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ASB Merlin in Pvp
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Bloody Bogan
Brutor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#1 - 2013-02-15 00:02:58 UTC
Hey there,

I decided that on my caldari alt I was gonna train up skills for an asb Merlin, and have some fun pvping in 0.0 - Anyway, I've just realised that not so long ago, asb was nerfed.

So my question is, how viable are asb merlins, or asb in general now?
Liam Inkuras
Furnace
Thermodynamics
#2 - 2013-02-15 00:04:41 UTC
Still very good, they just can it tank for as long. 10 charges down to 7 charges is quite a hit though. Still works well however!

I wear my goggles at night.

Any spelling/grammatical errors come complimentary with my typing on a phone
Jonah Gravenstein
Machiavellian Space Bastards
#3 - 2013-02-15 01:20:50 UTC  |  Edited by: Jonah Gravenstein
ASB Merlin is still a very viable ship, since the frig balance even more so. The Rifter used to be king of the hill, the Merlin is a very strong challenger these days.

In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.

New Player FAQ

Feyd's Survival Pack
Aptenodytes
Reckless Abandon
#4 - 2013-02-15 10:00:55 UTC
Psst, don't tell anyone, but Navy cap boosters make the ASB almost as good as it used to be.
Uppsy Daisy
State War Academy
Caldari State
#5 - 2013-02-15 12:01:55 UTC
But the smallest Navy Charge is a Navy Cap Booster 100, which has a volume of 3 not 2 (like the normal Cap Booster 50 has).

Maybe this works with Large ASBs but not with Mediums I think?
terzho
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#6 - 2013-02-15 12:44:37 UTC
Very good, however I wouldn't be able to tell because I'm always going up against those bloody assault frigs that just rip me to pieces -_-, ******* nullsec............
Bloody Bogan
Brutor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#7 - 2013-02-15 13:39:42 UTC
Thanks for the info guys - I've heard though that MSE is effectively better than ASB since the frigate buff? Is this true?
Liam Inkuras
Furnace
Thermodynamics
#8 - 2013-02-15 13:47:22 UTC  |  Edited by: Liam Inkuras
Bloody Bogan wrote:
Thanks for the info guys - I've heard though that MSE is effectively better than ASB since the frigate buff? Is this true?

Depends on what you're fighting. Sometimes the reps of an ASB just can't keep up with incoming damage, and MSE buffer tank is better. Other times, you could be in a long drawn out fight (not common in frigates) where you are receiving minimal damage, but still too much for the passive recharge to help. In that case, the ASB would be better. I fly both kinds of Merlin, and honestly prefer the ASB variant.

Edit: While not the same ship, the Harpy can play as a "Big Merlin" and tank both ways just as well, but the buffer is a bit better for the Harpy (12.5k EHP with a T2 MSE)

I wear my goggles at night.

Any spelling/grammatical errors come complimentary with my typing on a phone
Shadow Lyon
Gorgonite Gamers
#9 - 2013-02-15 18:04:57 UTC
Yeah, can work pretty damn well
STSxLight
Blue Republic
RvB - BLUE Republic
#10 - 2013-02-21 11:04:49 UTC
For small gang work is good, for solo not that good as you wont be able to dictate range so anyone can kite you or escape scram range:)

"Oh, you think nullsec is your ally. But you merely adopted nullsec; I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but BLINDING!"

my eve youtube channel  http://www.youtube.com/user/stsxlight/videos
Liam Inkuras
Furnace
Thermodynamics
#11 - 2013-02-21 12:37:33 UTC
STSxLight wrote:
For small gang work is good, for solo not that good as you wont be able to dictate range so anyone can kite you or escape scram range:)

Fit a web? The Merlin has 4 mids, use 'em.

I wear my goggles at night.

Any spelling/grammatical errors come complimentary with my typing on a phone