Encyclopedia Hiigara
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War Games is a new and interesting game mode for Homeworld 3, with a more rogue-like playstyle as seen in other similar games.

Fundamental Principles[]

  • A War Games scenario is a series of 3 missions in sequence, which can be played solo or with friends. Like the campaign, you keep all available ships and resources between these missions. Each mission will have one or more key objectives for you to complete. Once you complete them you can enter Hyperspace to go to the next mission, or stay to continue gathering resources.
  • Your profile will have a War Games character Account, which can gain experience points and levels. As you gain levels you will unlock new possible Fleets (explained below) and new possible Artifacts (explained below), as well as profile images. There are currently 35 available levels for your War Games profile.
  • You will initially select one of several possible Fleets. These are smaller than in the Campaign, based purely around a single Carrier unit and with smaller unit caps than normal. Each fleet type has access to different units and unit Caps, and also starts with a couple of relevant Artifacts.
  • As you play, you will gain access to Artifacts; special permanent passive bonuses that typically affect a single ship type, and will take effect for the remainder of the specific War Games 3-mission session. You obtain them either by completing mission objectives or by having one of your ships pick up a special artifact crate within a mission. When this happens you will see a yellow button at the top right; clicking it will give you a selection of 3 possible artifacts to choose from (which can be increased to 4 options through a particular Artifact, or reduced by a difficulty modifier). Choose carefully; many artifacts come with both positive and negative attributes, and several will lock out access to others as they convert a ship into one of several possible build styles; ships can only be in one single style. Specific Artifacts will be listed on the Ship pages of the ships they relate to.
    • An artifact that switches a ship into a particular build style can only be obtained once, but the sub-artifacts of that style can be obtained repeatedly with their positive and negative attributes stacking additively.
    • The available set of artifacts in a War Game is typically restricted to ships your selected fleet is capable of building.
  • In each mission the enemy has an Alert Level, initially starting at level 1 and gradually progressing up to level 7. This determines the size and strength of the enemy forces on the mission, which is also increased when you get to the 2nd, and then 3rd, mission of the chain.
  • One key note, you cannot slow down enemy spawns. Unlike in the Campaign there are no destroyable carriers or production bays; enemies will always spawn in from multiple points in open space on the map, with the strength of these forces determined by the Alert Level. Once you're at Alert level 7 expect to be in near-unending combat.
  • One universal aspect for every Fleet: Resource Controllers are free to build.

Data Tables[]

Difficulty Modifiers[]

Within the initial Game Parameters you can also add Difficulty Modifiers. Each level of difficulty adds a negative effect, but also will multiply the final Account experience you get at the end of the run. Note, when you select a difficulty level the negative effect of that level and EVERY level before it will all be active simultaneously.

Level XP Bonus Effect
00 0% Standard difficulty
01 50% Larger enemy incursions
02 100% Reduced available resources
03 150% Less time between enemy incursions
04 200% Destroyed Carriers do not respawn
05 250% Additional objective on the second mission
06 300% Larger enemy incursions
07 350% Fewer Artifacts can be found on each mission
08 400% Reduced available resources
09 450% Fewer options when choosing Artifacts
10 500% Additional objective on the first mission

Fleet Composition[]

This table shows the initial conditions for every fleet upon starting a game, including pop caps for every ship class, RU count, starting units, and starting artifacts.

