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--- guides:upgrade [17/12/2023 22:33] – added ship upgrade path diagram and W Badge info, plus other edits for clarity Cassandra Bisi
+++ guides:upgrade [21/10/2025 05:36] (current) – [What Ships to Fly] Cassandra Bisi
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-===== Recommended Upgrade Path =====
+===== What Ships to Fly =====
+The main ships we encourage pilots to fly in Headquarters fleets are armor-tanked marauders, namely the Paladin and the Kronos. However, we don't expect new pilots to be able to fly these advanced battleships immediately. We have a new-pilot accessible skill and upgrade plan that starts in battleships that have much lower skill requirements. (Note that the Praxis, which we use extensively in our VG fleets, is not allowed in our HQ fleets.) Instead we detail here the ships allowed for starting out, and how our upgrade requirements work. You have a certain amount of time to upgrade, with the goal of eventually flying in our doctrine marauder fits.
-This follows in further detail from the [[:policy:upgrade-and-alts|Upgrade Policy]], as a more detailed guide for starters on the recommended path of upgrading.
-Skill plans can be found here.  [[https://contingencyinc.com/skills/plans|Skill Plans]]
 ==== Entry Requirements ====
-To fly with Contingency Incursions your character must have:
+To fly HQs with Eve Rookies:
-  - Armor compensation skills((EM/Thermal/Kinetic/Explosive)) trained to level 2 (for starter fits) or level 4 (for all other fits)
+  - You must have some prior Incursion experience. That might be flying Vanguards with Eve Rookies, or flying HQs with other groups.
-  - The skills required to fly and online all of the modules on your ship.
+  - You must have a ship fitted according to our doctrine ([[https://hq.everookies.com/fits|allowed ship fits]]), with no downgrade of the tank allowed. Non-tank modules may be downgraded with FC approval.
+  - All necessary skills to sit in the hull and online all of the modules on your ship.
+  - All Armor Compensation skills((EM/Thermal/Kinetic/Explosive)) at level 2 (for starter fits) or level 4 (for all other fits).
-You **cannot** downgrade your tank modules((Low slot tank modules and Rigs)) or remote armour repair modules. All other modules including utility slots, prop mod (except for the Oneiros), weapons, and drones can be downgraded to their meta 4 equivalent.
+==== Ship Paths ====
+Choose one of the main progression paths:
-Unless you already have a well-established character, we recommend you create a dedicated incursion alt. This will allow you to get the most out of your skill injectors and to get a temporary SP/hr boost with Cerebral Accelerators. If you plan to create a dedicated incursion alt you may want to consider creating a new account so you can get 1m free SP with Recruit a Friend.
+   * **[[guides:upgrade?do=#the-sniper-path-to-paladin|Sniper:]]** Apocalypse Navy Issue or Nightmare -> Paladin -> Elite Paladin -> Bastion Badge Paladin
+   * **[[guides:upgrade?do=#the-dps-path-to-kronos|DPS:]]** Megathron -> Vindicator -> Kronos -> Elite Kronos -> Bastion Badge Kronos
+   * **[[guides:upgrade?do=#the-web-specialist-path|Web Specialist:]]** Megathron -> Vindicator -> Web Aspirant Vindicator -> Web Badge Vindicator
-==== Ship Progression ====
+The path you choose will determine your playstyle in HQ fleets. If you want to shoot stuff at shorter range with the highest DPS ship in the fleet, take the **DPS path** to work toward flying a Kronos. If you enjoy the sniper lifestyle, slightly easier to multibox, you should consider the **Sniper path** that leads to the Paladin. If you are a dedicated single-boxer and prefer a more active playstyle, you might enjoy webbing and blapping frigates in a Web Specialist **Vindicator**.
-Choose one of the main progression paths:
-   * Apocalypse Navy Issue -> Nightmare -> Paladin -> Elite Paladin -> Bastion Badge Paladin
+Logistics (healer) ships are a separate path. We always have room for the 3 flavors of "shooty" ships listed above, but logi tends to have very limited slots. Even if you ultimately want to fly logi, we strongly recommend you start with a shooty ship. Logi pilots are expected to behave more like mini-FCs, keeping a close eye on the fleet and being ready to help if there's an emergency. Flying shooties first gives you valuable site knowledge that ultimately makes flying logi easier. For more about flying logistics, read the [[:guides:logi|Logi Guide.]]
-   * Megathron -> Vindicator -> Kronos -> Elite Kronos -> Bastion Badge Kronos
-   * Megathron -> Vindicator -> Web Aspirant Vindicator -> Web Badge Vindicator
-==== Pirate Starter ====
+===== The Sniper Path to Paladin =====
-Your starter ship (Apoc Navy or Mega) will get you into fleets; however, it isn't a very good ship so you will need to quickly upgrade to a pirate battleship (Nightmare or Vindi).
