I’ve been running lvl 4 missions on and off for decades now. At first I used an Apoc, but switched to a Paladin once Marauders were released. I’ve not used anything else since, though over the period I have taken extended breaks. I’ve been thinking of trying something new and thought I’d ask those who have used multiple different ships for LVL 4s, what they think is their favourite for doing such missions? Note that I used the word “favourite” and not “best”, as the latter is so subjective.
Well, after the release of Marauders, everything below that simply feels incredibly slow. Yes, even 1200 DPS Tengus or 1700 DPS Rattlesnakes… it feels weird “downgrading” to that, so I can’t really enjoy it any more.
Paladin is simply a mile ahead of all the others and I pretty much love the “zap zap zap” that ship just melts everything. However I have to admit, the new rebalanced Kronos (5 meds!!!) comes pretty close in fun and performance. And it looks amazing, especially with the Spirit Skin.
Rail Kronos - still a riot even with all the nerfs. Nothing says “reach out and touch someone” like hitting out to 120km+ at 2600+ DPS. Add a Republic Fleet bastion module for even more shenanigans.
I also run Paladins and Golems to mix things up. A pair of 2200+ DPS auto-targeting cruise platforms is completely bat sh*t insane.
You can literally print ISK in Marauders (I made close to 450-billion in 2024, but I don’t recommend that for the feint of heart).
Golem is okayish overall in performance, I really can squeeze out some competitive mission times with that ship… but the delayed damage never feels as satisfying as the instapop kills of the turret ships.
If Golem, double Target painter is mandatory! Else you waste a lot of potential.
Auto-targeting Faction cruise is the EVE equivalent of pushing the “Easy” button. Not as efficient as using TPs, but it’s as close to “fire and forget” that you’ll get.
If depends on the mission and how I’m feeling at any particular moment. I’ll usually blitz unless the mission is worth salvaging or there’s a lot of juicy bounties.
Burners are those specialized missions where you fight an elite enemy or group of enemies. They come in three variants: single, team and base. They pay out very well in terms of LP and occasional Faction drops - but you do need a specific roster of ships to tackle (and they can occasionally be blingy).
Yes. I use a Nergal for most of the single (skip Guristas) and team Burners, and a Drekavac for the Ashimmu. I don’t bother with the other Burner base missions.
The supercarrier is a waste of time, I hate the mine-dodging one and the trio of Dramiels (?) I just find annoying.
I have no idea what drew me in about this strategic cruiser but its been fun through the years. Its a choice i dont regret.
It pretty much has to speed tank with an active tank…something that must be closely monitored in some level 4 missions…you know, nuets and statis’s can be your end.
I thinks thats why i like the ship so much. Its never a boring experience and leaves a bit of a challenge for me…even though most are not anymore.
Ive thought about moving back to a buffer or passive style tanked ship but i just never commit to it. Perhaps some day ill switch it up.
If you favor Marauders, the new Faction Bastion modules are worth checking out. Expensive, yes - but they’re cheaper than Officer modules (and you can get one free by redeeming Warpath intel through the event).
If you’re running a Kronos, Vargur or Paladin - the Republic Fleet Bastion module is the only way to go. +5% turret ROF for a -5% turret range hit, and you gain 10-15%+ EHP with the 40% resists (passive tank offers more ganking protection). For the Golem - the Caldari Navy Bastion module is the ticket. +10% missile ROF and the -10% range can be mitigated with a T1 hydraulic rig (I like running a T1 hydraulic/T2 calefaction). The -10% resist reduction can be offset with simply fitting a DC.