Category Strikecraft Fleet Reconnaissance Fleet Bomber Fleet Incarnate Fleet Platform Fleet Experimental Weapons Fleet Remastered Fleet
Strikecraft Pop Cap
30
25
30
25
20
25
25
Corvette Pop Cap
15
15
0
15
15
15
15
Frigate Pop Cap
5
8
10
8
5
8
8
Platform Pop Cap
5
5
5
5
10
5
5
Utility Pop Cap
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Starting Resource Units
4,000
6,000
3,000
5,000
5,000
4,500
6,000
Starting Units
  • 5 Interceptors
  • 5 Recons
  • 1 Resource Controller
  • Hiigaran Carrier
  • 6 Interceptors
  • 1 Resource Controller
  • Hiigaran Carrier
  • 2 Torpedo Frigates
  • 1 Resource Controller
  • Hiigaran Carrier
  • 4 Dominance Fighters
  • 3 Assault Corvettes
  • 1 Resource Controller
  • Incarnate Carrier
  • 4 Dominance Fighters
  • 2 Resource Controllers
  • Incarnate Carrier
  • 8 Beam Fighters
  • 1 Resource Controller
  • Incarnate Carrier
  • 6 Interceptors
  • 1 Resource Controller
  • Kushan Carrier
Starting Artifacts
  • Fleet Bomber Heavy Bomber Pattern
  • Interceptor Brawler Pattern
  • Recon Ranger Pattern
  • Player's Choice
  • Player's Choice
  • Fleet Bomber Hullbreaker Pattern
  • Torpedo Frigate Bombardment Pattern
  • Player's Choice
  • Cluster Missile Turret Pattern
  • Plasma PDC Turret Pattern
  • Beam Fighter
  • Player's Choice
  • Player's Choice
  • Player's Choice
How to Unlock
Initially Available
Reach Level 3 in War Games
Reach Level 5 in War Games
Reach Level 10 in War Games
Reach Level 15 in War Games
Reach Level 20 in War Games
Pre-Order Bonus

Unit Availability[]

This table lists every unit available in War Games and their availability for each fleet, whether initially available ("Unlocked"), acquired through research ("Researchable"), or found in an artifact ("Artifact"); an "X" means that unit is unavailable for that fleet.

Unit Strikecraft Fleet Reconnaissance Fleet Bomber Fleet Incarnate Fleet Platform Fleet Experimental Weapons Fleet Remastered Fleet
STRIKECRAFT
Assault Recon
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
X
X
X
Artifact
Beam Fighter
X
X
X
Artifact
Artifact
Unlocked
X
Dominance Fighter
X
X
X
Unlocked
Unlocked
X
X
Interceptor
Unlocked
Unlocked
Researchable
X
X
X
Unlocked
Fleet Bomber
Unlocked
X
Unlocked
X
X
X
X
Recon
Unlocked
Unlocked
Researchable
X
X
X
Unlocked
Tactical Bomber
Artifact
X
Artifact
X
X
X
X
CORVETTES
Assault Corvette
X
X
X
Unlocked
Unlocked
X
X
Capture Corvette
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
Researchable
X
Disruption Corvette
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
Researchable
X
Nova Assault Corvette
X
X
X
Artifact
Artifact
X
X
Plasma Corvette
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
Researchable
X
Railgun Corvette
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
X
X
Researchable
FRIGATES
Assault Frigate
X
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
X
Researchable
Attack Frigate
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
Beam Assault Frigate
X
Artifact
Artifact
X
X
Artifact
Artifact
ECM Frigate
X
X
X
Artifact
Artifact
Artifact
X
Heavy Suppression Frigate
Artifact
X
Artifact
X
X
X
Artifact
Ion Cannon Frigate
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
Missile Frigate
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
Multi-Beam Frigate
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
Researchable
X
Railgun Transport
X
X
X
Artifact
Artifact
X
X
Smart Missile Frigate
X
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
Support Frigate
Researchable
Researchable
Researchable
X
X
Researchable
Researchable
Suppression Frigate
Researchable
X
Researchable
X
X
X
X
Torpedo Battery Frigate
X
Artifact
Artifact
X
X
X
Artifact
Torpedo Frigate
X
Researchable
Unlocked
X
X
X
Researchable
PLATFORMS
Anti-Capital Turret
X
X
X
X
Researchable
X
X
Anti-Strikecraft Turret
X
X
X
X
Researchable
X
X
Cluster Missile Turret
X
X
X
Artifact
Unlocked
X
X
Plasma PDC Turret
X
X
X
Artifact
Unlocked
Artifact
X
UTILITY
Resource Controller
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked
Unlocked

Artifact Effects[]

This table lists all artifacts, what unit(s) they apply to, and how they modify unit stats. Warning: these tables ares extremely tall and very wide!

