Just as a disclaimer because I won't talk about it too much, HAC's across the board are getting a boost to their sensor strengths to bring them in line with t1 battleships in the 20-24 range it appears. Now this is a huge improvement across the board in response to EWAR so it does make a big difference, but I just don't want to have to circle around and mention it every time. They are also receiving a role bonus that provides a 50% reduction in MWD signature radius penalty (bloom). This is also quite significant, but mostly brings into question if AHAC doctrines will become MWD doctrines instead. Additionally HAC's got a bonus to their capacitor recharge rates and capacitor amounts in order to hopefully allow more cap hungry setups.
Heavy Assault Cruisers
CERBERUS
Role Bonus: 50% reduction in MicroWarpdrive signature radius penalty
Caldari Cruiser Bonuses:
5% bonus to Kinetic Missile damage
10% bonus to Missile velocity
Heavy Assault Cruiser Bonuses:
10% bonus to Missile flight time
5% bonus to Missile Launcher rate of fire
Slot layout: 6H, 5M, 4L; 0 turrets, 6 launchers(+1)
Fittings: 800 PWG(+165), 520 CPU(+80)
Defense (shields / armor / hull) : 2000(-4) / 1200(+4) / 1400(-6)
Capacitor (amount / recharge rate / cap/s) : 1200(+137.5) / 235s (-100s) / 5.1/s (+1.93)
Mobility (max velocity / agility / mass / align time): 220(+45) / .463 / 12720000 / 8.17s
Drones (bandwidth / bay): 15(+15) / 15(+15)
Targeting (max targeting range / Scan Resolution / Max Locked targets): 95km(+15km) / 282 / 6
Sensor strength: 24 Gravimetric(+8)
Signature radius: 135
Care-bear-r-us... That's pretty much all I ever thought of when I saw this ship, both in space and in fights. I know it's got some good advantages, but honestly, I just remember it back from it's days and a missile spamming PVE god. How things have changed.
It's dropping it's utility high (finally) for another launcher spot, and adding a chunk of PG and cpu to be able to fit out the highs with a full loadout of HML, RLML, or HAM's with varying amounts of tank. Additionally it's finally scoring some drones to even it out vs closer brawling tackle, so now it too can fit EC-300s!
The extra mobility and extra launcher slot will easily update this to be one of the better HAC's post-change.
It's dropping it's utility high (finally) for another launcher spot, and adding a chunk of PG and cpu to be able to fit out the highs with a full loadout of HML, RLML, or HAM's with varying amounts of tank. Additionally it's finally scoring some drones to even it out vs closer brawling tackle, so now it too can fit EC-300s!
The extra mobility and extra launcher slot will easily update this to be one of the better HAC's post-change.
EAGLE
Role Bonus: 50% reduction in MicroWarpdrive signature radius penalty
Caldari Cruiser Bonuses:
10% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret optimal range
4% bonus to shield resistances
Heavy Assault Cruiser Bonuses:
10% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret optimal range
5% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret damage
Slot layout: 5H(-1), 6M(+1), 4L; 5 turrets, 2 launchers
Fittings: 990 PWG(+115), 440 CPU(+2)
Defense (shields / armor / hull) : 2500(+391) / 1250(-16) / 1550(+3)
Capacitor (amount / recharge rate / cap/s) : 1350(-25) / 255s (-80s) / 5.29/s (+1.2)
Mobility (max velocity / agility / mass / align time): 180(+16) / .576 / 11720000 / 9.36s
Drones (bandwidth / bay): 0 / 0
Targeting (max targeting range / Scan Resolution / Max Locked targets): 90km(+20km) / 252 / 8
Sensor strength: 25 Gravimetric(+7)
Signature radius: 140(-10)
The Boa's big brother, the Beagle is getting a sort of nerf/boost with the now live changes. That is, it's losing a valuable high slot for an extra mid. Usually in a brawler HAC, with cap dependent weapons I like to see either a nos in the high to keep things running or enough mids to fit a cap booster to do the same. Now the Beagle has gone from nos to cap booster. With the rail changes it should also become a feared sniping rail platform, but I think the real bonus will be with blasters and brawling.
