1. INTRODUCTION.Ok galactic folks, Factions Wars are in the horizon, and you want to get ready with one of the most famous specialist formations… the 10 tons max.
What equipment should you use in your tiny red mechs?
While I don't own the absolute truth, I dare share my thoughts, in the knowledge that only yours will be the final decision in your work to improve your red ant force.
First, we want to see what we could equip into our Red Ants… Let’s see:
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2. EQUIPMENT SLOTS:
At level 8 to 17 we can equip 1 Cockpit
Level 18 to 27: 2 Cockpits
Levels 28 to 43: 2 Cockpits, 1 Chassis
Levels 44 to 53: 2 Cockpits, 1 Chassis & 1 Shield
Levels 54 to 73: 2 Cockpits, 1 Chassis & 2 Shields.
Levels 74 to 99: 2 Cockpits, 1 Chassis & 3 Shields.
Level 100 and above: 3 Cockpits, 1 Chassis & 3 Shields.
We get that we aren’t going to equip engines in our fast red ants… All right, they don’t need them as long as they are already so fast mechs. Then, what other qualities might we be aiming for?
As red ant has a low armor, our goals are going to be faster than the enemy ants and precise, to achieve a hit and destroy the enemy mech before he destroyed yours, this is almost a Far West duel… and also, we want to be dodgy, to avoid the enemy shoots…
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3. MAIN SKILLS FOR RED ANTS:
So we could want what we usually want in any other mech:
Speed
Precision
Dodge
But also we may look to pierce (trample) the enemy lines and fork or splash them to maybe eradicate extra ants in every single shoot.
So:
Trample
Fork
Splash
Any other skill will be a plus, but probably not as decisive as those we commented above.
So let’s see what gear we have available in the galaxy stores:
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4. COCKPITS:
We get cockpits slots at levels 8, 18 and 100, so from 1 up to 3 cockpits.
4.1.1. Standard quality Cockpit devices (nor crystal)
Cup Holder: A crystal and cheap (just some ferrite and bioptics) stimulating drink that will boost us by Precision (4) and Crit-kill 1%... So this easy to acquire device, will give us some precious precision and a thin, very thin chance to knock out in one critical shoot the enemy (not really astounding as in a standard shoot we will probably do it as well). So we have the Precision (4).
4.1.2. Niode quality Cokpit devices:
FDF Targeting: Elite device giving Precision (5), 2x Damage 6%, Miss Dmg +10%, Proj. Dmg +4% by the cost of 16 niodes (plus some ferrite and bioptics)… The enemy red ants will be one shoot matter, right? So the 2x Dmg won’t be as amazing as the higher precision… Red Ants uses laser as weapon of choice, so we won’t need that boost for missile nor projectile (unless we decided to load exotic missile or cannons into our Red Ant, hey, a tactic!)… But basically, we have here Precision (5).
Aviator 3.0. Amazing pilot glasses micro-computerized with battle AI allowing: Precision (4), Trample 4%, 2x Dmg 3% & 3x Dmg 3%... Interesting… We have here Precision and Trample as two of our desired skills… Yes, there is also a bump on dmg, but in our one shoot standard kills, we will as mainly for the two mentioned.
Known Hacks. A neat patch to hack the enemy devices, signed by the famous hacker Skeleton not the less! Slow (5), Laser Dmg +4% and Freeze 6%. Ok, it bumps laser damage, but really, do we need to increase the damage on our weapons when Red Ants are almost one shoot down?. No, we don’t… And do we need to slow or freeze the enemy red ants, when all is one shoot matter? Nope, neither.
4.1.3. Best Cockpits?
This leaves us with two winners:
- Cup Holder
&
- Aviator 3.0
Well… One cockpit device is free of Niodes or Crystal: Cup Holder, that is; and the fashion sunglasses while I admit will give to your pilots a pro appearance… This will require 14 Niodes (and some ferrite and bioptics) from you.
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5. CHASSIS:
We can only equip a single chassis, because as all we know, the Red Ants are the tiniest of the mechs… So, the battle suit might get enforced with:
5.1.1. Standard quality Chassis (non niodes nor crystal):
- Alloy Tendons. (standard): Dodge (8), Shield (4)
- Reinforced Joints. (standard): Dodge (10)
Well… From both standard chassis, between Alloy tendons and Reinforced Joints, the call is easy: Reinforced Joints are our non-elite winner here, as they provide a higher dodge, and as the extra shielding from alloy tendons is going to be useless most of times (while this may be arguable), so low that our ant won’t get the difference yet.
