When playing Eve Online, understanding how to best equip your ships is crucial for success in combat and exploration. One key aspect of ship customization is the rig slots, which can greatly enhance your ship's performance in various ways. Small rig slots are particularly important as they allow you to further optimize your ship's capabilities. In this guide, we will explore what equips to a small rig slot in Eve Online.
Types of Rigs
There are three types of rigs that can be equipped to a small rig slot in Eve Online: armor, shield, and structure rigs. Each type of rig provides specific bonuses to your ship's defensive capabilities.
Armor Rigs
Armor rigs are used to enhance the armor strength of your ship, increasing its overall resilience in combat. This type of rig is particularly useful for ships that rely on armor tanking as their primary defensive strategy. Some common armor rigs include trimark armor pumps, auxiliary nano pumps, and anti-explosive screen reinforcers.
For example, equipping a trimark armor pump to a small rig slot can significantly boost your ship's armor hitpoints, making it harder for enemies to penetrate your defenses. This can be especially beneficial in prolonged battles where survivability is key.
Shield Rigs
Shield rigs, on the other hand, are designed to improve the shield strength of your ship, providing additional protection against incoming damage. This type of rig is often used by ships that rely on shield tanking for defense. Common shield rigs include shield extenders, shield flux coils, and shield power relays.
By equipping a shield extender to a small rig slot, you can increase your ship's shield hitpoints, giving you more buffer against enemy attacks. This can be particularly effective for ships that need extra shielding to withstand heavy firepower.
Structure Rigs
Structure rigs focus on enhancing the overall structure durability of your ship, making it more resistant to damage. While not as commonly used as armor or shield rigs, structure rigs can still be valuable in certain situations. Examples of structure rigs include core defense field extenders, anti-kinetic screen reinforcers, and auxiliary nano pumps.
Equipping a core defense field extender to a small rig slot can bolster your ship's structure hitpoints, making it harder for enemies to break through and destroy your ship. This can be beneficial for ships that are vulnerable to structural damage due to their design or role in combat.
Choosing the Right Rigs
When deciding what to equip to a small rig slot in Eve Online, it's important to consider your ship's role, strengths, and weaknesses. Each type of rig provides specific bonuses that can enhance certain aspects of your ship's performance. For example, if you're flying a heavily armored battleship, armor rigs may be the best choice to further reinforce your defenses. Conversely, if you're piloting a fast and agile frigate, shield rigs might be more suitable to increase your survivability.
Additionally, it's important to consider the balance between defensive and offensive capabilities when equipping rigs. While it's tempting to focus solely on boosting your ship's defenses, neglecting offensive enhancements can leave you at a disadvantage in combat. Finding the right combination of armor, shield, and structure rigs to suit your playstyle and strategy is key to maximizing your ship's potential.
Conclusion
Understanding what equips to a small rig slot in Eve Online is essential for optimizing your ship's defensive capabilities. By carefully selecting and fitting the right rigs, you can improve your survivability in combat and increase your chances of coming out victorious. Whether you prefer armor, shield, or structure rigs, each type of rig offers unique benefits that can help you tailor your ship to suit your needs. Experiment with different combinations and strategies to find the perfect rig setup that works best for your playstyle.
Some common options for small rig slots in Eve Online include core defense field extenders, anti-kinetic screen reinforcers, and auxiliary nano pumps. These rigs can provide various benefits to your ship, such as increased structure hitpoints, improved defense against kinetic damage, and enhanced shield regeneration.
When choosing which rig to equip to your small rig slot, it's important to consider your ship's role and characteristics. For example, if you're flying a ship that is susceptible to kinetic damage, equipping an anti-kinetic screen reinforcer can help mitigate that weakness. On the other hand, if you want to boost your shield regeneration rate, an auxiliary nano pump would be a better choice.
Ultimately, the key is to assess your ship's vulnerabilities and strengths and choose rigs that complement its abilities. Experimenting with different rig combinations can help you find the optimal setup for your playstyle and strategy. By maximizing your ship's defensive capabilities, you can increase your chances of survival and success in combat situations.
Remember to regularly review and adjust your rig setup based on your evolving needs and the specific challenges you face in Eve Online. By staying adaptive and proactive in your rig selections, you can stay ahead of your opponents and dominate the battlefield.