Mining barges can be fit for either –
Tank: Prioritizes staying alive against gankers and rats.
Yield: Prioritizes maximum ore income, with some defensive buffer.
Your choice depends on the system security, fleet composition, and local threat level.
General Notes
- Tank Fits → Use in high-risk areas (busy highsec trade hubs, gank-heavy choke points, nullsec, or when mining solo).
- Yield Fits → Use in quiet highsec pockets, protected fleet ops, or when you have combat escorts.
- Drones are essential:
- Combat drones → defend against belt rats and opportunistic gankers.
- Mining drones → boost yield but make you vulnerable if you rely on them.
- Rigs:
- Bulkhead rigs increase raw EHP.
- Shield extender rigs increase buffer tank.
- Yield rigs are rare—better to stick to tank rigs, since barges are already fragile.
- Implants:
- Yield-focused →
Inherent Implants 'Highwall' HX-2/4,Mining Foreman Mindlink. - Tank-focused →
Zainou 'Gnome' Shield Management/Operation,Zainou 'Deadeye' Shield Upgrades. - Cheap Eifyr & Co. ‘Rogue’ Navigation implants help reduce align time and warp faster.
- Yield-focused →
Ship Fits
Covetor Fits
Glass cannon miner. Very high yield, very low tank.
Use only in fleets or quiet systems.
[Covetor, LSE Covetor – T1 – Tank]
Damage Control I
Reinforced Bulkheads I
Reinforced Bulkheads I
Compact Multispectrum Shield Hardener
Medium Shield Extender I
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead I
Survives longer against ganks, but yield is mediocre.
still very fragile compared to Procurer/Retriever.
[Covetor, LSE Covetor – T1 – Yield]
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Compact Multispectrum Shield Hardener
Medium Shield Extender I
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Maximum yield for T1 skills.
Consider disposable if mining near trade hubs.
[Covetor, LSE Covetor – T2 – Tank]
Damage Control II
Reinforced Bulkheads II
Reinforced Bulkheads II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Modulated Strip Miner II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Medium Transverse Bulkhead II
Medium Transverse Bulkhead II
Medium Transverse Bulkhead II
Toughest Covetor option.
Still a poor tank compared to Procurer.
[Covetor, LSE Covetor – T2 – Yield]
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender II
Max yield possible.
Treat as disposable in highsec unless in fleet.
Procurer
Best defensive barge. Recommended for solo mining or dangerous areas.
Lower yield, but survives ganks the best.
[Procurer, LSE Procurer – T1 – Tank]
IFFA Compact Damage Control
Reinforced Bulkheads I
Reinforced Bulkheads I
Compact Multispectrum Shield Hardener
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Compact Multispectrum Shield Hardener
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Entry-level gank-resistant fit.
Yield is low.
[Procurer, LSE Procurer – T1 – Yield]
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Multispectrum Shield Hardener I
Multispectrum Shield Hardener I
Medium Shield Extender II
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Balanced tank + yield.
Weaker against coordinated ganks.
[Procurer, LSE Procurer – T2 – Tank]
Reinforced Bulkheads II
Reinforced Bulkheads II
Damage Control II
Medium Shield Extender II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Medium EM Shield Reinforcer II
Medium Thermal Shield Reinforcer II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Maximum survivability.
Strong vs catalysts.
Yield remains mediocre.
[Procurer, LSE Procurer – T2 – Yield]
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Compact Multispectrum Shield Hardener
Modulated Strip Miner II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender II
Medium Core Defense Field Extender II
Solid compromise between tank and yield.
Best in fleets, not solo in dangerous space.
Retriever
Best ore hold for solo miners. Great for AFK mining, but very vulnerable.
[Retriever, LSE Retriever – T1 – Tank]
Reinforced Bulkheads I
Reinforced Bulkheads I
Damage Control I
Multispectrum Shield Hardener I
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead I
Decent survival buffer.
Cargo-focused, yield still low.
[Retriever, LSE Retriever – T1 – Yield]
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Mining Laser Upgrade I
Compact Multispectrum Shield Hardener
Medium F-S9 Regolith Compact Shield Extender
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Maximum ore intake for T1.
Weak tank, high-risk in busy systems.
[Retriever, LSE Retriever – T2 – Tank]
Damage Control II
Reinforced Bulkheads II
Reinforced Bulkheads II
Small Shield Extender II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Strip Miner I
Strip Miner I
Medium Transverse Bulkhead II
Medium Transverse Bulkhead II
Medium Transverse Bulkhead II
Stronger tank than T1, but Retriever is still fragile by design.
Outclassed by Procurer for survival.
[Retriever, LSE Retriever – T2 – Yield]
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Mining Laser Upgrade II
Medium Shield Extender II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Modulated Strip Miner II
Medium EM Shield Reinforcer I
Medium Thermal Shield Reinforcer I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Max yield + cargo space.
One of the easiest gank targets in highsec. Use only in quiet pockets.