NPC Damage Types
Turrets usually inflict lots of a primary type of damage, less of secondary type and sometimes even with tertiary type. The strength of each type of damage is governed by ammunition type which also influences the range, damage and tracking of the turret. Missiles have four variations, each variant corresponding to one of the four damage types. There is no difference in flight time, amount of damage or velocity between missiles of the same missile group. Racial missile ships tend to have bonuses only for the damage caused by missiles corresponding to their racial damage type. Like missiles, combat drones have four variations per damage type. Each variation corresponds to one of the four races, doing the main damage type corresponding to its race and also having other attributes common to the race. Other weapon types such as smartbombs, bombs and doomsday devices also come in four variations.
Electromagnetic damage also referred to as EM, is the primary damage type of the Amarr race. EM damage is also the primary damage type of lasers which are the primary weapon used by Amarr. Armor has the highest resistance against EM damage, while shields the lowest.
Thermal Damage is the primary damage type of the Gallente race. It is the secondary damage type of hybrid turrets which is the Gallente and Caldari racial weapon of choice. It is also the secondary damage type of lasers. Armor has the second highest resists against thermal. Shields have the second lowest resists against thermal.
Kinetic damage is the primary damage type of the Caldari race. It is the primary damage type of hybrid turrets and the secondary damage type of projectile turrets. The Caldari are heavy users of missiles, however their missile ships often receive damage bonuses only for kinetic damage dealing missiles. Shields have the second highest resists against kinetic. Armor has the second lowest resists against kinetic damage.
Explosive damage is the primary damage type of the Minmatar race. It is also the primary damage type of projectile weapons. Shields have the highest resistance against explosive damage, while armor has the lowest.
NPC Resistances and Vulnerabilities
Here is a quick chart displaying which damage types to resist and which ones to deal.