-Start by training your secondary battleship skill. If you fly the Megathron you will need to train Minmatar Battleship to level three; Navy Apocalypse pilots should train Caldari Battleship I ((The Caldari battleship bonus is not relevant to the Nightmare. It is just needed to sit in the hull)).
+=== Starter Ship ===
-Alpha clones cannot use Micro Jump Drives and they train skill points at half the rate of Omega pilots. For this reason, you should buy 500 PLEX and use it to go omega as soon as possible. You can buy PLEX from the regional market (Alt+R), or the Sales channel on our Discord.
+Changes made to the Apocalypse Navy Issue have made it at least as good as the Nightmare, so the two are now considered equivalent as starter sniper ships in HQs. You may fly either until you upgrade to the Paladin, as shown in our [[:policy:upgrade-and-alts|Upgrade Hours Guide]].
-<WRAP important>
+Choosing your starter ship: Apocalypse Navy Issue vs Nightmare. The Apoc Navy Issue is less expensive, easier to get into, better on capacitor, has slightly better tank, and does higher damage. However, it lacks any utility high slots, making it harder to perform the [[:guides:mtac|MTAC duties]] that all sniper pilots should be ready to perform. You will need to remove one gun to fit the necessary tractor beam in order to MTAC. The Nightmare on the other hand has several utility high slots, allowing it to easily fit a tractor beam as well as remote repair and remote capacitor modules. The skills needed to sit in the hulls are different. The choice is up to you.
-NEVER BUY ITEMS FROM CITADELS.\\ There is a scam where you can buy an item in a citadel which is then blown up almost immediately. When this happens you do not get your items and you lose your ISK.
-</WRAP>
-The next step is to replace your Megathron with a Vindicator OR your Navy Apocalypse with a Nightmare. You will be able to sell your first battleship and some of the modules to help fund your starter pirate battleship. We recommend buying your fit and items from Jita.
+=== Paladin and T2 guns ===
-==== Basic Marauder or T2 Guns ====
-For your next upgrade, you have two options: T2 guns OR getting into a basic marauder (Paladin or Kronos).
-We prefer you go for the basic marauder first, however, the skill point requirement for the marauder is higher so you should go for the option that suits you best. Whichever option you choose, your next step will be a marauder with T2 guns.
+Your next upgrade is to get into the Paladin and get the T2 guns. "Marauder first" is our usual recommendation, but T2 guns before getting into the marauder is also acceptable. Make sure to upgrade your skills to match your ship, prioritizing tank and dps skills, then support skills. Save drone skills for last: we don't use drones extensively.
-<WRAP group>
+=== Elite Paladin ===
-<WRAP half column>
-**Option One: Train a Marauder** \\
-You will need to train armor compensation skills to level 4 and:
-  * Racial Battleship 5
-  * Advanced Weapon Upgrades 5
-  * Energy Grid Upgrades 5
-</WRAP>
-<WRAP half column>
+After you're in the Paladin with T2 guns, the final hard requirement is the Elite [[:guides:badges|badge.]] This involves skilling into the elite [[https://hq.everookies.com/skills?hull=Paladin&mastery=Elite|skills]], upgrading your pod with all the required [[:guides:implants|implants]] (slots 1-10), and fitting your ship to the [[https://hq.everookies.com/fits?Tier=Elite|Elite Paladin fit.]] The waitlist should automatically display the badge when you meet the criteria.
-**Option Two: Train T2 Guns** \\
-Blasters:
-  * Large Hybrid Weapons 5
-  * Large Blaster Specialization 1
-  * Motion Prediction 5 \\
-Lasers:
+=== Additional Badges ===
-  * Large Energy Turret 5
-  * Large Pulse Specialization 1
-  * Motion Prediction 5
-</WRAP>
-</WRAP>
-Remember you can sell your pirate battleship and the modules that cannot transfer to your marauder to help subsidize your upgrade.
+The **Bastion Badge** is achieved by reaching a DPS threshold (requirements listed [[:guides:badges|here]]) through the use of [[guides:optimizingabyssals|Abyssal Heat Sinks]] and allows for a higher amount of SRP coverage. We strongly encourage anyone serious about flying HQs to get the Bastion Badge. You apply by providing screenshots of the abyssal modules and a verifying screenshot of your ship's dps (in bastion, no redbar, using no dps drugs and no drones). Upload the images to the form at [[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4u0U8AWJaCBx3-g8M_u3R4L_BGBAI4DdyAwyL9BxilKBFTw/viewform|Abyssal form]].