Strikecraft[]

Unit Pattern Artifact Accuracy Damage Damage Taken Fire Rate Hit Points Population Capacity Self-Repair Speed Splash Radius Vision Range Weapon Range Other
  • Assault Recon
  • Beam Fighter
  • Dominance Fighter
  • Interceptor
  • Recon
Strikecraft Danger Zone
+100%
+100%
  • Assault Recon
  • Beam Fighter
  • Dominance Fighter
  • Interceptor
  • Recon
Strikecraft Refit
+15%
+15%
-2 Corvette
+15%
Assault Recon Assault Recon Pattern
  • Allows Production of Assault Recons
  • Shares Recon Patterns and Upgrades
Beam Fighter Beam Fighter Pattern
  • Allows Production of Beam Fighters
  • Shares Dominance Fighter Patterns and Upgrades
Dominance Fighter Superiority Dominion
+10%
+25%
Dominance Fighter Superiority Eternity
+33%
Enabled
Dominance Fighter Superiority Infallibility
+20%
-10%
Dominance Fighter Superiority Pattern
+200%
+200%
-15%
Dominance Fighter Swarm Deluge
+10%
+10%
-25%
Dominance Fighter Swarm Destroy
+33%
-10%
-15%
Dominance Fighter Swarm Devour +5 Dominance Fighter
-10%
Dominance Fighter Swarm Pattern
+50%
+50%
+15 Dominance Fighter
+33%
Fleet Bomber Heavy Bomber Concentration
+25%
-33%
Fleet Bomber Heavy Bomber Pattern
+250%
+50%
+50%
-15%
In-game Listing: "Fleet Bomber Pattern"
Fleet Bomber Heavy Bomber Proximity
+25%
+10%
-20%
Fleet Bomber Heavy Bomber Reinforced Hull
+25%
Enabled
Fleet Bomber Hullbreaker Havoc
-33%
+50%
Fleet Bomber Hullbreaker Longshot
+33%
+25%
Fleet Bomber Hullbreaker Pattern
+33%
+200%
Fleet Bomber Hullbreaker Rupture
+50%
Interceptor Brawler Core
+25%
+33%
-25%
Interceptor Brawler Impact
+33%
+20%
-10%
Interceptor Brawler Pattern
+200%
+50%
+50%
-15%
Interceptor Brawler Tenacity Enabled
-10%
Interceptor Harrier Fury
+33%
-10%
+20%
Interceptor Harrier Pattern
+33%
+150%
Interceptor Harrier Sentinel
+20%
-10%
+33%
Interceptor Harrier Surveillance
+25%
+33%
Recon Ranger Aggression
+33%
+33%
+20%
Recon Ranger Influence
-15%
+50%
Recon Ranger Pattern
+200%
+50%
+20%
+50%
Recon Ranger Precision Vision Range Modifiers Increase Damage
Recon Stinger Barrage
+33%
+20%
-10%
Recon Stinger Pattern
+100%
+50%
+10 Recon
+20%
-20%
Recon Stinger Vanguard
-10%
+5 Recon
+20%
Recon Stinger Vigor
+33%
+20%
Tactical Bomber Tactical Bomber Pattern
  • Allows Production of Tactical Bombers
  • Shares Fleet Bomber Patterns and Upgrades

Corvettes[]

Unit Pattern Artifact Accuracy Damage Damage Taken Fire Rate Hit Points Population Capacity Self-Repair Speed Splash Radius Vision Range Weapon Range Other
  • Assault Corvette
  • Capture Corvette
  • Disruption Corvette
  • Nova Assault Corvette
  • Plasma Corvette
Corvette Boost
+15%
+15%
-10%
Assault Corvette Ambuscade Charge
+10%
-10%
Assault Corvette Ambuscade Exploitation
+15%
-10%
Assault Corvette Ambuscade Opportunism
+10%
Enabled
Assault Corvette Ambuscade Pattern
+50%
+75%
-15%
Assault Corvette Interdictor Bury
+20%
+20%
Assault Corvette Interdictor Hasten
-20%
+20%
Assault Corvette Interdictor Overwhelm Speed Modifiers Increase Damage at 50% Ratio
Assault Corvette Interdictor Pattern
+50%
+25%
+25%
+33%
Nova Assault Corvette Nova Assault Corvette Pattern
  • Allows Production of Nova Assault Corvettes
  • Shares Assault Corvette Patterns and Upgrades
Railgun Corvette Siege Adaptation
+33%
+33%
-25%
Railgun Corvette Siege Devastation
+33%
-20%
-20%
Railgun Corvette Siege Pattern
+150%
-25%
-15%
Railgun Corvette Siege Transformation
+20%
+10%
Railgun Corvette Vulcan Eruption
+25%
+10%
+20%
Railgun Corvette Vulcan Pattern
+33%
Railgun Corvette Vulcan Perpetuity
+10%
Enabled
Railgun Corvette Vulcan Pinnacle
-10%
+10%
+33%

