Combat DBX

[Achilles7]

I use my recently G5 upgraded (explorer with teeth) dbx for general play...inc mission running, mat hunting, assassination missions & I even take it to CZ's to complete massacre missions - most recently killing 54 ships with zero deaths in one sitting - one thing is certain with this build, if more than two ships start firing on you...RUN!!! preferably with pips alternating between eng & sys (due to the unique mechanics of (some/all?) Lakon ships in relation to speed & pips) - remembering to barrel roll using V & L thrusters with FA OFF! Rails & SLFs are your biggest CZ theat in this relatively slow ship!...but even so, 'completely viable in combat!

Standard armour with heavy duty mod & all other mods inc weps are 'lightweight', except DSS (fast scan),'D' thrusters (obvious) & 'D' PD (charge enhanced). This ship is not to be used at open CGs ofc but it is my favourite ship now, by a margin. I'm just glad to be rid of that monstrosity that is the dullards' go-to ship ie the horrendous Asp

As far as a fully combat oriented DBX is concerned? This - like absolutely any other engineered option - will be a great PvE ship, with lack of speed & poor shields being its salient drawbacks, but as proven by my exploration version, easily capable of dealing with any NPC threat.

Behold...the 'Giordano Bruno':

http://beta.coriolis.edcd.io/outfit...lFCRAAAA.EweloBhBGA2HQFMCGBzANokMK6A=&bn=dbx

 

[Crank Larson]

My DBX has always been armed and shielded. I use a fixed beam and two gimballed multicannons, and that works out fine for PvE (all with G5 long range mods). Especially with G5 dirty drives. Even fully loaded, I get 50Ly range, so I've never even considered running without weapons. The only thing I do when I head out exploring is to swap the cargo rack for an AFM (just means I can't take any cargo - not really an issue when out in the black).

I also love my DBX. It is much better than the AspX for combat (though I like the AspX too ).

 

[Alikat]

My highly engineered combat dbx: https://eddp.co/u/3mMsN4uv

I clicked 'best' on each engineer mod and my ingame stats are still actually a little better than this.

Fast recharging, resistant shields, 1500+ hull and a mod enforcement. I can kill stuff like an elite conda with it, but might lose shields a few times and have to repair after just a few such fights.

When not boosting or firing weapons, heat is at about 18%.

 

[Spacecat]

I have one with grd 5 shields and dirty drives, 2 beams, and a large MC. I usually use it for engineer related stuff. It's ok for combat but not great. I used it a few times in CZs when I was doing combat bonds to unlock whichever engineer needed them. About the third or fourth trip, I got pounced on by a bunch of ships and got blown up. Then I went and got my Vulture and never died again, so yeah, it's ok, but not great.

 

[Madrax573]

Yeah I can hang around a CZ or HAZRES until my ammo runs and reloads run dry if I want to most of the time now. The DBE is certainly capable of combat.

 

[NecasekO]

In my experience it can be done but requires a lot of engineering. Stock DBX can carry good weapons, but it's slow, doesn't turn well and has limited power plant and distributor. This is what I did to my DBX:
1. Overcharge the power plant as far as it will go, DBX can handle the extra heat. I'm at 21-22 MW output.
2. Get dirty drive mod, G5 if possible. This makes a huge difference in combat, although you still can't outrun a FDL.
3. Install a 4A Prismatic shield with reinforced mod and up to 4 modded boosters - currently I'm running 2xA and 2xD for a total of 650 MJ shield. Normal shield with reinforced mod works too if you don't have access to Prismatics.
4. Either weapon focused or charge enhanced distributor mod helps a lot.
5. You have enough power to run pretty much any combination of weapons, just keep distributor draw low. I'm currently using large focused pulse laser and a pair of medium high yield cannons, all fixed.