+The **Elite Gold** badge is a vanity badge attained by training all the Elite skills to V for your ship. It is automatically assigned by the waitlist.
-==== Elite ====
-The final requirement you have to meet is to be "Elite". Being elite means you have a fully elite fit, with the appropriate implant clone (slot 1-10) and you have [[http://contingencyinc.com/skills|elite skills]]. When everything is squared away you should see the elite badge on your fits on the waitlist. Once you see that you can ask an FC to give you the elite badge on teamspeak as well.
-=== Skills ===
+===== The DPS Path to Kronos =====
+=== Starter Ship ===
+Your starter ship, the Megathron, will get you into fleets; however, it isn't a very good ship so you will need to quickly upgrade to a Vindicator. The hours of HQ fleet time allowed before you need to get out of the Megathron is shown in our [[:policy:upgrade-and-alts|Upgrade Hours Guide]].
+=== Upgrade to Vindi ===
+Get into the Vindicator hull by training Minmatar Battleship, as shown on the [[https://hq.everookies.com/skills?hull=Vindicator|skills page.]] You may remain in the Vindi until you hit the guns/marauder upgrade time limit. While flying the Vindi, consider if you want to focus more on high-DPS shooting, as you'll do in the Kronos, or if you enjoy chasing down and webbing frigates and cruisers, in which case you may want to remain in the Vindi. (See next section on the Web Specialist Vindi.)
+=== Kronos and T2 guns ===
+If you're staying on the DPS path, your next upgrade is to get into the Kronos and get the T2 guns. "Marauder first" is our usual recommendation, but T2 guns before getting into the marauder is also acceptable. Make sure to upgrade your skills to match your ship, prioritizing tank and dps skills, then support skills. Save drone skills for last: we don't use drones extensively.
+=== Elite Kronos ===
+After you're in the Kronos with T2 guns, the final hard requirement is the Elite [[:guides:badges|badge.]] This involves skilling into the elite [[https://hq.everookies.com/skills?hull=Kronos&mastery=Elite|skills]], upgrading your pod with the correct [[:guides:implants|implants]] (slots 1-10), and fitting your ship to the [[https://hq.everookies.com/fits?Tier=Elite|Elite Kronos fit.]] The waitlist should automatically display the badge when you meet the criteria. At this point, you'll be doing the kind of DPS needed to fill the [[:guides:lr|Lightning Rod]] role in TCRCs. All sufficiently skilled Kronos pilots should be ready to fill this important and prestigious role.
+=== Additional Badges ===
+The **Bastion Badge** is achieved by reaching a DPS threshold (requirements listed [[:guides:badges|here]]) through the use of [[guides:optimizingabyssals|Abyssal Magnetic Field Stabilizers]] and allows for a higher amount of SRP coverage (as well as better Lightning Rod performance). We strongly encourage anyone serious about flying HQs to get the Bastion Badge. You apply by providing screenshots of the abyssal modules and a verifying screenshot of your ship's dps (in bastion, no redbar, using no dps drugs and no drones). Upload the images to the form at [[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4u0U8AWJaCBx3-g8M_u3R4L_BGBAI4DdyAwyL9BxilKBFTw/viewform|Abyssal form]].
+The **Elite Gold** badge is a vanity badge attained by training all the Elite skills to V for your ship. It is automatically assigned by the waitlist.
+===== The Web Specialist Path =====
+For those who would prefer to remain in the Vindicator and specialize in the frigate-webbing role, we offer a Web [[:guides:badges|Badge]] option. Fleets need far more marauders than Vindicators, but every fleet needs at least one good Vindi, preferably with the Web badge. The HQ fleet hour requirements to meet the Web Specialist milestones are listed in the [[:policy:upgrade-and-alts|Upgrade Hours Guide]] and parallel the "equivalent" marauder milestones.
+The first milestone for a dedicated Vindi pilot is the Web Aspirant [[:guides:badges|Badge]], which requires having Abyssal Stasis Webifier modules that meet the badge minimum requirements, along with at least [[https://hq.everookies.com/skills?hull=Vindicator|Basic level Vindi skills]] and an [[https://hq.everookies.com/fits?Tier=Advanced|Advanced]] fit, which includes T2 guns. You apply for Web Aspirant by providing screenshots of your abyssal web modules. Upload the images to the form at [[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4u0U8AWJaCBx3-g8M_u3R4L_BGBAI4DdyAwyL9BxilKBFTw/viewform|Abyssal form]].
