If you’re looking for an easy-to-understand EVE Online PvP guide, you’ve come to the right place. We have a dedicated community of EVE players who’ve shared their expertise so that we can make one of EVE’s more complex aspects simple.
As Rixx Javix says, "everything in EVE Online is PvP because the whole game is a PvP sandbox". Still, EVE’s PvP can be broken down into official and unofficial PvP types as well as common engagements and strategies. Below, our community explains each of them in beginner-friendly terms while providing some great tips for engaging in each of them. That said, if you came here for dedicated advice on how to make other ships go boom without making yours go boom, you might want to read this too: EVE Online PvP tips.
EVE Online PvP guide: an introductory word to the wise
What did Rixx mean when he said everything in EVE is PvP? Let’s continue his quote to find out: “mining, industry, exploration, Faction Warfare - everything in this game, even trading, is PvP. So there’s no ‘avoiding’ PvP in EVE Online. The worst thing you can do is pretend otherwise. Undocking is consent. Once you’re out in space, you’re being hunted.”
Rixx is a famed pirate and an EVE combat veteran, so if you’re new to EVE Online PvP, you’d benefit from checking out his full post, in which he gives highly valuable advice on five key areas for any would-be EVE PvPer (read: any EVE player): your overview tabs, your bookmarks, your standings, your D-Scan, and your ship bonuses.
EVE Online PvP guide: your options
But we’re here first and foremost to learn about types of EVE PvP, so let’s get stuck in. For most of the options below, we begin with a tongue-in-cheek layman's introduction from Rixx and then include tips, elaborations, and explanations from our other PvP veterans.
EVE Online Solo PvP, explained
“The purest form of combat in EVE Online, PvP means Player versus Player after all. You’re alone in your ship when another player who’s also alone in theirs engages with you (or vice versa), suddenly you’re engaged in solo PvP! It's easy, just undock and fly around the neighbourhood. Sooner or later, you'll find yourself fighting to save your ship. Warning: This can become extremely addictive.” - Rixx Javix, PvPer.
Most commonly transpiring in frigates, destroyers, or cruisers, solo PvP is all about hunting alone - ideally on your own terms. Solo PvP happens everywhere, but Lowsec is the main hunting ground. mypets describes it as “a goldmine”, but as yan57436 describes, New Eden’s Klondike has its challenges:
“It requires piloting, distance control, overheating modules, and tactics to dominate your opponent, so I don't recommend venturing out without fully mastering these mechanics.”
For those willing to dig, not all that glitters is ISK. Here’s Rakha:
“Solo PvP is the art of fighting alone, where skill, strategy, and ship fitting determine success. Unlike fleet engagements, solo pilots must master piloting mechanics such as manual flying, transversal, scouting their prey, overheating modules, and controlling engagement range. The thrill comes from outplaying opponents, picking fights wisely, and knowing when to disengage. Ships commonly used for solo PvP include frigates, destroyers, and cruisers, often favouring mobility and damage application."
Luka Zaharin describes that pure test of piloting skill as lonely but highly rewarding. He lists a few additional places where solo PvPers might earn their stripes, we’ll return to most of them later in this EVE Online PvP guide:
“Solo PvP can range from suspect baiting in Highsec (stealing other people’s loot in the hope of being aggressed by them so you can shoot back), Faction Warfare roams (flying a small ship in FW Lowsec space looking for 1v1s), to Nullsec games (attacking medium-sized fleets with a fast high-range ship) and wormhole ambushes (like a spider, hiding in a cloaked ship and waiting for prey to appear).”
EVE Online small gang PvP, explained
“But what if you have a few friends? Well then, small gang PvP might be for you. This is when two-to-ten of your friends get together and fly in space looking to engage enemies of a similar size (or slightly smaller if you’re with smart friends!). Often they will even talk to each other on comms! This can lead to a great time and an enjoyment of the game, plus it builds friendships. And who doesn't need that?” - Rixx Javix, social engineer.
While solo PvP may be a test of piloting skills, small gang PvP introduces fleet tactics in a hyper-focused format in which every ship truly matters. Generally fleets up to four-members strong are considered ‘micro gang’ fleets, and fleets up to ten-members strong are considered true small gang fleets. The most popular small gang fleet compositions feature seven DPS-focused ships alongside a few logistics pilots for support and repairs. With coordination and communication, a small gang fleet can beat the odds and take on larger fleets.
If you’re a newer EVE Online player and this sounds up your street, Yan recommends joining a PvP-oriented corporation to find corpmates to accompany you and teach you the ropes.
