---
esi_data:
  fitting_stats:
    cpu_output: 430
    high_slots: 5
    low_slots: 4
    med_slots: 5
    powergrid_output: 630
    rig_slots: 3
  group: Cruiser
  hull_stats:
    hp_armor: 1200
    hp_shield: 1700
    hp_structure: 1400
  name: Caracal
  race: Unknown
  skill_requirements:
  - level: 1
    skill_id: 3334
  type_id: 621
  velocity: 230
faction: Caldari State
faction_group: Empire
image: /621.png
last_updated: '2026-04-21T00:51:51.624825'
ship_class: Cruiser
source: eve-university
source_stats:
  armorem: 50
  armorexp: 10
  armorhp: 1200
  armorkin: 25
  armortherm: 45
  bandwidth: 10 Mbit/sec
  bonuses: '<b>Caldari Cruiser bonuses (per skill level):</b><br>

    5% bonus to Rapid Light Missile, Heavy Missile and Heavy Assault Missile Launcher
    rate of fire<br>

    10% bonus to Heavy Missile and Heavy Assault Missile max velocity'
  capacitor: 1,250 GJ
  cargohold: "450 m\xB3"
  class: Cruiser
  cpu: 430
  dronebay: "10 m\xB3"
  externallinks: ''
  extrahold: ''
  extraholdtype: ''
  faction: Caldari State
  forumlinks: ''
  grouping: Standard Cruisers
  highlights1: ''
  highlights2: ''
  highlights3: ''
  highlights4: ''
  highs: 5
  hulltype: Caracal Class
  inertia: 0.47
  info: The Caracal is a powerful vessel that specializes in missile deployment. It
    has excellent shield defenses, but poor armor plating. Its missile arsenal, when
    fully stocked, is capable of making a piece-meal of almost anyone.
  launchers: 5
  lows: 4
  mass: 11910000
  maxlockedtargets: 6
  maxvelocity: 230
  mediums: 5
  powergrid: 630
  quote: Victory belongs to the relentless.
  quote_attribution: CEO Haatakan Oiritsuu
  reqskills: '*{{RequiredSkill|Caldari Cruiser|I}}

    ** {{RequiredSkill|Spaceship Command|II}}

    ** {{RequiredSkill|Caldari Destroyer|III}}

    *** {{RequiredSkill|Caldari Frigate|III}}

    **** {{RequiredSkill|Spaceship Command|I}}'
  scanres: 270 mm
  sensortype: Gravimetric
  sensorvalue: 16 points
  shieldem: 0
  shieldexp: 50
  shieldhp: 1700
  shieldkin: 40
  shieldtherm: 20
  shipid: 621
  shipimg: Caracal.jpg
  shipname: Caracal
  sigradius: 125 m
  structurehp: 1400
  targetrange: 57.50 km
  tech: ''
  totaltraintime: 19h 15m 30s
  turrets: 0
  variations: '{{Ship|Cerberus}}, {{Ship|Caracal Navy Issue}}'
  volume: 92000
  warpspeed: 4 AU/s
  warptime: 7.76 s
  wikireferences: ''
source_url: https://wiki.eveuniversity.org/Caracal
tech_level: Tech 1
title: Caracal
type_id: 621
validation_score: 1.0
---

<img src="/621.png" alt="Caracal" width="300" style="float: left; margin-right: 25px; margin-bottom: 10px; width: 300px;" />

<div style="display: flow-root;">

## Summary

</div>
The Caracal is a Tech 1 cruiser with bonuses to missile rate of fire (and therefore DPS) and missile range. It is a popular ship both for PvE combat in Level 2 missions and for various kinds of PvP combat.

As a mission-runner, the Caracal does well in Level 2 missions because it can rapidly destroy packs of frigates. The fully-selectable damage of missiles makes it more flexible in tackling missions than its Caldari turret equivalent, the Moa. A mission-running Caracal can run an active or passive shield tank.

