Trying to learn solo PvP in Lowsec, eventually FW. My Alpha skills are not maxed out yet. I like hybrid guns, and currently experimenting with the Merlin. Incursus coming up as well. This fit below, my idea is to catch fast kiting frigates, and then pew pew. Please critique my fit, keep in mind my current limitations: cost of about 1.5mn ISK, but not more than 2mn. So best bang for the ISK. I also, noticed, it’s difficult to find people to do 1v1. Getting ganged up on 3v1 fights suck, but I’ll get used to it.
Would this Fitting work for solo? Or better in fleet/ small gang?
[Merlin, Merlin Solo PVP anti-kite]
Limited Light Ion Blaster I, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge S
Limited Light Ion Blaster I, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge S
Limited Light Ion Blaster I, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge S
5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
J5b Enduring Warp Scrambler
Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
Small Ancillary Shield Booster, Cap Booster 75
Damage Control II
Type-D Restrained Overdrive Injector
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I
Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Small ASBs are rather underwhelming when you can fit medium ASBs or extenders on frigates already. Invuln fields are also rather useless modules on small ships, as they use capacitor and don’t offer much tank over (if any) extenders.
Scrap both modules for two webs or a web and an extender if that’s going to be your only tank module. When dealing with kiters it’s usually only a matter of catching them. Once they are scrambled they lose range control and can’t keep up with your damage, application and tank.
Merlin is the slowest T1 frigate out there. You’ll have to resort to slingshot maneuvers (look it up) if you want to catch kiters, and even then a good kiter can very well avoid getting into your desired range. Atron, Executioner, Minmatar frigate lineup are all better choices for the role you have in mind.
Try to be able to engage as many ships as possible if you are going at it solo. Merlin has some pretty competitive builds in the AB food chain of lowsec, but an MWD Merlin is pretty gimped when going into these fights, while also not performing stellar in its intended role. Therefore, the amount of fights you get in comparison to the time you are roaming will be minimal, and any fight will be a completely one sided affair.
Thanks for sharing your opinions. Merlin’s are very slow, and I lost 4 of them in low already (using AB). Am ganged up on by fast frigates who can control range, waiting on prey at gates and novice plexes.
So my thoughts are to mwd in close, hit them with scram or web, and brawl them. Sorry if some of my terms are off, as I’m still learning the ropes. To me, a brawler should be able to get in close range quickly vs faster ships, as my recent experiences…I may not get the chance to pew-pew. I’ve tried the most common Merlin builds, and it’s a pita trying to solo.
Invuln fields buff resistances. Pls explain why that’s bad idea on my frigate?
I’m going to try your idea on the scram with extender. Thanks!
Maybe an Incursus would have better chance in role of anti-kiting frigs?
It’s not that the invuln fields are useless, but that they’re not optimal choices for filliing the very limited fitting/slots/cap usage that a frigate has. It’s more efficient to use rigs to plug your resist holes and fit an extender (or use that slot for utility, as was suggested with the web).
When it comes to fighting kitey ■■■■■■■■, it’s not the dps that kills you, it’s the inability to kill them first. So instead of fitting for face tanking, you want to fit for shutting them down. If you can’t get them tackled before your small buffer runs out, then a larger buffer wouldn’t have helped, they’ll just have whittled it down anyway while staying out of your range.
its not a bad fit considering but medium shield extender or maybe a bigger abcilliary shield booster would be better.
in lowsec you could probably lose the afterburner but you will want to avoid anything you think is kitey, like garmur, slicer or maybe tristans.
Though i some how feel that mostly its about the right choice of target and tactics rather than anything else
