MMORPG.com EVE Online Correspondent Andrew Wallace writes this guide for Salvagers in CCP's EVE Online.

Salvagers are the carrion-eaters of New Eden; they drift through the stellar battlefields, picking at the wreckage of NPCs and players alike. The salvaged components, from smashed trigger units to contaminated nanite compounds, are the key materials for rigs that can be permanently fitted to a ship in order to further increase its capabilities. So, how does one go about it?

Read the article here.

Hello, great article but a little dated. The time of the destroyer as a salvage ship has passed. I myself use a cruiser for salvaging. The reason for this is more cargo which reduces the amount of trips one has to make from salvage area to station and back. I do Level 4 missions only and 99% of the time I can loot and salvage the mission 1 time without having to dock to empty the cargo hold due to it becoming full too fast. I have a Republic Fleet Sycthe with 4 tractor beams, 2 salvagers, 3 salvage tackle rigs, an afterburner, 3 expanded cargohold II's, and a cap recharger 2. The sycthe as well as other cruisers also provide a mining bonus so if one wants to switch tractors or salvagers for miners one can mine ore that can be found in alot of missions. I have also been seeing alot of Battlecruisers and Battleships being used as salvaging ships too. A little costly but its their isk. A cruiser works fine and those who use the destroyers should try out a cruiser at least 1 time, you'll become a believer. One last thing, it is imperative that whatever ship you decide to use to salvage with have 3 Salvage Tackle Rigs and that your Salvage skill be at least 4 for maximum salvage gain. Have fun and remember, Its all about the ISK baby :).

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I completely disagree, the destroyer is still the best salavage ship out there.  Far faster than a cruiser and the differences with most cruisers cargo space is minimal.  I don't know one cruiser that can fit 4 salvagers and 4 tractor beams, oh right there isn't any.  But if you like the cruiser, it is true that you can fit marginally more stuff in the cargo hold because you can fit more expanders.  Usually I want to get in and get out and a destroyer will salvage far faster.

Depending on the quality of the wreck, and your salvaging skill, you should find yourself with some components, or the dreaded metal scraps.

In case anyone cares, The level of your salvage skill has NOTHING to do with the content of the wreak or the qualitty of the stuff you get.

To reply to the last post, no the Salvaging skill does not affect what you get or how good it is, it does effect how much and how fast you can "scan" for it. For instance, level 2 salvaging may get you 3 Burnt Logic circuts whilst level 4 would recover 6 peices.

I use a Heretic (Interdictor) with 2 salvagers and 6 tractorbeams.
MWD,AB and CR2 in middle and 3 EC2 in low.

Cargo capacity is just under 800m3 with this.

I usually use the tractors to drag and salvage loot on the move when ships are just out of range of the tractors with a speed of just about 300ms.

But when the distance is huge or really huge i can turn on the AB for just over 600ms or the MWD for almost 1700ms

If your ship goes faster then about 500ms your tractors will not be able to keep up and you will then sooner or later be out of range for tractor tow, so dont drive to fast when salvaging on the move or you will have to turn back to pickup the wreck again.

Another tip is to eject a can and tow it during the salvage for increased cargo capacity and when you are done pick it up with a hauler or such. (Saves time)

I know my grammar sucks but im sure someone will get the point.

Nice setup Birks, writing that one down.  Only one question, how do you keep 6 tractor beams going, I have enough trouble keeping track of 4 of them lol.

On a side note, Salvaging skill does determine what you can salvage.  If you have Salvaging III, you won't be able to salvage tech2 ships, you need level 4 at minimum for them.

It sure can be hectic in a heretic