The Drake

The Drake is likely the most effective choice for mission runners and PVE pilots, but also for null-sec ratting, wormhole exploration and PVP entry bait pilots.

It currently holds a top position for flown ships in EVE Online.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyThIIk63fs]

Outside of being a curious anomaly in the strict sense of the word (a male duck) this could very well be CCP’s unintended hands on approach to finding the number of detectable extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky way galaxy (The Drake Equation is actually used in the SETI program).

Looking at the intended meaning of the name though (dragon, actually), the fire spewing beast can be quite the challenge for others to beat. But it looks nothing like a dragon. It looks more like a bent chunk of metal, or more to the point – a dutch gable roof.

Go ahead, look that up.

Its easy to come to the conclusion that someone on the design team was a former architect major that didn’t make it past their 2nd year. But it did in fact recieve a V3 graphics upgrade in Inferno 1.1 and by the looks of things, it may also soon lose the resistance bonus.

Weaponry

With 8 high-slots and 7 launcher hardpoints, it doesn’t have to take long to figure out that the Drake can be very versatile in damage application. Missiles gives the opportunity to deploy all 4 damage types, but the Drake has a bonus to Kinetic Missile Damage applied by both Heavy Missile Launchers and Heavy Assault Missile Launchers.

For PVE, the usual choice is Heavy Missile Launchers, while for PVP due to the common brawling range, HAM’s are often the preferred weapon of choice due to  higher damage potential.

Chosing the preferred choice of weapons depends on your training. You’d usually deploy Tech 2 weapons once you have your Tech 2 tank properly set up.

Propulsion

With 6 midslots there is plenty of room for a prop module of choice, but many PVE setups really only include a prop module (usually an 10mn AB) in missions where warp gates in mission rooms are spread out. For PVP, the Microwarpdrive is an absolute minimum though an AB can be deployed in some cases depending on tank ability.

Tank

With a shield recharge time of 1400 seconds, its the battlecruiser with the highest shield recharge rate. This is what makes the Drake effective in PVE and Bait PVP.

For missioning, you’d want a self sustainable tank (ie. passive tanking) rather than deploying active tanking principles, while in incursions and PVP you’d fit a buffer tank.

The basic PVE missioning fit that is based on passive tanking would employ 2-3 large shield extenders, 2-4 Shield hardeners (usually 3) and 2-4 shield recharge modules. Thats 6-10 modules in a 6 medium slot ship, so look at using Shield Power Relays or Rigs to decrease shield recharge time. Module composition depends on your currently trained skills.

With 4 low slots, you can effectively employ a mission specific tank and spice it up with missile damage mods in addition to decrease effective mission running time and thus increase effective hour/isk ratio.

Due to diminishing returns, never fit more than 4 modules of the same type. Drake fits with +4 shield recharge modules are less effective than fits that include shield extenders and hardeners in addition to shield recharge modules. The best passive recharge fits does not feature 7 recharge modules.

Support Skills

Remember that in addition to powergrid, shield and missile skills you’ll be at a point where you should consider additional support skills. Overheating your racks can make or break a fight. Besides, who doesn’t appreciate a hot rack?

Fits

[PVE Missions]
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II

EM Ward Field II
EM Ward Field II
Thermic Dissipation Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
10MN Afterburner II

Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Empty

Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I
Medium Core Defense Field Purger I

Hobgoblin II

Empty high can be used for tractor beam, potentially a salvager or drone range increase module depending on skills and powergrid. Exchange shield hardeners depending on mission.

[Entry Level PvP HAM]
Power Diagnostic System II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II

Experimental 10MN MicroWarpdrive
Warp Disruptor II
Invulnerability Field II
Invulnerability Field II
Large F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
Large Shield Extender II

[empty high slot]
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II
Heavy Assault Missile Launcher II

Medium Core Defence Field Extender I
Medium Core Defence Field Extender I
Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I

Warrior II

Since you have cap using modules (tackle) you can actually also fit NOS, however this will only be effective if you are low on capacitor. A neut can be more effective.

Mandatory Tackle, MWD and tank consists of a buffer tank with fairly balanced resists.

[Incursion]
Damage Control II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II

Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Federation Navy Stasis Webifier
Phased Weapon Navigation Array Generation Extron
Large F-S9 Regolith Shield Induction
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
EM Ward Amplifier II

Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Heavy Missile Launcher II
Auto Targeting System I

Medium Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Medium Warhead Rigor Catalyst I
Light Shield Maintenance Bot II

Incursion fits feature a buffer tank, balanced resists and webs to help the damage dealers in the fleet. Shield maintenance bots for passive RR ability. Usually these are employed to assist on logi ships to increase their repping ability as you also rely on Logi ships for sustaining the fleets repping ability.

[Drake, *New* PVE Passive Tank]
Shield Power Relay II
Shield Power Relay II
Ballistic Control System II
Ballistic Control System II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Large Shield Extender II
Target Painter II
Large Shield Extender II

Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Mjolnir Heavy Missile
[empty high slot]

Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I

Hobgoblin II x5

EHP: ~100k, ~320 DPS. Quite tight fit but with good buffer. Change resistance mods to mission specific shield hardeners in case of missioning or ratting. Hobgoblins are to beat off frigate sized targets.