What Warp Cores are you using, and why?

thratch1 · May 2013

I was wondering what Warp Cores people were using with what ships, and why. I'm not a mix/maxer or anything, so I may not have quite the same understanding of game mechanics re: which core is the best for which ships, which is why I thought I'd see what's going on in other peoples' heads.

I'm using a Fleet Tactical Escort Retrofit, and the core I've opted to use is a rare Hyper Injection Warp Core Mk XI [SEP] [W->E] [SST] (picture embedded).

As far as I understand Shield Power, it only boosts the regeneration rate of your shields rather than their actual hit points, which is why I opted to skip the +Shield cores in favor of +Engine cores. With this core installed, I've managed to get my ship to the following power levels:

Weapons: 125/90
Shields: 58/30
Engines: 93/60
Auxiliary: 41/20

Nimble and quick, with my Tac Team, EPtS, and TSS mapped to mouse buttons to keep my shields up.

What cores are you guys going with (or hoping to go with once prices settle down on the Exchange)?

polie05 · May 2013

I use the w/s. It allows me to keep 125wep,125shield,8xengine,60aux.

Unknown · May 2013

This content has been removed.

tom61sto · May 2013

Running Overcharged [A->W] on my Aux cannon build Vesta. I'm running 130 Aux with the help of the Adapted MACO 2-piece Set bonus. 130 Aux boosts my Aux Cannons' DPS, QFFP (deflector phaser) DPS, my heals, my Sci capt powers and my Gravity Wells, pretty much everything I run on my Vesta. The A->W means my rear turrets and Kinetic Cutting Beam don't starve for energy either. With the Tier 4 Nukara Rep Passive Offensive Aux choice, all weapons get a boost from current Aux power level, at 130 Aux it's a fairly nice increase (tested on Tribbleserver,) which will be nice once I get it. I'm currently using the [EPS] (power transfer increase) version from the Dil store as I was impatient, but there exists an [Eff] (more power to low set subsystems) version of the core.

Most other ships I'm currently running the default core, as most builds don't have as huge a dependence on any of the three base types as the Vesta does with Aux. I'm still deciding on what core to get my Kar'fi as more engine power would help it's maneuverability (base turn 7), but more Aux power would help with launchings pets and the Sci BOff abilities.

As far as shield power, in addition to the regeneration bonus, more shield power increases their resistance to damage.

reginamala78 · May 2013

The stock one. Right now its simply too expensive to be an early adopter. I can wait a few weeks.

Long term though, I'm looking to get a shield-boosting [w->s] model for my cruisers and an aux-boosting [a->w] for my sci ships, but still unsure for escorts.

snoggymack22 · May 2013

reginamala78 wrote: »

The stock one. Right now its simply too expensive to be an early adopter. I can wait a few weeks.

30k Dil isn't all that expensive.

but still unsure for escorts.

Weapons to Engines. Escorts have tons o' weapons power. And more engine = more defense.

hasukurobi · May 2013

I am using the one that gives power to Aux, +to Engine Performance, and Weapon to Shield. Aux is so very useful on many craft, better heals/sci, better turn rate, gives me more engine power to work with AND more shield power to work with making it an awesome all rounder.

BTW: More shield power does not just increase shield regen it also increases shield innate resistance. Lower the shield power the less resistance your shields have which means they disappear faster.

thratch1 · May 2013

hasukurobi wrote: »

I am using the one that gives power to Aux, +to Engine Performance, and Weapon to Shield. Aux is so very useful on many craft, better heals/sci, better turn rate, gives me more engine power to work with AND more shield power to work with making it an awesome all rounder.

A while ago, they changed it so Engine power affects turn rate instead of Aux. It makes more sense that way anyway.

