Guide: Missile Launchers

[stalwart]

Here you'll find the guide to missile skills in Eve. I play with autocannons and artillery, so this may be something that someone else is better at writing, but oh well.

First, an overview of the missile launcher skills:


<table cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="dr">Bomb Deployment (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=28073)</td> <td class="dr">4</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Basic operation of bomb delivery systems. 5% reduction of Bomb Launcher reactivation delay per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Citadel Torpedoes (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=21668)</td> <td class="lr">7</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Skill at the handling and firing of citadel torpedoes. 5% bonus to citadel torpedo damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Cruise Missile Specialization (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20212)</td> <td class="dr">8</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Specialist training in the operation of advanced cruise missile launchers. 2% bonus to cruise launcher rate of fire per level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Cruise Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3326)</td> <td class="lr">5</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Skill at the handling and firing of very large guided missiles. 5% bonus to cruise missile damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Defender Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3323)</td> <td class="dr">2</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Skill with anti-missile missiles.Special: 5% bonus to defender missile max velocity per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">FoF Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3322)</td> <td class="lr">3</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Skill with friend or foe missiles. Special: 5% bonus to F.O.F (light, heavy and cruise) damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Guided Missile Precision (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20312)</td> <td class="dr">5</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Skill at precision missile homing. Proficiency at this skill increases the accuracy of a fired missile's exact point of impact, resulting in greater damage to small targets. 5% decreased factor of signature radius for light, heavy and cruise missile explosions per level of skill.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Heavy Assault Missile Specialization (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=25718)</td> <td class="lr">5</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Specialist training in the operation of advanced heavy missile launchers. 2% bonus per level to the rate of fire of modules requiring Heavy Missile Specialization.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Heavy Assault Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=25719)</td> <td class="dr">3</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Skill with heavy missiles. Special: 5% bonus to heavy missile damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Heavy Missile Specialization (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20211)</td> <td class="lr">5</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Specialist training in the operation of advanced heavy missile launchers. 2% bonus to heavy missile launcher rate of fire per level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Heavy Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3324)</td> <td class="dr">3</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Skill with heavy missiles. Special: 5% bonus to heavy missile damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Missile Bombardment (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=12441)</td> <td class="lr">2</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Proficiency at long range missile combat. 10% bonus to all missiles' maximum flight range.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Missile Launcher Operation (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3319)</td> <td class="dr">1</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Basic operation of missile launcher systems. Special: 2% Bonus to missile launcher speed.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Missile Projection (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=12442)</td> <td class="lr">4</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Skill at boosting missile bay propulsion systems and manipulating guided missiles' jet engines. 10% bonus to all missiles' maximum velocity.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Rapid Launch (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=21071)</td> <td class="dr">2</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Proficiency at rapid missile launcher firing. 3% bonus to missile launcher rate of fire per level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Rocket Specialization (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20209)</td> <td class="lr">3</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Specialist training in the operation of advanced rocket launchers. 2% bonus to rocket launcher rate of fire per level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Rockets (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3320)</td> <td class="dr">1</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Skill with small short range missiles.Special: 5% bonus to rocket damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Standard Missile Specialization (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20210)</td> <td class="lr">3</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Specialist training in the operation of advanced standard missile launchers and assault launchers. 2% bonus to standard and assault launcher rate of fire per level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Standard Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3321)</td> <td class="dr">2</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Skill with manually targeted missiles.Special: 5% Bonus to light missile damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Target Navigation Prediction (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20314)</td> <td class="lr">2</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Proficiency at optimizing a missile's flight path to negate the effects of a target's speed upon the explosion's impact. 10% decrease per level in factor of target's velocity for all missiles.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Torpedo Specialization (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20213)</td> <td class="dr">8</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Specialist training in the operation of advanced siege launchers. 2% bonus to siege launcher rate of fire per level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="lr">Torpedoes (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3325)</td> <td class="lr">4</td> <td class="lr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="lr">Skill at the handling and firing of torpedoes. 5% bonus to torpedo damage per skill level.</td> </tr><tr> <td class="dr">Warhead Upgrades (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20315)</td> <td class="dr">5</td> <td class="dr">Perception - Willpower</td> <td class="dr">Proficiency at upgrading missile warheads with deadlier payloads. 2% bonus to all missile damage per skill level.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Now, if you use missiles in game, you'll want to already have these skills, even before you start your learning skills tree:

