Warfare & Tactics

Try to figure out what their fit is like before properly getting into a fight with one.

Assuming a rocket fit kestrel, they usually come in two flavors:
-AB web scram, 1 shield module .. (MASB I'd wager), lows fitted with 1 or 2 BCS. Often uses faction rockets.

- Dual webs, armor tanked (400mm plate). Often uses rage rockets. (Hint: Explosive resists hole, carry some Fusion ammo)


In general terms, I would suggest getting as close as possible to apply as much dps as you can and to preserve your speed at the same time to help mitigate incoming damage.

drop down to a meta 3/4 DC and web so you can fit a proper EANM, it will give you more tank out of the SAAR than the adaptive plating with a DC II. you could also consider dropping a nano pump in favour of an anti-explosive pump. you get less overall boosting but you need the resist buff there since there's a good chance you'll be shot at with Nova. Then for a final trick you can pop an Exile and remember to keep your ACs overheated from the moment you get into optimal to the moment one of you pops.

Your Rifter fit isn't bad. I'd personally have a rocket launcher rather then the nos to squeeze every last bit of DPS out of the thing. I've made it work - but usually with a surprise in my back pocket. The Rifter has one of the smallest signatures for a frigate. Skirmish links + Halos will make it hard to hit with rockets. Damage implants will make it hit harder then it looks.

The sad fact of the matter is that while we can sit here and come up with multiple fits for the Kestrel, the same can't be said for the Rifter. It has one of the smallest fitting grids for any combat or attack frigate out there. Power grid, CPU, Capacitor - they are all just insufficient. MSE? In addition to forgoing a web you will have to downgrade your tier of AC, leave the utility slot empty, need one or two fitting mods, and still fight for CPU to fit a gyro or TE. MASB? Same. 400mm plate? Same. If it fits - MWD and active armor tanking - your Capacitor will run dry in seconds.

If the Rifter had +10 PG this would be a different conversation - but it doesn't. There are too many other frigates out there that don't have to make the fitting sacrifices that this ship does.

Match up doesn't favor you. If he's 2web fit, you pretty much have no chance.

That said, i'd probably try to squeeze more dps out of that rifter. Drop ANP, down grade DCU to F85, slap a gyrostabilizer, drop neut, put rocket launcher, should net you a little bit in excess of 180 dps hot with that config, which is considerably more than the average rocket kestrel.

OH repper, start cycling it before you go into armor, also you're not gonna mitigate damage against rockets while webbed, so just keep at 500 and don't orbit, it will just **** up your 200s tracking

Rifters are like the worse version of an Atron. Its only saving grace is the potential 18km falloff which isn't that great TBH, since beyond 9km you start dealing pretty bad damage.

If the kestrel isn't dual web, you could try Arty fits and staying outside of 15kms, preferably moving away from the kestrel to reduce the rocket range. Using your speed to get out, point to hold him, and a defensive web.

For your rocket launcher to work you also need people to be moving towards you, not away - the range is bad as it is, if they move away, then the rocket runs out of fuel time at around 6km range.

F*** the Rifter. It still has about 5 years left on its sentence for its crimes against proper ship balance.

there's nothing wrong with the Rifter as it is, it has a balanced slot layout, decent DPS, and has a good combo of tracking and range that provides a lot of versatility in scram range without having to swap ammo mid-fight. It's just low on stats overall, so you need high SP and maybe some implants and boosters or it won't give you access to its full potential.

Huh you got merlin'd, what happened there?

Here's hoping to Ishtars enjoying a fate worse than Rifterpocalypse.

B-but I just finished training sentry AND heavy drone V a few weeks ago. Let me enjoy the ishtar while I can.