Exploration fit guideSame analyzers, a hundred times the price

Five hulls, one job

Each of the four empires has a Tech I exploration frigate: the Heron, Magnate, Imicus and Probe. They share the same bonuses and the same 400 m³ cargo hold, and differ only in where their slots are. The Astero, built by the Sisters of EVE, has bigger bonuses and the one thing they can't fit: a cloak you can warp with.

Slots, cargo and bonuses come from ESI's ship data; prices are 30-day averages of what traded in Jita, to 3 October. A Tech I frigate gets +7.5% probe strength per level of its racial frigate skill: +30% at IV, the most an Alpha can train. The Astero's +37.5% is a role bonus, so you have all of it from the start. Virus strength is added to your analyzer's, which makes hacks easier.

The Heron is the one most people buy: 532 a day in Jita, more than twice the other three together. Its five mid slots leave two free after the analyzers and the microwarpdrive. The Magnate has the fewest mid slots, three, and the most low slots, four. The Imicus and Probe sit between them, with four mids and three lows.

What every fit carries

All five fits share one core. It follows EVE University's pages on each hull: a microwarpdrive and both analyzers in the mid slots, a scan module in any mid slot left, and low slots that help you leave fast.

CPU, power grid and effects come from ESI's module data. Prices are Jita 30-day averages to 3 October, for the number of items in the row. The Cold-Gas Enduring is also the cheapest of the usual 5MN microwarpdrives: the Restrained one averages 51k, the Tech I one 65k, the Compact one 326k and the Tech II one 2.7M.

Each analyzer starts with 40 virus coherence and 20 virus strength. The hull adds its bonus to the strength, and EVE University counts +10 coherence for each level of Archaeology or Hacking. That is enough to start with.

The microwarpdrive cuts your capacitor by 25% while it is fitted, and the Cold-Gas Enduring needs 30 GJ a cycle against 45 for the Tech I one. Run it to cross the site and turn it off at the container. The launcher holds 8 probes. EVE University advises carrying twice as many, so the launcher reloads the moment you launch the first set.

There is no tank and no weapon. An exploration frigate survives by leaving, and EVE University's advice for covert ops explorers is the same: rely on speed and stealth, with a Damage Control at most. The nanofibers serve that. One cuts your align time by 13% and adds 7.75% speed, for 15% less structure HP; each one after that adds a little less.

The four Tech I fits

Each fit card has a skills switch. Min is the fit an Alpha can fly. Max adds a Prototype Cloaking Device I in a free high slot, which needs Omega. With it you can hide while you scan, but you can't warp cloaked, and it cuts your speed by 90%.

Heron. The two spare mid slots take a Scan Rangefinding Array I and a Scan Acquisition Array I, the same scan modules as the Heron in the All-Out exploration guide. Two nanofibers fill the low slots.

Heron Exploration T1

Heron · Frigate

• Exploration
• Highsec

Min skillsMax skills

Copy fit

HIGH MID LOW RIG

High slots1/3

• Core Probe Launcher I
• Empty slot×2

Mid slots5/5

• 5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
• Relic Analyzer I
• Data Analyzer I
• Scan Rangefinding Array I
• Scan Acquisition Array I

Low slots2/2

• Nanofiber Internal Structure I×2

Rigs2/3

• Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I×2
• Empty slot

Cargo

• Core Scanner Probe I×16

Required skills17 skills · ~54 h (2.3 days) · 97k SP

Time is from zero at 1,800 SP an hour. In game, use "import from clipboard" in the Skill Queue window. Each line is one level, and prerequisites always come first.

Copy skills

• CPU Management
• Mechanics
• Navigation
• Power Grid Management
• Science
• Spaceship Command
• Afterburner
• Astrometric Rangefinding
• Astrometrics
• Caldari Frigate
• Electronics Upgrades
• Hull Upgrades
• Survey
• Archaeology
• Astrometric Acquisition
• Hacking
• High Speed Maneuvering

Skill queue text

CPU Management 1
CPU Management 2
Mechanics 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Spaceship Command 1
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
Astrometrics 2
Astrometrics 3
Caldari Frigate 1
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hull Upgrades 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
Astrometric Acquisition 1
Astrometric Acquisition 2
Hacking 1
High Speed Maneuvering 1

EFT text10 modules · 16 in cargo

In game, open the Fitting window, click Browse and choose Import from Clipboard.

Copy fit

[Heron, Heron Exploration T1]
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I

5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Relic Analyzer I
Data Analyzer I
Scan Rangefinding Array I
Scan Acquisition Array I

Core Probe Launcher I
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Empty Rig slot]


Core Scanner Probe I x16

Magnate. Its three mid slots hold only the microwarpdrive and the analyzers. EVE University's answer is the one this fit takes: let two Gravity Capacitor rigs and your skills do the scanning. Four nanofibers fill the lows. It has the most armor of the four, 350 HP, and with no scan module it has the cheapest fit.

