Brave Hole Divers

If you've been on a fleet with the Brave Hole Divers, or just heard that there's an opportunity to make dank isk in wormhole space by working with fleets, this guide is intended to be your next step. The information contained herein should be enough to get you out and running your own fleets. IF you're just joining, not everything here will be essential, but it's all useful for you to know. The wormhole krabbing fleets are generally one of the more laid back and casual fleet experiences, so you should feel free to get as involved in fleet command activities as you want.

At a very high level, these fleets are just small groups of pilots who run the combat sites in C5 wormhole space. The rats in those sites (called sleepers) drop loot that can be sold to NPCs for significant value. An efficient and well run C5 fleet can generate over 150mil isk/hr per participating player.

In a Nutshell, the gameplay loop is:

• Find an eligible C5 near GE-8JV
• Run the combat sites
• Collect the loot and optionally salvage the wrecks
• Sell the loot at an NPC station with the appropriate buy orders (details for that at the bottom of the page)

If that sounds interesting to you join #brave-hole-divers channel on Slack, as this is where we hang out, theorycraft, spam pings and ping out fleets

If there is no wormhole to krab in, this guide is worth less than the power you use to display it, so obviously the first step is finding an eligible wormhole. While experienced FCs can krab wherever, to minimize chances of dying and maximize isk per hour, a wormhole should be Convenient, Safe and Lucrative If you are not already familiar with wormhole characteristics, review https://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Wormholes for a primer to help with understanding the below.

Time is money, even more so in eve, so a convenient wormhole will not include an epic escapade through 20 systems, while being constantly dropped on. We are looking for a wormhole that is fairly close by, usually meaning any Brave-owned system in Catch. Due to wormhole mechanics, the hole should also be Large or Very Large, as Dominixes will not fit into smaller holes. In addition, the hole should not be “end of life” (EoL), as it means that the time it will stay open is at most 4 hours, so unless one can get a fairly precise timer on hole lifetime, it’s usually discouraged to rat in EoL wormhole

There is a saying among wormhole groups saying, that you should consider any asset taken into J-Space to be considered forfeit, we, however, try to minimize the risks, to maximize the profits. There are several criteria for that: are there any structures anchored? if so, who owns them? is there anyone inside? is the zkillboard of the system full of recent kills? And this is just considering the in-system threats, we also have to know about the temporary neighbors. We want to ask all the questions for the connecting wormholes as well. All of this is however up to the FC to decide, are the risks involved worth it? The higher the risk, the more vigilance is advised, while the d-scan should be checked fairly often, regardless of danger level, a good FC will post alts on connection wormholes, called pickets, to get an early warning that trouble is brewing.

All of the above is irrelevant, however, if the hole has no or very few combat sites, a good hole will contain multiple Core Garrisons, or in case of a strong fleet, Core Strongholds, other sites can be run as well, but will most likely result in worse isk per hour

You could have a perfect wormhole, but it would be useless if you had no ships to run the sites and bring home the sweet, sweet loot. The basic fleet composition consists of Nestor logistics battleships with Dominix DPS and can be expanded by adding Rattlesnakes and Leshaks. Nestors depend on capchain for capacitor stability to sustain armor repairers

The geddons are a new doctrine meant to be run with only other geddons, or other high DPS ships. They are cheap, can hold down the DRB without refitting, and cap stable under the strongest neuts. The fit below has optional refits for getting out of sticky situations, and for a drone bunny. You will need all capacitor, armor compensation, amarr battleship and drone skills to at least level IV, and if your cap skills are lower than that, will need to use mindflood. This is the perfect starter doctrine as it is cheap and easy to skill into, and doesn't require a lot of input from the pilot except for switching reps.

[Armageddon, BHD Protospider]
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
1600mm Steel Plates II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Damage Control II

Large Cap Battery II
Large Cap Battery II
Warp Scrambler II
Heavy Stasis Grappler II

Large I-ax Enduring Remote Armor Repairer
Large I-ax Enduring Remote Armor Repairer
Large I-ax Enduring Remote Armor Repairer
Large Inductive Compact Remote Capacitor Transmitter
Large Inductive Compact Remote Capacitor Transmitter
Large Inductive Compact Remote Capacitor Transmitter
Drone Link Augmentor I

Large Egress Port Maximizer I
Large Egress Port Maximizer I
Large Explosive Armor Reinforcer I



Hammerhead II x5
Hornet EC-300 x5
Federation Navy Ogre x5
Imperial Navy Praetor x5
Infiltrator II x5

Sisters Core Scanner Probe x16
Scan Resolution Script x1
Standard Mindflood Booster x5
Sensor Booster II x1
Phased Scoped Target Painter x1
Prototype Cloaking Device I x1
Stasis Webifier II x1
Core Probe Launcher I x1
Large Micro Jump Drive x1

One of the best looking ships in EVE, Nestor is the core of Brave Hole Divers Fleet. As Amarr Battleship skill increases resistances (as well as Armor Compensation Skills), it is advised to have it trained to at least level IV. But do what you want, I’m just a wiki page and not your dad.

