Cheap Cannonfodder

A.K. is a light infantry bot which is cheap and quick to build. Proves useful for scouting and taking down unguarded structures like metal extractors and early eco. It is armed with two light, but precise lasers with a slightly greater range than PeeWee PeeWee, so with  little micro-ing skills you can outrange them easily.

In late T1 warfare A.K.'s can be used for ambushing Commanders and speedy skirmishing. However, light armor and relatively short range makes them very vulnerable to defensive towers and Riot tanks.

Advanced Construction Aircraft is a unit that opens you the window to most of the T2 economy and defensive structures. In most situations when you get one, start from updating your metal extractors, geothermal powerplants and then make fusion reactors and advanced metal makers. It has a higher buildpower than its T1 version and boosts your metal and energy storage by 50. As an air constructor it has the advantage of being able to quickly access all spots on the map. Use it in packs for faster expansion in remote areas. It has a lower buildpower than land constructors.

Advanced Construction Bot is a unit that opens the door to the T2 economy and high-level defensive structures. 

In most situations when you get one, start upgrading your:

1. T1 metal extractors to T2 Moho mines
2. Build Advanced geothermal powerplants
3. Build fusion reactors in combination with advanced metal makers. 

It has a higher buildpower than its T1 version and boosts your metal and energy storage by 100.

Advanced Construction Sub is the T2 sea constructor. Their typical first tasks are upgrading your metal extractors, building fusion reactors and then advanced metal makers.

They have a higher build power than the T1 Construction Ship and grant a small boost to both your metal and energy storage. Guard them with other constructors or naval engineers to assist with building.

In addition to T2 economy structures, they are able to build advanced torpedo launchers and the underwater experimental gantry.

Converts up to 600 energy into 10.3 metal per second

Banisher Is a heavy missile tank. It is equipped with a homing rocket launcher this can shoot over a decent range. Its missiles deal very high damage and can take down T1 units with a single shot. Its homing missiles are very efficient even against quick and mobile targets. However, they take quite some time to reload (7.5 seconds). Therefore,  they are not really designed for close-quarters combat. Always keep them covered with other infantry units.

Behemoth is an intimidating long-range plasma weapon mounted on top of a geothermal powerplant. Built by all T2 land/air cons it is able to overshoot all T1 and T2 defences and deal great AoE damage to units and structures. On top of good defence it serves a function of a basic energy source producing 450 E/s. Very effective in protecting high-ground and other strategic positions. Build it instead of Moho Geothermal powerplant in hazardous areas.

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Black Hydra is the CORTEX flagship. They are the most powerful ships and arguably the most powerful units available. They combine awesome fire power with exceedingly long range. Construct one of these and watch as your enemy fleet pales into insignificance.

They are equipped with two plasma cannon turrets, laser turrets and even a small anti-air missile launcher. Their main cannon range exceeds even that of the missile cruisers and possess such might that plasma shields will provide only a temporary respite from the shells.

While the cannons obliterate targets from afar the lasers give the Black Hydra incredible lethality at shorter ranges too. Owing to the range and mobility a Black Hydra is able to destroy any T3 unit they clash with, as long as it doesn't get too close.

They achieve maximum damage when oriented to their targets from the broadside, so they are able to shoot all cannons and lasers at once.

While they are also equipped with medium anti-air missile launchers they are still vulnerable to heavier aircraft and possess no anti-submarine weaponry so never leave them bereft of an escort.

Bladewings are little drones armed with EMP lasers. They can paralyze opponents units, but they can't deal any damage. They serve as a great support for your attacks and can turn the tide of war easily. However, they have very little armor and quickly vanish if faced with even basic anti-air. Always try to hide them from enemy's radars - surprise is their strength. Useful as a defense of last resort too.

Buzzsaw is the ultimate weapon of mass-destruction. Built by all T2 land/air cons it is basically a spinning wheel of Intimidator plasma cannons that can shoot across the map and tear down whole bases. It takes giant resources to build but when it is in place it basically wins you a game. 

However, remember that it consumes great amounts of energy to shoot (16000 energy/shot), hence don’t build it if your income is below 32k energy. 

Shoots a little bit faster than its BLUE counterpart – Vulcan.

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Heavily armored T2 Heavy Laser Bot

Can is able to deal great amounts of damage in close-combat.

Used mainly as a tanker in combination with long range units like Morties or Dominators. 