Magnate Exploration T1

Magnate · Frigate

• Exploration
• Highsec

Min skillsMax skills

Copy fit

HIGH MID LOW RIG

High slots1/3

• Core Probe Launcher I
• Empty slot×2

Mid slots3/3

• 5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
• Relic Analyzer I
• Data Analyzer I

Low slots4/4

• Nanofiber Internal Structure I×4

Rigs2/3

• Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I×2
• Empty slot

Cargo

• Core Scanner Probe I×16

Required skills15 skills · ~31 h (1.3 days) · 56k SP

Time is from zero at 1,800 SP an hour. In game, use "import from clipboard" in the Skill Queue window. Each line is one level, and prerequisites always come first.

Copy skills

• CPU Management
• Mechanics
• Navigation
• Power Grid Management
• Science
• Spaceship Command
• Afterburner
• Amarr Frigate
• Astrometrics
• Electronics Upgrades
• Hull Upgrades
• Survey
• Archaeology
• Hacking
• High Speed Maneuvering

Skill queue text

CPU Management 1
CPU Management 2
Mechanics 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Spaceship Command 1
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
Amarr Frigate 1
Astrometrics 1
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hull Upgrades 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
Hacking 1
High Speed Maneuvering 1

EFT text10 modules · 16 in cargo

In game, open the Fitting window, click Browse and choose Import from Clipboard.

Copy fit

[Magnate, Magnate Exploration T1]
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I

5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Relic Analyzer I
Data Analyzer I

Core Probe Launcher I
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Empty Rig slot]


Core Scanner Probe I x16

Imicus and Probe. The fourth mid slot takes a Scan Rangefinding Array I, which EVE University suggests for both. Three nanofibers fill the lows. The Imicus has the least power grid, 21 MW, and this fit uses 19, so check it first if you swap a module.

Imicus Exploration T1

Imicus · Frigate

• Exploration
• Highsec

Min skillsMax skills

Copy fit

HIGH MID LOW RIG

High slots1/3

• Core Probe Launcher I
• Empty slot×2

Mid slots4/4

• 5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
• Relic Analyzer I
• Data Analyzer I
• Scan Rangefinding Array I

Low slots3/3

• Nanofiber Internal Structure I×3

Rigs2/3

• Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I×2
• Empty slot

Cargo

• Core Scanner Probe I×16

Required skills16 skills · ~37 h (1.6 days) · 67k SP

Time is from zero at 1,800 SP an hour. In game, use "import from clipboard" in the Skill Queue window. Each line is one level, and prerequisites always come first.

Copy skills

• CPU Management
• Mechanics
• Navigation
• Power Grid Management
• Science
• Spaceship Command
• Afterburner
• Astrometric Rangefinding
• Astrometrics
• Electronics Upgrades
• Gallente Frigate
• Hull Upgrades
• Survey
• Archaeology
• Hacking
• High Speed Maneuvering

Skill queue text

CPU Management 1
CPU Management 2
Mechanics 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Spaceship Command 1
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Gallente Frigate 1
Hull Upgrades 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
Hacking 1
High Speed Maneuvering 1

EFT text10 modules · 16 in cargo

In game, open the Fitting window, click Browse and choose Import from Clipboard.

Copy fit

[Imicus, Imicus Exploration T1]
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I

5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Relic Analyzer I
Data Analyzer I
Scan Rangefinding Array I

Core Probe Launcher I
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Empty Rig slot]


Core Scanner Probe I x16

Probe Exploration T1

Probe · Frigate

• Exploration
• Highsec

Min skillsMax skills

Copy fit

HIGH MID LOW RIG

High slots1/3

• Core Probe Launcher I
• Empty slot×2

Mid slots4/4

• 5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
• Relic Analyzer I
• Data Analyzer I
• Scan Rangefinding Array I

Low slots3/3

• Nanofiber Internal Structure I×3

Rigs2/3

• Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I×2
• Empty slot

Cargo

• Core Scanner Probe I×16

Required skills16 skills · ~37 h (1.6 days) · 67k SP

Time is from zero at 1,800 SP an hour. In game, use "import from clipboard" in the Skill Queue window. Each line is one level, and prerequisites always come first.

Copy skills

• CPU Management
• Mechanics
• Navigation
• Power Grid Management
• Science
• Spaceship Command
• Afterburner
• Astrometric Rangefinding
• Astrometrics
• Electronics Upgrades
• Hull Upgrades
• Minmatar Frigate
• Survey
• Archaeology
• Hacking
• High Speed Maneuvering

Skill queue text

CPU Management 1
CPU Management 2
Mechanics 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Spaceship Command 1
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hull Upgrades 1
Minmatar Frigate 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
Hacking 1
High Speed Maneuvering 1

EFT text10 modules · 16 in cargo

In game, open the Fitting window, click Browse and choose Import from Clipboard.