Missile Launcher Operation (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/skills.html?eveskillcat=10) 3
Standard Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3321) 3

Then you'll want the ones that increase your DPS to 3 first:

Rapid Launch (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=21071) 3
Target Navigation Prediction (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20314) 3

Then some specialization:

Missile Bombardment (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=12441) 3
Missile Projection (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=12442) 3

Then let's get another level in all of the above:

Missile Launcher Operation (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/skills.html?eveskillcat=10) 4
Standard Missiles (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=3321) 4
Rapid Launch (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=21071) 4
Target Navigation Prediction (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20314) 4
Missile Bombardment (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=12441) 4
Missile Projection (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=12442) 4

And pick up the new skills we can get now:

Warhead Upgrades (http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/getskill.html?eveskill=20315) 4

And now get those to level 5. This step will take quite a while. You'll be wanting to do it in the order that gets you the tech 2 modules first. Go to the market, find the missile launcher you want to use, and right click it --> show info. Go the the prerequisites tab. This will show you what you need. X's mean you don't know this skill, open circles mean you don't have the skill to high enough level, and checks mean you've got the prerequisites.

[stalwart]

The Allakhazam intro to missiles, about the different types, etc. You can find the original here:

http://eve.allakhazam.com/db/guides.html?guide=847



I. Introduction to Missiles


In EVE, missiles are propelled damage dealers launched from a missile bay. They differ from turrets in that they always hit if they manage to reach the target, and the fact that they have to physically reach the target in order to inflict damage, as opposed to the instantaneous hits from turrets. The Caldari specialize in missile platforms, while the Minmatar also utilize missiles greatly as secondary weapon systems.

In EVE, missiles generally do lower but more consistent damage than turrets. Since they are not constrained by all the hit formulas turrets suffer from, missiles can be extremely effective if used right, especially in regards to size difference between missiles. Also, missile bays can load any damage type, making missile-based ships often more versatile than their turret-clad cousins.


General missile characteristics are as follows:



Rate of Fire (launcher)


The rate at which the missile bay fires missiles. This value is affected by skills and modules.



Maximum Velocity (missile)


The speed at which the missile travels. This is a base value that is affected by skills, and sometimes by the ship flown. Guided missiles are generally much faster than unguided.



Maximum Flight Time (missile)


How long the missile can fly in seconds before it disappears, provided it does not reach it's target first. The maximum range of a missile can be calculated by multiplying this value with the missile's velocity. This base value is affected by skills.



Damage (missile)


Base damage of the missile itself. This value, unlike with turrets, is not affected by the missile bay itself. It is affected by several skills and modules.



Explosion Velocity (missile)


The "speed" of the missile's explosion. If the target's velocity is greater than this explosion velocity, the damage of the missile is reduced (the target "outruns" the missile's explosion). This value stacks with explosion radius.



Explosion Radius (missile)


The explosion radius of a missile determines how effective it is against differently sized targets. To determine how this value affects a missile, EVE compares the missile's explosion radius with the target's signature radius. If the ship's signature radius is greater or equal to the missile's explosion radius, there is no change. However, if the ship's signature is lower, the game reduces the missile's damage by the appropriate percentage, meaning that the larger the missile used on a small target, the less effective it will be in damaging it. This is a linear relationship, meaning that the exact percentile difference between the explosion radius and signature radius is also the amount of damage reduction. This value is affected by skills, but only on guided missiles.

