Ships & Modules

zealot is a good sniper when you fit beams. but that role is completely obsolete now with the tier3 bcs. The other awesome role will be in a ahac fleet. Low sig, decent speed, good resists, excellent damage projection and scorch. The best ship for that role imo.

Unfortunately ahacs are not widely used now, only a few alliances field them. For solo, i wouldnt recommend it unless you are garmon.

But there is no harm in training up for one. They will never go out of use. The best option for you would be to see if someone in your alliance can do ahac fleets before buying one.

Thanks for the input both of you .

The zealot is an awsome ship imo, the main role they are used for is:

Sniper HAC's: this role has been largely replaced with Tier 3 BC snipers as they are cheaper and insurable, basically beam fit for around 100km, lots of agility etc.
Armor HAC gangs: Afterburner fit with pulse lasers, low sig radius, fairly agile, made to engage larger fleets.
Anti-support: This is my personal favorite role for the ship, your main role is to take out tackle, and you can apply full DPS (some 500 or so with cheap implants and scorch) to +- 50km optimal range. The damage projection is insane and you will get top damage on many kills, and it tracks great. You also have a non overheated speed of around 1900 m/s.
I've flown this in all types of different fleets and only ever lost a couple dew to stupid mistakes, have over 200 kills in it. This is the fit I've used for it:

[Zealot, Nano Pulse]

Damage Control II
Heat Sink II
Heat Sink II
Heat Sink II
Tracking Enhancer II
Tracking Enhancer II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Large Shield Extender II
Experimental 10MN MicroWarpdrive I
Conjunctive Radar ECCM Scanning Array I

Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M

Medium Energy Locus Coordinator II
Medium Polycarbon Engine Housing I

I can recommend the nano zealot too, I had a similar one myself but with a tracking comp and shield rigs, works great in nano gangs if you can't fly a vaga/cynabal, great damage projection with scorch, I almost always out-damaged the minmatar ships in the gang and it can keep up with the fast minmatar stuff reasonably well.

Here's the one I used:

[Zealot, Nano Zealot]
Damage Control II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Tracking Enhancer II
Heat Sink II
Heat Sink II
Heat Sink II

Experimental 10MN MicroWarpdrive I
Tracking Computer II, Optimal Range Script
Large Shield Extender II

Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M
Heavy Pulse Laser II, Scorch M

Medium Anti-EM Screen Reinforcer I
Medium Anti-Thermal Screen Reinforcer I

A bit less range than Idicious Lightbane's setup but slightly faster/more agile which is important when you're trying to keep up with vagas and better resists to help the scimi's with RR.

Other ships fill every role the zealot can do better except probably in AHAC fleets. That's not to say it useless...its a good boat. There is just usually another ship better at doing whatever it is you want to do with it.

Do not discount the Omen Navy Issue... Faster ROF bonus PLUS a drone bay. Worth a looksee IMO

As others have said, the zealot is a solid fleet ship but you need that certain fleet to fly it. For solo use, the Navy Omen is preferred due to drones and utility high. The Legion is straight up better Zealot.