Know Your Wormhole Enemy: Hurricane Fleet Issue and Brutix Navy Issue

This post will cover two of the four of the (relatively) new Navy Battlecruisers. As they are variations of the Battlecruiser hulls that they are based on, I will be providing a relatively short summary for each with an example PvP fit alongside a comparison to it's non-Navy alternative.

Overview

The Navy Battlecruisers were introduced in the Odyssey expansion and are created using loyalty points with the various empire factions to obtain blueprints. The hulls that emerge on the open market end up costing between 70 and 150 million isk more than the base hulls; approximately 2.5 to 4 times the original. The advantages that they provide over the base hulls are not massive - in line with the general EVE balancing trend of exponential cost increase providing a linear power increase - but they have opened up a new avenue for lower skilled pilots with flush wallets to get an increase in effectiveness over the base hulls without any additional skill requirements.

Hurricane Fleet Issue

Immediately after a significant nerf to the base Hurricane hull, the Hurricane Fleet Issue was released with the following tongue-in-cheek description;

In YC 115, after much heated discussion, CONCORD issued a decree stating the Hurricane-Class Battlecruiser was far too effective to stay under its current technological label, and demanded the Minmatar Republic to either cease production or sort it as a more technologically advanced craft. The Tribal Council grudgingly complied by releasing a simplified version of the Hurricane, then quickly exploited a loophole in the legislation and began using the original overpowered hull as part of its active fleet force. And that is how, after a new paint coat and renaming fees that the Hurricane Fleet Issue came to be.

Hmmm. Yes. The end result is that most historical Hurricane fits will work pretty well on the new Hurricane Fleet Issue. The HFI has exactly the same hull bonuses, speed, lock range, and capacitor as the base hull. The advantages are slightly more sensor strength, higher values for raw hull, armour and structure hitpoints, and an additional high-slot - though no extra turret slots. This means that the extra high slot is almost inevitably used for a Medium Energy Neutralizer - like it typically was on the base hull before it was rebalanced.

Using the Armour PvP fit in the KYWE: Hurricane post as a base gives us;

[Hurricane Fleet Issue, WH PvP]
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Gyrostabilizer II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Gyrostabilizer II
Damage Control II

10MN Microwarpdrive II
ECCM - Ladar II
Stasis Webifier II
Warp Scrambler II

220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
Dual 180mm AutoCannon II, Republic Fleet EMP M
Medium Unstable Power Fluctuator I
Medium Unstable Power Fluctuator I

Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I

Of course, what is important is what this additional cost gives us over the base hull, and the answer in real terms is 'not an awful lot'. The two most significant changes are the 68k effective hit points tank of the original gets upped to a more formidable 94k, and two Medium Energy Neutralizers are now available for putting capacitor pressure on more cap-dependent ships. As there is no extra capacitor recharge on the Fleet Issue hull, sustained use of the two Medium Neuts will need a capacitor booster in the mids. The extra power grid that it provides allows upgrading either both of the 180mm autocannon on the original fit to 220mm, or just upgrading one of them and switching the 1600mm plate to a Tech II variant, which buys you more hitpoints. Given the tiny damage advantage that the 220mm autocannon provide, I'd almost always go for upgrading the plate.

The Hurricane Fleet Issue occupies exactly the same niche as it's older brother with a few small tweaks - tweaks that I have problems recommending given the massive price differential. Just buy and fit two vanilla Hurricanes for the price of the HFI hull.

Brutix Navy Issue

It's a goddamn monster. The base hull is pretty ferocious, but the Navy Issue swaps the often-unused local armour repairer bonus for a tracking bonus on Medium Hybrid Turrets, allowing the 10% damage bonus that it carriers over to apply much more effectively. As with the Hurricane, there are more raw shield, armour and hull hitpoints, and increased sensor strength. The extra slot however is a low slot instead of a high, allowing either more tank or even more damage output.

