Day One Plexing Ships

Overview

We already covered the theoretical side of plexing - you warp in, take the gate, clear the NPC defender if necessary, and wait for the timer to tick down. While the task seems simple, many newcomers wonder what are the best ships for the job. Today, we'll discuss what makes for a good plexing ship and go through some sample fits that work even for people just starting out. With current prices, all ships are well under 10 mil ISK and operational from day one if you use the bonus 1 mil SP you get from registering via the refferal link.

We'll be skipping defensive plexing - while not recommended, technically it can be done in an unfitted ship, so theorycrafting here is limited. Just bring something that can stay in space for a given amount of time, preferably with modules improving your agility so that you can escape if things get too hot to handle.

For offensive plexing, all you should care about is damage per second (DPS). Plex rats work as "DPS checks" - they don't have much raw HP but can repair rather quickly. As such, you should do your best to maximize the damage output of your ship. That's why all the sample fits have faction ammo - while it may seem like a bad investment (in the case of the Thrasher, ammo makes up about 30% of the total price!), it makes a significant difference. The faster you clear the rats, the shorter you are exposed to hostile players, and the more plexes you can clear in given time. Additionally, one completed small plex in an offensive frontline system should net you enough LP to grab spare fits, so the investment should quickly pay for itself. If there's one if there's one thing you remember from this article, it's this - don't skimp on ammo!

Gallente - Algos

The Algos is a powerhouse among T1 destroyers, offering the best damage output in its class while scaling incredibly well with Skill Points. Keep in mind that it needs both hybrid turret and drone skills to maximize its potential, so it takes some training to master it

Fitting - click to expand

[Algos, Gallente plex]

Damage Control I

Vortex Compact Magnetic Field Stabilizer

AE-K Compact Drone Damage Amplifier

5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive

Fleeting Compact Stasis Webifier

Initiated Compact Warp Scrambler

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Small Gremlin Compact Energy Neutralizer

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Small Hybrid Burst Aerator I

Small Transverse Bulkhead I

Small Transverse Bulkhead I

Acolyte I x5

Hobgoblin I x3

Hammerhead I x2

Caldari Navy Antimatter Charge S x2000

Nanite Repair Paste x16

Minmatar - Thrasher

The Thrasher offers a respectable range and great speed, making it easier to reach your optimal range. Compared to the Talwar, it has superior damage output, and sets you up for the future skills-wise, as there are more Minmatar ships using projectiles than those using missiles.

Fitting - click to expand

[Thrasher, Minmatar plex]

Counterbalanced Compact Gyrostabilizer

Counterbalanced Compact Gyrostabilizer

5MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive

Medium Shield Extender I

Faint Epsilon Scoped Warp Scrambler

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

200mm Light Gallium Machine Gun

[Empty High slot]

Small Core Defense Field Extender I

Small Core Defense Field Extender I

Small Projectile Burst Aerator I

Nanite Repair Paste x16

Republic Fleet Phased Plasma S x2000

Caldari - Cormorant

Similarly to the Minmatar, the Caldari turret option trumps the missiles when it comes to DPS. The Cormorant is a common sight among the FW systems, as it makes an excellent sniping platform, so getting familiar with it early on may come in handy later on in your career.

Fitting - click to expand

[Cormorant, Cladari plex]

Vortex Compact Magnetic Field Stabilizer

Vortex Compact Magnetic Field Stabilizer

5MN Y-T8 Compact Microwarpdrive

Initiated Compact Warp Scrambler

Medium Shield Extender I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

Modal Light Ion Particle Accelerator I

[Empty High slot]

Small Ancillary Current Router I

Small EM Shield Reinforcer I

Small Hybrid Burst Aerator I

Federation Navy Antimatter Charge S x2000

Nanite Repair Paste x16

Amarr - Coercer

You probably won't be surprised to learn that the Coercer is fit with close-range turrets and damage mods. It operates similarly to Thrasher and Cormorant, getting in close with short-range ammo and quickly destroying its target. While Amarr also offers a drone-based destroyer with the Dragoon, it has less turret slots than the Algos. Paired with a smaller drone bandwidth, it makes it harder to reach desirable damage levels.

Fitting - click to expand

[Coercer, Amarr plex]

Damage Control I

Extruded Compact Heat Sink

Small Ancillary Armor Repairer

5MN Cold-Gas Enduring Microwarpdrive

J5b Enduring Warp Scrambler

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Focused Anode Pulse Particle Stream I

Small Transverse Bulkhead I

Small Transverse Bulkhead I

Small Energy Collision Accelerator I

Imperial Navy Multifrequency S x8

Multifrequency S x8

Nanite Repair Paste x16

Thanks to Galmil Discord community for proof-reading and providing some of the fits