Example: A missile with an explosion radius of 400m is fired upon a ship with a signature radius of 150m. As 150m is 37.5% of 400m ([150/400 = 0.375]), the damage of the missile itself is reduced by 72.5%

II. Guided Missiles


Guided missiles in EVE are split into three size categories; light, heavy and cruise missiles. These missiles are all long-ranged, agile damagedealers for their size classes, effective at sniping but lacking the punch of unguided missiles. They are fired from the Standard, Heavy and Cruise Missile Launcher, respectively.

The main purpose of the guided missile is to track and hit small, fast targets at ranges where the target cannot fire back. Because of their ability to damage a wider range of ship classes thanks to a lower explosion radius and greater velocity, guided missiles such as cruise missiles are often regarded as a "safer" option than the slower, more damaging torpedoes. However, guided missiles may often lack the punch to overcome the stronger tanks.

III. Unguided Missiles


Unguided missiles in EVE are split into four size categories; rockets, assault missiles, torpedoes and citadel torpedoes. These missiles, like guided missiles, fit into the general ship size categories in EVE; Rockets are fired by Rocket Launchers and are designed for use by frigates, assault missiles are used with Heavy Assault Launchers and excel against cruisers and larger targets, Torpedoes are fired using the Siege Missile Launcher and are most effective against other battleships, and Citadel Torpedoes are the only capital-sized missile class in the game, used with Citadel Launchers.

Usage of unguided missiles tends to be trickier than guided, due to their limited speed and range. Also, since their relatively high explosion radius isn't affected by skills, they have a tendency to be much less effective against smaller targets. Also, while unguided missiles can do massive damage, they rarely outstrip the sheer damage potential of turret ships. On the other hand, their damage output is far more consistent than that of turrets due to the lack of hit formulas on missiles, so their actual damage can often be higher than on close-range turret ships.

With that in mind though, it is worth noting that torpedoes can have an effective range of up to 55km, which far outstrips that of large Blasters and Autocannons, while rockets can reach up to 7km and assault missiles edge over 10km.

IV. FoF and Defender Missiles


F.O.F. (Friend or Foe) and Defender missiles are two specialist sub-classes of missiles in EVE.

Defender missiles are light anti-missile rockets that can be fired from all missile launchers in EVE. They are designed to intercept and neutralize incoming rockets, although in some cases it may need several defender missiles to destroy one incoming missile (such as torpedoes and cruise missiles). Defender missiles target incoming warheads on their own, and will not fire unless a volley is incoming, at which point they will autofire until there are no more missiles to target or manually stopped. They are generally most effective when used with the cruiser-sized Assault Missile Launcher, due to it's high refire rate and the larger capacity when compared to Standard Launchers.

FoF Missiles are "fire and forget"-type warheads, mostly used when the missile boat has been jammed or cannot target an enemy for any reason. When activated, the FoF missile will fire and target the nearest hostile ship or drone. Although useful when completely locked down, they are rarely used due to the lack of control the user has, as well as the fact that they do less damage than their guided counterparts.

V. Missile Skills


A large number of skills affect the performance and statistics of missiles and missile bays, all of them in the "Missiles" skill sub-group. The base skill for all missile launchers is the Missile Launcher Operation skill, which gives a uniform 2% rate of fire bonus on all missile launchers fitted.
Base Missile Skills


There are nine base missile skills in EVE; three guided missile skills (light, heavy and cruise missiles), four unguided (rockets, heavy assault missiles, torpedoes and citadel torpedoes), and two specialist skills (FoF missiles and defenders). All these skills give a 5% damage bonus per level to their respective missile type, save for the skill Defender Missiles, which gives a 5% velocity bonus to defender missiles.

