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UNSC AIR UNITS
PROTECTOR SENTINEL
Unit Class: Core Air Accessed Via: UNSC Bases and Minibases Strengths/Weaknesses: Fast-moving. Only available to Anders. Requires Protector Sentinel Leader Power.
UNIT DETAILS
UNIT DETAILS: Professor Anders has shown a remarkable ability to manipulate Forerunner command codes and bypass directive locks, giving her the ability to take direct control of the Ark’s own Protector Sentinels.
The Protector Sentinel is a flying Forerunner drone armed with an energy-based cleansing beam that can damage all enemy types but is most effective against vehicles. These units can be upgraded with swarming drones capable of temporarily disabling enemy vehicles and buildings. The Defense Grid upgrade allows a defeated Protector Sentinel to explode, unleashing an EMP burst that stuns nearby units.
BASIC TACTICS
Although the Protector Sentinel is exclusive to Anders, it serves as one of the UNSC’s best air-based rush options. The unit itself has no Tech Level requirement, and once you’ve purchased the prerequisite Tier 2 Leader Power, it can be produced in any base you control. With a few expansion bases and a steady flow of resources, you can quickly produce (and rapidly reinforce) a sizable fleet of Protector Sentinels. This core air unit isn’t as durable as the Hornet, but it’s a bit faster, and it offers both a better attack range and an extended line of sight. The Protector Sentinel’s Drone Escort not only boosts the unit’s health and damage, it also grants access to the Lockdown Bolt. Use this active ability to temporarily disable a target vehicle or structure. Anders’ Sentinel Synergy Leader Power (Tier 4) unlocks additional Protector Sentinel upgrades. Purchasing this Power grants each Protector Sentinel a small shield, increased health, and greater damage output. If you plan to utilize Protector Sentinels, Sentinel Synergy is a worthy investment. Protector Sentinels don’t gain veterancy. Keeping them healthy saves you the cost of replacing them, but don’t expect your Forerunner fleet to get stronger as they move from battle to battle.
Hornet
Unit Class: Core Air Accessed Via: Airpad Strengths/Weaknesses: Fast-moving. Medium range.
UNIT DETAILS
Hornets are fast-attack aerial gunships used for combat reconnaissance and surprise attacks on high-priority targets. They’re armed with medium autocannons that are effective against all targets, and they’re particularly adept at taking out light vehicles. Hornets are comparatively fragile, but their speed and versatility make them a valuable tool in the field.
BASIC TACTICS
Don’t underestimate these lightly armored gunships. A small group of Hornets can be a force on the battlefield; a large group of Hornets can be absolutely devastating. The Tech Level requirement makes it difficult to mount a Hornet-based rush early in a game, but if you’re able to hold off your enemies long enough to amass a fleet of Hornets, you stand a good chance of overwhelming even well-defended bases—particularly once you’ve managed to research the Wingmen upgrade. Despite their natural vulnerability to infantry, Hornets perform fairly well against all unit types—just keep an eye out for anti-air specialists. If you plan to pit your Hornets against Wolverines or upgraded Banshees, make sure your fleet is large enough to overwhelm the enemy.
NIGHTINGALE
Unit Class: Support Accessed Via: Airpad Strengths/Weaknesses: Repairs and heals. Defensive smoke (active ability). Detects cloaked units.
UNIT DETAILS
UNIT DETAILS: The Nightingale is a dedicated support unit that uses its complement of multipurpose Restoration Drones to heal and repair allied units. Its relatively simple construction (aside from the advanced drone system) makes it possible to adapt the Nightingale’s design blueprint to the Spirit of Fire’s older factory models.
Vulture
Unit Class: Heavy Air Accessed Via: Airpad Strengths/Weaknesses: Heavily armored gunship. Effective against most targets. Can launch devastating Phoenix missile (active ability).
UNIT DETAILS
UNIT DETAILS: Essentially a flying tank, the Vulture is the largest combat aerodyne in UNSC service. Vulture gunships use twin autocannons to clear out ground units and they’re outfitted with missile pods that can make short work of most air units. However, the Vulture’s most devastating weapon comes in the form of Phoenix tactical nuclear missiles.
BASIC TACTICS
BASIC TACTICS: Heavily armed and armored, the Vulture is effective in most combat situations. However, its slow-moving speed leaves it vulnerable to focused counterattacks. Be particularly cautious around groups of core air units—a swarm of Banshees or Hornets can down a Vulture fairly quickly. The Phoenix missile is a devastating weapon, but it’s slow to fire. During the extended (and well-telegraphed) launching window, the Vulture’s core weapon systems are disabled. This gives enemy forces ample time to dodge the incoming missile—or worse, to destroy the Vulture before the missile launches. This means the Phoenix missile is best used against enemy bases. If you choose to use this ability against units, do so during chaotic firefights (during which your enemies might be distracted). A Vulture spawns with its Phoenix missile on a lengthy cooldown. If your strategy relies on a Phoenix missile strike, make sure you allot enough time for your Vulture to charge this powerful ability. ©2016 Microsoft Corporation.
Condor
Unit Class: Super Unit Accessed Via: Armory Strengths/Weaknesses: Targets multiple units. Devastating attack. Very heavy armor
UNIT DETAILS
Officially, the Vulture is the heaviest combat air unit the UNSC has to offer—but there’s nothing official about the Condor Gunship. This flying fortress is actually a repurposed and highly weaponized civilian dropship. It breaks a large number of UNSC weapons platform regulations, but its effectiveness in battle is undeniable.
The Condor Gunship is a slow-moving but powerful craft armed with multiple pulse-laser turrets and a light magnetic accelerator cannon (MAC)—all of which can independently target enemy units. The pulse lasers offer a high rate of fire, making the Condor effective against mass units. The MAC provides devastating burst damage for hard target elimination.
BASIC TACTICS
The Condor Gunship is extremely slow but extremely powerful. Its laser turrets can engage a great many targets, and its MAC active ability is devastating to any units or structures caught in the area of effect. However, the MAC takes a while to charge and has a significant cooldown period. Choose your targets wisely. The Condor is heavily armored, but it’s not indestructible. Keep a group of Nightingales nearby. Move in to heal the Condor as it takes damage. Even if the enemy focuses on your Nightingales, there’s a good chance they’ll manage to keep one another healed.
