As much as everyone loves EVE’s stories of subterfuge, galaxy-scale hypercapitalism, and deep lore, sometimes you want less cerebral thrills. Sometimes you just want to watch space explosions. To feed our collective id, you sent us videos of your best takedowns, fiercest dogfights, and Jason vs Goliath battles. We’ve got five of the very best below.

Consider this article and its bounty as precursors to a regular new mini-feature that we’ll trial in the coming weeks (thanks to an idea from FUN INC): kill of the week. If you’re headed into combat anytime soon, make sure you’re recording!

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A very proud Battle Heron daddy

Schadsquatch would have earned their place on this list for post-kill enthusiasm alone. They submitted multiple videos, including one in which they mercilessly chase down a poor Endurance. But we were always going to reward the video below, which shows a tight matchup between Schad’s beloved Battle Heron and a Sabre. At constant risk of being outmanoeuvred, they bait the Sabre and keep it at range for the win. Original post

Another one bites the dust

“Mamaaaa, just killed a man.” Something about Freddie Mercury’s dulcet vocals over James ’s Ragnarok takedown gives this video a sense of sweet sorrow. You can’t help but feel a little sorry for the titan as it's barraged by more damage and bubbles than a washing machine with a brick thrown inside. Original post

No reparations. No quarter.

“Inhibitor down.” @swagger0licar’s kill video is a feast of thumping techno and flashing neon. Noraus, the leader of Fraternity, had demanded reparations from B0SS Alliance, who were not in a submissive mood. After a Nern spots a Charon in the Vale of the Silent, B0SS Alliance jumps into action, using a CRAB beacon to escalate a hunt into a full-blown battle. The conclusion is coordinated, clinical, and unforgiving, and should keep B0SS’s inbox free from threats for a little while. Original post

Poetry in motion

Starring many Diamond Gurista Rats, the GTC Ratting Fleet, and some Cable members, Kane Carnifex’s NPC takedown is simple yet beautiful. It plays out like a ballet of David vs Goliath - or, at least, a whole bunch of Davids vs Goliath - plus an army of minions, and culminates in a particularly pretty explosion. Original post

Old but gold

“Oh no, look at us! We’re running!” Ghengis Khan was a fan of the false retreat, and it’s no less effective in the year 23361 than it was in 1201. A clean, calm, and composed ESS run, Melicien Tetro’s imperturbable ‘smollgang’ hunts their prey like a pride of lions on the scent of a gazelle. Original post