Frigates[]

Unit Pattern Artifact Accuracy Damage Damage Taken Fire Rate Hit Points Population Capacity Self-Repair Speed Splash Radius Vision Range Weapon Range Other
  • Assault Frigate
  • Beam Assault Frigate
  • Heavy Suppression Frigate
  • Ion Cannon Frigate
  • Support Frigate
  • Suppression Frigate
  • Torpedo Battery Frigate
  • Torpedo Frigate
Frigate Refit
+15%
-3 Corvette
+15%
Assault Frigate Berserker Conversion Damage Taken Modifiers Increase Damage
Assault Frigate Berserker Longevity
+25%
Enabled
-20%
Assault Frigate Berserker Pattern
+50%
+33%
+20%
Assault Frigate Berserker Ruination
+50%
+20%
Assault Frigate Warden Determination
+15%
Enabled
Assault Frigate Warden Hailstorm
-20%
+25%
-10%
+25%
Assault Frigate Warden Pattern
+20%
+20%
+33%
Assault Frigate Warden Resilience
+25%
+25%
  • Attack Frigate
  • ECM Frigate
  • Missile Frigate
  • Multi-Beam Frigate
  • Railgun Transport
  • Smart Missile Frigate
Frigate Boost
+15%
-15%
+15%
Attack Frigate Overseer Durability
-10%
+20%
+15%
Attack Frigate Overseer Panopticon
-10%
+25%
Attack Frigate Overseer Pattern
+33%
+33%
Attack Frigate Overseer Scrutiny
-50%
Vision Range Modifiers Increase Damage
Attack Frigate Testudo Impede
+10%
+10%
-15%
Attack Frigate Testudo Pattern
+50%
Enabled
Attack Frigate Testudo Reinforce
+20%
+20%
-15%
Attack Frigate Testudo Screen
+10%
Beam Assault Frigate Beam Assault Frigate Pattern
  • Allows Production of Beam Assault Frigates
  • Shares Assault Frigate Patterns and Upgrades
ECM Frigate ECM Frigate Pattern Allows Production of ECM Frigates
Heavy Suppression Frigate Heavy Suppression Frigate Pattern
  • Allows Production of Heavy Suppression Frigates
  • Shares Suppression Frigate Patterns and Upgrades
Ion Cannon Frigate Sniper Eradication
+50%
+20%
Ion Cannon Frigate Sniper Pattern
-100%
+100%
Ion Cannon Frigate Sniper Rapidity
+10%
-25%
Ion Cannon Frigate Sniper Survivalist
+10%
Enabled
+10%
Ion Cannon Frigate Volley Blast
+20%
-15%
Ion Cannon Frigate Volley Pattern
+50%
-10%
+50%
Ion Cannon Frigate Volley Resolute
-10%
+33%
Ion Cannon Frigate Volley Unyielding
+20%
Enabled
Missile Frigate Fusillade Outflank
-20%
+50%
Missile Frigate Fusillade Pattern
+50%
-10%
+50%
Missile Frigate Fusillade Salvo
+10%
Enabled
-10%
Missile Frigate Fusillade Suppress
-10%
+10%
+100%
Missile Frigate Phalanx Outmanoeuvre
+25%
-20%
-10%
Missile Frigate Phalanx Outnumber
-10%
+2 Missile Frigate
Missile Frigate Phalanx Pattern
+50%
+75%
-15%
Missile Frigate Phalanx Persistence
+10%
Enabled
Multi-Beam Frigate Dervish Evasion
-25%
Enabled
+10%
Multi-Beam Frigate Dervish Pattern
+33%
-20%
Multi-Beam Frigate Dervish Sever
+25%
-20%
Multi-Beam Frigate Dervish Whirl
+15%
+15%
-25%
Multi-Beam Frigate Fire Support Exploit
-10%
-10%
+33%
Multi-Beam Frigate Fire Support Pattern
-15%
+100%
Multi-Beam Frigate Fire Support Shatter
+75%
-15%
-15%
Multi-Beam Frigate Fire Support Smash
+33%
-10%
Railgun Transport Railgun Transport Pattern Allows Production of Railgun Transports
Smart Missile Frigate Penetrator Ferocity
+25%
-20%
Smart Missile Frigate Penetrator Focus
+25%
-33%
Smart Missile Frigate Penetrator Force
+10%
-10%
+25%
Smart Missile Frigate Penetrator Pattern
+75%
+25%
-25%
Smart Missile Frigate Shrapnel Pattern
-15%
+200%
+33%
Smart Missile Frigate Shrapnel Area
-25%
+33%
Smart Missile Frigate Shrapnel Reach
-10%
+25%
+25%
Smart Missile Frigate Shrapnel Surveil
-10%
+25%
Suppression Frigate Area Denial Anticipate
+15%
+25%
+15%
Suppression Frigate Area Denial Lead The Target
+15%
+15%
Suppression Frigate Area Denial Pattern
+15%
-15%
+33%
Suppression Frigate Area Denial Punish
+20%
-10%
Suppression Frigate CQB Endurance
+20%
Enabled
Suppression Frigate CQB Melee
+15%
-10%
Suppression Frigate CQB Momentum
+10%
+20%
Suppression Frigate CQB Pattern
+25%
+10%
+25%
-25%
Torpedo Battery Frigate Torpedo Battery Frigate Pattern
  • Allows Production of Torpedo Battery Frigates
  • Shares Torpedo Frigate Patterns and Upgrades
Torpedo Frigate Big Bomb Annihilation Fire Rate Modifiers Increase Damage
Torpedo Frigate Big Bomb Apex
+33%
+33%
-33%
-33%
+50%
In-game Listing: "Armor Reduced" instead of "Damage Taken"
Torpedo Frigate Big Bomb Pattern
+33%
+33%
-50%
+33%
Torpedo Frigate Big Bomb Zenith
+20%
-33%
-33%
Torpedo Frigate Bombardment Artillery
+33%
-25%
+50%
Torpedo Frigate Bombardment Pattern
+25%
+33%
+33% Torpedo Speed
Torpedo Frigate Bombardment Pressure
-10%
+20%
Torpedo Frigate Bombardment Stalwart Enabled
-15%
+25%
Torpedo Frigate Pacification Convergence
+20%
-10%
Torpedo Frigate Pacification Pattern
+50%
Enabled
+50%
-15%
Torpedo Frigate Pacification Preparation
-5%
+1 Frigate
Torpedo Frigate Pacification Swiftness
+10%
+10%
-10%