Using the armour PvP fit from KYWE: Brutix as a base and giggling as we add yet more damage gives us:

[Brutix Navy Issue, PvP WH]
1600mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I
Damage Control II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II

ECCM - Magnetometric II
Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Stasis Webifier II
Warp Scrambler II

Drone Link Augmentor I
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Neutron Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Neutron Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Neutron Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M

Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I

Hammerhead II x5

The price of Brutix Navy Issues have been varying quite wildly, but even at the upper end of the price bracket, I'm quite the fan. Sacrificing the plugging of the explosive damage hole and replacing it with a Magnetic Field Stabilizer, then using the extra low for another Magnetic Field Stabilizer, plus taking advantage of the increased fitting to upgrade the guns to an Ion/Neutron mix means that it's kicking out 878dps with Caldari Navy Antimatter. It's 'civilian' cousin can only manage 668dps, and that's with significantly worse tracking. If you want to look at shiney numbers, slap Void M into the blasters, overheat them, and watch the total hit 1082dps - though in practice you're unlikely to see this outside of hitting Battleships. The total EHP goes up by 12k, from 82k to 94k, equalling the Hurricane Fleet Issue fit described above. The ECCM stacked on top of the increased base sensor strength means it ends up with a formidable 51.7 points before overheating.

The Brutix Navy Issue occupies the same niche as the hull it is based on - but unlike the Hurricane Fleet Issue, the upgrade over it's older relative is significant and allows the weapons system the ship is designed around to absolutely shine.

Know Your Wormhole Enemy: Brutix

In the Know Your Wormhole Enemy series (name shamelessly stolen from the Eve Altruist series of posts and then mutilated) I'm going to look at a variety of different ships, how they are often fit and flown in wormhole space, and what they mean to you. This may include, but will not necessarily be limited to; example fits, engagement scenarios, how you should react to their presence on directional scan, at a POS or on grid, what good counters to them are, and how you can potentially use them.

This post will cover the Brutix.

Overview

The Brutix is a Gallante Battlecruiser that has bonuses to Medium Hybrid Turret damage and the amount replenished by Armour Repairers. The bonus to active armour tanking means that despite the disadvantages that armour tanked ships have in lower-class wormhole combat sites, the Brutix can manage them reasonably well. Although its tanking bonus only applies to active tanking, the Brutix is often used with a buffer tank for PvP. The majority of the Brutix's damage is applied at point blank range with Blasters, but it is capable of fielding a full flight of medium drones, which improves damage application a little and adds significantly to the headline DPS figures.

Shield tanked Brutixes are occasionally seen in wormhole space (as in known space) and although their tank is lackluster to say the most, the damage they can kick out ranges from "very very high" to "terrifying".

The Eve Altruist post covering the Brutix and the other Battlecruisers can be found here.

What is it used for in wormhole space?

The Brutix is a mainstay of PvP armour fleets in lower-class wormholes, used for brawling at point blank ranges. It doesn't have the staying power of a Tech III Strategic Cruiser, but can match the firepower of a Proteus and will cost around a fifth of the price. For newer pilots with lower skill point totals or limited wallets the Brutix is a fantastic stepping stone towards the Proteus. It handles in a similar fashion to its more capable brethren and allows a pilot to get used to the limitations of hybrid weaponry and managing their position in a fight without putting as much on the line.

Similar to the Harbinger and most of the other Battlecruisers, the Brutix is capable of running combat sites in class 1 and 2 wormholes and can run sites in class 3 wormholes alongside a fleet. The issues with active armour tanking for site running in wormhole space hold true for the Brutix as they did for the Harbinger. Also similar to the Harbinger, the Brutix can be used for harvesting gas sites after clearing them of Sleepers.

How is it typically fit?

There is no real 'standard' PvE fit for Brutixes; I have come across both Blaster and Railgun fit site runners. Both have significant downsides - an example Railgun fit is provided below:

[Brutix, PvE]
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Damage Control II
Medium Armor Repairer II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
Tracking Enhancer II

Experimental 10MN Afterburner I
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II
Stasis Webifier II

Coreli A-Type Small Remote Armor Repairer
250mm Railgun II, Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Antimatter Charge M
250mm Railgun II, Antimatter Charge M

Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I

Warrior II x5
Hornet EC-300 x5

The problem with site running Brutixes is that neither Railguns or Blasters are a very good match for the varied target profiles that Sleepers provide compared to the Pulse Lasers that Harbingers can field. Railguns have the range necessary to engage the sleepers without too much time spent burning around the site and alongside the warriors kick out around 500dps, but the tracking on them is sub-par and thus the sleeper frigates can be problematic to engage. To clear the frigates out in any reasonable time frame, drones are required - but sleeper AI has a tendency to prioritize drones, especially when only a single ship is running the site. That's why the fit packs a remote armour repairer - because otherwise you're going to be going through a lot of Warrior IIs. An additional problem with the Railgun fit Brutix is that if you are engaged while you are running a site, there is a very good chance you won't be able to land any fire on your attackers as long as they orbit you at reasonably close range. Just as well you have some EC-300s to try and land a jam...

