Editing Exploration Tips and Tricks (section)

= Fitting =
Main Page: [[Exploration_Ship_Fitting_Guide | Exploration Ship Fitting Guide]]
== Align Time ==
* As a rule of thumb for exploration fits, aim for <2s align time for the Astero and Metamorphosis and a <3s align time for all other exploration frigates.
* Align time is rounded up to the next second due to how server ticks work. A 3.01s align time is functionally equivalent to a 3.99s one.
== Defense ==
* Consider whether fitting tank modules makes sense compared to other options. If your covops frigate gets caught, you're probably already dead.
* Burst jammers don't work when fit alongside a nullifier; they cancel each other out. Burst jammers also require red safety to use.
== Scanning and Hacking ==
* Sisters probes are a good investment. RSS probes, on the other hand, are a "kick me" sign that'll probably cost several times more than your ship and not actually help you scan better.
* T2 probe launchers are a far less expensive alternative to sisters launchers for pilots with high skills.
* Rangefinding arrays are most useful at low probe strength, specifically to bump up your probe strength to the 105 needed to scan down every signature in the game. Pinpointing arrays are more useful at higher probe strength given the lack of deviation bonuses on most hulls.
* Emission Scope Sharpeners and Memetic Algorithm Banks only give a tiny coherence bonus and eat up a lot of rig calibration. They're only really useful for starter fits for low-skill pilots.

== Subsystems ==
* Tech III Cruisers are forced to choose between fast align times, and fast warp and nullification. The exception to this is the Proteus, which has its warp bonus duplicated between its hyperspatial (align) and nullification subsystems.
* A T3C can use a nullifier even without its nullification subsystem so long as it's using its covert subsystem; it just won't get bonuses for the nullifier.
== Utility ==
* Overdrive injectors are a good choice for ships with a lot of low slots that can't fit nullifiers, like the Astero and Magnate, due to their velocity bonus helping with burning out of bubbles. The cargo space penalty isn't that important due to the low volume of most valuable exploration loot.
* Related to the above, cargo expanders aren't particularly necessary for most exploration.
* Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizers are shockingly useful. Explorers spend a lot of time warping around, after all.
* An afterburner is a good alternative to a microwarpdrive for lowsec exploration due to the lack of bubbles, particularly on instawarp-capable ships like the Astero and Metamorphosis.