Command Ships
Nighthawk
Caldari Battlecruiser skill bonuses:
4% bonus to all Shield Resistances
7.5%(+2.5) bonus to heavy and heavy assault missile kinetic damage
Command Ships skill bonuses:
7.5%(+2.5) bonus to Heavy Assault and Heavy missile launcher rate of fire
5% bonus to Heavy Assault Missile and Heavy Missile explosion radius (was explosion velocity)
3% bonus to strength of Siege Warfare and Information Warfare links
Fixed Bonus:
Can fit up to three Warfare Link modules
Slot layout: 7 H, 5 M, 5 L , 2 turrets (+1), 5 Launchers (-1)
Fittings: 1000 PWG (+290), 560 CPU (+5)
Defense (shields / armor / hull) : 5500(+695) / 3200(-163) / 3700(-144)
Base shield resistances (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp): 0 / 80(+10) / 70(+7.5) / 50
Base armor resistances (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp): 50 / 86.25(+6.88) / 62.5(+9.38) / 10
Capacitor (amount / recharge rate / average cap per second): 2812(-187.5) / 625s(-41.7) / 4.5
Mobility (max velocity / agility / mass / align time): 140 / 0.65(+0.02) / 14810000(+800000) / 13.35s (+1.15)
Drones (bandwidth / bay): 25 / 25
Targeting (max targeting range / Scan Resolution / Max Locked targets): 80km (+20) / 195 / 9(+1)
Sensor strength: 24 Gravimetric (+5)
Signature radius: 285
Cargo capacity: 700
This is also getting the five weapon system treatment now so familiar to all the Command BC's out there. This means that the Nighthawk is gaining a RoF bonus and a damage bonus and retains it's powerful missile explosion radius bonus to boot. Now this will be doing even more damage, per missile, to smaller ships, and receiving a bonus to Siege (shield) warfare modules and the newly acquired Information Warfare links, for what I imagine will be the suddenly more popular ECM blob ships. With one of these in fleet, suddenly Blackbirds will be like falcons, but at a much greater range.
Vulture
Caldari Battlecruiser skill bonuses:
4% bonus to all Shield Resistances
10% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret optimal range
Command Ships skill bonuses:
10% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret optimal range
10% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret damage
3% bonus to strength of Siege Warfare and Information Warfare links
Fixed Bonus:
Can fit up to three Warfare Link modules
Slot layout: 7 H , 6 M, 4 L, 5 turrets, 2 launchers (-3)
Fittings: 1275 PWG, 545 CPU
Defense (shields / armor / hull) : 5300(+495) / 3400(+37) / 3900(+56)
Base shield resistances (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp): 0 / 80 / 70 / 50
Base armor resistances (EM/Therm/Kin/Exp): 50 / 86.25 / 62.5 / 10
Capacitor (amount / recharge rate / average cap per second): 3000 / 667s / 4.5
Mobility (max velocity / agility / mass / align time): 140 / 0.67(+0.042) / 14000000(-10000) / 13s (+0.8)
Drones (bandwidth / bay): 25 / 25
Targeting (max targeting range / Scan Resolution / Max Locked targets): 95km (+20)/ 195 / 9(+1)
Sensor strength: 23 Gravimetric (+4)
Signature radius: 285
Cargo capacity: 400 (+55)
Keeping in line with the blaster Eagle, the Vulture is the "hybrid" Command BC platform. Prior to this change it was mostly seen as a floating brick tank, capable of absorbing massive amounts of damage, as well as pushing out good link status, but with relatively little DPS. Not much has changed here, the slot loadout remains the same, with the bonus to the ship across the board stating the same, just mostly the Siege warfare and Information warfare link bonus getting changed and added.
Recap
Overall I think the Cerb is the clear winner out of these four ships. The added mid slot and added fitting adds a lot of versitility for what is otherwise an underused ship. Does it do enough to be better than a flight of Drakes, caracals or Tengu ball? Probably not, but does it become a more viable cruiser sized attack ship? I think definately and it may surprise some lowsec and nullsec residents when they suddenly start getting killed by kiting solo Cerbs. Not that they aren't already getting killed by solo Cynabals!
Source links
HAC changesCS changes
Armor Rep Changes
Domi Tracking bonus change
Gang bonus changes
Rail/Arty Changes
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