Hi-sec Serpentis Combat Site Guide

A 13-part video series detailing each high-security Serpentis combat site. This guide provides details on what to expect from each combat site, including spawn patterns and potential loot drops. If you're in Gallente space and looking for PvE combat, this guide is for you...

Introduction to Combat Sites in Eve Online

Combat sites spawn randomly in most solar systems, and can be found via the probe scanner window. Combat anomalies will appear in green, and you can warp to them immediately. Combat signatures must be scanned down with core scanner probes, and can be organized into unrated and rated sites.



Combat anomalies will appear in green, and you can warp to them immediately. This includes the Burrow, Hideaway, Refuge, and Den. They have a small chance of spawning a special faction NPC that drops more powerful ammunition, and occasionally high-value faction modules. Some combat anomalies also have a small chance of escalating to a D.E.D. rated combat site a handful of solar systems away.

Combat signatures must be scanned down with core scanner probes, and can be organized into unrated and rated sites.

Unrated combat sites include the Hideout, Lookout, Watch, and Vigil. Each of these sites has an increasingly higher chance of spawning a special faction NPC that may drop high-value faction modules. And each also has a small chance of escalating to a four-part story-based expedition.

Rated combat sites typically have multiple rooms with many NPCs to fight, but are guaranteed to include at least one special NPC or structure that has a chance of dropping high-value deadspace modules.

This guide will focus on Serpentis combat sites.

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Fitting Ships for Fighting Serpentis NPCs

Serpentis combat sites are found throughout Gallente space. Serpentis NPCs deal thermal and kinetic damage, and are most susceptible to thermal.

New Gallente pilots can try out a frigate like the Incursus to get started. For your first encounter, consider using 125mm railguns, an afterburner, and an armor repairer. The fit below is accessible to new Gallente pilots, and is capable of running some of the easier sites like the Serpentis Burrow, Hideaway, or even the Refuge.

New Caldari, Amarr, or Minmatar pilots can try out their own faction's frigates. The Kestrel, Punisher, or Rifter are each good starting points.

[Incursus, New Player PvE]
Vortex Compact Magnetic Field Stabilizer
Type-D Restrained Overdrive Injector
Damage Control I
Small ACM Compact Armor Repairer

1MN Y-S8 Compact Afterburner
Eutectic Compact Cap Recharger
F-90 Compact Sensor Booster

125mm Compressed Coil Gun I
125mm Compressed Coil Gun I
125mm Compressed Coil Gun I

Scan Resolution Script x1
Antimatter Charge S x3000
Lead Charge S x3000
Iron Charge S x3000

As your character's skills improve, you'll be able to upgrade to larger ships like the Algos (a destroyer) or Vexor (a cruiser). Eventually, you'll likely be looking to get yourself into a faction cruiser like the Gila or Orthrus.

Serpentis Burrow

The Serpentis Burrow is a good starting site for new players to get experience with PvE combat. It has no chance to escalate to another site, and a rather low chance of a faction spawn. For players concerned with their ISK per hour, I recommend avoiding this site.

Expect to fight five waves of Serpentis frigate NPCs, spawning quite a ways apart from each other. Long-range weapons will be helpful. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Hideaway

The Serpentis Hideaway is a quick and easy site for all players. It has a reasonable chance to escalate to a Serpentis Narcotics Warehouse, and a reasonable chance of a faction spawn. Frigates and destroyers, or any ship with auto-targeting missiles, can make a lot of ISK running these sites quickly.

Expect to fight four waves of Serpentis corvette and frigate NPCs, all spawning near a central structure. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Refuge

The Serpentis Refuge is a good site for all but the newest Eve Online pilots. It has a reasonable chance to escalate to a Serpentis Narcotics Warehouse, and a reasonable chance of a faction spawn. Frigates and destroyers, or any ship with auto-targeting missiles, can make a lot of ISK running these sites quickly.

Expect to fight five waves of Serpentis frigate and destroyer NPCs, all spawning near a central structure.

For new pilots flying a frigate, the incoming damage can feel quite high. Orbiting the central structure at range with an afterburner running will help mitigate the damage. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Den

The Serpentis Den can be a very high value site for experienced Eve Online explorers. It has a small chance to escalate to a Serpentis Corporation Hydroponics site, and a small chance of a faction spawn. Ships like the Orthrus, or other high DPS cruisers, can make a lot of ISK running these sites quickly.

Expect to fight five waves of Serpentis frigate, destroyer, and cruiser NPCs, mostly spawning near a central structure. Watch the video for full insight into the spawn patterns.

This site can be difficult for new pilots flying a frigate. Again, orbiting one of the central structures at range with an afterburner running will help mitigate the incoming damage. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Drug Outlet (Rated 1/10)

The Serpentis Drug Outlet is only found in 0.9 security systems or higher. It can be a good site for newer pilots to test their PvE combat skills, or for experienced pilots who like flying frigate-class ships. It has a reasonable chance of dropping Coreli C-Type deadspace modules, and is quite quick to run when ignoring the NPCs that are unnecessary to complete the site.

There are three rooms in this complex, with lots of corvettes and frigates. For those looking to blitz the site, many of the NPCs can actually be ignored. There are specific structures that must be destroyed to obtain passkeys, and that have the potential for high-value loot. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Live Cargo Distribution Facilities (Rated 2/10)

The Serpentis Live Cargo Distribution Facilities site is only found in 0.9 security systems or higher. This can be a good site for newer pilots to test their PvE combat skills, or for experienced pilots who like flying frigate or destroyer-class ships. It has a reasonable chance of dropping Coreli B-Type deadspace modules, though it can take some time to run due to the acceleration gates being locked until all NPCs are destroyed.