Blaster fit Brutixes have a different problem; the tracking is good enough that the extra 50 or so dps that they buy you will actually be applied... but only when you're within range. and the effective range is about 2-8km. That means a lot of burning around, and that means getting a Micro Warp Drive fit and accepting the capacitor penalty associated with it. In contrast to the Railgun fit, an unwary attacker that drops on a Blaster-fit Brutix could end up with a fairly bloodied nose. One caveat is that if you decide to forgo the two sets of light drones and go for either medium ECM or damage drones, you will be vulnerable to being pinned down by Stealth Bombers at long point range. Even with the sets of light drones, it's advisable to pack some Null M to allow you to try and get some damage out to around 20km.

A typical Brutix set up for PvP will be buffer fit;

[Brutix, Armour Brawler]
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
1600mm Reinforced Steel Plates II
Damage Control II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Energized Explosive Membrane II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Warp Scrambler II
Stasis Webifier II
ECCM - Magnetometric II

Small Nosferatu II
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Ion Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Electron Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M
Heavy Electron Blaster II, Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge M

Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I
Medium Trimark Armor Pump I

Hammerhead II x5

The above fit needs a +1% power grid implant to fit; alternatively one of the Ion Blasters can be demoted to an Electron Blaster, or the Tech II 1600mm plating can be exchanged for a 1600mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates I. Including drones it kicks out a respectable 680dps with Caldari Navy Antimatter; if you care about the numbers rather than the actual applied damage you can sacrifice the tracking and put Void in for just under 730dps. The tank is a respectable 82k omni with a flat resist profile of 67-72%.

The ECCM in the midslot can be switched for alternative electronic warfare modules as desired, and the tackle can be changed up as the situation calls for. Dropping a Cap Booster into the midslots is also a completely reasonable option as it will lessen the vulnerability to capacitor warfare.

When flying it significant care needs to be taken to ensure that you are inside the narrow band of effective ranges for its blasters

How much of a threat is it?

Running a site: A Brutix running a site is not a massive threat; it should be easy to identify whether it is Blaster or Railgun fit and then the suitable range to engage it at can be selected. The tank is borderline for class 2 system combat sites and 400dps or so should be enough to push it over the edge. Expect ECM drones to be present.

As backup in a POS:

The Brutix is one of the more dangerous Battlecruisers as a second responder; it can be warped into the fight at a position to do the most damage and with enough forewarning can have ewar suited to the fight it is ploughing into. A bubble being present around the fight can draw it out of warp into a less favorable position and force it to take some time to manoeuvre so it can apply its damage.

On the field in a fight:
The damage that a Brutix kicks out is significant - particularly if it is a shield Brutix - but short ranged. Although the damage is high and there is the potential for electronic warfare to be fielded by them, the substantial tank on armour variants means that they will rarely be the primary target if there are other Battlecruisers on the field. If there are targets with a higher firepower to tank ratio than the Brutix, they will clearly be a better target and if the Brutix's firepower can be mitigated by a faster fleet keeping out of range they can be knocked further down the target priority list.

How do I counter it?

The Brutix has short range weapons, and so simply staying away from it as much as possible goes a long way to mitigating it's damage. If you have any long range webs on the field these can be used to hold a Brutix at arm's reach and prevent it from applying its formidable dps effectively. Blasters don't have the best tracking so if there are relatively few hostile webs on the field applying a Tracking Disruptor with a Tracking Script can mitigate some of the damage. Failing that Tracking Disruptors with Range Scripts can reduce the already poor damage projection of Blasters to 'terrible'.

Energy Neutralizers and ECM will have varying effectiveness according to what the Brutix has fit in its mid slots. Pay attention to the visual effects and any applied electronic warfare coming from the Brutix during the fight and apply your own ewar to taste.

Although the Brutix's total EHP is good and the resistance profile is flat the resistances aren't ridiculously high, so it won't hold up under logistics repairs as well as Tech II or Tech III hulls.

Final note: If you encounter any inaccuracies on this page, please contact me ingame with an EVEMail to "Fellblade" or on twitter @OV_Fellblade and I'll try and get them sorted.