navy Inferno Cruise Missile
Drone Link Augmentor II

Large Drone Scope Chip II
Large Ionic Field Projector II
Large Hydraulic Bay Thrusters II

Curator II x2 // pick the right type for the mission
Warden II x2

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I think you mean eve survival? Central is down anyways AFAIK

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Excluding Marauders (a bit pricey for this, in my opinion), I’ve found LVL 4 missions easiest using a Raven armed with Cruise Missiles. It lets you juggle damage types very easily, and if your shield skills are maxed out there are few LVL4’s that come close to breaking an active T2 shield tank with 4 mission specific hardeners. - The Navy Issue Raven gives a nice DPS boost, and other faction modules can improve DPS/tank as well, but are not really necessary.

Fitting a Micro Jump Drive is possible, but kind of redundant. I usually just sit wherever I land - or approach gates when necessary - and tank everything that’s thrown at me pretty easily. Personally I like to fit a cap booster for emergencies, but never had to use that yet.

I’ve always avoided drone boats for missions, mostly because they have an annoying tendency to aggro everything at once, and draw fire from interceptors. (They didn’t used to years ago, but somebody apparently gave the rats some sense.) - Though, I’ll admit, I’ve never tried using sentries at long range.

Projectile long-range weapons aren’t ideal, because of their high rate of fire and relatively poor DPS against smaller targets. You have to sacrifice a lot (compared to missile boats) to do decent DPS against small targets. - Close-range isn’t really ideal either, because they require a lot of unnecessary effort in many cases.

Hybrids and Lasers are slightly better, because of their quicker rate of fire, but still suffer from similar problems against small targets. Their main downside is the limited damage types. They lose a lot of their DPS if they aren’t fighting the right enemies.

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Thanks for the help. I’m planning on starting with L3s in a hurricane but a little worried that might be too hard. We’ll see!

As for the suggestions of other race ships, I don’t have a lot of spare skill training time to use, my queue is already over 160 days, I would much rather stick to Minmatar ships even if that means making less money etc.

Further tips or clarifications welcome :slight_smile: :robot:

L3s aren’t really too hard. Doable in a T1 cruiser, mostly. There is a rather large leap between L3 and L4 missions. You should be fine in a Battlecruiser.

I recently did a bunch of Gallente L3 missions in an Assault Frigate. (Couldn’t be bothered to fetch a cruiser.) Barely even broke a sweat. :slight_smile:

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Thanks, fixed …

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A Hurricane should go through level 3s like a hot chainsaw through butter. Either brawl it up with autos, or go for standoff with arty. I’d be half tempted to take advantage of battlecruiser shield recharge rates, mount a decent passive tank, then just plough straight into the middle of the mission all guns firing with autocannons.

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Hurricane Fleet Issue, anyone? More shield and tracking bonus to help vs small targets…

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The Hurricane or Cyclone should be able to handl any L3 mission, no trouble. The Maelstrom and Typhoon are both fine L4 ships, though the Maelstrom might win out for having better tank (kind of your bread and butter for level 4’s, aside from managing aggro). It’s very very important that you be able to fit a T2 tank to your battleship before you begin undocking them, they won’t easily stand up to harder missions without it.

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I noticed that the Machariel has crept back up in price. I still think it’s probably bar-none the best L4 mission runner.

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Because you have never experienced them does not mean they do not exist.
Because they are extremely rare does not mean they do not exist.
I have never seen one in a level 3 mission, there are only a few level 4’s where they might spawn and even in those the chances are very small that one will spawn. Why yes I have been scrammed in a mission and it was not by a another player.

A response to this based on my experiences, my preferences, essentially my opinion on this statement so your mileage may vary.
If you want a blitz ship I would agree the Machariel is one of if not the best ship in the game for level 4 missions. For anything else the Machariel has some short comings that are tough to work around especially for characters with lower SP mainly the 2 race skills requirement and the lower tanking ability compared to the rest of the class. Still a nice ship and more than capable if you do not mind having to use the ships speed and agility as a component of your tank.

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Other than the Machariel (which works fairly well), I guess the best Minmatar ship for L4 clears would probably be the Vargur. Bastion is a two-edges sword here as while it does help with range tank it does so at the cost of mobility. Last I heard mission salvaging was still unattractive and not very lucrative.