Copy fit

[Probe, Probe Exploration T1]
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I

5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Relic Analyzer I
Data Analyzer I
Scan Rangefinding Array I

Core Probe Launcher I
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
[Empty Rig slot]


Core Scanner Probe I x16

CPU and power grid show what each fit uses against what the hull has with no fitting skills. Every plan below includes at least CPU Management II and Power Grid Management II, which add 10% to both. The cloak adds 30 CPU and 1 MW, and every fit still has room. Costs add up the 30-day Jita average of every item, probes included.

The Astero

The Astero is the Sisters of EVE exploration frigate. It is the only ship here that can fit a Covert Ops Cloaking Device II, so you can warp while cloaked. A role bonus cuts that cloak's CPU from 100 to zero, which is what leaves room for everything else on a hull with 170 CPU. Its probe and virus bonuses come with the hull, whatever your skills.

It has less room than the Tech I frigates: two high slots, 170 CPU and 350 calibration. One Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I fits, next to a Small Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I for 20% faster warps at the cost of 10% more signature radius; EVE University's scanning fits pair the same two rigs. EVE University also starts a covert ops fit with Sisters Core Scanner Probes, which have 10% more strength than the Tech I ones.

Astero Exploration

Astero · Frigate

• Exploration
• Nullsec
• Wormholes

Copy fit

HIGH MID LOW RIG

High slots2/2

• Core Probe Launcher I
• Covert Ops Cloaking Device II

Mid slots4/4

• 5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
• Relic Analyzer I
• Data Analyzer I
• Scan Rangefinding Array I

Low slots4/4

• Nanofiber Internal Structure I×4

Rigs2/3

• Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
• Small Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I
• Empty slot

Cargo

• Sisters Core Scanner Probe×16

Required skills18 skills · ~230 h (9.6 days) · 414k SP

Time is from zero at 1,800 SP an hour. In game, use "import from clipboard" in the Skill Queue window. Each line is one level, and prerequisites always come first.

Copy skills

• CPU Management
• Mechanics
• Navigation
• Power Grid Management
• Science
• Spaceship Command
• Afterburner
• Amarr Frigate
• Astrometric Rangefinding
• Astrometrics
• Cloaking
• Electronics Upgrades
• Gallente Frigate
• Hull Upgrades
• Survey
• Archaeology
• Hacking
• High Speed Maneuvering

Skill queue text

CPU Management 1
CPU Management 2
CPU Management 3
CPU Management 4
Mechanics 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Spaceship Command 1
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
Amarr Frigate 1
Amarr Frigate 2
Amarr Frigate 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
Cloaking 1
Cloaking 2
Cloaking 3
Cloaking 4
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Gallente Frigate 1
Gallente Frigate 2
Gallente Frigate 3
Hull Upgrades 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
Hacking 1
High Speed Maneuvering 1

EFT text12 modules · 16 in cargo

In game, open the Fitting window, click Browse and choose Import from Clipboard.

Copy fit

[Astero, Astero Exploration]
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I
Nanofiber Internal Structure I

5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive
Relic Analyzer I
Data Analyzer I
Scan Rangefinding Array I

Core Probe Launcher I
Covert Ops Cloaking Device II

Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I
Small Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I
[Empty Rig slot]


Sisters Core Scanner Probe x16

The fitted Astero comes to 101.1M ISK: the hull 88.8M, the cloak 5.03M and 16 Sisters probes 6.78M. Jita sold 1,839 Covert Ops Cloaking Device II a day, more than either Tech I analyzer. The Astero also has 1,740 HP and a 75 m³ drone bay, but this fit carries no drones.

The cheaper way to a cloak you can warp with is a Covert Ops frigate, 16.5M to 18.7M in Jita. It needs your racial frigate skill at V and Covert Ops I. Plan 2 in our exploration guide gets you there in about 740 hours on top of the basics; the Astero plan below takes 230 in all. That is what the extra 70M buys: more than 500 hours of training you can do later.

Which one to buy

Start with a Tech I frigate. At about 1M fitted, losing one while you learn costs little.

Pick one hull and train its racial frigate skill, because the probe bonus grows with it. Caldari Frigate IV, for example, takes about 50 hours of Omega training from zero.

• Heron if you can't decide: the cheapest hull at 449k, the most sold, and two spare mid slots for scan modules. EVE University calls it arguably the strongest of the four.
• Magnate for the cheapest fit, 0.88M, and the most armor.
• Imicus or Probe if you already train Gallente or Minmatar Frigate: one spare mid slot, and fits at 0.95M and 0.99M.

Move to the Astero when you take exploration into lowsec, nullsec or wormholes, where warping cloaked keeps you hidden between sites. In nullsec a Sansha relic site averages 30.2M by our exploration guide's figures, so the fitted Astero costs three to four such sites.

