Scanning Alts in EVE Online
This assumes you have ~125 million ISK to spend on one of the Covert Ops fits here and training time or cash/SP to burn.
There are better guides for newcomers. EVE-Uni have a nice one which is part of their larger Exploration guide.
If you're not a newbie, below is a skill plan for Anathema/Pacifier + Malediction which takes all relevant skills to Level 5.
- buy the skillbooks. Cynosural Field Theory is optional but handy to have on alts
- import the skill plan text on your alt
- train to Astrometric Pinpointing 3 for baseline usefulness. 5 large injectors on a new alt gets you there
- Cybernetics 5 is for optional Virtue probes
The fastest possible scanning fits require a Covert Ops hull (Pacifier > Anathema / Buzzard > Helios > Cheetah) fit like so:
- Highs: Covert Ops Cloaking Device II, Sisters Core Probe Launcher, Interdiction Nullifier
- Mids: MWD > AB plus at least one each: Scan Acquisition Array, Scan Pinpointing Array, Scan Rangefinding Array
- Lows: enough Nanofiber Internal Structures > Intertial Stabilizers to align in under 3 seconds
- Rigs: one Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrade II and, if possible, one Small Hyperspatial Optimizer II
- Cargo: Sisters Core Scan Probes x16 (24 is nice in case you lose some)
- RSS probes aren't worthwhile unless you've nothing better to spend ISK on
- sometimes seasonal drugs are available which affect one or more probe stats. they're usually slot 14-17
Covert Ops frigates are the best scanners as of May 2021.
T3Cs have equal scan speed but they're considerably slower in align and warp and can't enter Small holes.
T3Cs have greatly-reduced nullifier cooldown but that's not worth their slower aligns & warps in my experience.