It’s a common misconception in EVE Online that mission rewards, particularly for Regular and Burner Missions, drastically change depending on whether you’re operating in high-security (hi-sec), low-security (low-sec), or null-security (null-sec) space. Let’s set the record straight and compare the reality of mission payouts across different security levels, highlighting where the real differences—and surprising similarities—lie.
Many pilots believe that venturing into the dangers of low and null security space for missions automatically translates to significantly better loot, bounties, and overall rewards compared to the relative safety of hi-sec. However, when it comes to the fundamental mechanics of missions, this assumption is largely incorrect.
Mission Consistency Across Security Status
Firstly, it’s crucial to understand that Regular Missions and Burner Missions are fundamentally the same regardless of the security status of the system they take place in. Whether you accept a mission from an agent in a 1.0 hi-sec system or a -0.2 null-sec system, the mission parameters, objectives, and enemy types remain consistent.
For instance, if you’re tasked with an Angel Extravaganza Burner mission, you will face the same Angel Cartel Burner ships and encounter the same tactical challenges whether the mission originates from a Minmatar Republic corporation agent in hi-sec or a Blood Raiders corporation agent in the lawless regions of Delve. The factional affiliation of the agent might influence the type of Regular Missions offered – a Minmatar agent is more likely to give missions against the Amarr, for example – but the core structure and mechanics of mission types remain constant across the board.
Loot and Bounties: Surprisingly Uniform
Another widespread myth revolves around the belief that ratting in missions in low or null security space yields significantly better loot drops and bounties. Again, this is largely incorrect when specifically considering mission rats. Rat loot and bounties from mission-generated NPCs are consistent across all security levels.
A Burner Hawk, a notorious enemy in Burner missions, has the same probability of dropping valuable loot items like a Centum C-Type Ballistic Control System (CN BCU) in a hi-sec mission as it does in a null-sec mission. Similarly, the base bounty payout for destroying these mission rats remains the same, typically around 5 million ISK for a Burner ship, irrespective of the system’s security status.
This uniformity extends to regular mission rats as well. The type of loot they drop and the bounty value attached to them are not inherently increased simply because the mission takes place in a more dangerous security environment.
The Real Differentiator: Loyalty Points (LP) and ISK/LP Ratio
So, where does the difference lie if mission content, loot, and bounties are largely the same? The primary differentiator in mission rewards across security levels is the Loyalty Point (LP) payout and the resulting ISK/LP exchange rate.
As detailed in the EVE University Wiki, the amount of LP awarded for completing a mission increases significantly as you move from high-security space to low-security and then to null-security space. This increase in LP is designed to compensate for the increased risk and challenges associated with operating in less secure regions of space.
The jump in LP from a 1.0 security system to a 0.5 system (considered hi-sec by the game, despite being technically low-sec with truesec rounded up) is noticeable. Moving further down the security scale to 0.2/0.1 low-sec systems, and even lower to -0.1/-0.2 null-sec systems, provides an even more substantial boost in LP rewards.
This increased LP payout is the main incentive for pilots to undertake missions in low and null security space. Loyalty Points can be exchanged for various items in corporation LP stores, often including valuable blueprints, modules, and ships that can be sold for ISK. The ISK/LP ratio, which represents the ISK value you can extract from each LP, is generally more favorable in low and null security space due to the higher base LP rewards.
Null-Sec Caveats: ESS and Sov Multipliers
While base mission rat bounties are consistent, there are some nuances in null-security space that can slightly affect bounty payouts. In null-sec systems under sovereignty (sov), the Encounter Surveillance System (ESS) and sovereignty bounty multipliers can play a role.
The ESS can “hoover” a portion of bounties earned in a system, redirecting a percentage to the system’s main ESS bank. Additionally, sovereignty mechanics can introduce bounty multipliers that either increase or decrease bounty payouts depending on the strategic index of the system.
These factors are most relevant in specific null-sec regions known for mission farming, such as Pure Blind (Mordus/SOE missions), Fountain (Serpentis/Angel missions), and Curse (Serpentis L4 missions). However, it’s important to note that even with these potential variations, the ISK derived directly from bounties in null-sec missions is often a relatively small component of the overall profit compared to the value gained from exchanging the significantly higher LP rewards.
Conclusion: Focus on LP for Hight Rewards
In conclusion, the perception that missioning in low and null security space automatically guarantees vastly superior loot and bounty payouts is largely a myth. The real “Hight Compare” in mission rewards across security levels lies in the dramatically increased Loyalty Point payouts.
While mission content and basic enemy rewards remain surprisingly consistent, the significantly higher LP accumulation in low and null security space translates to a potentially much more lucrative ISK/LP conversion. For pilots focused on maximizing ISK efficiency from missions, particularly Burner Missions, the higher LP rewards in more dangerous space are the primary draw, far outweighing minor fluctuations in bounty payouts or marginal differences in standard loot drops. The true reward for braving the risks of low and null-sec missions is the accelerated accumulation of Loyalty Points and the enhanced ISK generation they enable.