Much stronger than its ARM counterpart Zeus, but also more costly. When metal is plenty – mass  them to produce an unstoppable force that does the job on it's own and doesn't require much micro-control.

Catalyst is a tactical nuke launcher and one of Cortexes signature units, unique in its function.

Built by all T2 land/air cons it can strike with light nuclear missiles within a huge range. It is able to overshoot all T1 and T2 defenses so it serves a great role in dismantling heavy defense lines and destroying strategic targets such as Annihilators.

A skilled player may even use it as a defensive unit. If you can extrapolate where incoming units are going to be located 10 seconds from now – you can hit them with an unexpected lethal strike. It stockpiles 1 missile in 75 seconds.

When self-destructed, Catalyst explodes almost like a regular nuke. Use it as a last resort weapon when you know you can’t hold the defense line.

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Cobra is a short range anti-air turret that can deal ludicrous amounts of AoE damage. Built by all T2 land/air cons it is able to shatter most aircrafts within its range.  Best DPS/cost ratio among all AA, but also - short range. 

Build it around strategic point-targets and frontline defences.

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Commando is one of the most fun units in the game. It is the only bot that can survive falling from a shot-down air transporter. Also it has a personal radar and radar-jamming device.

Use this fact to drop it straight into an unprotected enemy base and tear it down with mines » The Commando can build medium mines. 

Pro players use it to “steal” resources. To do that, damage a structure until it has few % of HP and then reclaim it gaining all the tasty metal. Falls short in comparison with regular combat units. Try to avoid engaging with them.

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A Construction Aircraft is able to build basic T1 structures like the ones made by the Commander. Moreover it can build some more advanced land and air defense towers, advanced solar generators and most importantly the T2 Aircraft Plant. Due to their speed, the highest amongst constructors, it may be used for quick expansions and reclaiming in areas far from your base. It can also access the whole map, as it doesn't care about any natural obstacles. It has a very low HP, so keep away from enemy's anti air units. Due to little build power you may want to use multiple air cons at once.

Each Construction Aircraft increases the player's energy and metal storage capacity by 25.

A construction Bot (con-bot) is able to build basic T1 structures like the ones made by the Commander. Moreover it can build some more advanced land and air defense towers, advanced solar generators and most importantly the T2 bot lab. 

It is slightly slower and weaker than the equivalent vehicle constructor, but it can climb steeper hills, so it is effective in expansion on mountainous terrain. Each Construction bot increases the player's energy and metal storage capacity by 50. 

It is wise to use pairs of con-bots for expansion, so they can heal each other and build defensive structures faster. This makes them immune to light assault units like Fleas / Rovers.

Important Buildoptions

The Construction Ship is a good builder in terms of build power and speed. Even a single one of these assisting the lab almost doubles its output of units provided that you have the resources. On top of Commander’s build list they're able to produce more advanced T1 defences like the Floating Heavy Laser Turret and give access to T2 Shipyard. It adds 50 to your metal and energy storage capability 

Use them for assisting the lab and quickly expanding, claiming the metal spots with underwater metal extractors.

A construction vehicle is able to build basic T1 structures like the ones made by the Commander. Moreover it can build some more advanced land and air defense towers, advanced solar generators and most importantly the T2 Vehicle Lab. It is slightly faster and stronger than the Bot constructor, but it can not climb stepper hills, so it is effective only in expansion on relatively flat terrain.

Each Construction vehicle increases the player's energy and metal storage capacity by 50.

It is wise to use pairs of cons for expansion, so they can heal each other and build defensive structures faster. This makes them immune to light assault units like Fleas / Rover.

Important Build Options

Copperhead is a mobile anti-air tank equipped with a flak cannon. Its weapon deals ludicrous amounts of AoE damage to aircrafts and can easily take down all T1 and most T2 aircrafts that come into its vicinity. Flak weapons have shorter range compared to other AA weapons, hence try not to keep it far behind the rest of your army. It doesn’t have anything to fight with against land units, so keep it covered.

Anti Radar / Jammer / Minefield / ScoutSpam Weapon. Juno is an ultimate countering weapon. Built by all T1 land/air cons it piles up electric discharge missiles that don’t produce any damage to assault units or economy, but they immediately disable all radar and jammer units and detonate mines. On top of that the area of effect of the discharge becomes lethal to any light scout units like jeffies or fleas. It has many situational uses. It is very effective to use it just seconds before scheduling an attack on your opponent defences. This way his view of the battlefield becomes obscured. You can also try to surprise your enemy attacking him from the side he assumed to be well protected by the minefield. Finally you can use it to stop “scoutspams”, making his artillery way less effective. Stockpiles one charge in 75 seconds.

