*Fitting Your First Ship: A Beginner's Guide for EVE Online*
Welcome to EVE Online, Capsuleer! Fitting your first ship can seem overwhelming, but don’t worry—I’m here to help break it down step-by-step. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid foundation for creating ship fits that match your playstyle and goals. Let’s dive in!
### 1. *Understand Your Ship’s Role*
Every ship in EVE has a specific role it performs best in. Some are meant to deal damage, others to tackle enemies (prevent them from warping), or support allies. Read the ship’s description and bonuses to get an idea of what it’s designed for. For example:
- *Frigates*: Small, fast ships ideal for scouting, tackling, and early PvE content.
- *Destroyers*: Good at clearing multiple smaller targets quickly.
- *Cruisers*: More durable than frigates, these can handle tougher missions.
### 2. *Learn the Basics of Ship Fitting*
A ship’s fitting consists of several main parts:
- *High Slots*: Typically used for weapons, mining lasers, or specialized equipment.
- *Medium Slots*: Often fitted with modules like shields, electronic warfare, propulsion, and tackle modules (warp disruptors/scramblers).
- *Low Slots*: Usually used for armor, damage enhancements, or power management.
You’ll also need to watch out for *CPU and Powergrid*—each module you fit requires a certain amount of these resources. Overfitting will prevent you from using everything effectively.
### 3. *Step-by-Step Guide to Fitting*
Here’s a simple walkthrough to fit a basic ship, using the *Cormorant*, a Caldari destroyer, as an example for a new player:
*High Slots:*
- 7 x 125mm Railgun I (Main weapons, use Antimatter Charge S for close range, Iron Charge S for long range)
*Medium Slots:*
- 1 x 1MN Afterburner I (Increases your speed to control distance)
- 1 x Small Shield Booster I (Repairs your shield in combat)
- 1 x Shield Extender I (Boosts your overall shield amount)
*Low Slots:*
- 1 x Magnetic Field Stabilizer I (Increases your weapon’s damage output)
*Rig Slots:*
- Small Capacitor Control Circuit I
- Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
This fit is good for low-level missions or even ratting in High Sec. The core idea is to stay mobile, use your railguns from range, and repair your shields if you start taking hits.
### 4. *Keep It Cheap*
For your first ships, stick to *Tech 1 (T1) modules*. They’re inexpensive and easy to replace if things go wrong. As you become more experienced, you can start swapping to Tech 2 or faction gear.
### 5. *Optimize for What You Want to Do*
Here are some example ship fitting goals:
- *PvE (Mission Running/Combat Sites)*: Prioritize sustained damage output and tank (shields or armor).
- *PvP (Tackling/Small Gang)*: Focus on speed and electronic warfare. Being able to tackle (stop others from escaping) is more important than damage.
- *Exploration*: Use cloaking devices and scanning equipment, prioritize warp core stabilizers and speed.
### 6. *Use the In-Game Fitting Tool*
The in-game fitting tool lets you see your fit's stats, such as damage, resistances, and speed. If you’re near the CPU or Powergrid limit, swap modules for ones that are more power-efficient. For example, replace a shield booster with a smaller version or use meta-level modules (e.g., “Compact” versions).
### 7. *Ask for Advice*
There’s no shame in asking for advice. Use in-game chat channels like *Rookie Help, join a newbie-friendly corporation, or check out online resources like *[EVE University](
https://wiki.eveuniversity.org/)
**.
### 8. *Be Ready to Lose Ships*
EVE is a game of learning through loss. Don’t be afraid to lose a few ships—every wrecked hull is a step closer to mastering your fits. Stick to cheaper fits when starting out, and treat each loss as a lesson in what could be improved.
### 9. *Next Steps: Start Experimenting!*
As you gain more experience and ISK, you can experiment with other modules and ships. Try different fits for PvE, PvP, and support roles. The more you try, the better you’ll understand what each module does and how ships can complement each other in a fleet.
### 10. *Sample Fits*
Here are a few more sample fits for popular starter ships to get you rolling:
#### Merlin (Caldari Frigate)
*High Slots:*
- 3 x Light Electron Blaster I (with Antimatter Charges)
*Medium Slots:*
- 1 x 1MN Afterburner I
- 1 x Medium Shield Extender I
- 1 x Adaptive Invulnerability Field I
*Low Slots:*
- 1 x Damage Control I
- 1 x Magnetic Field Stabilizer I
*Rig Slots:*
- 1 x Small Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
- 1 x Small Core Defense Field Extender I
This Merlin fit is great for new pilots looking to start with basic PvE or PvP content. It’s shield-heavy with some extra tankiness from the Damage Control.
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### *Final Tip*
Always *simulate* a fit before spending your ISK. This way, you can see if it meets your goals and won’t accidentally overfit your ship.
Good luck out there, pilot, and fly safe! If you need more help, feel free to ask for more specific fits or advice on any ship or role. o7
