The Vexor stands as a testament to Gallente engineering philosophy—versatile, drone-centric, and brutally effective. As you sit in the cockpit of this magnificent cruiser, the hum of your drone bay echoes the promise of controlled chaos. This ship isn't just a vessel; it's a floating command center for a swarm of robotic companions that will do your bidding across the vastness of New Eden. Whether you're a rookie capsuleer fresh from the tutorial missions or a veteran looking for a reliable income source, the Vexor offers one of the most accessible yet powerful platforms for PvE content in EVE Online.
The Vexor represents the perfect intersection of Gallente drone specialization and hybrid weapon versatility. Unlike specialized ships that excel in only one area, the Vexor maintains a remarkable balance between tank, damage, and utility that makes it ideal for a wide variety of activities. From security missions to belt ratting and even some forms of exploration, this cruiser can be configured to handle nearly any PvE challenge you might encounter in high-security space and beyond. Its forgiving nature for newer pilots combined with its high skill ceiling makes it a ship worth mastering regardless of your experience level.
Understanding the Vexor's Strengths and Role in EVE Online
The Vexor thrives as a dedicated drone boat with supporting hybrid turrets. With 75mb of drone bandwidth and a 125m³ drone bay, it can field a formidable combination of medium and heavy drones simultaneously, giving it exceptional flexibility against various target sizes and types. The Gallente Cruiser skill bonuses—5% bonus to Medium Hybrid Turret damage and 10% bonus to drone hitpoints, damage, and mining yield per skill level—make it scale beautifully as your skills improve.
One of the Vexor's greatest advantages is its capacitor-independent damage output. While other ships might rely on energy-intensive modules for their primary damage, your drones will continue dealing consistent damage even if your capacitor runs dry. This makes the Vexor particularly forgiving for newer pilots who might struggle with capacitor management. Additionally, the ability to select damage types by switching drones makes the Vexor adaptable to virtually any NPC enemy you might encounter, targeting their specific resistances for faster clears.
Key Advantages:
- Capacitor-independent drone damage provides consistent DPS even under pressure
- Selectable damage types through different drones allows optimal performance against any enemy
- Excellent slot layout (4 high, 4 mid, 5 low) enables diverse fitting options
- Strong skill bonuses that scale well with advanced training
- Ability to engage targets at various ranges through drone control
Essential Skills for Vexor Pilots
Before undocking your Vexor, you need to ensure your skill portfolio matches the ship's requirements. While you can technically fly the Vexor with minimal skills, its true potential only unlocks with proper training. Drones V is an absolute necessity—attempting to fly a Vexor without this is essentially inviting a lossmail. Following closely is Drone Interfacing, which provides a 10% increase in drone damage per level, dramatically improving your damage output.
Supporting drone skills like Drone Navigation (increases drone speed), Drone Sharpshooting (increases optimal range), and Light/Medium/Heavy Drone Operation (each providing 5% damage bonus to their respective drone types) are all crucial for maximizing effectiveness. Don't neglect your Gallente Cruiser skill either, as each level not only improves your hybrid damage but also enhances your drone capabilities through the secondary bonus. For tanking, focus on either Hull Upgrades for armor tanking or Shield Operation for shield tanking, depending on your preferred fit.
Core Fitting Principles and Philosophy
Fitting a Vexor involves balancing three key components: drone damage, tank, and utility. The ship's generous slot layout allows for considerable flexibility, but understanding some core principles will help you create effective fits. The eternal debate between shield and armor tanking is particularly relevant for the Vexor. While Gallente ships traditionally favor armor, many pilots prefer shield tanking for PvE because it preserves the valuable low slots for Drone Damage Amplifiers, maximizing your damage output.
Your mid slots typically contain propulsion (Afterburner or Microwarpdrive), tank modules (if shield fitting), and utility modules like Drone Navigation Computers or Omnidirectional Tracking Links. The high slots generally feature hybrid weapons (railguns for kiting, blasters for brawling) and often a Drone Link Augmentor to extend your drone control range. Some fits also include a salvager and tractor beam for cleaning up mission sites without needing to dock.
Table: Vexor Slot Allocation Priorities
| Slot Type | Primary Use | Secondary Use | Common Modules |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Slots | Weapon Systems | Utility | Railguns/Blasters, Drone Link Augmentor, Salvager |
| Mid Slots | Shield Tank | Propulsion/Utility | Shield Extenders, Shield Hardeners, Afterburner |
| Low Slots | Armor Tank/Drone Damage | Resistance | Armor Repairer, Damage Control, Drone Damage Amplifiers |
| Rigs | Defense/Utility | Damage | Core Defense Field Extender, Capacitor Control Circuit |
PvE Fitting Examples
Level 2 Mission Running Fit
This balanced armor tank setup is ideal for Level 2 security missions and high-sec anomaly running. It provides solid tanking capability while maintaining good damage output through a combination of drones and supporting hybrid weapons.