Exordium: practice sites, dearer modules

If you are still in Exordium, the starter region, its exploration sites are not the ones our exploration guide priced. CCP's Cradle of War notes say they have their own loot tables, with lower-value loot and items meant for new players. Use them to learn the probes and the minigame.

Buy the fit outside if you can. The Magnate, Imicus and Probe hulls cost less in Exordium than in Jita, but some modules cost up to three and a half times as much, so every full fit costs more:

30-day averages of what traded in the Exordium region and in The Forge, to 3 October. In Exordium the Relic Analyzer I averaged 84k against 42k in Jita, the Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade I 114k against 44k, and the nanofiber 11.6k against 3.3k. The Heron hull was dearer there too: 599k against 449k.

Skill plans

One plan per fit, each with all its prerequisites. Copy one, then in game use "import from clipboard" in the Skill Queue window. Each line is one level, and prerequisites always come first. These plans train each skill only as far as the fit needs; plan 1 in our exploration guide takes Astrometrics, Hacking and Archaeology to III, the most an Alpha can train.

Spaceship Command 1
Caldari Frigate 1
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
Astrometrics 2
Astrometrics 3
Astrometric Acquisition 1
Astrometric Acquisition 2
CPU Management 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
CPU Management 2
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hacking 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
High Speed Maneuvering 1
Mechanics 1
Hull Upgrades 1

Spaceship Command 1
Amarr Frigate 1
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Astrometrics 1
CPU Management 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
CPU Management 2
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hacking 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
High Speed Maneuvering 1
Mechanics 1
Hull Upgrades 1

Spaceship Command 1
Gallente Frigate 1
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
CPU Management 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
CPU Management 2
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hacking 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
High Speed Maneuvering 1
Mechanics 1
Hull Upgrades 1

Spaceship Command 1
Minmatar Frigate 1
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
Astrometrics 1
CPU Management 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
CPU Management 2
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hacking 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
High Speed Maneuvering 1
Mechanics 1
Hull Upgrades 1

CPU Management 3
CPU Management 4
Cloaking 1

Spaceship Command 1
Amarr Frigate 1
Amarr Frigate 2
Amarr Frigate 3
Gallente Frigate 1
Gallente Frigate 2
Gallente Frigate 3
Science 1
Science 2
Science 3
Astrometric Rangefinding 1
Astrometric Rangefinding 2
CPU Management 1
CPU Management 2
CPU Management 3
CPU Management 4
Cloaking 1
Cloaking 2
Cloaking 3
Cloaking 4
Astrometrics 1
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Archaeology 1
Power Grid Management 1
Power Grid Management 2
Electronics Upgrades 1
Electronics Upgrades 2
Electronics Upgrades 3
Hacking 1
Navigation 1
Navigation 2
Navigation 3
Afterburner 1
Afterburner 2
Afterburner 3
High Speed Maneuvering 1
Mechanics 1
Hull Upgrades 1

Times assume a fresh character with no implants and 20/20 attributes: 1,800 SP an hour on Omega, half that on Alpha. They count from zero. By EVE University's list of starting skills, last updated in December 2023, a new character already has Astrometrics III, Hacking I, Archaeology I and its own race's frigate skill, so it needs far less. Plan 5 adds the cloak of the Max fits to any of the four. The Astero plan needs Omega only for Cloaking.

Can an Alpha fly these fits?

The four Tech I fits, yes, as they are. The cloak in the Max fits and the Astero's Covert Ops cloak need Cloaking, which only Omega can train. An Alpha can fly the Astero hull, but EVE University advises not to undock one until you can fit its cloak.

Do I need a cargo scanner?

No, but it can save time: it shows what a container holds before you hack it, so you can skip the poor ones. A Cargo Scanner I needs 4 CPU and 1 MW, so it fits in place of the Scan Rangefinding Array I on the Imicus or Probe, or the Scan Acquisition Array I on the Heron.

Why carry 16 probes if the launcher fires 8?

So the launcher reloads at once. EVE University advises loading 8 and carrying 8 more: when you launch the first set, the next one loads while you place them. 16 Core Scanner Probe I cost about 135k.

Should I buy Relic and Data Analyzer II?

Not at first. They raise coherence from 40 to 60 and strength from 20 to 30, but need Archaeology V or Hacking V, which an Alpha can't train, and cost 0.92M and 0.84M in Jita, each about as much as a whole Tech I fit.

Can a Tech I exploration frigate fit a Covert Ops cloak?

No. ESI's data for the Covert Ops Cloaking Device II lists the ships that can fit it; the Astero is on that list and the four Tech I frigates aren't. They can fit the Prototype Cloaking Device I of the Max fits, but can't warp with it on.

🤖 This content was produced using the Claude (Anthropic) AI assistant.