BANISHED VEHICLES

The Chopper gets its name from sharp rotary blades mounted at the front of the chassis to ram enemy vehicles and shred ground troops, a savage tactic reflective of Brute culture. Choppers are so popular among the Banished that competition to become a driver in the outrider squadrons is a major source of death and injury among Atriox’s packs. 

BASIC TACTICS

 Choppers are your starting scout and early anti-infantry vehicle. Researching the Chopper’s Shrapnel Rounds weapon upgrade also allows it to detect cloaked units. Combined with its speed and relatively low cost, the Chopper remains a valuable unit throughout a Multiplayer match.    Creating a Chopper at the beginning of a match increases your chances of claiming distant resources—and early resource acquisition is often the deciding factor in which player comes out on top.    Rushing with a force of Choppers can be a useful tactic. With two Augmented Harvesters and one standard Harvester, you should have enough Supply to create a steady flow of Chopper reinforcements.  

The Ghost can only be built when playing as the Shipmaster or the Arbiter. This unit replaces the Chopper inside the base, at a lower Supply cost of 225 (versus the Chopper’s cost of 250). The Population value for both the Chopper and the Ghost is three.    While the Ghost has less armor than the Chopper, it’s considerably faster. Use this to your advantage to perform quick raids, or hit-and-run tactics with infantry at different Control Points or Resource Nodes.    The Vehicle Shielding upgrade makes your Ghosts much more effective, and it’s a must if you plan on using these ultra-light vehicles in the later stages of a match.  

Apart from the Scarab super unit, the Marauder stands as one of the more heavily armored vehicle the Banished can produce. This toughness comes at a significant cost—400 Supply, to be specific—and its already impressive armor can be increased via the Thick Hide upgrade.    Investing in the Shipmaster’s Advanced Cloaking I Leader Power grants the Marauder an active cloaking ability. Advanced Cloaking II extends the cloak’s duration. If you’re looking to get the most out of your Marauders, consider selecting the Shipmaster as your leader, and spending your Leader Points accordingly.    Marauders don’t fare particularly well against air units. If you favor a vehicle-heavy force, mix in some Reavers with your Marauders, as the supplemental firepower can be a big help.    Enemy units are briefly slowed by the Marauder’s plasma turret. Combined with its speed, this allows the Marauder to close the gap with any retreating infantry. Pair it with a few Ghosts or Choppers to demolish all infantry on the battlefield.  

The Reaver is a walking unit unique to the Banished, built to act as a highly mobile counter-air unit. It is armed with Thrasher missile pods that track enemy aircraft, a spike cannon that can deter attack by infantry and light-armored vehicles, and an energy shield for some added protection. 

BASIC TACTICS 

The Predatory Leap ability allows the Reaver to jump short distances. This can be useful when you need to make a quick retreat.    While the Reaver specializes in destroying air units, it’s also susceptible to heavy damage from enemy aircraft. A small group of Reavers can quickly overwhelm all but the most formidable air units, but be prepared to repair your Reavers during large-scale firefights.    Reavers aren’t very effective against ground targets, and they’re particularly vulnerable to enemy vehicles. It’s often best to group these anti-air specialists with more versatile units.  

The Locust walker is a siege vehicle armed with an unstable focus cannon that deals continuous damage to buildings and vehicles. Use this weapon’s range to your advantage—focus on attacking priority targets from a distance. Locusts are fitted with energy shields, but they’re relatively fragile once those shields are depleted.    Locusts are able to move while firing at units; use this advantage to avoid counter-units when attacking a base. The Locust’s long-range sustained fire also helps eliminate enemy scouts who might be monitoring your army’s movements across the battlefield.    Like all ranged units, Locusts are best used on high ground. When you attack an enemy base, look for a nearby cliff that might offer your Locusts a better view of their targets.  

The Wraith is armed with a plasma mortar for long-range bombardment, and short-range plasma cannons for engaging ground and air units. Wraiths in Banished service are also fitted with energy shields. The Wraith’s mortar can accommodate a scorch mortar; the system’s unstable plasma shells leave a lingering pool of energy after impact.    While its energy shields offer some extra protection, the Wraith isn’t as durable as its UNSC counterparts. If you plan to go head-to-head with a group of Scorpions or Grizzlies, make sure your Wraiths outnumber their targets.    Use the Wraith to back up your army; it makes short work of most infantry and vehicle units. Be cautious of incoming counter-vehicle units or a swarm of enemy air units—these enemies can quickly dispatch a lone Wraith at close range.