Also, thanks to you and anyone else that clued me in on what Shield Power does. I keep Shield Batteries on hand at all times though, so I still value more innate Engine power on my FTER. MACO shields + having EPtS up 30 seconds out of every 45 seems to work just fine by me.

crusty8mac · May 2013

So far, I'm just using whatever I pick up along the way.

grayfoxjames · May 2013

I'm using blue rare Field Stabilizing Matter Anti-Matter Warp Core S>A. I fly my operations oddy with the full oddy set. My shields are good their regen is ridiculous already. So this increases my shields even more. Plus it sends extra power to my aux because I like using my aux to structural integrity and now that I also have grace under fire, along with hazard emitters I and engineering team II I'm basically indestructible

tom61sto · May 2013

thratch1 wrote: »

hasukurobi wrote: »

I am using the one that gives power to Aux, +to Engine Performance, and Weapon to Shield. Aux is so very useful on many craft, better heals/sci, better turn rate, gives me more engine power to work with AND more shield power to work with making it an awesome all rounder.

A while ago, they changed it so Engine power affects turn rate instead of Aux. It makes more sense that way anyway.

Also, thanks to you and anyone else that clued me in on what Shield Power does. I keep Shield Batteries on hand at all times though, so I still value more innate Engine power on my FTER. MACO shields + having EPtS up 30 seconds out of every 45 seems to work just fine by me.

I believe hasukurobi means a Overcharged[SEP][W->S] core, where [SEP] gives a boost to Starship Engine Performance, which usually nets around 3 engine power.

sangrine · May 2013

I just purchased the rare (blue) Hyper Injection Warp Core Mk XI [SEP] [W->E] [SSR] from the exchange for 17M EC for my D'Kora with 3 piece omega space set.

Before (no warp core):
Weapons: 125/100
Shields: 73/50
Engines: 53/25
Auxillary: 35/25

Starship warp core efficiency: 30
Starship warp core potential: 109
Starship impulse thrusters: 124
Starship engine performance: 84
Flight speed: 26.81
Turn rate 17.9
Bonus defense (at high impulse speed): 68.5%

After:
Weapons: 125/100
Shields: 73/50
Engines: 69/25
Auxillary: 35/25

Starship warp core efficiency: 30
Starship warp core potential: 109
Starship impulse thrusters: 124
Starship engine performance: 100
Flight speed: 31.92
Turn rate 18.7
Bonus defense (at high impulse speed): 68.5%

xotvorx · May 2013

Well I have returned after a year so I dont know all the stuff, but it seems to me that W-> S is the way for escorts. You need just 25 impulse to get full defense bonus. Everthing more is just for speed. More shield power means more regen and resists if I am not mistaken.

Unknown · May 2013

This content has been removed.

avengerkid1993 · May 2013

I'm using an Hyper-Injection Warp Core Mk X [SEP][W->E]

Be quick can save your life is you run an escort ship

kaigen42 · May 2013

I'm using a Field Stabilizing [E->S] Warp Core I got from the doff assignment. Which is fun, because it makes viable a preset (high weapons and engine, low shields and aux) which I wouldn't normally consider using.

rylanadionysis · May 2013

currently using the default mark x one. im not spending 200mil on something that will be less than 4 mil in a month >_>

saxfire · May 2013

I use the Mk 10 common one that comes in T5 ships, any other warp cores I get, I sell in AH/Exchange for ridiculous prices

coupaholic · May 2013

crusty8mac wrote: »

So far, I'm just using whatever I pick up along the way.

Aye, me too.

I'll be giving it a good few weeks before considering what one to go with, due to cost and the chance that Cryptic may 'tweak' the more popular ones.

a1ekan · May 2013

If you want to buy warp cores, the best way currently is to get a Mk IV Core from the Dilithium Store. It costs a mere 2540 Dilithium. A Mk IV core has only +7.5 starship skills (instead of +15 skill for stuff like [Eff] and [Batt] on a Mk X); a very minor loss. Power bonus and transfer is the same as a 30K Dil Mk X core. Also, warp speed sucks (6.7), but the Borg or MACO engine overrides this, making it irrelevant. If you buy cheap from the Dil store, you can get a few cores to try out ? and if any of them get nerfed, each Mk IV core is but a small investment.

TLDR: If you don?t want to spend EC, get a Mk IV core from the Dilithium Store on the cheap.

I am running the Mk IV Overcharged Warp Core [Eff] [W to A] on all FED toons. For Sci ships, I run a Mk IV Field Stabilizing Warp Core [Eff] [W to A].

hasukurobi · May 2013

thratch1 wrote: »

A while ago, they changed it so Engine power affects turn rate instead of Aux. It makes more sense that way anyway.

