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Talk:Warden Tanking (EU2012)

2014-02-23T11:41:53Z

Zyxophoj: Created page with "I'm not sure if this deserves its own page or if it should be included somewhere else. What do people think? --~~~~"

I'm not sure if this deserves its own page or if it should be included somewhere else. What do people think? --[[User:Zyxophoj|Zyxophoj]] ([[User talk:Zyxophoj|talk]]) 06:41, 23 February 2014 (EST)

Warden Tanking (EU2012)

2014-02-23T11:41:00Z

Zyxophoj: Warden Tanking!

Warden Tanking is a trick which makes good use out of the Absorbtion fields MEC Trooper ability. This ability seems dubious due to the high HP of MECs, but it is very powerful when combined with a MEC with abnormally low HP.

==The Build==

* 6-HP Colonel...
* ...in a [[MEC-1 Warden (EU2012)|MEC-1 Warden]]!
* Do not research Shaped Armor.
* Mandatory Abilities: Absorption Fields, Damage Control, Repair Servos.
* Nice to have: Defender's Medal, medics.

==Explanation==

The MEC has just 14 HP. Absorption Fields reduces any damage taken to one third of the total, rounded down to 4HP. Once Damage Control kicks in, the MEC takes a maximum of 2 damage from any source.

[[File:That_all_you_got_sucktopod.jpg]]

Even if that source is a [[Sectopod_(EU2012)|Sectopod]].

In addition, Repair Servos heals 2 HP back each turn for 3 turns. The end result is a MEC that can stand in front of a Sectopod and take 8 shots before dying; something even a [[MEC-3_Paladin_(EU2012)|Paladin]] can not do. Finally, when the MEC is at 2HP and about to die from the next shot, a single medikit charge can heal it all the way back to full health.

==Notes==

* Since this build is intended to deal with late-game heavy hitters - especially the dreaded Sectopod - the Kinetic Strike Module is more useful than the flamethrower.
* Without Hidden Potential, the only way to get a 6-HP colonel is to use a sniper in Impossible difficulty.
* A Sectopod's accompanying Drones can damage the Warden faster than the Sectopod itself can, so eliminate these nuisances quickly.

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]
[[Category: Enemy Within DLC (EU2012)]]
[[Category: Mechs (EU2012)]]

Talk:Sectopod (EU2012)

2014-02-23T10:30:11Z

Zyxophoj: /* Sectopod Overwatch in EW: Infinite Overwatch Shots? */

Sectopod Doubleshot: hm, I don't recall ever, EU or EW, shooting at the same soldier twice (have had "misses" take out cover of second target, tho...). I just tried it in EW, and the sectopod only took one shot, used it's second to move away. --[[User:Xuncu|Xuncu]] 05:57, 12 December 2013 (EST)
:Indeed. I've not seen a Sectopod in EW shoot at the same target twice, which you'd expect it to do most of the time if it had the ability to (since the algorithm that led it to shoot at that soldier should lead it to shoot the same soldier again). [[User:Binkyuk|Binkyuk]] 07:09, 12 December 2013 (EST)
::I may have seen it taking the shot twice at the same soldier but it's very rare to happen. I need to check my videos to see if there's any proof of that happening.
::Something else I've noticed on EW: Sectopods use their cannon a lot more to target cover. I've had a fight where two of my soldiers were using a van for cover and the Sectopod fired first at the van, making it explode, and then targeted one of the soldiers (who was now in half cover instead of full. That was a clever move on the AI. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 07:19, 12 December 2013 (EST)
:::Yes, I suspect the AI "cheats" at least that much when the oppertunity arises. It is rather surprising, as I've never seen the AI do that "use the miss to deliberatley take out cover" thing with any other aliens (if they did aim to take out cover, it'd be with one of the grenade-wielding species doing a toss-- naturally, always with the one who's turn it is ''first'')(trying it myself, a fair number of times I've managed to use misses to take out an alien's cover. Rapid Fire and Bullet Storm help to pull it off). Also, have had instances where I lost sight of the 'Pod, and on it's turn, it'd use both actions to shoot at nothing: *chest cannon beams flash through the sky* ".... the fuck are you shooting at?"--[[User:Xuncu|Xuncu]] 07:37, 12 December 2013 (EST)
::::I have a feeling it missed on that first shot, Hobbes. I don't think I've ever seen Cannon Fire ever target cover. I have seen Sectopods shoot same target twice in EW, especially against MECs. I just don't remember in EU since I never tried to have single soldiers up against one.--[[User:DracoGriffin|DracoGriffin]] 11:45, 12 December 2013 (EST)
:::::The Sectopod will target cover, I'd seen yet before on EU but it seems more now on EW. I just had a mission where it deliberately fired its cannon against a wall that was covering a ghosted soldier. Since it couldn't hit the soldier because of the stealth, the AI decided to blast the cover instead. Lucky for the soldier it had stealth because of Ghost Armor, not Mimetic Skin, otherwise it would be revealed and dead afterward. It is possible that the shot at the van was a miss although I don't recall seeing the "Missed" message. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 13:04, 12 December 2013 (EST)
:I've only had them attack separate targets, even against MECs, although I have had the shooting of nothing quite a few times. (Sectopod glitched onto a navigation unit in the alien base mission and fired at the Door continuously, before coming down and through the door.--[[User:Ditto51|Ditto51]] 12:46, 12 December 2013 (EST)