EVE Online fleet warfare and roaming fleets, explained
“You've made so many friends now that there might be dozens of them! Why not get them all together in a larger group and really go to town? At this point you’ll probably have to consider bringing specialised ships and planning your fleet composition. Things like interceptors, logistics, booshers, and other technical terms you can look up on Google might be needed. Comms are gonna be mandatory here.” - Rixx Javix, party starter.
Better yet, look them all up in the EVE Online glossary. Any fleet larger than ten is generally considered a proper fleet. But fleet numbers can get much larger than that, and therefore need much more organisation. Here’s Rakha:
“Fleet warfare consists of organised, large-scale battles between multiple groups, often numbering from dozens to thousands of players. Fleets are structured with roles such as damage dealers (DPS), logistics (repair/healing), scouts, and electronic warfare (EWAR). Fleet Commanders (FCs) lead engagements, calling targets and directing movements. These fights can range from skirmishes to full-blown battles over sovereignty.
“To get involved, join a corporation or alliance that participates in fleet warfare. New players can start as scouts, tackle pilots, or logistics support in doctrines that fit their skill levels. Roaming fleets, on the other hand, are smaller groups that move through space looking for fights, often using fast attack ships. Listen to the FC, follow commands, and don’t panic - fleet warfare rewards discipline and coordination over individual piloting skill.”
Not sure what a ‘doctrine’ is in fleet context? Let FirestormGamingTeam explain:
“These are often fleets of 50+ pilots working together using what are called ‘doctrine’ ships, sets of specific ships ships with predefined setups, fits, and roles - this is done to ensure the FC is fully aware of exactly what kind of fights he or she should take part in, what ranged weapons the fleet has, and what overheated damage is available.”
To learn how to fly in a PvP fleet without annoying your fleetmates, we highly recommend making this EVE Online fleet etiquette guide your next port of call.
EVE Online corporation, alliance, and coalition warfare, explained
“Congratulations you now have hundreds of friends and you all need something to do in order to pass the time. I’ve got it! That other group of people in the system next door are weird, why not attack them? Together. Things have escalated to the point where you’re probably going to need some infrastructure and support to keep the bling flowing - so industry, transportation, mining, and other non-PvP activities will be needed. Luckily there are people who enjoy those things too!” - Rixx Javix, conflict resolution adversary.
In EVE, there’s always a bigger fish fleet. When you read about record-breaking EVE Online battles, it’s not ragtag groups of pilots, but galaxy-wide events. Gigantic player-led wars initiate at the corporation level, the alliance level, and, at the very top of the pyramid of destruction, the coalition level. That’s when all hell breaks loose. These huge PvP wars can start for any number of reasons. Here’s Yan:
“These are large-scale conflicts between groups of players, often fought over territory, resources, or political power. You can feel like you're in Game of Thrones with spaceships. They require patience and commitment.”
At this scale, apart from in exceptional cases, individual piloting skill plays little role in determining the victor. Even battle tactics have to share the spotlight with politics, industry, and grand-scale military strategy. Here’s Rakha:
“Long campaigns involve capital ships, structure warfare, and espionage. To participate, join a player alliance with active military campaigns. Roles vary from tackle and deployment to logistics support, intelligence gathering, or even industrial support building warships. Large conflicts often require patience, as fights can last hours. Being in the right ship, following fleet doctrine, and listening to FC commands are key to survival and victory."
EVE Online ganking and suicide ganking, explained
“But what if you don't make friends easily? Or, even better, the friends you do make are kind of mean? Don't worry, there is a special kind of PvP just for you. Taking a superior ship and blowing up poor, innocent ships is called ‘ganking’, and there are dozens of flavours involved, from blowing up your friends, to smashing Ventures, and much, much more. But that only gets you so far, so what if you'd also like to explode while doing this? Luckily for you, if you attack random people in Highsec, the po-po will also explode your ship! That's called suicide ganking. Try it sometime. It is hilarious.” - Rixx Javix, encourager of tears.
Ah gankers, love’em or hate’em, you’ve got to learn to live with them. In its simplest form, ganking just means group attacks on unsuspecting players. One of the most common and controversial types in EVE Online, however, is the ‘suicide gank’ - a phenomenon exclusive to Highsec. Here’s Rakha:
“Suicide ganking is a specific type where attackers deliberately sacrifice cheap ships to destroy a high-value target before Concord (NPC police) arrives, while their friends collect the loot. Common targets include haulers carrying expensive goods, mining ships, and mission runners.