The Crasher is a cheap mobile anti-air (AA) bot, that can easily take down light aircrafts, like scouts, or transporters. Always send a few with your army to protect it from EMP drones / Gunships or commander drop tactics.

Remember that it has no land-to-land weapons, so it is unable to defend itself.

In bigger numbers it can prevent bombing runs. It is able to walk underwater - combine it with amphibious units!

Croc is a medium amphibious tank. Equipped with a decent amount of hitpoints and a good plasma weapon it is the best amphibious unit cost-to-cost. Use it as the main part of your amphibious infantry. Combine with Poison Arrow and amphibious AA like Crashers to get a powerful and self-sufficient strike force.

Death Cavalry is a stealthy resurrection submarine. They are not visible to the units on the surface, if your enemy doesn’t have a sonar nearby, hence they can be used as a precious support to your feet, providing repairs, reclaiming and resurrecting wrecks. They have much higher build power and costs than their land counterpart, therefore you don’t need many of these. Two or three are usually enough to bring a big wreckfield back to life in reasonable time. 

Decoy Commander is just a fake commander. It may build most of the units, the real one can (+mines) and it serves the function of confusing your opponent. 

It is reasonable to build it when you have your last commander, so the enemy might get tricked and focus fire on the fake one.

The Decoy Commander has a lot of buildpower and is very good to assist in late-game mass-production.

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Deleter is a mobile radar-jamming device that can hide your units away from the enemy’s field of view. In combination with cloakable units like Gremlins, or a Commander it makes them totally undetectable (if your enemy hasn’t built the intrusion countermeasure system).

Diplomat is a heavy missile truck with unmatched range within T2 mobile units. It shoots missiles along a high-altitude arc enabling you to take down targets covered by walls and hilltops. Its awesome range make it a perfect siege weapon, able to quickly obliterate enemy’s defensive structures and destroy strategic targets like geothermal powerplants etc. It is very costly but its huge damage output makes it worth a shot. Helpless against mobile units, always keep it protected by your infantry. A bit cheaper than its ARM counterpart.

Dominator is a long-range heavy rocket bot that shoots its missiles far to the skies to let them hit from a big angle. This way it is able to target remote structures and units covered by walls and high hilltops. 

Able to overshoot most defensive structures – use it to break enemy defense line. 

They are very fragile and useless against mobile units, therefore always keep them covered with short range infantry like Cans.

Doomsday Machine a multi-weapon tower. Built by all T2 land/air cons it packs three types of laser turrets that can aim and shoot independently. 

First, the tachyon accelerator for long-range highly damaging outbursts. 

Secondly, a high energy laser turret for mid-range. 

Finally, a double light laser turret for short range anti-swarm purposes. It can deal with most T2 units and even light T3. 

When swithed off if hides its turrets under heavy armor. Use it to soak big amounts of damage when targeted, while your other defensive structures do all the work.

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Dragon’s Maw is a pop-up flamethrower turret that can disguise itself as a harmless Dragon’s tooth. Built by all T1 cons it may surprise your opponent with its high AoE DPS, lethal to all T1 units. 

When hidden in ground it may take in massive amounts of damage staying unharmed.

Great anti-swarm weapon.

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Converts up to 70 energy into 1 metal per second

Enforcer is the heaviest of T1 ships. It’s biggest advantage is its durable armor and versatility. They are equipped with a powerful long range plasma cannon and a depth charge launcher. Their range allows them to outrange all ships and also torpedo static launchers, which makes them a great choice for pushing the front-line. They are also used as a good counter to submarines. However, due to slow movement and low maneuverability, they can get easily overrun by lighter ships.

It is a good idea to provide them with an escort of lighter ships and repairing support. They are costly and leave very precious wrecks, so take good care of them!

Enforcers have a higher cost, but also higher damage compared to their ARMADA counterpart (Crusader)

Envoy is a heavy and durable sea transporter. Each one has a transport capacity of 40, with each unit carried taking up space: 4 spaces for a large unit, 2 for a medium unit, and 1 for a small unit. They are mainly used to quickly transport the Commander and land constructors across water. The Commander can be loaded or unloaded from underwater. 