There are four rooms in this complex, with lots of frigates and quite a few cruisers. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Narcotics Warehouse (Rated 3/10)

The Serpentis Narcotics Warehouse site is found only in 0.8 security systems or lower. This is a great all-round site for experienced explorers, or for newer pilots to test their PvE combat skills. It has a reasonable chance of dropping Coreli A-Type deadspace modules. It can take some time to run due to the number of NPC ships, and the amount of damage the Serpentis Supply Stronghold requires to destroy.

There are fives rooms in this complex, though you only need to run four of them. Expect to fight a large number of frigates, with a few cruisers and several important structures. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Phi-Outpost (Rated 4/10)

The Serpentis Phi-Outpost is found only in 0.8 security systems or lower. This is a great site for experienced explorers, or for younger pilots to test their PvE combat skills. It has a reasonable chance of dropping Corelum C-Type deadspace modules. It can be fairly quick to run for those piloting high DPS ships.

There are two rooms in this complex, with plenty of frigates, cruisers and battlecruisers to fight. The overseer flies a battleship with a strong armour tank. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Corporation Hydroponics Site (Rated 5/10)

The Serpentis Corporation Hydroponics Site is normally only found in low security space, but occasionally spawns in high security systems through a lucky escalation from a Serpentis Den. This is a good site for experienced explorers to test themselves, or for those flying in low security space with your corp mates. It has a reasonable chance of dropping Corelum B-Type deadspace modules.

There are three rooms in this complex, with lots of NPCs to fight from frigates through to battleships. In the final room, you'll be webbed in place by three stasis towers, so you'll need a strong tank to survive. Watch the video for all the details.

Serpentis Hideout and the Mindflood Escalation

The Serpentis Hideout is an unrated combat signature found in high security space. This is a good site for new players to experience their first escalation, and experienced players who don't mind flying frigate or destroyer class ships. It has a small chance of dropping Shadow Serpentis faction modules, or Snake or Asklepian implants in the Mindflood expedition.

There are two rooms in this complex, with corvette and frigate NPCs that spawn on timers. Watch the video for details on the spawn patterns, and the potential triggers to acquire the Mindflood escalation.

The Mindflood escalation can have up to four encounters, each spawning roughly 6 to 10 systems away. Expect to fight a mob of about eight frigates and destroyers at each of the first three encounters, and a handful more than that in the final encounter.

Serpentis Lookout and the Angel Kickbacks Escalation

The Serpentis Lookout is an unrated combat signature found in high security space. This is a good site for young players to test themselves in PvE combat, and great for combat site explorers in general. It has a reasonable chance of dropping Shadow Serpentis faction modules; Snake or Asklepian implants in the Angel Kickbacks expedition; or Coreli A-Type deadspace modules if you make it through to the final encounter. Note, however, that the final encounter almost always escalates to a low security system.

There are two rooms in this complex, with a sizeable number of frigate and destroyer NPCs to fight. Watch the video for details on the potential triggers to acquire the Angel Kickbacks escalation.

The Angel Kickbacks escalation can have up to four encounters, each spawning roughly 6 to 10 systems away. Expect to fight a mob of about ten frigates and destroyers at each of the first three encounters.

The final encounter is a gated complex with two rooms, each with more frigates and destroyers to fight.

Serpentis Watch and the Jet-Set Hooligans Escalation

The Serpentis Watch is an unrated combat signature found in high security space. In spite of what appears to be a significant engagement, this can actually be a good site for young players flying a speed-tanked frigate. It's a great site for combat site explorers in general, as it only requires you to destroy a small number of ships for a reasonable potential of high value loot drops. It may drop Shadow Serpentis faction modules; Snake or Asklepian implants in the Jet-Set Hooligans expedition; or Coreli A-Type deadspace modules if you make it through to the final encounter. Note, however, that the final encounter almost always escalates to a low security system.

There are two rooms in this complex, with a large number of frigate, destroyer, and cruiser NPCs to fight. Watch the video for details on the spawn patterns, how to blitz the site, and the potential triggers to acquire the Jet-Set Hooligans escalation.

The Jet-Set Hooligans escalation can have up to four encounters, each spawning roughly 6 to 10 systems away. Each encounter is somewhat unique, but generally characterized by an initial mob of about ten NPCs ranging from frigates to battlecruisers. The final encounter can be difficult, as it requires both a strong tank, and high DPS capable of hitting super-tanked frigates.

Serpentis Vigil and the Booster R&D Escalation

The Serpentis Vigil is an unrated combat signature found in high security space. This can be a decent site for younger pilots who want to challenge themselves in PvE combat. It's a good site for combat site explorers in general, as it has a guaranteed faction spawn and a high chance of escalating. It may drop Shadow Serpentis faction modules, or Snake or Asklepian implants. The final encounter, which almost always escalates to a low security system, has a chance of dropping Coreli A-Type deadspace modules.

There are two rooms in this complex, with a sizeable group of NPCs from frigates through to battlecruisers. Watch the video for details on the spawn patterns, how to blitz the site, and the potential triggers to acquire the Booster R&D escalation.

The Booster R&D escalation can have up to four encounters, each spawning roughly 6 to 10 systems away. Each encounter is quite different, with its own unique spawn pattern of NPCs ranging from frigates up to battleships.