Ship Countering Guide

[omnomnom]

In my opinion, ships are to an extent countered by other ships. Let me explain why and what I think they are.

 

Warbird/Javelin

 

Counters: Spider, Leviathan, Lancaster

Average: Warbird, Javelin

Slightly Weak To: Terrier, Weasel

Weak To: Shark

 

The Warbird and Javelin has high movement and gun speed/bomb speed. Against the largest ships stat-wise they have a clear edge, as energy-based ships do not help as much against fast ships, and the Lancaster's weapon speeds are too slow. The Warbird and Javelin are average against itself, with similar stats. The Terrier and Weasel have recharge in their side, but their slower movement cuts them. The Shark does not have as much as a loss in movement however, and with its top-level recharge stat would be the most effective ship as a counter.

 

Spider/Leviathan

 

Counters: Lancaster, Shark

Slightly Counters: Terrier, Weasel

Average: Spider, Leviathan

Weak to: Warbird, Javelin

 

Along with the Terrier/Weasel, I believe the first 6 ships are similar enough statwise to be grouped in pairs. Anyways, the Lancaster and Shark basically get outranged weapon-wise, their high recharge helping them little here. The Terrier and Weasel have better range (which helps), but their recharge-based stats and lower energy still keeps them down.

 

Terrier/Weasel

 

Slightly Counters: Warbird, Javelin

Average: Terrier, Weasel, Shark

Slightly Weak to: Spider, Leviathan

Weak to: Lancaster

 

For new things to say, the Shark I believe has enough other similarities to be average even though its weapons are a little slower. The Lancaster's high energy AND recharge is basically a sign that says move back or die to the Terrier/Weasel, essentially making them weak to the Lancaster. The Terrier and Weasel base stats are focused in recharge, so a ship built utilizing that is usually not a good way to effectively hold a Lancaster off.

 

Lancaster

 

Counters: Terrier, Weasel, Shark

Average: Lancaster

Weak to: Warbird, Javelin, Spider, Leviathan

 

The only new thing to add here is the Shark, whose tactic would basically be spam Beam Array for 10 years, meanwhile, backing up a whole lot (against that large amount of bullets the Lancaster is piling up)...

 

Shark

 

Counters: Warbird, Javelin

Average: Terrier, Weasel, Shark

Weak to: Spider, Leviathan, Lancaster

 

Nothing new to say here.

 

---

 

Basically, I think you can rock-paper-scissor ships, to an extent. Skill is not a nonfactor, but you may be able to negate a portion of it with the right ship and build, allowing your less skilled self to even have the upperhand in that certain case. That is what this guide is trying to be about.

Edited July 21, 2012 by omnomnom

[spidernl]

Do you even play this zone?

 

A terrier with a speed-based setup is a larger, faster-recharging warbird. Dito for weasel compared to jav, other than EMP (which admittedly is a big difference). Slow, otherwise specialized "medium ships" are sitting ducks in center. They'll die sooner or later.

 

Warbirds with patience will eventually mop up a javelin, but if the javelin gets a good hit, it might be over before the warbird gets its chance. I'd say a 1v1 warbird versus jav fight is quite warbird-favored.

 

A well-built shark will beat anything short of a turret in center. It might just take a while, as the only reliable gun it can use, Gauss, lacks a little punch and EMP, though effective, doesn't make for a good finisher. Unlike a warbird's Tau Blaster, Falcon- or Harpy Missile.

 

Ever since I toned down Hydrazine Rocket a tad, Spiders and Leviathans have no real place in center, other than as part of a turret.

 

As for lancasters.. A fast Mass Driver one can be surprisingly good until it's inevitably ganged up on.