Skill Discussions

So the actual question here is between what we normally call hardeners versus resistance amplifiers. Hardeners are active modules that grant somewhat higher resists when activated compared to even fully skilled resistance amps of the same kind. However, they offer nothing (anymore; this was changed last year) when not active (e.g., when neuted out, otherwise, capped out, cloaked, etc).

Resistance amplifiers are passive modules that always offer resists. They also benefit from the shield compensation skills (i.e., Kinetic Shield Compensation though NOT Shield Compensation as that does something entirely different). Again, even with the comp skill maxed equivalent meta level hardeners will always offer better resists.

Notably, unlike armor, there is no passive omni option (EANM and ANP). Also unlike armor, there is an active omni option (invulns).

Which should you fit? Well, are you good on cap? Can you handle the slightly higher CPU requirements from hardeners? Go ahead and fit a hardener. However, if you're tight on cap or CPU or want to, say, warp cloaked through potential smartbombs, you may want to consider a resistance amplifier.

Actually, no. Boost amplifiers do something entirely different: they increase the amount of shield repaired each cycle by shield boosters (and ASBs). They have nothing to do with resists one way or another.