Also, thanks to you and anyone else that clued me in on what Shield Power does. I keep Shield Batteries on hand at all times though, so I still value more innate Engine power on my FTER. MACO shields + having EPtS up 30 seconds out of every 45 seems to work just fine by me.

That can certainly take care of shield issues as you say. MACO is such a lovely shield LOL.

ghostsofwar116 · May 2013

I am planning on running one of the [S->W] warp cores, because i want the Shield boost, and at the same time, need the weapon power boost, because i am a tact running a cruiser build for my ships.

shookyang · May 2013

For the time being, I'm using the Dilithium store version of the Overcharged Warp Core MK X [eff] [W->A].

My power levels before the warp core:
125/74/52/40

Power levels after the warp core:
125/74/54/56

I went with the Aux, because I get the most of of boosting my lowest system power. Also, The Tholian T4 passive increases Starship Energy Weapons and Starship Kinetic Weapon skills based off of my Aux power level.

I will most likely get a MK XI purple warp core similar to the one I have above, but will get one that increases transwarp speed and has a shield restart battery (or weapons, if it's ever confirmed that this would enable weapons after Tholians disabled it).

age03 · May 2013

^I ma using that same one don't know how good it is and I don't have mt powers.I thought it would be good becasue it puts more energy into your weapons.

farmallm · May 2013

I'm not sure yet myself. After looking at the prices on the EC. I won't be going there. Instead I will hit the Dil store. A few days of farming and I can get a nice one. For my Cruisers I'm leaning for the Field Stabilizing for my Cruisers. To make my shields strong for more tanking roles. So they will be harder to take down. For my Escort I'm leaning for the Hyper Injection for engine power boosts.

At least what I'm thinking of going. Until I get my Dil store cores. I'm using the stock one.

shadowaxx · May 2013

I have been playing with a couple of warp cores, settling for now on a Overcharged very rare X [rep] [w->e] [Ecap].

I am wondering why there isn't a warp core with a weapons +7.5 / 125+ boost? Because it would be OP?

age03 · May 2013

What the best warp core for a Tac,Geer and Sci Off to use at VA lvl?

insanesenator · May 2013

In my opinion, a Tactical officer should use some flavor of core with the [W->X] modifier, with X being what you want to buff; since you will already have a high weapons power level.

Engineer, similar, some flavor of a [S->X] core, and [A->X] for science captains.

I know there are cores that give bonus shield power and max shield power capacity, same with Aux and engine, but I haven't seen one for weapons, I think increasing weapon power above 125 was deemed a little too strong, since even torpedo boats still use *some* weapons power, whereas the other factors (shields, engine, aux) are a less direct effect on combat.

tom61sto · May 2013

My thoughts on what to go with on the three captain types

Sci with high Aux:
Overcharged[A->W]

Scis with another power high, Ovecharged[x->A], where x is the high power.

For carriers [sep] for a small boost to engine speed, non-carriers [eff]

Keep in mind that you'll likely need additional power from somewhere else to hit 130 Aux, such as the Adapted MACO two-piece bonus (+8.8 Aux) or the Borg deflector (+5 Aux), as the 'Additional Power' is Efficient and will be 0 gain if you have 75 or higher Aux setting.

Tac PvP speed tanking:
Hyper Impulse [sep][W->E]

Tac STFs/PvE:
Field Stabilizing [eff][W->S] for more survivability

Post Nukara T4 damage Aux booster:
Overcharged[W->A]

Engineers:
You'll want a core with [bat] to improve the amount of time your new trait ability that gives all your other powers a boost on EPt use.

Heal boats - Overcharged or Field Stabilizing [x->A]
Slow tankers - Hyper Impulse [x->E] if you want more speed, otherwise Field Stabilizing [x->A or x->S]
Not sure on Aux2Batt builds and damage builds on cruisers.
For Engineers in other ships, use the recommendations for the other classes in those ships, substituting [batt] for everything except PvP speed.

What Warp Cores are you using, and why?

Comments