Eve Online's Three Basic PvP Tactics Explained! Brawling vs Kiting vs Sniping!

This is a short guide to the three basic PvP tactics used in Eve Online PvP, as well as some strategies about how to execute them.
Interested in a small gang PvP Corp?
Interstellar Booty Hunters [IBTY] is currently recruiting those with Omega accounts and five million skill points. Contact Maximillian Bonaparte in-game, or find the chat channel Booty Tiki Bar, there you can also find our discord channel!

[@dntube12]

I honestly hate commenting on videos and hardly ever like but as someone who has just started Eve and been binge watching "guides" , this is the best guide to PVP I have come across and I just had to let you know so that the hard work that is evident in making these videos is acknowledged. Great job! Want to see if I can slot a few green lines between the reds on my zKillboard and this is exactly what I was looking for.

[@ComplexVariables]

Back when I played, I was always in a fleet, but I often dreamed of being a sneaky solo sniper.

[@dag_of_the_west5416]

Fleet of snipers sounds great.

[@danrayson]

EVE is more alive now than it ever has been thanks to creators like you. Great video!

[@stephencollins9062]

Not anymore my bro Not anymore:(((

[@alen7492]

@@stephencollins9062 Eve needs more optimism. Eve will survive. 🙂

[@shadxw_hunter]

@Firbix the Phoenix lmao don't worry, the microtransactions are everywhere, but nowhere near necessary Just watch out for highsec gankers

[@davewilson13]

@Firbix the Phoenix micro are purely cosmetic, it’s not a big deal.

[@davidnobular9220]

@@shadxw_hunter I'd be more worried about Gravos Ectos.

[@renegadeneverdies]

That's a great video. However, brawling isn't completely "simple". Yes it does not require as much grid awareness as nano kiting, but it's difficult in module control, cap and heat management

[@MrGamermage]

glad to see theres still content being made thats useful, and CURRENT. most videos I come across are from 7 years or more

[@iaindavidson1140]

Really great video - very well produced; you spoke clearly and without hesitating which shows both your knowledge and preparation - thank you for making it so engaging and informative!

[@Verdis_deMosays]

Good vid, ill be using it for newbro pvp lessons as I get a chance to! Always good to see you guys in Metropolis. Brawling is always the most fun to me, because there's nothing better than green, lumpy, and covered in blasters! However, kiting requires such skill, I do envy a good pilot who can pull it off.

[@cburks6207]

Good stuff, I’m a filthy brawler in not so obvious brawling ships, that tries to take out the most expensive thing I can get my webs on for positive isk kB

[@cagapaisso]

Once i've realised that positioning control was the most determining factor in an engangement outcome i've decided to become good at that but a good brainless brawling moment can be very relaxing indeed. Enjoying allot your eve videos good stuff mate.

[@macelharen]

interesting concepts, except you missed one. "skirmishing" ever read Ripard Teg? ======== Engagement Range "No single factor will affect how you fit and fly your ship more than your intended engagement range. It's the most important thing to decide about how you want to fly your ship and therefore it's a decision that should be made early, if not first. Brawling range. This range is defined as roughly the range of an overheated Stasis Webifier, about 12km or less. Brawling ships are typically characterized as very high tank, high resist, very high DPS ships. They often fit both Microwarpdrive and Afterburners for versatility and damage mitigation, and sometimes rely on a signature radius smaller than their target to avoid damage. Kiting range. This range is defined as starting at the high end of brawling range, about 12km, and extending to roughly the range of an overheated Warp Disruptor, about 27km. Kiting ships generally rely on high speed and agility to mitigate damage and often have the best mix of speed, DPS, and tank of all EVE ships. Most PvP ships in EVE default to kiting range if the ship isn't specifically fit to another range. Skirmishing range. This range is defined as starting at the high end of kiting range, about 27km, and extending to about 70km. Skirmishing ships come in two flavors: those that sacrifice a bit of both DPS and tank for high speed, agility, and engagement range; or, those that make the opposite trade, forced to anchor to a relatively fixed point and take a good deal of punishment, but able to dish it out as well. Sniper range. This range is defined as anything over about 70km or so. Much like skirmishing ships, snipers are either tough or agile but almost never both. They rely on good fitting and good tactics to inflict damage outside of the range of potential adversaries, and good fleet commander skills to place the gang at the proper range. Sniper ships go in and out of vogue as tactics and counter-tactics for them are developed in EVE Online. " ~Jester's Trek 2013

[@Jesse_Dawg]

Fantastic breakdown of tactics and ships. Please make more PVP-related videos. This was really nice

[@TheInteractiveAuthor333]

I really enjoyed this video, so well done and informative. And it was easy to understand and follow. Great job man. Have an aweseome day!

