Prowler Fits for Kronos Changes

Kronos is out and Blockade Runners have been rebalanced. I'm happy with the changes to Prowlers, overall it's a pretty nice buff. The biggest change to Prowlers is the addition of an extra low slot which gives the ship a lot more fitting flexibility.

I've been trying out various different fittings in Pyfa since last night, here's what I came up with.

All alignment times are with MWD off.
All tanks are omni tank.

[Prowler - Basic fit]

Damage Control II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Covert Cynosural Field Generator I

Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I
Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I

This fit is basically my old Prowler fit with a 2nd nano added to the lows and polycarbon rigs replaced with Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizers. It easily gets under 4 second alignment time, even with low skills alts now. Even with relatively low skilled alts, there's no longer any need for Polycarbons to get alignment time under 4 secs. Hyperspatials put warp speed up to 10.6 Au/s (assuming all Vs in relevant skills) without implants or 12.5 Au/s with a WS-618 implant (13.5 au/s with HVO IIs). With full T2 resists now tank is a fair bit better too, at 17.1k with Invulns and DC active and 9.26k with them inactive. It has 4.38k m3 cargo space, a bit better than before.

BTW, with Transports Ships IV, the warp speed is 10.1 Au/s.

If you want a little more tank and don't mind losing ~3 au warp speed you can always swap out the Hyperspatials for CDFE Is increasing tank to 10.4k / 19.9k.

Overall, it's faster (both warp speed and normal space speed), aligns quicker, has better tank and even has a bit more cargo space than the pre Kronos Prowler. I also noticed cap performance seems somewhat better too.

Note the Covert Cyno is optional, you don't really need it, it could easily be replaced with something else (a Sisters Core Probe Launcher for example) or just left empty (as I usually do). Also the fitting might be too tight for low skills alts with the cyno but no problem without it.

The above is probably the fit I'll wind up going with but the fitting flexibility gained with that extra low opens up some interesting new possibilities. For example a fit with under 3 second alignment time which was not possible with the old pre Kronos Prowler.

[Prowler - 3 sec align]

Inertia Stabilizers II
Inertia Stabilizers II
Inertia Stabilizers II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Sisters Core Probe Launcher

Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I
Medium Hyperspatial Velocity Optimizer I

This fit keeps the warp speed but trades some tank and normal space speed for a 3 second alignment time. Though I don't travel into low/null much anymore, that 1 second lower align time might be useful for those who do. The tank is lower too (14k with invulns active, 10k with them off) but with T2 resists now it's still slightly better than my old Prowler fit. Again you can always trade off some warp speed for a bit more tank (roughly 2.5k more with modules active) by replacing the Hyperspatials with CDFEs.

Then there's a fairly hefty active buffer tank fit.

[Prowler - Brick Fit]

Damage Control II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II

Large Shield Extender II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
[Empty High slot]

Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I

This one trades the MWD for heavy tank with an LSE and 2 CDFEs. It has 41.8k EHP with active mods on and CDFE Is (44.8k with CDFE IIs) and still has an alignment time well under 4 seconds.

You could always dual tank it, trading one of the nanos for a 400mm Reinforced Rolled Tungsten Plates and increase the tank to 49k (with CDFE IIs) but your align time would be over 4 seconds and IMO that's not worth the tradeoff (IOW, dual tanking is bad).

Finally though I normally shun cargo mods because I really don't need that much cargo space normally and alignment time is very important to me, there is one new cargo fit I find intriguing.

[Prowler - Cargo 6.41k (4 sec align)]

Damage Control II
Nanofiber Internal Structure II
Expanded Cargohold II

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Covert Ops Cloaking Device II
Covert Cynosural Field Generator I

Medium Cargohold Optimization I
Medium Polycarbon Engine Housing I

I do buy a number of frigate and cruiser hulls. With under 5k cargo I can only pick up a single frigate and nothing bigger. This fit with 6.41 cargo capacity can carry 2 frigates or a single T3 strategic cruiser and still has an align time under 4 seconds.

By swapping in 2 more Expanded Cargohold IIs it gets 10.4k cargo, enough to carry 4 frigates, 2 T3s or a single T1 Cruiser with enough left over for the usual skillbooks, mods and implants I'm always moving around.

For 5k cargo, you don't really need the Cargohold Optimization rig (it breaks 5k without the rig) but the rig is essential to break 10k. Of course alignment time goes up without the nano but it's still under 5 seconds which isn't terrible.

That extra low really does give the Prowler a whole lot more flexibility. Besides these fits many perfectly good variations on them are possible now. They can easily be tweaked for a little more of one stat at the cost of a little less of another stat.