Roughly a week ago, on 19 September 2024, an event unfolded in Eve Online that deserves a prominent place in the game’s history – the destruction of the first Angel’s Cartel Pirate Faction Titan, an Azariel class ship. But before we dive into the specifics of this event, let’s rewind to understand the origins behind the Brave Piracy Day and its decade-long tradition.
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History of the Brave Piracy Day
Ten years ago, a Reddit post appeared, inviting the Eve Online community to partake in a unique 24-hour in-game event – Brave Piracy Day. This annual event, hosted by Brave Collective, coincides with the International Talk Like a Pirate Day, blending in-game piracy with the real-world celebration of pirate pop culture.
The idea behind the event was to provide an outlet for chaos and small gang warfare. Players were encouraged to embrace the pirate theme, roam New Eden in small gangs, and cause havoc in designated “Pirate Coves” for 24 hours. It was an NPSI (Not Purple? Shoot It!) event, meaning any non-alliance members entering these systems were fair game. The festivities came with prizes – from Faction Frigates to a fully fit Thanatos.
The first Brave Piracy Day was a massive success, and the tradition has since flourished, with each year bringing bigger, more chaotic battles. Over the years, it’s become a hallmark of Brave Collective’s culture, marked by explosive, unpredictable combat and the loss of countless expensive ships.
The 10th Anniversary: A Notable Loss
This year marked the 10th anniversary of Brave Piracy Day, and Brave Collective pulled out all the stops to make it an event to remember. Leading the charge was a capsuleer with a name Sgt Matthew, piloting none other than an Azariel – a Titan-class ship belonging to the Angel Cartel, valued at a whopping 750 billion ISK.
According to multiple sources, the ship lingered in the K7D-II system, Brave Collective’s capital, for nearly 21 hours, actively seeking a worthy fight. The system’s proximity to nearby low-security regions heightened the anticipation for an eventual conflict, a gang-fleet of BOs was an expected outcome for a lone titan. But despite its high profile and the potential for a massive bounty, no one rose to claim the prize, leaving Sgt Matthew in a state of mounting frustration.
Killing a Titan in Eve Online is always a noteworthy event, but the destruction of a Pirate Faction Titan is a rarity of a different magnitude. Introduced in November 2023, no Azariels had been destroyed up to this point, making this particular Titan loss a first in the game’s history.
A Battle Without Combat
Over the 24-hour period of Brave Piracy Day, K7D-II saw Brave Collective members engaging in skirmishes amongst themselves, with the Azariel taking an active role in the festivities. Sgt Matthew’s Titan, equipped with shiny officer modules, wreaked havoc on smaller ships, destroying several cruisers, pods, and even DDed Thanatos – all while waiting for a real challenger.
However, no external force arrived to bring down the massive ship. After a long day of waiting and increasingly frustrated at the lack of engagement, Sgt Matthew decided to make history on his own terms. In an unexpected move, he sacrificed his prized titan to his own alliance members, marking the first-ever loss of this type of Titan hull in Eve Online.
While some might argue it wasn’t a “real” battle in the traditional sense, the ship’s destruction was nonetheless real, and its significance cannot be understated. Instead of stripping the ship for parts, Sgt Matthew chose to keep the ship fully officer-fit, adding nearly double the ISK value to the final loss tally. In total, the loss amounted to a 1.364 trillion ISK, setting a new record for Brave Piracy Day and earning a spot in the annals of Eve history.
The Aftermath
The Eve community responded in typical fashion, with debates raging on Reddit and other forums about whether this counts as a proper kill. Some lauded Sgt Matthew’s decision to sacrifice his ship for the sake of history, while others lamented the lack of a true battle. But whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying the spectacle and the sheer scale of this loss.
A video of the event, captured by Brave member Jim Erso, showcases the final moments of the Azariel’s destruction. It’s a moment that will live on in the memories of those who participated and a fitting tribute to a decade of Brave Piracy Day chaos.
As for Sgt Matthew, the loss of his ship might sting, but it’s clear he’s secured a place in Eve Online’s storied history. Not only did he pilot the first Pirate Faction Titan ever destroyed, but he did so in a way that perfectly embodies the spirit of Brave Collective’s annual tradition – spontaneous, chaotic, and undeniably fun.
Disclaimer: For the sake of transparency, I’d like to clarify that I’m not affiliated with Brave Collective or their allies. My nomadic roaming lifestyle keeps me away from big alliance politics, but as an observer of New Eden’s most noteworthy events, I couldn’t resist sharing this story.
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