[@johncloud3823]

I started Kiting a punisher when I started to get better in Amar, back before I even knew what it was called- I just noticed that I had a hard time surviving unless I was applying hit and run tactics! 🤣 I ended up in a brawler kiting hybrid- equip a ship with a mix of fast tracking and heavy hitting weapons- I’d start firing from range, rush in and cause pain, and blast out again, carving into people- against small numbers of smaller ship- and pick them off.

[@andyread4332]

Awesome , thanks for your description of PvP, ive been playing for a few years and just moved to null , so these are important tactics to know. Thx

[@moguldamongrel3054]

Never really was into big fleet stuff, but I loved the solo hunting and small group hunting tactics that the pirates I ran with were all about. We mixed tactics using baits, traps and just fighting. We had ss spots for brawlers/tacklers to retreat to, then we'd have snipers on point for that, as well as ewar and support/logistics's. I usually ran tackle/brawl before transitioning to kite/missiles as I had brawlers/tacklers to snag things down when fcing. Won many fights using our advantages against numerical superiority.

[@AxianMapping]

Finally an explanation vid that's actually entertaining. Good job bro

[@Zwiesel66]

Nice PVP guide, thank you. One of the things I do not like in EVE is, that you cannot try out these tactics in a safe environment - you have to learn everything the hard way.

[@moleboy9]

Thank you for this video, its made me look at EvE PvP and PvP in general in a new light, Congrats few people get me to shift long held opinions with such ease.

[@danielloureiro2114]

Thank you for sharing this, really good useful information!

[@duncanbrown0]

Just started playing and had decided to play a sniper. Looking through available ships I was figuring that the tornado was probably the best for me. It's cool to hear this video agree.

[@tesseractmusic1208]

thx i learned a lot on this video, i loved how you explain everything so easy :D

[@joseluisvazquez3092]

thank you, very good content and very usefull for the newies in eve. Hope you make mor stuff like this

[@hrob6381]

Beautiful work

[@teaguejelinek4038]

Hey I learned a lot on this video as a newbie thanks 👍

[@mattstrauchon6756]

Great basic breakdown.

[@Arakox]

great video, really helped me out

[@leadingauctions8440]

Thank you for these videos! Have you done a video on sniping?

[@mycroft16]

Been solo PVE huffing for a couple years and gained some disposable income. Thought I'd see what I could do with solo/small gang PvP. Great overview of the types and strategies. Personally, I think Kiting followed by a brawl is my style. I've got a Retri with polarized beams I use in Abyssals that deals cruiser levels of damage, at the cost of not having any shields. But it can take out battleships with relative ease and almost no armor loss.

[@Spartacus547]

My favorite tactic is mix between all three using a small squad that all specializes in something

[@leustragaming4386]

This is all good to know, as I am just now playing EO and I must say, I am pretty bad at it. This helps a lot!

[@franciswilliam7694]

Awesome vid!

[@ashokrayvenn]

Great vid. Thanks.

[@zaen_vg]

The absolute best fun I've had in eve was a period where I regurarly joined some kind of daily multi alliance pug frig roam. Only requirement was frig size, every type of ship was there from AFs to scram intys to any T1. It was everything I wanted, cheap, simple, fast, brutal. Like 50+ frigs rampaging at random places, we could take down regular roaming gangs, I think I got 500+ kills in those weeks. The only things that countered it was dedicated smartbombing, i got smartbombed probably twice out of countless frig roams. BEST FUN EVER in eve xD

[@ComradeAlpharius]

I really like Blob gameplay, it's fun and easy if you're a linemember, and you're just hanging out with your pals shooting the shit. And from an FC or Snowflake perspective it can be EXTREMELY skill intensive. What's the most expensive thing you lost? An entire 250 strong Jackdaw fleet? What about a HAC Whelp? The stakes in Blob Gameplay make it really exciting to experience.