[Vexor, Level 2 Mission Runner]
Medium Armor Repairer II
Energized Adaptive Nano Membrane II
Damage Control II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
10MN Afterburner II
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II
Drone Navigation Computer I
Dual 150mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge M
Dual 150mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge M
Dual 150mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge M
Drone Link Augmentor I
Medium Auxiliary Nano Pump I
Medium Nanobot Accelerator I
Medium Capacitor Control Circuit I
Hammerhead II x5
Hobgoblin II x5
Warrior II x5
This fit emphasizes cap stability through dual Cap Rechargers and a capacitor rig, allowing you to run your Afterburner and Armor Repairer indefinitely. The railguns provide supporting damage while you maintain distance from targets, and your drones do the heavy lifting. Remember to match your drone damage type to your enemies' weaknesses for optimal clear times.
Shield Tanked Anomaly Runner
For pilots who prefer active kiting and want to maximize damage output, this shield-tanked fit preserves all low slots for damage amplification while maintaining solid defense through mid-slot shield modules.
[Vexor, Shield Tank Anomaly Runner]
Damage Control II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Large Shield Extender II
Large Shield Extender II
10MN Afterburner II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Dual 150mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge M
Dual 150mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge M
Dual 150mm Railgun I, Antimatter Charge M
Drone Link Augmentor I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Thermal Shield Reinforcer I
Hammerhead II x5
Hobgoblin II x5
Valkyrie II x5
This fit excels at maintaining distance from enemies while your drones apply constant damage. The dual Large Shield Extenders provide a substantial buffer, while the Afterburner helps you control range. The Nanofiber improves your agility, making it easier to align and warp when necessary.
Tactics and Pilot Techniques
Flying a Vexor effectively involves more than just pressing F to deploy drones. Managing aggression is crucial—NPCs will initially target your drones if they're the first thing they see, so it's often better to wait a second after entering a site before launching your drones, allowing yourself to draw initial aggro. Your ship can tank damage far better than your drones can.
Range control is another critical skill. Learn to maintain optimal distance from different enemy types—further away from brawling opponents that deal high damage up close, and closer to kiting enemies to improve your tracking. The Drone Navigation Computer in your mid slot can significantly improve drone application by increasing their speed to targets, while the Drone Link Augmentor in your high slot extends your control range, allowing you to engage targets from safer distances.
Tips:
- Assign different drone types to different hotkeys for rapid damage type switching
- Use your hybrid weapons to finish off frigate-sized targets that your medium drones might struggle to track
- Carry multiple types of drones to adapt to different enemy resistances
- Learn to pulse your Afterburner rather than leaving it running constantly to conserve capacitor
- Bookmark wrecks during missions for efficient salvaging after completing the site
Progressing Beyond the Basic Vexor
As your skills and ISK reserves grow, you'll naturally want to progress to more advanced platforms. The Vexor Navy Issue offers improved stats across the board while maintaining the same basic role and fitting options. For more dedicated drone gameplay, the Ishtar (Heavy Assault Cruiser) represents the pinnacle of Gallente drone boating, with exceptional bonuses and slot layout. If you prefer a shield-tanked approach, the Guristas Gila offers a fantastic combination of drone damage and missile support, though at a significantly higher price point.
Many pilots eventually progress to battlecruisers like the Myrmidon (for Level 3 missions) or battleships like the Dominix for Level 4 content. The skills you develop flying the Vexor will transfer perfectly to these larger drone platforms, making your training time exceptionally efficient. Remember that the Vexor itself remains relevant even as you skill into these more advanced ships—it's often the perfect tool for lower-level content where larger ships would be overkill.
Embracing the Drone Boat Lifestyle
The Vexor represents more than just a ship—it's a philosophy of warfare that emphasizes preparation, adaptability, and letting your minions do the dirty work. There's a unique satisfaction in watching your drone swarm dismantle opponents while you calmly manage the battlefield from a distance. This Gallente cruiser will serve you faithfully through countless security missions, anomaly runs, and perhaps even the occasional PvP encounter if you're feeling adventurous.
As you continue your journey in New Eden, remember that no fit is ever truly final. Experiment with different configurations, adjust to specific challenges, and most importantly, never stop learning. The Vexor's flexibility makes it the perfect platform for developing your skills as a capsuleer. So undock, deploy your drones, and show the universe what a properly flown drone boat can accomplish. Fly safe, and may your drone bay never be empty.