Platforms[]

Unit Pattern Artifact Accuracy Damage Damage Taken Fire Rate Hit Points Population Capacity Self-Repair Speed Splash Radius Vision Range Weapon Range Other
Anti-Capital Turret Rearguard Optimization
-25%
+25%
Anti-Capital Turret Rearguard Pattern
+33%
-15%
+33%
+33%
Anti-Capital Turret Rearguard Payload
+25%
-10%
-10%
Anti-Capital Turret Rearguard Volatility
+25%
+50%
Anti-Capital Turret Vanguard Apex
+20%
-15%
Anti-Capital Turret Vanguard Champion
+20%
+20%
Anti-Capital Turret Vanguard Illumination
+15%
+15%
Anti-Capital Turret Vanguard Pattern
+33%
+33%
+33%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Mauler Decimate
+20%
+33%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Mauler Pattern
+33%
+33%
-20%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Mauler Ravage
+15%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Mauler Rend
-10%
+20%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Skirmisher Anticipate
-25%
+10%
+20%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Skirmisher Pattern
+33%
+15%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Skirmisher Preempt
-10%
+15%
+15%
Anti-Strikecraft Turret Skirmisher Respond
-15%
+33%
Cluster Missile Turret Cluster Missile Turret Pattern
  • Allows Production of Cluster Missile Turrets
  • Shares Anti-Capital Turret Patterns and Upgrades
Plasma PDC Turret Plasma PDC Turret Pattern
  • Allows Production of Plasma PDC Turrets
  • Shares Anti-Strikecraft Turret Patterns and Upgrades