I use this DBX for pretty much everything, swapping modules between 32 tons cargo space for deliveries, fuel scoop + SRV for exploration and planetary missions, or 1xMRP + 2xHRP for heavier combat. With 4 pips in SYS the shield lasts quite a while, and I can fight almost any NPC ship including elite FDLs. Elite Anacondas can be a problem since they often have shield banks and deal a LOT of damage. I usually avoid fighting wings, but that's mostly because the shield takes a long time to recharge after a big fight - this DBX definitely can take on a wing of 3 average NPCs and kill them all before the shield fails.

 

[Hooplah]

Your passion for the DBX is influencing your combat decisions. The ultimate go to medium/heavy fighters are the Vulture and the Federal Assault Ship. The Vulture is fast and can avoid incoming fire while having serious beams to attack. The FAS not so much but has the best hull in the game. Players flying an FAS don't really care much about shields as the hull can drop to 65 percent before any of your modules take a one percent hit. Your DBX cannot compete with either.

So love the ship you fly but remember that no one ship, except for maybe the Python with an excellent Commander, can do everything.

 

[Madrax573]

Your passion for the DBX is influencing your combat decisions. The ultimate go to medium/heavy fighters are the Vulture and the Federal Assault Ship. The Vulture is fast and can avoid incoming fire while having serious beams to attack. The FAS not so much but has the best hull in the game. Players flying an FAS don't really care much about shields as the hull can drop to 65 percent before any of your modules take a one percent hit. Your DBX cannot compete with either.

So love the ship you fly but remember that no one ship, except for maybe the Python with an excellent Commander, can do everything.

Bah!!

As someone who regularly flys ships in ways people think are daft don't listen to this OP.

The DBE is a fine small combat ship. If you like flying it then go fight in it and have fun and don't worry about what the current FOTM ship is for combat as long as you can do it and have fun you are winning.

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

if you can make a battleship out of a T9,
making one out of the DBX shouldn't be that hard

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

… The ultimate go to medium/heavy fighters are the Vulture and the Federal Assault Ship. …

There is a difference between "how to make the DBX PvE combat capable" and "what is most effective combat ship"

The OP asked the first question, you answered the second questions (but I guess some might disagree with your answer).

The Vulture and FAS are really nice ships in their own right. They are my go to combat ships if I need to get things done.

The DBX is a nice ship and being able to fight with it makes it just more fun to fly. The answer to the OPs question is that a DBX can be turned into a usable PvE combat ship. It might require a lot of engineering and - in my opinion - good piloting, but it's doable.


Have fun CMDRs with what ever ship you enjoy flying.

 

[Aashenfox]

For a combat DBX you need a god roll on the dirty drives. Once you've got that, it's a very capable little combat vessel. I run a large efficient beam and 2 long range rails.

 

[Madrax573]

For a combat DBX you need a god roll on the dirty drives. Once you've got that, it's a very capable little combat vessel. I run a large efficient beam and 2 long range rails.

TBH you 'need' god rolls for anything if you are PVP'ing. A unmodded DBE with the right fit and some practice can smash PVE combat.

 

[Aashenfox]

TBH you 'need' god rolls for anything if you are PVP'ing. A unmodded DBE with the right fit and some practice can smash PVE combat.

There's a difference between 'can' and fun. I can defeat most NPCs in my Dolphin (which ironically is more enjoyable to fly out of the box than the DBX), but I wouldn't really enjoy it. Let me rephrase... For PvE, if you want to enjoy fighting in the DBX, you need a god roll on dirty drives, it turns like a drunk elephant when stock. For PvP you would go with a Silent Running build, it's the DBX's strongest talent (running cool as a cucumber). But then, I know that you also know that, not being patronising, just posting it for the sake of posterity in the thread.

 

[Madrax573]

Completely agree with the can and fun aspects. I do a lot of flying in ways that other just think are you doing that for

For me I have gr3 DD on my DBE and find that it is more than maneuverable enough to dance around asteroids and larger ships to line up my fixed high yield large cannon on my targets.

I wasn't meaning to have a go so to speak I just don't like anyone being told that they have to have god engineering to be able to do stuff in ED when In my experience it's far from the case thats all.

 

[Old Duck]

Have you given any thought to the DBS? It's a great little combat ship that can really shine when engineered.

