Ships & Modules

Without seeing your configuration I suspect it's largely the fit, since you can get well over 900 DPS with a fully-skilled heavy assault missile setup. In terms of raw grinding through missions the Rattlesnake is King right now as it can project close to 1800 DPS. Machariels are still very popular for blitzing L4s, though.

Think again.

The budget fit on Eve Uni does more DPS than that and is severely overtanked.

this is more or less the template I used to suggest, I think this fit is also shamelessly stolen from someone else on the forums, but closest to what I used to use so I never bothered changing it. TBH I haven't used a tengu much in years. I think these days hams and range rigs are preferred. even so, I would still prefer to not use a tengu. RoF is just insane with Hams and you waste missiles, and the range isn't that good with hams, and imo the range isn't even that great with heavies. and as I haven't used one in a long while I can't really say much about damage application.
[Tengu, Lvl4 - The fit that doesn't suck at least a few years ago]
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System

EM Ward Field II
EM Ward Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Republic Fleet 10MN Afterburner
Pithi B-Type Small Shield Booster
Caldari Navy Shield Boost Amplifier

Heavy Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Heavy Missile
Heavy Missile Launcher II, Scourge Fury Heavy Missile

Medium Bay Loading Accelerator II
Medium Warhead Flare Catalyst I
Medium Warhead Flare Catalyst I

Tengu Offensive - Accelerated Ejection Bay
Tengu Defensive - Amplification Node
Tengu Engineering - Augmented Capacitor Reservoir
Tengu Electronics - Dissolution Sequencer
Tengu Propulsion - Fuel Catalyst

Please don't use Tengu for lvl 4's.

For several months, I ran L4 missions with a Tengu that was fit almost exactly like Chainsaw's fit above. DPS = 722.

That clone had level 5 implants for Heavy Missiles, Guided Missile Precision, and Rapid Launch.

There was no L4 mission that I couldn't complete as long as I paid some attention to mission triggers. That fit could tank everything except the Angel Extravaganza bonus room. The nerf to heavy missile range made running the Tengu less attractive.

It does take a little patience. You can run the same mission in half the time with a well-equipped battleship or marauder. But using a Tengu will not cause a rift in the space-time continuum. :)

Have fun!

because honestly it's not very good.

While that is very true, I'd prefer the Rattler as you said earlier here. There are usually too many cruisers and smaller ships to deal with than bigger ones and in the bonus room of the Angel Extravaganza you are out of range of most things that hurt alot.

OP:
The tengu lost its appeal since the pirate ship changes and I would recommend the smaller Rattlesnake, which is also known as the Gila.

Both Gurista ships use way less ammo than anything else also look so cool that you think you are dreaming.

What kind of DPS boost do you get with the Polarized (EFT doesn't list 'Polarized')? Does it affect range?

About 20%, but you end up having a really, really large gank magnet.