I had some money on my Steam account and decided buy some plex during the eve steam-sale, already sold the Plex for ISK and now I'm planning on buying some injectors and get myself in to a Battleship for lvl 4 missioning.

I've enough ISK now to buy 30 injectors and from playing around with Evemon that seems more than enough to get Mastery IV on every battleship, including Marauders. I probably won't need that many since I already have some skills trained, and not every skill listed under mastery is useful, but they serve as a good base ( that's what I was told anyway ).

With that in mind, which Battleship should I train for?

I plan on doing missions for SoE since they seem to have the best ISK/LP, probably in Lanngisi since it's near of where I currently have my things.

I guess the first thing you need to decide on is missiles, guns or drones as your primary weapon (what you've already trained up may influence this)

You mentioned the SoE region, so are you planning on blitzing or clearing missions? If the former there's really only one ship that's geared towards this.

The only viable ship for running successful L4 missions is the Hyperion.

I like missiles so far ( I use a cyclone atm ), but if the other weapon types are better I can just inject and get them. I was planning on just clearing since I usually mission while watching tv shows/movies/streams so I get distracted way too often for blitzing to be efficient.

That does help narrow it down. If we're sticking primarily with missiles, I would lean towards either the Rattlesnake or Golem. The Rattlesnake needs more skills to be effective (which isn't necessarily an issue) and does more raw damage, but has a harder time applying this because there are no inherent drone or missile application bonuses and missiles are limited to thermal or kinetic damage. The Golem has bar none the best missile application bonuses of any hull platform, an insane tank and the ability to salvage as you go. Both can be easily run with Hyperspacial rigs and Ascendancy implants to cut down on mission time (if I recall, SoE missions often have large AU distances).

You could also look at the Barghest, but even though it does more damage you'll find in practice it ends up doing the same or less applied damage with the lack of application bonuses. The Raven Navy Issue is almost identical to the Golem in terms of damage and application, but lacks any utility highs and tends to consume a lot of ammunition.

Stick with T2 cruise missile launchers and T2 Fury ammunition. Torpedoes lack sufficient range and you'll find whatever small damage and application gains are often offset by extra maneuvering and lost volleys in-transit. Rapid heavy launchers are really a PvP weapon as they have short range, high damage and excellent application - but the 35-second reload ends up placing the overall DPS well behind both torpedoes and cruise missiles.

Finally, we have the Raven, Navy Scorpion, Typhoon and Typhoon Fleet Issue. Most of these again do the same DPS on paper but this achieved through a higher rate of fire - so you'll consume more ammunition (the Typhoon Fleet Issue has the second highest raw DPS after the Barghest). All except the Raven lack any missile velocity bonus so you're looking at significantly longer flight times. The Typhoon does have the same explosion velocity bonus as the Golem, but as an armor setup it's pretty decent.

Awesome, thank you!
I'll start looking for some Golem fits then.

As you have used skill injectors, I recommend that you do not get a Marauder, as you should get some experience with a T1 battleship before you get the other, as they are quite a expensive loss.

The only viable ship for running successful L4 missions is the Hyperion.

Get that mastered and the isk will flow like the nectar of the Gods!

I was planning on just clearing since I usually mission while watching tv shows/movies/streams so I get distracted way too often for blitzing to be efficient.

This is a recipe for getting ganked in Lanngisi , especially if your sitting there in a Marauder. I'd say start with a Dominix and drones and work up from there.

This is a recipe for getting ganked in Lanngisi , especially if your sitting there in a Marauder.

I'd say start with a Dominix and drones and work up from there.

Ganked? he is in high sec safe space so this is not possible.

But yes he needs not marauder but hyperion which is best missions ship

Ganked? he is in high sec safe space so this is not possible.

But yes he needs not marauder but hyperion which is best missions ship

Quoted for lols.

Either "worst troll" contender, or "most misguided player" applicant.

Either way, this person's comments can be safely disregarded.

I guess you've never heard of level 4 mission runners getting ganked by people who bait by shooting the mission runners MTU.
This has lead to many unsuspecting battleships destruction.

This is online bullying and griefing and it is a violation.

Sweetlips, I'm going to act as though you aren't a troll for now... You CAN be ganked in hisec, and Hyperion is NOT the best mission running ship. It is NOT bullying to point out how wrong you are so that new players don't fall foul of following your advice...

To make gank on high sec player who only play to pve is bullying and grief to player. This is crime in many country so you make bully you pay crime.

[Hyperion, l4]
Large Armor Repairer I
Armor EM Hardener I
Armor EM Hardener I
Armor EM Hardener I
Capacitor Power Relay I
Magnetic Field Stabilizer I
Magnetic Field Stabilizer I

Large Micro Jump Drive
100MN Afterburner I
Tracking Computer I, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer I, Optimal Range Script
Cap Recharger I

425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
Small Tractor Beam I

Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I

Ogre I x5
Hobgoblin I x5
Hobgoblin I x5

And that fit right there is why people can disregard your suggestions.