[@dingdongs5208]

I havent played in 3 years but when I did I flew almost exclusively in low sec facwar and pirate corps, sure we did a lot of roaming gangs, organized fleets, sacs+guardians and machs+guards but the most fun I've had were with my t1 or faction frigates: man tanked Fed Navy Comet, dual prop caldari navy Hookbill, scram kite incursus, executioners, rep fleet firetails and my personal favourite the tracking disruptor, neut equipped autocannon slasher!

[@newchaoz]

Thanks for the video. Do you also have a discord or something?

[@henterpriser5779]

Thanks for the info

[@chemistrynerd]

I think kiting is the best for win to loss ratio 100%, which is why I prefer that play style. Also, you can engage multiple targets simultaneously. I will say that a newer pilot should expect to lose quite a lot while mastering this technique...simply orbiting a target will typically not work when kiting (the opponent will either leave or manage to catch you).

[@HuntingTarg]

Having played other (older) games using this tactic; 'orbiting' gets a lot more complex with a moving target that is most often trying to either chase you or run away. The flight path gets intricately complex to account for target movement (i.e. keep the target at the center), incoming fire, and weapon presentation & tracking. The less speed advantage the 'kiter' has, the more difficult the flying gets. The interweaving of kiting and brawling tactics is what may be called 'the dogfight.'

[@hrob6381]

As a new player I've got my large railgun skills, as well as its specialisation at 5. In a vindicator I snipe the npc cruisers with one or two shots. But their BS take more time. I assume artillary with perfect skills would do better.

[@tomeknowak8149]

thanks, that helps a lot :)

[@danrayson]

Now to need a style of hunting video, gate camp, belt shotgunning, recon and black ops, ess, pve hybrid, war Dec, high security ganking, small gang roam, solo!

[@Aditya0O7]

I will love to join you guys

[@jtjames79]

How well does Eve handle extremely high ping? I'm in Hawaii and am pretty much limited to turn based games until I can get Starlink.

[@ClarksonNo1]

Its actually fine. The Severs are only 1 tick. Meaning they only update every 1 second, so unless your ping is 1000ms or higher its usually not an issue.

[@cburks6207]

Lots of Russian , eu , and us in the game I think japan too . Try it out, it’s free

[@gagizagi]

It's one of the best real time games for high ping

[@HuntingTarg]

@@ClarksonNo1 I understand EVE has phenomenal timelag reconciliation; but for an experienced gamer, anything over 200ms sounds insufferable - and often is.

[@ClarksonNo1]

@@HuntingTarg "experienced gamer". I've been playing FPS Games for 25+ years. In Eve it doesnt matter Its more about strategy. The servers are only 1tik anyway.

[@GamerX-lc9ht]

Cool video

[@wedge471]

I don't know if you can be considered kitting but in the rare event that combat is called for I like to load up drone computers on a Dominix hop in 70 or 80 clicks out and let the drones go to town. I'm miner so don't do a lot of combat but my drone skills are pretty high so it works

[@ml_serenity]

Was always wondering: how come autocannons have much better tracking than lasers?.. Makes no sense at all...

[@AltAlloeys-xg3js]

Love PvP . I enjoy all the ships and all the weapon types ...though my comfort ship to instantly feel good, is blaster comet to score quick kills. I am enjoying kiting with catalyst navy recently. Kitting is hard and makes my palms sweaty lol 😂 it is AFTER the fight I realize about things that I could be doing better. So that helps. Btw Great video dude enjoyed it

[@anniefisher2927]

I think if you want to kiting, You better Using Q key To maneuver, Double clicks Relying on your Camera position.