Capitals[]

Unit Pattern Artifact Accuracy Damage Damage Taken Fire Rate Hit Points Population Capacity Self-Repair Speed Splash Radius Vision Range Weapon Range Other
Carrier Assault Aeon -5 Frigate Enabled
+25%
Carrier Assault Dominance
+33%
-5 Strikecraft
Carrier Assault Pattern
+50%
+50%
  • -5 Strikecraft
  • -5 Corvette
  • -5 Frigate
+33%
Carrier Assault Resurgence
+20%
-5 Corvette +20% Increased Production Speed
Carrier Guardian Fortification
+10%
+3 Strikecraft
-20%
-20%
Carrier Guardian Overwatch
-10%
+2 Corvette
+10%
-10%
Carrier Guardian Pattern
-50%
-30%
  • Increased Production Speed
  • +1 Artifact Option
Carrier Guardian Revitalization
+10%
+1 Frigate Enabled
Carrier Support Systems Frigate
  • -5 Strikecraft
  • -5 Corvette
  • +5 Frigate
Carrier Support Systems Strikecraft +10 Strikecraft

Fleets[]

Strikecraft Fleet (level 1)[]

STRIKE CRAFT (cap 30)

CORVETTES (cap 15)

FRIGATES (cap 5)

UTILITY (cap 3)

  • Resource Controller (start with 1)

STARTING ARTIFACTS

  • Recon Ranger Pattern
  • Interceptor Brawler Pattern
  • Fleet Bomber Pattern

SYNOPSIS

Your initial starting fleet. Reasonably effective, and capable of getting you through all the missions provide you capture plenty of additional Frigates. You won't need Bombers until the later stages when Destroyers and a Battlecruiser show up, but this will give you some much needed punch against them.

Reconnaissance Fleet (level 3)[]

STRIKE CRAFT (cap 25)

CORVETTES (cap 15)

FRIGATES (cap 8)

UTILITY (cap 3)

  • Resource Controller (start with 1)

STARTING ARTIFACTS

  • 2 unselected artifacts that you can choose at start.

SYNOPSIS

Another effective fleet, you do lose access to Bombers but you can still have plenty of firepower available to deal with Capital ships, provided you capture well. Once you have your 5 Support frigates, build 3 more frigates specifically for dealing with capital ships such as the Ion Cannon or Torpedo frigate. With the initial two Artifacts being able to be chosen at will and a higher than average starting resource pool, experienced players may find this to be an extremely effective fleet that they can tailor as they see fit right from the start of the scenario.

Bomber Fleet (level 5)[]

STRIKE CRAFT (cap 30)

CORVETTES (cap 0)

Blocked from production.

FRIGATES (cap 10)

UTILITY (cap 3)

  • Resource Controller (start with 1)

STARTING ARTIFACTS

  • Torpedo Frigate Bombardment Pattern
  • Fleet Bomber Hullbreaker Pattern

SYNOPSIS

This fleet definitely has more anti-capital punch, but losing access to the Railgun Corvettes is a serious hit to its ability to handle strike craft and corvettes; even with the starting artifacts, Bombers and Torpedo Frigates cannot handle strike craft or corvettes very well if they get close, and the natural evasiveness of the Torpedo Frigates can often make them fly off on their own making them vulnerable. The Torpedo Frigates can, however, do long-range bombardment of enemy ships quite well; you will have to be very vigilant to attack enemy forces first as soon as you see them, so use Recons for scouting. You will need to focus very heavily on improving your ability to handle Strike Craft, capturing as many Attack Frigates as you can will help.