I think that depends on your definition of lucrative.
I have not had to buy missiles or other ammo for most of my mission ships in years because I make it from the minerals gained by reprocessing mission loot / salvage and then convert it to faction using the LP gained. Perhaps I will not get space rice by doing this but it does have considerable value especially considering the prices for faction ammo.

I do not know about anyone else but I am tired of everything in this game being rated by how much ISK / LP per hour you can make by doing it. EvE is a game we are supposed to be playing for fun and enjoyment. With that said the drive to acquire wealth in this game or to maximize your ISK / LP per hour is crushingly boring for some, and yet for others the greatest enjoyment is had by trying to beat a previous best ISK / LP per hour mark or by trying to be as space rich as possible.

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I find it best to just test stuff out and find what works. Check out what types of NPCs you’ll be facing, and lean either armor or shield against their weapons. Fit any EW/ECM if you’ll be encountering any. Fit weapons to work with each other. If you fight at range, have a backup for close fighting, like drones and/or something to slow down the faster ships.

If you want to stay out longer, focus on keeping your shields or armor as stable as possible and keep your capacitor stable enough to keep them going. A good challenge is to also stay as cheap and as mobile as possible while doing all the above.

Some of that advice works for pvp too. Think of fitting as adding layers of functions, with focusing your functions to have desired effects.

As for Minmatar PvE, I’ve used mostly Rupture, Hurricane, and Tempest as my starting points.

I never mentioned ISK/LP per hour, only that salvaging has been nerfed so hard over the years that it’s no longer really a valid profession. You’re almost always better off running another mission than salvaging. The only ships that really make it worthwhile are Marauders - but this comes at a much higher investment in terms of skills and ISK outlay. If you enjoy salvaging - more power to you!

Not true, you stated that it is not very lucrative anymore, here is how you defined it.

As defined lucrative is the making of large amounts of money or profit, since you specifically mentioned the making of large amounts of money or profit I decided that you must be talking about ISK / LP. As the daughter of a good friend of mine (professor of English) would say, “words chosen they do matter”.

Since you now claim that the ISK / LP per hour was not the basis for your statements that raises several questions.
Since the word lucrative by definition is tied directly to making money / profit yet you use it in a situation that is not about ISK / LP please define for us exactly what you think “lucrative” means?

You claim that loot / salvage is not a valid profession, if you are not basing that on ISK / LP then please define for us what you think a “valid” profession is in this game?

To be blunt and borderline rude here the ISK / LP thing is so rooted in the culture of this game that even when we are not specifically talking about ISK / LP we are still talking about ISK / LP. Your choice of words that are tied directly to the making of money / profit instead of using words that tie you comments directly to having fun and getting enjoyment from this game are a perfect example of this in action.

The subject was L3/L4 high-sec mission running - so I thought we were referring to that? Yes, you can make more ISK/LP per hour running Incursions, blitzing or Burners - but I didn’t suggest those, either. Nor did I suggest mining, ratting or any of the other high-sec activities open to players.

There are basically 3 reasons to run missions:

  1. Experience/standings.
  2. Income (this includes salvaging).
  3. Something to do while you watch Youtube, Netflix, interact with the forums, etc.

As I stated, you will almost always be further ahead running another mission or shooting another NPC ship than you will salvaging most missions (there are exceptions, of course). If you enjoy a slower pace, don’t care about your ISK/LP income and get a kick out of endlessly tractoring in wrecks - salvaging may be the profession for you.

If I was solely concerned about ISK/LP income I’d probably be carrier ratting in null-sec or operating with a group in wormhole space - because there are certainly more lucrative forms of income than high-sec missioning.

Personally, I prefer clears over blitzing - even though I average less income. I salvage the handful of missions which have great loot or implant drops to supplement my income. I detest Burners to no end and think you paint yourself as a large target by running a gank magnet all over the place.

I prefer my Kronos because even though the DPS is slightly less than a Machariel it’s far more forgiving if I get distracted and forget to pay attention. It’s relatively cheap to operate, I only need 2 types of ammunition and typically have 900-1000m3 of cargo space when it’s worth salvaging.

I was referring to level 3 and 4 missions, what makes you think I was not?

I notice in this last post that you have again returned to discussions of things related to ISK / LP. Thank you for proving my point that the ISK / LP thing is so deeply rooted in the culture of this game that it is virtually impossible to have a discussion about an activity without ISK / LP being a part of that discussion.