[Nestor, [BHD] 4-3 Nestor]

Explosive Armor Hardener II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Drone Damage Amplifier II

Large Micro Jump Drive
Large Cap Battery II
Cap Recharger II
Large Cap Battery II
Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II

Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Armor Repairer II
Large Remote Capacitor Transmitter II
Large Remote Capacitor Transmitter II
Large Remote Capacitor Transmitter II

Large Remote Repair Augmentor I
Large Remote Repair Augmentor I
Large Remote Repair Augmentor I


Federation Navy Ogre x5
Imperial Navy Praetor x5



Nanite Repair Paste x400
Sisters Core Scanner Probe x8
Mobile Depot x1
Mobile Tractor Unit x2
Prototype Cloaking Device I x1
Core Probe Launcher I x1

Dominix - the space potato, T1 gallente battleship capable of fielding 5 heavy or 5 sentry drones. Blasters’ relatively short range, but high damage makes them very good at shredding the boss and the tracking bonus on sentry drones makes the application quite great at a decent range

[Dominix, [BHD] Dominix Blaster]

Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Magnetic Field Stabilizer II
1600mm Steel Plates II

Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Large Micro Jump Drive
Drone Navigation Computer II
Drone Navigation Computer II

Drone Link Augmentor I
Modal Mega Neutron Particle Accelerator I
Modal Mega Neutron Particle Accelerator I
Modal Mega Neutron Particle Accelerator I
Modal Mega Neutron Particle Accelerator I
Modal Mega Neutron Particle Accelerator I

Large Trimark Armor Pump I
Large Trimark Armor Pump I
Large Explosive Armor Reinforcer I


Federation Navy Garde x5
Federation Navy Ogre x5
Imperial Navy Praetor x5


Antimatter Charge L x8000
Iron Charge L x8000
Stasis Webifier II x2
Warp Scrambler II x2

Rattlesnakes do as much damage, if not more with drones as the Nestors and Dominixes, but their Torpedos speed up the boss wave considerably, as they apply fully. With numerous mid slots, it’s also able to hold the DRB on its own,making it an excellent FC boat. Rattlenakes should carry a full load of EM and Thermal Torps.

[Rattlesnake, [BHD] DAnk C5 Ticks]

Drone Damage Amplifier II
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Imperial Navy Multispectrum Energized Membrane
Imperial Navy Multispectrum Energized Membrane
Drone Damage Amplifier II
1600mm Steel Plates II

Drone Navigation Computer II
Drone Navigation Computer II
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Omnidirectional Tracking Link II
Missile Guidance Computer II
Missile Guidance Computer II
Large Micro Jump Drive

Drone Link Augmentor II
Torpedo Launcher II
Torpedo Launcher II
Torpedo Launcher II
Torpedo Launcher II
Torpedo Launcher II

Large Kinetic Armor Reinforcer I
Large Explosive Armor Reinforcer I
Large Explosive Armor Reinforcer I


Acolyte II x5
Gecko x1
Ogre II x2
Praetor II x2


Inferno Rage Torpedo x4000
Mjolnir Rage Torpedo x4000
Missile Precision Script x1
Missile Range Script x3
Nanite Repair Paste x500
Sisters Core Scanner Probe x8
Scan Resolution Script x1
Targeting Range Script x1
Optimal Range Script x1
Tracking Speed Script x3
Prototype Cloaking Device I x1
Sensor Booster II x1
Heavy Karelin Scoped Stasis Grappler x1
Stasis Webifier II x2
Target Painter II x2
Warp Scrambler II x3

Leshak, a triglavian battleship, capable of highest subcapital damage in the game, while expansive to train, build and fly, makes the sites quite faster. This ship is by no mean a necessity, and one should train into it only if they are certain they want it.

[Leshak, [BHD] C5 Leshak]

Entropic Radiation Sink II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Entropic Radiation Sink II
Damage Control II
Tracking Enhancer II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Multispectrum Energized Membrane II
Explosive Energized Membrane II

Heavy Stasis Grappler II
Thukker Large Cap Battery
500MN Quad LiF Restrained Microwarpdrive
Large Micro Jump Drive

Supratidal Scoped Entropic Disintegrator
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]
[Empty High slot]

Large Trimark Armor Pump I
Large Thermal Armor Reinforcer I
Large Kinetic Armor Reinforcer I


Federation Navy Ogre x4
Imperial Navy Praetor x4


Baryon Exotic Plasma L x1500
Meson Exotic Plasma L x2000
Tetryon Exotic Plasma L x2000

If there are outgoing wormholes from the C5 you are in you might want to consider watching the connections and that's where picketing comes into play. The picket is a dedicated alt that has all world sounds maxed out sitting near the wormhole, preferably cloaked. As soon as they hear the characteristic wub-wub-wub a wormhole does they should a. Alert the FC b. Switch to that account to try and gather the name and ship of the person coming through. There is no specific fitting, but since the picket alt is often salvaging alt as well, a normal salvage ship with a cloak will fill that role perfectly