Bullying might be a crime, but in Eve, ganking and griefing is known as "content". Learn this, it will serve you well. A lot better than that poor hype at least...

Who's that, trip-trapping over my bridge?

And so you reveal yourself, troll.

That is not my words this will be sent in report for harassment and making false lies that I not say.

Perfection is a dish best served like wasabi .

Let us do our best to stay on track and help the OP by answering the question he posed. I have removed some off topic and trolling remarks.

On the long run you will end up with marauders which halfs your ammo costs regardless which type you choose.

To make gank on high sec player who only play to pve is bullying and grief to player. This is crime in many country so you make bully you pay crime.

[Hyperion, l4]
Large Armor Repairer I
Armor EM Hardener I
Armor EM Hardener I
Armor EM Hardener I
Capacitor Power Relay I
Magnetic Field Stabilizer I
Magnetic Field Stabilizer I

Large Micro Jump Drive
100MN Afterburner I
Tracking Computer I, Optimal Range Script
Tracking Computer I, Optimal Range Script
Cap Recharger I

425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
425mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge L
Small Tractor Beam I

Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I
Large Capacitor Control Circuit I

Ogre I x5
Hobgoblin I x5
Hobgoblin I x5

[quote=SweetLips Shayiskhun]The golem doesnt impress me. Rattlesnake has both better DPS and better tank at about 1/3 of the cost. You wont see golems running around null doing anoms and plexing but you will see a lot of snakes and there is a reason for that.

Regardless of which ship you choose just remember the more bling you have in highsec the more people with try to gank you. My snake fit ( for anoms and plexing) is all x type deadspace and faction where deadspace isnt available and the snake fitted ( including t2 rigs) only cost 300 mil more than a golem hull.

EHP perhaps, but nothing can touch either a shield or armor tank on a Marauder. The reason you see a lot of Rattlesnakes in anoms is probably no different than why you see a lot of Nightmares in Incursions (best tool for the job). The Rattlesnake has great specs on paper but you need a lot of V skills or it won't peform better than most T1 battleships. My torp Golem can and does keep up with any Rattlesnake for mission grinding (not blitzing, as the Machariel is still king), and in terms of an "all-in-one" platform to grind, clear, blitz, salvage, etc. Marauders are the ticket.

At the end of the day fly what gets you excited to play. Just not a Hyperion...

Your missiles might not be hitting into primary resist holes (angels, blood raiders and sansha), and won't apply as well as the golems, and don't have as good range.
Heavy drones - you can probably knock a third off their effective dps due to travel times. Sentries - you have to trade off dps with damage type or range.

Hi there,

I'm in a similar position to the OP and starting to run L4 missions. I'm currently doing this in a Raven but I feel my fit is something of a crapshoot:

6x 'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher

500MN MWD
3x Adaptive Invuln Field II
2x Large Shield Extender II
1x Target Painter I

2x BCU II
2x Missile Guidance System II
1x IFFA DCU

1x Anti EM Rig I
2x Core Field Extender I

My damage output is less than stellar and I'm really unconvinced about my tank as well. I've tried looking for fits elsewhere but most are either outdated or use a whole bunch of deadspace stuff I can't really afford. Can someone give me some better fits that are reasonably low skill and not too pricey? Would appreciate it.

Hi there,

I'm in a similar position to the OP and starting to run L4 missions. I'm currently doing this in a Raven but I feel my fit is something of a crapshoot:

6x 'Arbalest' Cruise Launcher

500MN MWD
3x Adaptive Invuln Field II
2x Large Shield Extender II
1x Target Painter I

2x BCU II
2x Missile Guidance System II
1x IFFA DCU

1x Anti EM Rig I
2x Core Field Extender I

My damage output is less than stellar and I'm really unconvinced about my tank as well. I've tried looking for fits elsewhere but most are either outdated or use a whole bunch of deadspace stuff I can't really afford. Can someone give me some better fits that are reasonably low skill and not too pricey? Would appreciate it.

No wonder that you can't tank or DPS..

Try something along these lines:

2x Rigor Rig
1x Flare Rig

6x CM launcher

1x X-Large Shield booster
1x Heavy capacitor booster (800er charges)
2x mission specific hardners or Invulnerability fields (mission specific recommended)
2x missile guidance computer (precision scripts)
1x Target Painter

3x Ballistic control System
1x Co-Processor

Have not EFTed that fit, but I remember that CPU was tight on newbie-ravens, hence the Co-Pro. If you struggle with the tank => try switching one missile guidance computer for an invulnerability field or another mission specific one.

Should give you plenty of tank whilst maintaining good application.

and don't let anyone tell you you need to be cap stable for any level 4 mission or you need to have a bunch of cap flux coils, power relays or CCC rigs. Use the Cap booster, even if the charges cost a bit. Your faster completition times will make up for the cost of those charges.

If you want to transition into a Golem, reduce tank and fit more damage.