5.1.2. Elite quality Chassis (Niode Chassis):
- Boxing Gloves. (elite): Dodge (11), trample Shield 30%, Shield (3)
- Hip Actuator. (elite): Dodge (12).
- Improvised Jump Jet. (elite): Dodge (16), 3x Dmg 5%, Kickback 5% odds 40% dmg returned.
Among the elite gear, we have interesting options with the boxing gloves dodge (11), that also might save some of you red ants from enemy trampling damage (30% trample dmg reduction), or Hip Actuators (dodge 12)… About the improvised jump jet, yes, it is tempting (dodge 16) but in a bad RNG draw, you are going to kill yourself. Overall, I may say the boxing gloves are the best elite chassis for your red ants…
5.1.3. Best Chassis?
PRACTICE (not Rich) pilots:
Reinforced Joints (up to 1): Zero Crystal, Zero Niodes. 203 ferrite & 120 Bioptics e/a.
ELITISTS (and rich) pilots:
Boxing Gloves (up to 1): 14 Niodes, 168 ferrite & 242 bioptics e/a.
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6. SHIELDS
We acquire Shield slots at levels 44, 54 and 74.
Let’s face it, as most of the enemy red ant squads will keep advantage of the impressive laser boost… They will load lasers and no one can blame them. You should too!
So, to protect your own red ant squad from the enemy laserization, you may want to equip as many Viridel Alpha/ Shields as possible (from 1 in level 44, to 3 in level 74 and above).
Oh yes, there is vulnerability for missile weapons, but if your enemy is going to load missiles, he will sacrifice in a great amount the speed factor (since most of missile have crappy speed rates, in opposition with the usually fast lasers).
If you want to be ready for any contingence and you were not short on resources, then you might want to keep different shields against every different enemy weaponry types. So if in the battle logs, you detected your enemy using different weapons than lasers, in a big amount, then you could just switch shields, loading those that could better protect your red ants from the opposite barrages.
Note that the % damage reduction is not arithmetically accumulative (two shields providing the same % protection of 10 won’t provide together 20% but but will escalate improving percentages as following.
6.1. Standard Shielding: Viridel Shield (34% laser damage reduction, Vulnerabilities: 12% missile damage & 10% fire damage)
1 Shield: 34% laser dmg reduction.
2 Shields: 56% laser dmg reduction.
3 Shields: 71% laser dmg reduction.
6.2. Elite Shielding (yes… Niodes): Viridel Alpha provides a really higher protection: 44 laser damage reduction, Missile Vulnerability 12% and Shield (6)
1 Alpha: 44%
2 Alphas: 69%
3 Alphas: 83%
Definitively, if you could invest in shields, those will really mean a true difference in your Red Ants duel.
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7. THE CHOSEN GEAR. TOTAL BONUSSES.
7.1. If you want to economize as Niodes are not infinite and neither grow from the friend’s farms…
COCKPIT: 3x Cup Holders
CHASSIS: 1x Dodge Joint
SHIELDS: 3x Viridel Shield
TOTAL BONUS (at his maxed gear):
Precision +12
Crit-Kill: +3%
Dodge: +10
Laser shield: 71%
Vulnerabilities:
36% missile damage
30% fire damage
7.2. If you are looking for the best possible for your Ants, my suggestion here (and keep in mind you might have a different goal in mind) may be:
COCKPIT: 3x Aviator 3.0
CHASSIS: 1x Boxing Gloves
SHIELDS: 3x Viridel Alpha
TOTAL BONUS (at his maxed gear):
Precision +12
Trample: 12%
2x Damage: 9%
3x Damage: 9%
Dodge: +11
Laser shield: 83%
Shield: 21
Trample Shield: 30%
Vulnerabilities:
36% missile damage
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8. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
The main niode piece that makes the bigger difference here may be the shields. Even one or a couple of frontal lines properly protected against the weapons chosen by your opponent might move the edge of victory towards your field.
But then, even the cockpits and chassis; make a slight advantage that in the long term of the RNG (Random Number Generator) might also favors your odds with the precious Win Point.
As always, yours is the election. Be wise, be victorious!
Submitted by Germán Jaramillo Pulido#685605