How to Use Implants

In EVE Online, implants are powerful tools that can enhance your character’s abilities and performance. They come in different varieties, providing boosts to attributes, skills, or specific ship functionalities. Below is a guide on what implants are, how to use them, the different types available, and the skills you need to get started.

What Are Implants?
Implants are modules that you can slot into your character’s clone (your current body) to improve various attributes. Once installed, they provide continuous benefits to your character until removed or lost (such as when your clone is destroyed in combat). Implants are a one-time investment for each clone, so choose them carefully, especially if you are in risky combat areas.

How to Install Implants
1. Acquire Implants: Implants can be bought on the in-game market or received as rewards from missions and events.
2. Open Character Sheet: In your character sheet, go to the “Augmentations” tab to see the implant slots.
3. Install an Implant: Right-click on an implant in your inventory and select “Plug In”. This will install it into the next available slot in your character’s clone.
4. Use Implants Wisely: Some implants are expensive, and if your clone is destroyed, you will lose all installed implants. So, you may want to avoid high-value implants in PvP-heavy areas unless you’re willing to take the risk.

Types of Implants
There are two main categories of implants in EVE Online:

Attribute Enhancers
• Purpose: Boost your character’s core attributes (Intelligence, Perception, Charisma, Willpower, and Memory), which improves skill training speed.
• Examples: The “+1” to “+5” Implants increase the specific attribute by that value. Higher-numbered implants provide a larger attribute boost but are generally more expensive.

Skill Hardwiring
• Purpose: These implants improve specific in-game abilities, such as missile damage, shield performance, or turret accuracy.
• Examples: Hardwiring like the “ZR1000” series might boost missile precision, while a “Poteque Pharmaceuticals” implant could enhance your scanning skills.
• Specialised Implants: Faction implants often focus on particular ship types or playstyles and can be critical in PvP or PvE setups.

Implant Slots
Every clone has 10 standard implant slots. Each implant in EVE has a ‘slot’ that it has been assigned to and will be assigned depending on which type they are, as described above.
Slots 1-5: Attribute Enhancers
Slots 6-10: Skill Hardwiring
Slots 11+: Boosters (These are non-permanent, unlike implants).

Faction Implants
There are, however, some variations to the standard slot allocations. Most notably, Faction implants. Faction implants are collections of implants that still have Attribute Enhancers and are allocated Slots 1-5, however, they also have a Skill Hardwiring bonus to them. Faction implants can be plugged in independently, however, with the bonuses they receive, it is highly beneficial to have multiple of the same type, or preferably a full set (Slots 1-6), with Slot 6 containing the ‘Omega’ implant, which usually provides a huge boost to the matching set.
For example, here is a picture of a standard implant layout, with slots 1-5 being +5 Attribute Enhancers and slots 6-10 being Skill Hardwiring:

And here is an example of a ‘High-grade Crystal faction implant set, complimented by some additional skill hardwiring implants. These High-Grade Crystal implants give +4 to their respective attributes, and also a bonus to shield boost amount.

Skills Required for Using Implants
To use implants, you must train certain skills and some require the character to be an Omega clone. Here’s a list of the main skills that unlock access to implants and their efficiency:

•   Cybernetics: This skill is crucial because it directly determines what level of implants you can install.
•   Cybernetics Level 1: Allows use of basic “+1” implants.
•   Cybernetics Level 5: Required for high-grade implants and specialised hardwiring.
•   Skill Hardwiring: Some high-end hardwiring implants may require additional skills or specific certifications to install.

Choosing the Right Implants
For beginners, starting with attribute enhancers (like “+1” or “+2” implants) is a good idea, as they improve your skill training speed without being prohibitively expensive. Once you become more experienced and familiar with your playstyle, you can start exploring hardwiring implants that improve specific abilities in line with your preferred ship and combat strategies.

Understanding Jump Clones
Jump clones are an invaluable tool for EVE Online players, allowing you to switch between different sets of implants and body locations. This versatility lets you create specialised clones for combat, travel, or training, which is beneficial in many game situations.

What Are Jump Clones?
Jump clones are additional clones that players can “jump” between. Each jump clone can have its own unique set of implants, allowing you to customise each clone for different tasks or objectives. For example, you might have one clone with PvP-focused implants and another for high-level PvE content.

Benefits of Jump Clones:
• Preserve Implants: Having multiple jump clones lets you save high-value implants by switching to a safer clone for risky activities.
• Flexible Playstyles: You can create specialised clones with implants suited to different activities, like one clone for PvP, another for PvE, and a third for exploration.
• Travel Efficiency: You can place clones in different stations across New Eden, allowing for rapid travel by jumping between them.

How to Set Up and Use Jump Clones
1. Training Cloning Skills: To use jump clones, you need specific skills (covered in detail below).
2. Install Jump Clones:
• Access a Medical Station: You can set up jump clones at any medical facility within NPC stations or player-owned stations with a clone bay.
• Install Clone: In the “Clone Bay” tab, select the option to create or install a new jump clone.
3. Jump Between Clones: In your character sheet, navigate to the “Jump Clones” section to jump between clones. Note that there’s a 24-hour cooldown between each jump, which can be reduced with certain skills.

Skills Required for Using Jump Clones
Two main skills control the use and effectiveness of jump clones:

•   Infomorph Psychology: This skill is essential as it determines how many jump clones you can have.
•   Level 1: Allows for one jump clone.
•   Level 5: Allows up to five jump clones.
•   Advanced Infomorph Psychology (Optional): For players wanting more flexibility, this skill adds an additional jump clone per level.
•   Infomorph Synchronizing: This skill reduces the cooldown time between clone jumps by 1 hour per level, allowing you to jump more frequently.

It is important to note that Alpha Clone characters can only train Infomorph Psychology to Level 1, meaning they are restricted to only one jump clone.

Tips for Effective Use of Jump Clones
1. Create Specialised Clones: Customise each clone for different needs. For example, create a high-DPS clone for missions and a warp-speed-optimised clone for exploration.
2. Strategic Placement: Place clones in different regions or near key locations (such as trade hubs or faction warfare zones) to reduce travel time.
3. Use Low-Value Clones for PvP: To avoid losing valuable implants, use a jump clone with minimal or inexpensive implants when engaging in PvP.
4. Cooldown Management: Plan your jumps ahead of time, as the 24-hour cooldown can limit flexibility. Reducing cooldown with Infomorph Synchronizing can make jumps more accessible for frequent activities across locations.

This guide should help you get started with using implants and jump clones effectively in EVE Online. With time, you’ll be able to refine your setup to support your unique playstyle and make the most out of New Eden!