I've never bought one - I went straight to the Explorer, but I have looked at the stats. The two medium and two small hard points feel somewhat cliche to me, as my other two favorite ships (Keelback and Viper III) have exactly the same. I really do like the DBE's one large and two medium HPs, even more than the Vulture's two large HPs, especially when you consider the DBE's heat-handling capability.

I really don't need to make a combat DBE (DBX?), it's just my OCD kicking in - I hate wasting these wonderful hardpoints. That said, I do enjoy using my DBE in "run, Forest, run" mode while doing missions that don't require combat. I've yet to be killed by those "Eagle is in the nest eating little fishy" NPC hitmen that come after me, as they can never get a lock on my 17% heat signature before I jump away.

Yep, OCD, that must be what it is. I almost wish the DBE had just two small hardpoints like the Dolphin, then I'd not be bothered so, LOL.

 

[Aashenfox]

Completely agree with the can and fun aspects. I do a lot of flying in ways that other just think are you doing that for

For me I have gr3 DD on my DBE and find that it is more than maneuverable enough to dance around asteroids and larger ships to line up my fixed high yield large cannon on my targets.

I wasn't meaning to have a go so to speak I just don't like anyone being told that they have to have god engineering to be able to do stuff in ED when In my experience it's far from the case thats all.

No misunderstanding mate, all accurate information is good information. [up]

Regarding the DBS, it's just not got enough modules for me.

 

[Madrax573]

I've never bought one - I went straight to the Explorer, but I have looked at the stats. The two medium and two small hard points feel somewhat cliche to me, as my other two favorite ships (Keelback and Viper III) have exactly the same. I really do like the DBE's one large and two medium HPs, even more than the Vulture's two large HPs, especially when you consider the DBE's heat-handling capability.

I really don't need to make a combat DBE (DBX?), it's just my OCD kicking in - I hate wasting these wonderful hardpoints. That said, I do enjoy using my DBE in "run, Forest, run" mode while doing missions that don't require combat. I've yet to be killed by those "Eagle is in the nest eating little fishy" NPC hitmen that come after me, as they can never get a lock on my 17% heat signature before I jump away.

Yep, OCD, that must be what it is. I almost wish the DBE had just two small hardpoints like the Dolphin, then I'd not be bothered so, LOL.

Just fit it up for a scrap and go have a shot and see how you like it. It's a halfway house between your viper and your keelback tbh so you never know you might love fighting in it.

I too like having the large cannon on mine and love it when I line it up and get a good hit on my target and watch it get obliterated!

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

i will come back to the DBX as soon as i can afford me to fully mod it out for hot weapons (beam, plasma, hammer)

the nice thing about the DBX is mostly that it has a different weapon setup ->
both Viper, cobra, DBS, AspS, all got 2 small, 2 medium slots

i wished they had given the Asp scout different locations for the medium slots, like one ontop, one on the bottom like the FAS has.
would make a great multicrew beginner ship with two medium turrets and those very narrow smalls for the pilot.
but thats another topic

 

[Old Duck]

Just fit it up for a scrap and go have a shot and see how you like it. It's a halfway house between your viper and your keelback tbh so you never know you might love fighting in it.

I'll give it a try when I get back to the bubble. Money's not an issue, I just really like these "middle class" ships. I've bought but then sold the Vulture (twice) and the Python, as I found both a bit "boring", especially when I achieve the same thing in my cheaper ships. I made the top 10% in the last bounty hunting CG using the Keelback (with SLF) and Viper III, and I had way more fun doing so in these ships than I ever did in my Vulture.

 

[Madrax573]

I'll give it a try when I get back to the bubble. Money's not an issue, I just really like these "middle class" ships. I've bought and sold the Vulture (twice) and the Python, as I found both a bit "boring", especially when I achieve the same thing in my cheaper ships. I made the top 10% in the last bounty hunting CG using the Keelback (with SLF) and Viper III, and I had way more fun doing so in these ships than I ever did in my Vulture.

Keelback is a pure FUN ship IMO. Love that daft boat!