Missile Performance Skills


There are five missile performance skills in EVE that affect the base characteristics of all missiles and launchers. These are:


Missile Bombardment - 10% increase in all missiles' maximum flight time per level
Missile Projection - 10% increase to all missiles' maximum velocity per level
Rapid Launch - 3% reduction on all missile launchers' rate of fire per level
Target Navigation Prediction - 10% decrease in factor of target's velocity for all missiles per level
Warhead Upgrades - 2% bonus to all missile damage per level

The following skill only affects guided missile (light, heavy and cruise missiles):


Guided Missile Precision - 5% reduction to guided missile explosion radius per level


Missile Auxiliary Skills


There are two Auxiliary skills that affect the fitting requirements of both turrets and missile launchers, called Weapon Upgrades and Advanced Weapon Upgrades, that affect the CPU and Powergrid use of missile launchers, respectively.



Weapon Upgrades reduce the CPU requirements of a turret by 5% per level. This can be extremely useful, as missiles tend to be rather CPU-intensive.
Advanced Weapon Upgrades reduce the Powergrid requirements of a turret by 2% per level. This is an advanced skill, has a high training multiplier and requires lvl 5 in Weapon Upgrades before training.


Missile Specialization Skills


There are six missile specialization skills in EVE, one per main missile type (there are currently no specialization skills available for FoF missiles nor defenders). These skills are the prerequisite for use of tech 2 missile launchers, and all of them require lvl 5 in their parent weapon skill (Torpedo specialization requires lvl 5 in torpedoes, for instance). Note that there is no citadel launcher specialization skill.

All specialization skills grant a 2% bonus to the respective launcher's rate of fire (Cruise Missile Specialization grants a ROF bonus only to Cruise Missile Launcher II).

VI. Missile Ammo


All missile types have 4 basic versions, one for each damage type. No missile does more than it's one damage type. There is generally no difference in the stats between the various damage type missiles - they all do the same damage and at the same speeds. As such, tactical decisions between ammo types are limited to the damage type the pilot wishes to do.

Tech 2 missiles (used only with t2 missile launchers), like turret ammo, fall into two categories; range/accuracy and damage.

On guided missiles, the two categories are named Fury and Precision. Fury missiles do higher damage at the expense of significantly reduced flight velocity, which limits their range greatly. On the other hand, Precision Missiles have half the explosion radius of their t1 counterparts with no reduction in damage or range.

Unguided t2 missiles split into Javelin and Rage. Javelin unguided missiles have most of the flight characteristics of their guided counterparts, if not better; i.e. a Javelin Torpedo will fly as fast as a regular cruise missile, but for 5 seconds longer. They also have higher explosion velocity and lower explosion radius, making them that much more effective against smaller targets. Rage missiles, on the other hand, do alot of damage - 50% more damage to be exact. However, they are even slower than their t1 versions, less than half the explosion velocity and double the explosion radius, making them inefficient against small or even same-sized targets (rage heavy assault missiles tend to be more effective against battleships than cruisers, while rage torpedoes are usually only used on capital ships or battleships that have been lit up using several Target Painters, thereby artificially inflating the target's signature radius).

Also, unlike their Tech 1 variants, Tech 2 missiles also confer disadvantages to your ship or missile launchers. This disadvantage is uniform; damage-type t2 missiles incur a penalty to capacitor recharge rates, while range/accuracy missiles give a penalty to velocity. The actual values of the disadvantages differ between missile classes (Rage Rockets give a 45% penalty to cap, while Rage Torpedoes give a 20% penalty to cap).

Note that these penalties stack, meaning that 4x Cruise Missile Launcher II's fitted with Fury Cruise Missiles give a total of 107% penalty to capacitor recharge (20% penalty per launcher, [1.2 ^ 4 or 1.2 * 1,2 * 1,2 * 1,2]), meaning that the capacitor recharge of the ship will be reduced to 0 (the extra 7% are discarded) as long as there are fury cruise missiles fitted into all four launchers.

[Mikee]

I don't mean to derail, but the title of this thread is very funny in itself.