A frigate is any with the EntityType "Frigate". Frigates are constructed at the Light Shipyard in base Sins - there is no way to change this behavior except to make them . Their construction is controlled in the Player file under frigateInfo, with two pages limited to 9 frigates per page for a maximum total of 18 buildable frigates. Frigates don't have levels, don't gain experience, and can't have any abilities that rely on leveling. They can gain ability or ability bonuses through research, though, controllable in the ability file. Frigates can be Spawned through buffs.