[@ethanthamouse6695]

is it possible to hammer and anvil the targets prefferably for fleets hold the main force with bigger tanky ships as a frontline and then skirmish the targets till in position then full on charge dealing mass damage then backing out and repeat ( probably not the actual hammer and anvil tactic) but if so then that would be sick

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

These are the same tactics used in PVE. It's just a question of scale. In PVP - you are mostly going to be facing one player - or - be part of a group engaging another group. In PVE - you will mostly be encountering multiple NPCs. But you can pursue the same tactics. Most games beat you in PVE with numbers. They try to over whelm you. Here - Brawing works badly for the FNG - as they don't have the tank or DPS to just orbit something and slaughter whatever comes in range. For this you want to fit short range, powerful weapons like Blasters, Autocannon, and Pulse Lasers - and - have loaded ammunition like Antimatter Hybrid Ammo and Multi frequency Lasers - but - you can carry longer range Ammo such as Iron Charges or Radio Frequency Lasers to extend your range as much as you can if the enemy is father away. Kiting works better in these cases - as the rats will (for the most part) just keep coming after you. You get them chasing you and kill them as they come up. For this you want to use such as Cannon, Rail Guns and Beam Lasers. You don't want to orbit with these weapons go right at them - or - turn from them so that you have straight shots ahead or behind. You can though carry shorter range ammo for if they get close. Sniping is used against large groups of NPC's that - will attack you AS a group. Individually - they are not a problem - but - they all operate together and when they hit you - they hit you all at once. Here - you want to have weapons and sensors that outreach them so you can thin their numbers before closing in on the last ones. This is a common tactic when engaging the fleets of such as NPC Miners. Here you can have longer range Missiles and use drones. For all these tools you want to have your skills up. For using drones there are a number of modules you can fit to your ship to increase the range and damage your drones can do. combined with you own skills - the drones really hurt. One problem you have with running missions is that sometimes the Acceleration Gates will dump you right in the middle of a bunch of rats - and if they hit you with jammers, webs and scramblers - you have a real problem. Mostly the game only does that when i really intends to kill you. The ship I like right now - is the Arbitrator - as it can fit missiles and carry a good number of drones - and - fit those Drone Modules. .

[@h311y3ah]

this explains why i lose pvp constantly. now i have a framework for how to approach it on a basic level. thanks!

[@animationcycles7109]

Still got a Super Speed extended missile range Gnosis, that's quite close to Garmur Speed,..slower accelerating, but as long as I'm on the ball, gets crazy speed) while rocketing away, devastating them with the missiles, as they close in. ( A ton of work, won't lie... Snakes, mutaplasmiids on 500 MWD, Quafe and dose IV...plus over heat, but haven't been caught yet. ;)

[@senjo39]

Shoot id love to join but i cant pay for omega nor do i have the time to grind for isk. I have one toon that flies galente sniper and command drone ships of bc and bb spec into rails and drones as well as command. My other toon is a caldari destroyer pilot with missile and rocket spec so i dont know how well id do in pvp. I mostly rat and salvage but when i was omega i loved my gal stealth bomber

[@trekyjedi4136]

I am wondering about the ISD Chimera project, are you still working on it because I haven't seen any news on your progress, I'm just wondering because you haven't posted in your community tab in a while.

[@resurrectedstarships]

I should post something yes...sorry its taking so long. This is what happens when one has too many things going on at once.

[@trekyjedi4136]

@@resurrectedstarships It's alright I know how it feels to be so busy on so many things.

[@HuntingTarg]

@@resurrectedstarships There is a saying, 'having too many irons in the fire' (a reference to blacksmithing). Put another way, trying to focus on everything isn't focus. If you work on working on a few things, and making videos only about those few things, organize & streamline your routine, it should go a lot better for you (if it isn't already by now). Best wishes, hope to see more of your high- quality content!

[@xxxtakaji-kaixxx9016]

I’m getting some Dead Space vibes when he said “Mining Fleets”

[@mumbojumbotoys5555]

Did you hunt an good booties in your space adventure yet?

[@chrisklugh]

I love how to the point and articulated this video is. Eve should have more of this then some nerd rambling on for hours on end without much thought into why. Those videos are boring!

[@maszugsh9009]

Hello can you do a general strategy video for space warfare tactics in real life?

[@HuntingTarg]

That requires a discussion of current space technology, much of which is in development, or speculative &/ classified. Try checking Issac Arthur's series on space combat.

[@BreadApologist]

I rarely do pvp, but most of my pve and pvp are both done primarily with sniping.

[@zachrich7359]

I prefer to brawl, but have nothing against kiting or sniping, they all have their uses.