==Electro Pulse disables death explosion?==

Seems to be what I experienced in a recent game. My MEC ran into melee with the Sectopod and stunned it with Electropulse. The next turn, while the Sectopod was still stunned, I had her beat it down with Kinetic Strike Module, and there was no death explosion damage to her after the Sectopod died. [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 13:52, 12 December 2013 (EST)
:Mm, no. Stunned, and then had someone else do the kill, still took damage. If oppertunity arises, will test if still so if killing hit is *with* the EMP attack... heh, killed one on an embankment, the 'head' fell off the legs and rolled all the way down the hill! --[[User:Xuncu|Xuncu]] 03:45, 24 December 2013 (EST)

== Sectopod Overwatch in EW: Infinite Overwatch Shots? ==

So the other day, I got into a bad scrape with a sectopod on a terror mission that went FUBAR. At one point, in desperation I had a character with Lightning reflexes make a LONG run for it to get out of Line of sight and regroup. The first Overwatch shot missed due to lightning reflexes like planned, then the second missed due to the blessings of our lord and savior RNGesus, as I hoped it would.

The third overwatch shot however, didn't miss. Which is frustrating since it killed my soldier. Also frustrating because I thought Sectopods only had TWO overwatch shots. This entry even says as much.

So yeah, it might be yet another change for EW, or it might have been a bug, but I think Sectopod's overwatch is sort of like an uber Rapid-Reaction ability now, and they can get as many Overwatch shots (or at least 3) on the first runner they see. But the thing is, the sectopod has to miss the first two shots AND the Runner has to be in the open for a while to see this occur - like I said I was having my guy run a LONG way without breaking LOS to get to a spot that could. My only other thought about this is that it might also have to do with The sectopod's "energy", as I'm pretty sure it didn't take all of its actions the turn before, but that's just speculation on my part, whereas the 3rd Overwatch shot definitely isn't seeing as my soldier is now dead.

Anywho, the point is simply that Sectopod Overwatch may need some more investigating for EW. I will start a non-Ironman game to see about this and do some testing for further results.--[[User:MrGonesHead|MrGonesHead]] 01:25, 16 December 2013 (EST)
:Sounds similar to the Sectoid glitch; if a Sectoid is on overwatch, and you attempt to disable it (like to weaken it for a stun), it can get 'infinite' Overwatch shots. But yeh, on Ironman? Ouch.--[[User:Xuncu|Xuncu]] 02:33, 17 December 2013 (EST)

:If I'm reading this right, you moved one soldier once (which was Dashing a long distance) and was shot at three times? Something is wrong here or missing part of events. I have never had a Sectopod ever Overwatch fire a single soldier more than once unless I move the soldier than Dash him (taking two moves instead of one combined move). However, I have had Sectopods have multiple Overwatches by firing at different soldiers (one Overwatch per soldier unless moved as example above). I'm not sure why that was never added to page but it's easily replicated. Best way to prevent this is twofold:
*'''A''': Disabling Shot Sectopod prior to any moves
*'''B''': Suppression fire Sectopod seems to "disable" Overwatches in my experience
Could you perhaps expand on the sequence of events?--[[User:DracoGriffin|DracoGriffin]] 03:21, 17 December 2013 (EST)

This might be of interest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMWO1YDlkVs It looks like Disabling Shot is a really bad idea vs Sectopods in EU. --[[User:Zyxophoj|Zyxophoj]] ([[User talk:Zyxophoj|talk]]) 05:30, 23 February 2014 (EST)

Sectopod (EU2012)