In PvP, a Caracal fitted with Rapid Light Missile Launchers can put out serious damage against frigates and destroyers, and makes a fine entry-level "anti-tackle" cruiser. Fitted with Heavy Assault Missiles or Heavy Missiles, it can put out respectable general-purpose DPS for a T1 cruiser hull. These qualities make it a popular ship for both fleets and small gangs. It is also a viable solo PvP ship, and in this role it usually takes advantage of its range and kites.
<div style="display: flow-root;">

## Skills

</div>
The Caracal is a forgiving ship which can be basically effective in the hands of a new pilot, and it is often a Caldari pilot's first step up from frigate- and destroyer-sized hulls. A character who has completed the EVE University Short Skill Plan will be able to get use out of the Caracal.

The ship's performance can, however, be significantly boosted by further skill training, which can provide an edge in PvP or strengthen a PvE pilot as they progress towards the logical next step of the Drake. General fitting skills and support skills will help the Caracal as they help any ship, and the following skills are particularly notable:

 Caldari Cruiser determines the strength of the hull bonuses and anyone regularly using the Caracal would do well to train it to IV.
 Missile support skills improve the ship's DPS and range.
 Light Missile Specialization, Heavy Missile Specialization and Heavy Assault Missile Specialization unlock Tech 2 missile launchers, which can further boost DPS and also open up new tactical options with Tech 2 ammunition types.
 Shield tanking skills increase the Caracal's defenses.
 Target Painting and a target painter module can help some fits with Heavy Missiles or Heavy Assault Missiles apply their damage better to targets.
<div style="display: flow-root;">

## Tactics

</div>
PvE
 Kite any rats! Use your missile range to keep the frigates away from you while you pick them off with your missiles. It is possible to Alpha strike a rat frig with ordinary light missiles. If there are rat destroyers and cruisers with the frigates, then take out the frigates first, then the destroyers, then isolate and take out the cruisers. Use an afterburner to stay out of the rats' effective range but inside your missile's optimal. Train your missile skills to increase optimal.

PvP solo
 The Caracal has nice bonuses for missiles and is decently fast, so it is a very good kiting ship. With the HAM tweaks, it's good for taking out smaller ships (without using light missiles) that can catch it, while still being able to put a lot of DPS onto larger ships that can't catch it. Basically, you just want to kite away from them, maybe heat your MWD initially if they warp in close/you are on a gate or station, then turn it off as it will burn out quite fast if you don't pay attention. Depending on your missile and cruiser skills you'll want to keep them from 20-30 KM away with HAMs. When you are running low on cap, simply pop a booster charge and keep burning along.
 Your goal is to avoid getting scrammed at all costs, so try to hit smaller ships that can catch you first and deal with bigger ships later. If there is a big ship that can hit you from afar giving you trouble (for example Abaddon), pull a lot of range (at least 100 KM) and try to split smaller ships off for easy kills.

PvP fleet (Large)
 If you are Rapid Light fit, focus on enemy destroyers, frigates, and possibly drones (if necessary). If you intend to target enemy interceptors, you will require more levels of Caldari Cruiser and/or Missile Projection, as the base speed of light missiles is too low for them to catch up with an interceptor. Both of those skills increase your missile velocity (while piloting a Caracal). A missile velocity of over 5000m/s should allow them to catch up with most interceptors.
 If you are Heavy Missile (HML) or Heavy Assault Missile (HAM) fit, attack the target your FC calls primary. If you are using HAMs but it would be unsafe to get into range to use them on the designated primary, simply switch to attacking smaller ships such as frigates until such a time as you can damage the primary target.

Small Gang
 If you are kiting, small gang tactics are going to be pretty similar to solo tactics, except that you will likely want to burn in the same direction and be aligned to the same thing as your fleetmates. There are all sorts of small gang compositions that you can try out. For instance: 2-5 Caracals, 1 Bellicose. In this example, the Caracals apply DPS while the Bellicose supports them with Target Painters and help tackle.
<div style="display: flow-root;">

## Notes

</div>
The Caracal is named after a medium-sized wild cat species that is widespread in parts of Asia and Africa. It is fast and agile, and hunts chiefly at night.
## Patch History