There is a particular hum that resonates through the hull of an Ishtar, a sound that is not quite mechanical, but biological—the dormant thrum of a robotic swarm awaiting its release. To sit in its command chair is to feel the legacy of CreoDron’s most dedicated drone carrier, a vessel where every system, every circuit, is subservient to a single purpose: the absolute dominion of its unmanned fleet. As the marketers at CreoDron themselves touted, it is “the Ishkur’s big brother,” the ultimate expression of their fascination with pushing the drone carrier envelope.
Flying an Ishtar in EVE is an exercise in detached, overwhelming power. It emerged from the ashes of its predecessor, the Vexor Navy Issue, to claim the throne as the undisputed king of AFK ratting. The ship is widely considered an S-tier choice for PvE, particularly for null-sec anomaly ratting. Its dominance stems from a specialized role as a “low-input” or semi-AFK platform that balances high damage with excellent survivability.
The ship’s design philosophy is one of pure specialization. While the Vexor offers a blend of drone and hybrid turret power, the Ishtar dedicates itself entirely to the swarm. Its bonuses are not for mere mortals; they are the birthright of the drones it commands. With the capacity to field a full flight of five heavily bonused heavy or sentry drones, this cruiser projects firepower that can rival battleships, all from a platform that is agile, cost-effective, and incredibly resilient. Whether you are Farming the dense anomalies of Nullsec or clearing complex combat sites.
Essential Skills
Before you invest hundreds of millions into this sophisticated machine, you must ensure your capsuleer skills are a solid foundation. The ship is a Tech II vessel, and while its power ceiling is high, so are its prerequisites.
Required Skills To Fly it
| Skill Name | Target Level | Training Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gallente Cruiser | Level V | 29d 15h 6m |
| Spaceship Command | Level II | 47m |
| Gallente Destroyer | Level III | 8h 53m |
| Gallente Frigate | Level III | 8h 53m |
| Spaceship Command | Level I | 8m |
| Heavy Assault Cruisers | Level I | 50m |
| Energy Grid Upgrades | Level V | 11d 20h 26m |
| Power Grid Management | Level II | 47m |
| Science | Level I | 8m |
| Weapon Upgrades | Level V | 11d 20h 26m |
| Gunnery | Level II | 47m |
| Spaceship Command | Level V | 5d 22h 13m |
| Capacitor Management | Level IV | 3d 3h 25m |
| Power Grid Management | Level III | 4h 26m |
| TOTAL QUEUE TIME | — | 63d 9h 37m 40s |
Recommended Skills Level for Efficiency
- Heavy Assault Missiles (IV/V): 5% bonus to heavy assault missile damage per skill level. Level IV is functional, but Level V unlocks its full durability.
- Drones (V): The absolute foundation of your damage. This skill unlocks heavy drones and increases the number of drones you can control simultaneously.
- Drone Interfacing (V): This is your primary damage multiplier. Each level provides a 10% increase to all drone damage, making Level V a massive 50% bonus to your base drone DPS.
- Heavy Drone Operation (V) & Sentry Drone Interfacing (V): These are critical for unlocking Tech II drones, which provide a significant boost to damage and application.
- Drone Navigation & Sharpshooting: Improves drone speed and optimal range, crucial for applying damage quickly and efficiently across large sites.
- Shield Operation and Shield Management V or Hull Upgrades, Repair Systems and Remote Armor Repair Systems V: Your choice here will define your tank. Prioritize the line that matches your chosen fitting philosophy.
- Capacitor Systems Operation & Capacitor Management: Essential for maintaining capacitor stability on active tank fits, ensuring your repairers and boosters never shut off.
- Afterburner (IV): For most PvE applications, an Afterburner is preferred for its lower signature radius and capacitor usage, which aids in “signature tanking” by making you harder for NPC battleships to hit.
- Weapon Upgrades (V): The Ishtar can be tight on fitting. This skill is essential for fitting a powerful and balanced ship with multiple Drone Damage Amplifiers.
Two Builds for PvE
The Ishtar’s incredible versatility allows it to excel in various environments. Its slot layout (4 high, 4 mid, 6 low) provides flexibility, but the core principle remains: your low slots are sacred ground for Drone Damage Amplifiers (DDAs). Below, we detail two of the most effective and proven builds, tailored to specific enemy factions.
Shield Tank Build
This fit is the king of nullsec anomaly farming, particularly in Angel Cartel space. It leverages a powerful active shield tank and high speed to mitigate damage, freeing up all six low slots for raw damage and application modules. It excels at “signature tanking”—using a 10MN Afterburner to create high speed and a small signature radius, making you harder for NPC battleships to hit.
Drone Link Augmentor I (for maximum drone control range)
10MN Afterburner II
Large Shield Booster II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Large Compact Pb-Acid Cap Battery
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Omnidirectional Tracking Enhancer II
Medium Explosive Shield Reinforcer II (Angels deal Explosive damage)
Berserker II (Explosive damage, optimal against Angels)
Valkyrie II (Explosive damage, for faster targets)
Hornet EC-300 or 
Warrior II (for jamming or tackle)Active Armor Tank Build
For pilots operating in Sansha’s Nation or Blood Raider space, where EM and Thermal damage are prevalent, the active armor tank shines. This fit uses the low slots for a robust repair system, sacrificing some damage for exceptional survivability against these specific damage profiles.
Drone Navigation Computer II
Medium Armor Repairer II
Medium EM Armor Reinforcer II (Sanshas deal EM/Thermal damage)
Praetor II (EM/Thermal damage, optimal against Sanshas)
Infiltrator II (EM damage, for faster targets)
‘Augmented’ Acolyte (Thermal damage, for close-range defense)Final Thoughts
The Ishtar is both a gentle farmer, methodically harvesting bounties with detached precision, and a fierce warrior, capable of unleashing a swarming, uncontrollable rage upon its targets. It is a testament to Gallente and CreoDron ingenuity—a platform that achieves perfection not by doing everything, but by doing one thing better than any other ship in its class.