2014-02-23T10:24:32Z

Zyxophoj: Disabling shot fixed vs sectopod in Enemy Within

{{OriginalVersion (EU2012)}}
{{BureauVersion (EU2012)}}

[[Image:Sectopod 2 (EU2012).png|right|300px|Sectopod]]

An artificial warrior for the Alien Army, these huge robotic units are a massive threat to your squad members. They are armed with some of the best weaponry the Aliens have. Not only can they use a heavy Plasma Cannon built into its body that can fire twice during a turn but they have a rocket salvo (Cluster Bomb) that they can use to lay waste to large areas. Their Plasma Cannon will also go automatically into [[Overwatch (EU2012)|Overwatch]] mode after it is used and can also fire twice while on reaction fire. Finally, the Plasma Cannon will deal area of effect damage when it hits a target and can be used to destroy terrain (and cover). Their armour is the very best around, it will take a huge deal of focus fire to take down and there is also the [[Drone (EU2012)|Drones]] it brings along with it to consider. It can also use both its turn moves for attacking, but only at different targets.

They don't charge as aggressively as [[Cyberdisc (EU2012)|Cyberdiscs]] but they are significantly more dangerous. They will usually stay still and destroy your squad from far away.

They are immune to most psionic attacks.
<br clear="all">

==Stats==
{{Unit Stat Box (EU2012)
|picture=[[File:Sectopod 1 (EU2012).png|150px]]
|hp=30/30/30/30
|aim=80/80/90/90
|defense=30
|will=Robotic
|move=12
}}

'''Abilities:'''
* '''Cannon Fire''': Beam attack that causes 10 base [[Damage (EU2012)|damage]] to target and anything within small Area of Effect (AoE), and grants free Overwatch. If the Sectopod does not move, Cannon Fire can be used twice (against different targets).
** [[XCOM: Enemy Within DLC (EU2012)|Enemy Within DLC]]: Sectopod's Cannon Fire lost the AoE damage, but can now attack same target twice if there is only a single target within firing range.
** The Cannon can also be used to free target terrain by the Sectopod.
* '''Cluster Bomb''': Mark a large area, and after one turn, saturate it with a barrage of explosive minibombs. It finishes the Sectopod's actions for that turn. It enters a special deployed state and aims at the target location; on the following turn, it bombards the target area with many small explosives (6 damage each).
* '''Hardened''': Hardened units receive extra protection against [[Critical Hits (EU2012)|critical hits]] (-60% critical chance)
* '''Robotic''': Immune to stun, poison and most psionic attacks.
'''Enemy Within DLC Abilities''':
* '''Reinforced Armor''': Reduces all incoming damage by 50%.
<br clear="all">

==Notes==
*While it is targeting an area to use the Cluster Bomb ability the camera will briefly zoom on that area, allowing you to know where the rockets will hit.
**There are a few odd terrain/cover situations where the targeted soldier doesn't even need to move, such as being indoors (roofs are indestructible, intercept missiles), or lack of floors (in flight, balconies at certain angles: the bombs don't even damage directly, it's the ''splash damage'' that brings the hurt)
*If killed during a successful mission a [[Sectopod Wreck (EU2012)|Sectopod Wreck]] will be recovered.
*Suppressing them disallows their reaction fire that they get (even if not on Overwatch).
*An excellent strategy exploits their beam weapons' splash damage: Mind Control an alien, and have them stand right next to the Sectopod. When they are fired on, it will likely be for Critical damage, which will then also hit ''them.''
*In Enemy Within:
**The 'nerfing' they endure, that their beam weapons no longer have an AoE effect, actually helps them in that the above strategy no longer works at all.
**Reinforced Armor ability reduces all damage by 50%.
**Their death explosion is now essentially a (slightly larger) Alien Grenade going off, 5 Damage included to anything standing near it (about the range of the Assault's modified Close and Personal, for example).
**Sectopods can detect cloaked soldiers and will either use their cannon to destroy their cover (and reveal the soldier if it has [[Gene Mods (EU2012)#Mimetic Skin|Mimetic Skin]]), or they will target the ghosted soldier's location with their Cluster Bomb barrage.
**There is some good news. Disabling shot now actually disables the sectopod's weapon for a turn, and additionally does not grant unlimited overwatch shots.

<br>
{{Aliens (EU2012)}}
[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]
[[Category: Aliens (EU2012)]]

File:That all you got sucktopod.jpg

2014-02-23T10:20:07Z

Zyxophoj: Warden taking 2 damage from sectopod

Warden taking 2 damage from sectopod