[@elrictraver8275]

Drones do indeed have tracking, just a heads up.

[@Runehunter7]

What role would be best for a Brutix and Vexor?

[@drrandom2639]

The brutix is almost always brawl fit, and so is the vexor, but you can fit them with railguns and drones to maximise range.

[@hiroki_rinn]

I pretty much never pvp unless a group irritates me into it. And I’m definitely partial to being a brawler. But with the release of my beloved Triglavian ships, I suspect I’d be brawler/kite-based. Sniping has never been an interest. Good video. I’d be tempted to join if I didn’t distrust everyone in the game. 😁👍🏻

[@Dazvanu]

missiles still exist? I liked to use sniper missiles when I stopped playing, but they were so easy to counter that it was bordering on ridiculous if you are fast you counter the missile, if you have a lot of armor counter on the missile, in a fleet with 100 ships if 5 of them have smartbombs protected the entire fleet from missiles, missiles were so easy to counter that there were anti-missile missiles lol.

[@HuntingTarg]

In sniping, one should not be attempting to missile multiple targets unless flying a battleship or comparable. It sounds like you're used to flying in squadrons or fleets, or in very well-outfitted ships.

[@ihatesand2000]

You had me at booty....

[@pudgystump]

Kiting all the way!

[@kaiblake2437]

But can I bring my Drake?

[@WolfHreda]

Nothing says fun like vaguely circling each other at 8500 meters and shooting all the guns you've got.

[@TheGentlemanGamerGG]

Brawling but mostly cuz i am terrible at kiting. :)

[@thamirivonjaahri6378]

If only i'd have cash to afford losing ships, I guess i'd be a kiter...suits my mindset way more, than frantic brawling, or (IMO) absolutely dishonorable sniping. To that end I'm even ratting using fast tank ships (Harbinger lashed with microwarp and long range lasers with Xray lenses in addition to some decent resistance modules and lots of capacitor batteries with small drones to assist in defense against targets that get too close). never ceased to wonder how long that would last in pvp, but like it was said above...way too expensive to try in real combat

[@BrentKung89]

and here I am just smartbombing

[@pauldenisMcdonald]

i like to snipe ,because iv lost so many ships to electronic warefare

[@KjetilMland_Nor]

TIL: I'm a kiter :) I get overloaded when trying to brawl, and loose SA. My adhd brain likes to tackle one problem at a time, so keep at range. and railguns with range boosting ammo and drones for me please ;)

[@tonyth9240]

Brawler4Life, but I'm looking at getting more experianced in kiting.

[@deathguard12]

you forgot the most 1337 of all, smartbombing.

[@raideurng2508]

Cloaky kitey 4 Life

[@PL-zh7cv]

Just curious what ship r u using?

[@time-for-ecopaydar2858]

Star wars vs EVE again ? xD

[@corinadoulin7273]

I fly both brawling and kiting depending on what suits my fancy, so everyone hates me :p

[@Mic_Glow]

instapop tornado as one of the three "basic tactics" ???? What region do you live in? It's less common than a smartbomb gatecamp... I'd say there are 2 main types, brawling and kiting. Brawling is mostly the

[@time-for-ecopaydar2858]

dude please use new ship icons ...

[@nhientran4142]

just snipe that crap out of 'em

[@TheKingofFive]

Dirtbag sniper here.

[@YumenoshimaTV]

XD

[@vladrootgmailcom]

Absolutely none of those, bro. Not a single of those tactics work for a crab like me :(

[@corvuscorax9028]

shut up fc i dont wanna be kitter anymore i just wanna be brawling

[@PL-zh7cv]

doesn't kitter has better odds for win?

[@swarmman8791]

So much hate kiters)

[@TheGUARDIANOFFOR]

Its not irrational KEEP AT RANGE OR ORBIT MONKEYS cry like little children if your brawler is actuali faster then teyr ship. You can literary harvest MOUNTAINS OF SALT just being faster as brawler. Kiters are children who think that just by being faster they will win. Kiters mostly have 0 skill and simply rely on faster speed. Hence super SALT when you catch them. SPEED OF YOUR SHIP DOES NOT EQUAL SKILL.....

[@craigmac1516]

drones do rely on tracking its why several ships give bonuses to that factor .