It is important to have the camera centered at the wormhole, zoomed in as much as it is allowed, to be certain, that no enemy splash will go unnoticed

[Corax, Picket]
Inertial Stabilizers II
Inertial Stabilizers II

Cap Recharger II
Cap Recharger II
5MN Microwarpdrive II
Cap Recharger II

Prototype Cloaking Device I
Salvager I
Salvager I
Salvager I
Salvager I
Salvager I
Small Tractor Beam I

Small Salvage Tackle I
Small Salvage Tackle I
Small Salvage Tackle I

But then again, there is a lot of freedom with the ship choice, any ship from a capital (my God, please don’t) to a rookie ship will do, even a capsule, if that’s all that you have on hand

And now begins the fun part. First I bestow upon thee the one the only, wormhole bible: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSbMMEBlM5BAFXldnnX3GDGfUp02OAuMznRljKkbpH4Ff3SyNTrkyEjHSJGkNJsDPqypSZw3sQmQ1Ta/pubhtml# In it there is are all information needed to successfully run a fleet. At the basic level, just shoot whatever is marked red last and you should be good.

Garrison sites are split into two parts, the site, and the Drifter Escalation. The first part consists of multiple waves of sleepers, and the escalation is a single ship called Drifter Response Battleship (DRB). That terrifying killing machine will not rest until it dies, or… well, that’s basically it. For its shields, you should deal thermal damage (Ogres) and for armor and structure EM (Praetors). You will be reminded when it’s time to switch drones.

Drone Bunny - The one who herds the drones. Using a Target Painter, they will make all the drones in the fleet, assigned to the bunny, attack one target. Depending on the experience of the person doing it they can do it on their own or get help from the FC. The drone bunny role is probably the most labor intensive job when running sites, but even then is not very hard. And trust me, controlling a big purple ball of death and destruction makes you feel powerful.

While most of the know-how comes with experience, there are several tricks to running sites:

• In Core Garrisons the towers that spawn in the first wave never switch aggro, which can force splitting reps, try killing them first
• In Core Garrisons the second wave contains 6 logi frigates, that are also the trigger. It's up to the FC but it's recommended to kill 4 of them while leaving 2 alive not to trigger the next wave by accident while reducing the regeneration of sleepers
• To hold the DRB you need at least 5 points of warp disruption, meaning 3 warp scramblers or one Heavy Warp Scrambler as well as plenty of Stasis Webifiers and/or Grapplers

Site running details:

• Bookmark the central Tower in the Garrison and warp to it at 10, or prepare special warpin bookmarks, guide coming soon
• Drone Bunny is either a Dominix or a Rattlesnake.
• For Strongholds everyone refits a single DDA to a DCU II

If you are not interested in running fleets, feel free to skip this part.

This doctrine is designed with at least 3 nestors in mind. It is recommneded that the drone bunny not be a Nestor to keep the Nestor's reps free for damage switches and refitting the capacitor mids to a target painter might endanger the stability. This fleet setup is aimed to run Garrisons. If you wish to run strongholds then make sure all ships refit a Drone Damage Amplifier to a Damage Control Unit II, and do so at your own risk

While running the sites, you must have noticed that you are not getting any bounty payouts, don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal, if you are getting bounty payments, you should report it to the nearest CONCORD representative. What sleepers do however is to drop “blue loot” when killed. You should gather in with and MTU and when the site is done, scoop it, as it’s your payout ticket, and there is no fury like a krab unpaid, so DON’T lose it.

If you manage to get is safely back to K-Space you might want to exchange it for ISK. There are buy orders all over New Eden, in NPC stations that is, with NPC buy orders for a set price, the closest to GE- being the J7A-UR system in Curse, the way you get it there is up to you, but the most common way is to get an interceptor and fly it there, preferably with someone else scouting for you.

If you have friends with the right tools or have the right tools, a setup with a Black Ops battleship bridging you to the target system is the foolproof way of getting the money safe.

Seeing that billion isk tick in your wallet makes you want to keep it, but you have to pay your fellow krabs. The best way to manage payouts, especially if you have people joining or leaving in the middle of the fleet is a payout sheet. Message Manks Crendraven in Slack on in-game if you want to get one, that is actually working correctly. When you know how much money everyone should get, simply “Give Money” to them in game. A good idea is to put their names linked in your Notepad in-game for easy money transfers.

• Is the wormhole large or very large?
• Is it within 6 jumps of GE-8JV?
• Is it a vanilla(no effect), magnetar, red giant, wolf-rayet or a black hole wormhole?
• Does it have more than 2 garrisons?
• What is the J-Code of it?
• Does it have any other wormholes leading into it?(If you've scanned inside the wormhole, please note down the signature names as well)