The Naga
Like the Oracle and the Talos, the Caldari are able to field their own version of the new Tier 3 Battlecruiser called the “Naga”. The Naga was clearly designed to be a sniper platform as a counter to the Gallente Talos. The Naga’s configuration and setup will certainly make it the dominant Railgun Battlecruiser, completely overshadowing the Ferox by a wide margin. True, the Ferox can mount a better tank, but it is considerably slower and has far less damage capabilities, and most importantly, far less range.
The Naga is, of course, shield tanked, having six midslots and only a bare three lowslots to effectively use. Even with the six midslots, however, the base shields are quite low, and so you can expect to only have an effective tank at around 40k EHP. Plus, as with most of the new Tier 3 Battlecruisers, it lacks Drones. And without drones, Assault Frigates will tear you a new one if they get close. Speed tanking is possible, though I personally wouldn’t recommend it. You have few lows and guns that don’t track well (even if they are going to be upgraded). Even in a blaster configuration, if you try it by yourself you are going to have a tank that barely compares to a poor Tier 1 Cruiser.
Here are a couple configurations which I think might be a good starting point:
[Naga, Long Range] Damage Control II Reactor Control Unit II Magnetic Field Stabilizer II Y-T8 Overcharged Hydrocarbon I Microwarpdrive Large Shield Extender II Large F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction Invulnerability Field II Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range Sensor Booster II, Targeting Range 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L 425mm Railgun II, Spike L Medium Core Defence Field Extender I Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I Medium Core Defence Field Extender I
This configuration gives you 37k EHP and 228km Targetting Range which allows you to maximize Spike Ammo range bonuses and landing about 262 DPS for about eighteen minutes. Using MWD constantly will eat up the cap in a little less than three minutes with maxed skills.
The short range Naga, I think would look something like this:
[Naga, Short Range] Damage Control II Reactor Control Unit II Magnetic Field Stabilizer II 10MN MicroWarpdrive II Large Shield Extender II Large Shield Extender II Invulnerability Field II Warp Disruptor II Stasis Webifier II Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Neutron Blaster Cannon II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge L Medium Hybrid Burst Aerator I Medium Core Defence Field Extender I Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
This ship allows about 35k EHP and a nice 696 DPS. However, the cap usage is higher as well meaning less combat time. The downside to this configuration is that you really don’t have much room to play on the midslots. Using anything less than three midslots for the tank really weakens the ship. However, if you don’t mind dropping some damage, you could improve your escape ability by replacing the Magnetic Field Stabilizer with a Nanofiber and the Burst Aerator rig with a Polycarbon Rig.
In Conclusion
As tactics evolve with the addition of the new Tier 3 Battlecruisers, Caldari pilots can feel like participants able to pull their weight in PVP with the Naga. Able to be used both in close quarters and long range, though ideally, the ship clearly is made for sniper-style attacks. In addition, this ship definitely replaces the Ferox and despite a weaker tank, it fulfills the Ferox’s role more effectively. The downside is that those pilots who fly Drakes will get considerably more scorn for not fielding the Naga in fleet.
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