Understanding Drone Damage in EVE Online
In EVE Online, drones can sustain damage to their shields, armor, and hull during combat. While shield damage regenerates over time, armor and hull damage require active repair. It’s crucial to monitor your drones’ health through the drone control window and recall damaged drones to prevent costly replacements.
Methods for Repairing Drones
1. Station Repair: The simplest method is docking at a station with repair facilities. This option repairs all damaged drones for a small ISK fee.
2. Tethering: When tethered to a Citadel, your ship and drones are automatically repaired at no cost.
3. Remote Repair Modules: Fit your ship with remote armor and hull repair modules to fix drones in space. This method is useful when far from stations.
4. Logistics Drones: Use specialized repair drones to fix other drones. However, these are slower than remote repair modules.
5. Mobile Depot: Carry a mobile depot to refit your ship with repair modules when needed, allowing for on-the-go drone maintenance.
Tips for Efficient Drone Repair
• Rotate damaged drones: Swap out damaged drones for fresh ones during combat to maintain efficiency.
• Carry spare drones: Always have backup drones to replace damaged ones quickly.
• Use a mix of repair methods: Combine different repair techniques based on your situation and available resources.
Skill Requirements for Drone Repair
To effectively use repair drones, train the following skills:
• Repair Drone Operation
• Shield Emission Systems (for shield repair drones)
• Remote Armor Repair Systems (for armor repair drones)
• Remote Hull Repair Systems (for hull repair drones)
Advanced Drone Repair Strategies
• Use Tech 2 repair drones for a 20% boost in repair amount, hit points, speed, and orbital velocity.
• Consider carrying both remote repair modules and repair drones for versatility.
• In fleet operations, coordinate with logistics ships for more efficient drone repairs.