Their armour is able to withstand a lot of damage, therefore it is pretty safe to move Commander this way. Though when the transporter gets destroyed all units inside go down with it as well. It can unload and pick up the Commander from underwater.

Era is an assault frigate equipped with three light plasma cannons with decent range. It resides in the middle-ground between corvettes and destroyers. It’s main use case is defending from Destroyers, as its range and speed allows it to outmaneuver them and deal some significant damage, though you need to make in big numbers to pull that off. 

Costwise, you can make two of these for every destroyer, so it is a good investment for fighting against them. However, they get easily countered by submarines, against which they have no weapon.

Eras have a higher cost, but stronger armor and weapons then their ARMADA counterpart (Ellysaw).

Eradicator (Bomb-Resistant Medium-Range Missile Battery) is an expensive T1 anti-air tower that serves a very situational purpose. Built by all T1 land/air cons it has the highest DPS and range among all T1 AA. 

When placed properly it may even take down a Liche (Nuclear bomber) before it hits.

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Executioner is a medium assault cruiser. Positioned as an upgraded version of Destroyers and a frequent part of any T2 naval group. Wielding a medium-range plasma cannon, a pair of light laser turrets and a depth charge launcher the cruiser is a flexible vessel. They are the fastest T2 ship and useful for rushing your opponent in the initial T2 naval warfare phase. They can easily take out any T1 units while also offering protection against both hovercraft and submarines.

Most Important Build Options

Exploiter is an armed metal extractor. Built by all T1 land/air cons it is basically a mex+LLT in one unit. Very useful to expand with in late T1 game. It is more expensive than a mex+LLT, however it is way more armored and can withstand higher damage. Don’t use in your early expansion, before you set up a good economy.

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Fink is a cheap and fast-moving air scout, that is not armed with any weapons, but a huge line of sight. It is used to gain intelligence on what your enemy is planning, and where he keeps his most important units. Information is the most valuable asset on the battlefield, knowing your opponent's plans you can prepare your counter strikes early, making his moves inefficient. In late-game a constant stream of scouts helps your artillery units, improving their aim. They can also be used as a cheap distraction swarm that takes the fire from anti-air during bombing runs.

Fortitude is an ICBM interception missile silo. Built by all T2 land/air cons it is able to cover a decent area spanning over your base and surroundings. It protects you from long-range nuclear missiles (not tactical nukes). Takes 90 seconds to stack up one missile. 

Always make one after the 15 minute mark and be careful as it may be EMPed by spies or BLUE EMP silos.

Freaker is a very handy constructor that can run fairly quickly and provide buildpower wherever you need it. On top of that it is able to produce nano-towers and infantry, most importantly – Pyros and Crashers (AA). 

A great way to provide quick combat force in places far from your base is to use them to build a few nanos and then put a queue of Pyros setting it on repeat. 

This way they will keep producing Pyros until you stop it. Finally, use them for building mines and securing your flanks, and points of high tactical importance.

Garpike is a light amphibious tank which can travel on land and underwater equally well. It is weaker than most land based tanks, so to use it effectively avoid direct fire exchange and try to surprise your opponent by destroying undefended targets near the shoreline. Don't forget to send one or two amphibious constructors with your assault to reclaim left wrecks and claim metal spots on the way.

Slow but powerful amphibious bot

Equipped with a short-range heavy laser. Gimp is able to deal significant damage in close combat. On top of that it can also fight when underwater with its light torpedo launcher. 

Gimp is pretty hard to spot when underwater, try to sneak in through the shoreline.

Goliath is a super heavy tank. Equipped with a powerful AoE plasma cannon can obliterate whole groups of light units with one shot. It is very heavily armored and can take in massive amounts of damage. It defines a great use in an early T2 game. Take it to the front covered by some AA units in order to push through the remaining T1 units and defenses like a knife through butter. Though, better try not to lose it, because it leaves very precious wreckage (894 metal).

HLLT is a double LLT turret. Built by all T1 land/air cons it is an excellent choice for an anti-swarm weapon. Its upper LLT turret has a slightly higher range and is able to overshoot T1 rocket bots. Its high DPS and range makes it a big threat to commanders. Similarly to Beamer it can singlehandedly destroy a hostile commander before he gets in the D-gunning range.

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