+The final requirement is the Web Specialist [[:guides:badges|Badge]], which requires having Abyssal Magnetic Field Stabilizers to meet the dps requirement, along with [[https://hq.everookies.com/skills?hull=Vindicator&mastery=Elite|Elite Vindi skills]], an [[https://hq.everookies.com/skills?hull=Vindicator&mastery=Elite|Elite Vindi fit]], and of course the Abyssal webs from before. This badge is considered equivalent to the Bastion Badge for marauders and gives access to the same higher SRP coverage. You apply by providing screenshots of the abyssal modules and a verifying screenshot of your ship's dps (no redbar, using no dps drugs and no drones). Upload the images to the form at [[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4u0U8AWJaCBx3-g8M_u3R4L_BGBAI4DdyAwyL9BxilKBFTw/viewform|Abyssal form]].
+===== Tips for Getting Started =====
+==== Dedicated Incursion Alt ====
+Unless you already have a well-established character, we recommend you create a dedicated incursion alt. This will allow you to get the most out of skill injectors, and avoid pitfalls like wardecs and kill rights that can prevent you from flying Incursions. You may even want to consider creating a new account so you can get 1m free SP with Recruit a Friend.
+Alpha clones cannot use Micro Jump Drives and they train skills at half the rate of Omega pilots. We encourage our Alpha pilots to use the proceeds of their first Incursion fleets to purchase Plex and go Omega as soon as possible.
+==== Buying and Selling Your Incursion Ships ====
+For purchasing your ship and fit, we recommend buying from Jita. Make sure you use an insta-undock bookmark whenever moving expensive modules out of Jita. Another option is to use courier services if you are nervous about moving expensive stuff yourself (keep hulls unassembled if you're having them couriered). For a full discussion about moving incursion ships safely, see our [[:guides:travelling-between-focuses|Moving Guide.]]
+When you're ready to move to an upgraded ship, you'll probably want to sell your starter ship to recoup some of your investment. You can try to sell your fitted ship in our Discord buy/sell channel. It will sell easier if it's fitted exactly to our doctrine. If that doesn't work, you may need to strip the fit and repackage the hull to sell it on the Jita market.
+If you don't want to buy a starter ship, you can consider renting from [[:guides:rnri-rental|Rent N Relax Incursions.]] You will have to pay the full purchase price up front, but you get most of it back (less the rental fee) when you return the ship at the end of the focus, and you don't have to move between focuses if you don't want to.
+==== Skills ====
 Start by training the skills that will complete early. Once you've trained these skills, train your gun skills to elite followed by tank, support skills and finally drone skills.
-=== Fits & Implants ===
+==== Fits & Implants Must Match ====
-We have three types of fits: **Amulet** ("Hybrid") fits which require Amulet implants (slot 1-5 + WS-618), **Ascendancy** fits which require Ascendancy implants (slot 1-5 + WS-618), and other specialized fits. Amulet fits warp slightly slower but have slightly better tank than their non-hybrid counterparts. There is a slight preference for Ascendancy implants but either Ascendancy or Amulet is fine for most pilots.
+We have two types of fits: **Ascendancy** fits which require Ascendancy implants (slot 1-5 + WS-618), and
+**Amulet** ("Hybrid") fits which require Amulet implants (slot 1-5 + WS-618). Ascendancy is currently preferred. Amulet fits are allowed for older players who already have the Amulet pod and don't want to redo their implants.
+Amulet fits warp slightly slower but have slightly better tank.
+The fit must match the implants. If you have Ascendancy implants, use the regular [[https://hq.everookies.com/fits|fits]] listed. For Amulet/Hybrid pods use the fits from the [[https://hq.everookies.com/fits?Tier=Amulet|Amulet fits]] tab.
-You will need to use the elite fit that matches your implant set. Elite fits require Ascendancies unless they are labeled "Amulet".
+Finally, remember when upgrading your tank that you should always switch all tank modules at once. Otherwise, you may accidentally lower your ship's tank and be unable to join fleets. Non-tank modules may be upgraded one at a time.
-Finally, remember when upgrading your tank that you should always switch all tank modules at once. Otherwise, you may accidentally lower your ship's tank and be unable to join fleets. You can upgrade all non-tank modules one at a time.
-==== Bastion Badge ====
-This is an optional but highly recommended step in the upgrade path. You get this badge for reaching a damage threshold using abyssal mods and higher skills.  This [[:guides:badges|Badge]] will increase the amount covered by SRP on your ship.
-The best way to increase dps with abyssals is using focused modules vs ones based on percent. More info can be found at [[guides:optimizingabyssals|How to Optimize Abyssals]].
-==== Web Badge ====
-For those who would prefer to remain in the Vindicator and specialize in it, we offer a Web [[:guides:badges|Badge]] option. Similar to the Bastion Badge, the W badge gives higher SRP coverage and is considered an equivalent accomplishment. Fleets need far more marauders than Vindicators, but a few good Vindis are very essential.