8 replies to this topic

[Diablo_Cow]

For the past couple of weeks or so I've been trying to win a FFA against all heroic enemies, however it seems that when an AI focuses its attention on me, there's no hope of winning. My current strategy in the early game was to rely on the UNSC's ability to out produce the Covies and to hopefully cripples opposing UNSC production capabilities.  But once the midgame starts to roll out, my own production capability is suddenly matched by the Covenant's and I resort to pincer movements to waste the energy projectors and get a bunch of "free" MAC shots off.  I continue the pincer strategy up till the late game then instead of maybe 30 ships total, it'll consist of three fleets, a bombing fleet and two attack fleets.

 

Composition of the attacking fleets: 

1x Thermopylae

1x Valiant

3x Orion

2x Marathon

1x Autumn

1x Phoenix

10x Halycon

10x Athens

~30 Thanatos

15x Stalwart

x2 Cradle 

 

Composition of bombing fleet:

x1 Phoenix

15x Stalwart

15x Charon

 

Usually in the end game those three fleets can take a planet extremely quickly but they can't hold off a counter attack at all.  Then the casualties sustained from any significant engagement means I'd have to either sack all three fleets or lose my momentum and hope I can remake them faster than the AI can counter attack.  So far its only worked well when token forces are left defending choke points, but as soon as I engage with a main Covie fleet, no amount of pincer movements will work since its usually a counter attack and I'll be out of position trying to repair or replace ships.  

 

Are there any better tactics? Should I try and cut down on my attacking/bombing fleets to try and build a tanky bait fleet?

[Aunt Gruntie]

Use a lot of capital ships, Marathons at the least if you're runnin low on resources, but if money's no object get Autumn class'. The more nukes you can bring to a fight the better your chances are. Orions are great at extreme damage to single targets but lack good durability so it'd probably be wise to stick with mainline capital ships, cus more nukes.

 

Also I honestly wouldn't bother with Athens at all. UNSC strike craft aren't worth an entire ship dedicated to them, unless it's a UNSC v UNSC, then go crazy.

[Crisiss]

128 thanatos should do the trick. Fuck diversity. The public version is not too great in the balance department (last minute changes were essentially a bandaid) but this will be remedied in the next patch. Basically, spam thanatos with some marathons or autumns strewn in for nukes, and have a couple of Phoenixes with ODST drop or Charons for bombing. Rinse and repeat to win.

[Aunt Gruntie]

yeah pretty much that

[sloosecannon]

You can also rush fortifications on that planet when you take it. Once you've done that, your defenses combined with your fleets should be plenty to take out any counter-attack. Then, just rinse and repeat

[TheBestKorea*]

I've found that using a combination of x10 Autumn classes leveled and then x25 Thanatos Is basically one of the most overpowered human battle groups you can project in smaller numbers. Seriously it's managed to kill fleets that severely outnumber it on multiple occasions. Do hit and runs with this if you're playing PVP and you're opponent will kindly let you know that you're the scum of the earth. Hell even against the AI this strategy has proven great for taking pressure off  front line and newly captured systems on heroic. 

[spartan3227mike]

the first thing I do when I capture a planet or wipe out the fleet defending it is to build an anchor station to connect it to the slipspace grid

I have three planets that I only use to build ships so I am able to replenish my fleet quickly

[Metanator]

Yeah, Arid planets are Gods Gift to Fleets in the later game when your economy basically runs itself. Get yourself a few of those, dedicate them to shipyards, connect to slipspace grid and BOOM! Insta-fleets in about 5 mins or less.

[Mrbump]

fight harder

fight faster

and expect to take more losses and to kill less