“To gank, players typically use cheap, high-damage ships like Catalysts in groups to overwhelm targets quickly. Highsec trade routes (like Jita-Amarr) and asteroid belts in mining hotspots are prime hunting grounds. To avoid being ganked, keep your ship’s tank strong, avoid autopiloting through busy routes, and use cloaking devices or warp core stabilisers when possible to escape.”
That’s a great introduction to gank-avoidance practices, but if you want to take it up a notch: EVE Online gank-avoidance masterclass.
EVE Online gate camping and bubble camping, explained
“Who doesn't like camping? The only thing wrong with PvP is all the travelling and warping about you have to do. If that seems like a drag, you can just find a spot near a gate, sit there, and let players come to you! It's lazy PvP, and it’s all the rage. You can even do it with just a few friends in insta-locking ships. And if you want to maximise your fun, you can deploy a special ship that projects a huge bubble that prevents other ships from escaping your camp. That’s pro-level camping.” - Rixx Javix, outdoor enthusiast
Gate camping and bubble camping are often the same thing. Gate camping is the practice of ambushing players at star gates - entry points into systems - often with warp disruptors and fast-locking ships. This usually happens in gates that lead from Highsec to Lowsec or Nullsec. In the latter, it’s very common for anchored warp-disruption bubbles to be launched as an extra method of stopping the ambushee from escaping. This is what turns a gatecamp into a bubble camp and in FirestormGamingTeam’s terms “ends the pilots’ life, effectively and efficiently”.
If you’d like to avoid these traps, use a cloaked ship, scouting alt accounts, safe routes, or make sure you have a nullifier fitted so that you can escape. Or if you like the sound of ensnaring foes and want to get involved, read Rakha’s advice:
“To participate, set up at choke points where traffic is high, such as entry points into busy regions or near trade hubs. Ships like interdictors, battlecruisers, and battleships are advised.”
Here’s a video guide from FirestormGamingTeam:
EVE Online home defence and siege warfare, explained
“You made so many friends doing all of the above that one day you realise an entire infrastructure has built up around your ships. And those weirdos next door want what you have! Well that's not cool. Time to suit up and plan for defence. Build up your castles and get ready for the biggest PvP grind in all of EVE Online - timers, cynos, gate guns, mobile jammers, dreadnaughts, and even city-sized ships called titans. Oh and local might get weird and time may start to dilate. But don't worry, it's only pixels.” - Rixx Javix, wibbly wobbly timelord.
Both home defence and siege warfare often take place in the coalition and alliance wars explained above, but they’re distinct enough that they warrant a brief explainer here too. Back to Rakha to explain the difference and describe how to get involved:
“Home defence refers to defending your corporation or alliance’s space from invaders, while siege warfare involves attacking or defending player-owned structures (POSs) like citadels. Home defence fleets often scramble together quickly to repel roaming gangs, while sieges involve planned assaults with capital ships and logistics support.
“To engage in home defence, be ready to undock quickly when threats appear, be on your corporation’s comms and catch yourself some invaders. Keep an eye out for neutrals going after your ESS (Encounter Surveillance System) and rat bounties too! Siege warfare requires coordination, as timers dictate when structures become vulnerable. If defending, prepare high-damage ships and logistics support; if attacking, bring high-DPS battleships or dreadnoughts.”
EVE Online piracy and ransoms, explained
“Whew, that was a lot of stuff to learn. At some point you'll just get tired of all that and want to log in and have some fun. Welcome to piracy! Fly whatever you want, whenever you want, and just get out there and blow up other people's stuff - and then steal it! Why waste time building stuff, when you can just take it for yourself? Every once in a while some poor stiff will have so much stuff they will pay you not to blow them up. That's called ransoming, and it can be very profitable. As we like to say, YARRR!” - Rixx Javix, famed pirate.
Any aggressive action in which one player preys upon another tends to be considered piracy in EVE. As FirestormGamingTeam points out, that’s often pilots in a corporation hunting in Lowsec. Pirates are willing to give up their security status in pursuit of their prey and willingly make themselves targets. Kane Carnifex puts it a way that even the most blood-soaked of marauders would relate to:
“Piracy is the hunt for targets: everywhere, and anything. The pirates are here for bloodlust and PvP. Whatever your content, they’ll make it their PvP content. PvE is PvP now. Hauling is PvP now. Do you have a structure? They’ll bash it just to crush your response fleet. It’s gate camping, it’s espionage, and it’s hunting, hunting, hunting!”
One of pirates’ favourite tricks, however, is one as old as time: the ransom. Instead of destroying a ship outright, they’ll exhaust its ammunition and drones, hold it, and demand ISK for its return. Failure to pay often results in the destruction of the ship. Sometimes paying does too.
If you like the sound of the pirate’s life, get yourself a fast-locking, high-damage ship, use scramblers and webs to prevent escape, and roam Lowsec looking for vulnerable freighters, mission runners, and miners. And don’t forget to pack your pegleg.
EVE Online baiting, explained
Baiting, as the name suggests, is another common PvP tactic, in which players dangle a supposedly easy target in front of would-be hunters only to turn the tables with reinforcements or other sneaky tricks. Sturmer has a favourite type of baiting, which he playfully terms Lowsec belt mining - only your real goal isn’t ore. Here's his breakdown of exactly what you need to get started:
"A suitable system: Look for a Lowsec system connected directly to Highsec, preferably without gate camps.
A 'harmless' character: Use a few-months-old character with little to no PvP history. Avoid bragging about wins on zKill. Instead, post only losses. You want to look like an easy target.
A tanky ship capable of surprises: Choose a ship capable of soaking damage and engaging targets. Avoid obvious bait choices like the Maller. Some personal favorites are the smartbomb Typhoon, the dual 1,600mm plated Thorax with autocannons, and the Raven with medium guns and neuts.
A recon ship on grid (optional): Try a covert recon ship, like an Arazu, with a long tackle and covert cyno to summon Black Ops (BO) ships.
Black Ops and titans for escalation (optional). If things heat up, call in the cavalry!"
But what's this all for? Here are the targets you should focus on:
"PvP-curious players: These are capsuleers, often mission runners, who decide to 'graduate' to PvP after months of Highsec carebear life. They fit their battleships and wander into Lowsec, hunting in belts. NPC hunters and miners also fall into this category, though attacking them will lower your security status.
Zerg escalation opportunities. This involves creating bait scenarios that escalate into counter-baits or even counter-counter-baits. Many of EVE Online’s largest battles, with thousands of pilots and billions in ISK losses, have started with something as simple as a Maller mining in a belt.
"This strategy works solo, with multiboxing, or as a group. While friends increase your fun and success rate, even solo efforts can result in some of the most exciting PvP moments in the game. Belt mining isn’t just about gathering ore; it’s about laying the groundwork for epic encounters. Try it out and see what chaos unfolds!"
EVE Online PvP events
There are plenty of player-led and official PvP events available, from the esports-level Alliance Tournament to the Frigate Free For All. Check out our list of EVE Online events for more.
If the idea of PvPing solo is daunting, but you don't know where to begin in finding friends to do it alongside, why not join an NPSI group, like FUN INC's NPSI.ROCKS, which has a "calendar of public groups that offer PvP on demand".
NPSI stands for ‘Not Purple? Shoot It!’, which essentially means anyone who isn't an ally is a fair target. "Broadly speaking, NPSI is the easiest way to get into public and group PvP without the barrier to entry that requires you to be in the same corporation or alliance." The embedded video below explains exactly what they're about:
EVE Online Faction Warfare (FW), explained
The EVE Online PvP options above are all player-led. Faction Warfare on the other hand, offers officially sanctioned PvP fun. In FW, players sign up to one of EVE’s four main empire factions or one of two pirate factions and fight for control over regions of low-security space. If battling it out for galactic dominance with relatively low stakes appeals to you, learn more about how it works in this introduction to EVE Online faction warfare.
Luka Zaharin explains that they "live in Faction Warfare space", and that it's "meant to be for solo and small gang pilots". As a result, it can be a popular choice for beginners, because it's mostly "about small ships, so it offers good encounters for frigates and destroyers. As a beginner, you should choose a fit with good range control so high relative speed or web scram is ideal. PvP takes place in Lowsec in Deadspace pockets with acceleration gates, and all targets land on the entry point so the 'victim' has initial range control while the attacker has to adapt to the target's terms."
Luka goes on to explain that "losing ships is something that will happen frequently, especially in the beginning, so it's a good idea to set up at least five ships - ideally closer to ten - in a station in the warzone so you can hop back into another ship straight away."
To learn even more about Faction Warfare, Nth Dimensional has a long (seriously, it's over five hours!) video that goes into shiploads of detail about exactly how this type of PvP works.
We hope you found this EVE PvP guide useful. Check out these EVE first PvP kill stories to understand why all this work is worth the effort. Some text has been edited for brevity, clarity, or spelling, punctuation, and grammar. You can find the original wording here and here. Image credit: Razorien on Flickr.
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