Incarnate Fleet (level 10)[]

STRIKE CRAFT (cap 25)

CORVETTES (cap 15)

FRIGATES (cap 8)

UTILITY (cap 3)

  • Resource Controller (start with 1)

STARTING ARTIFACTS

  • One unselected artifact you can choose at start

SYNOPSIS

A rather different fleet with rather different logistics that may take some getting used to, but it has the potential to be the strongest fleet possible in War Games. Take note of the following if you haven't tried using the Incarnate before:

  • With their Resource Controllers, instead of combining resource collecting and capturing like Hiigaran ones and having repairs done by a separate unit, the Incarnate controllers combine resource collecting and repairs, with capturing done by a separate corvette unit. The controller cannot instantly switch between resource collecting and repairs; if the collector drones have any resources in their holds they will have to dock with their controller first before they can then start repairing something. One Controller has the repair capacity of roughly 2 Support Frigates.
  • Dominance Fighters are a sort of hybrid between Interceptors and Recons; they have the sensor range and cost of Recons but hull and weapon abilities closer to Interceptors, as well as an equivalent active ability to that of Interceptors in terms of increasing their damage output, but not speed. Even if the Swarm artifact chain is chosen which will increase their speed, Dominance Fighters will never be as fast as Recons with their Overburn ability so finding and acquiring Artifacts will likely be slower
  • It takes two Capture Corvettes to capture a Frigate, and they also default when built into an Aggressive stance which can lead them to automatically attempt captures for you. With a baseline Corvette cap of 15 this could potentially allow you to capture up to 7 frigates simultaneously and have one corvette left over vs the 3 possible with Hiigaran resource controllers. However, they are fully unarmed and will also ineffectually try to capture strike craft, often leading them away from your fleet. They are rather fragile, so control them carefully to avoid too many costly losses.
  • Since the available Artifact set is limited to ships you can build, this means that the Incarnate fleet will only see artifacts that affect Incarnate ships...including all of the enemy frigates you can capture, allowing you to get an absolutely massive fleet of artifact-enhanced ships. With the Multi-Beam Frigate in particular, if you get them into the long-range high-damage Fire Support artifact pattern and then capture a sizeable enough fleet of them, this could give you a fleet capable of systematically defeating sizeable numbers of Destroyers rapidly with little risk of losses...a feat that other fleets are virtually incapable of.

Platform Fleet (level 15)[]

Experimental Weapons Fleet (level 20)[]

Tips And Tricks[]

  • Capture, capture, capture. As you progress through the missions you will need as much firepower as you can get; around mission 2 Destroyers start showing up, and the final objective of mission 3 commonly involves having to destroy a Battlecruiser with a heavy escort. This Battlecruiser is also given the passive boost of Elite Commander; its damage output and hull strength are significantly above normal. The baseline unit caps and ship classes you can build simply won't be enough. The most useful ones for you will be the Attack Frigate and Multi-Beam Frigate, giving you solid effective firepower.
  • Before capturing anything, build 5 Support Frigates. You will never have access to extensive resources, so you need to prevent as many ship losses as possible, and the Incarnate don't use these so you'll never be able to capture more. Having this kind of a repair fleet centered around your Carrier will greatly improve the survivability of your forces and save you significant resources over time.
  • Other than sending off a couple of strike craft to grab an Artifact crate, never send any of your ships far away from your main fleet. They will quickly get swarmed and picked off by the enemy attack waves. It is better to keep your fleet into one concentrated source of firepower that can rapidly drop anything that approaches it.
  • Consider the Build 2, Rush 3 tactic; in the first two missions, take your time even if it involves spending a lot of time at Alert level 7. Collect every resource and artifact crate you can find, and capture plenty of Frigates. Then, in mission 3 you should have plenty of stocked resources and ships to simply ignore collection, and aggressively rush the objectives; at high alert levels you will see multiple Destroyers attacking you simultaneously eventually, which you will not be able to handle if you let them catch up to your fleet.
  • Do not forget about being able to Retire captured frigates, found in the ship contextual menu (by default, select the ship then hold Alt + right click on them, with Retire being under the Orders submenu). If all of the resource pockets on a map have been harvested, retiring captured ships can still be a viable source of long-term income if you can capture and retire them faster than their net worth in other ships that you may lose in the process.
  • When it comes to Artifact selections, try to focus on one core ship in each Ship Class when possible. It is better to heavily strengthen one ship (like Interceptors) and then fill most of your unit cap of that class with the heavily strengthened ship instead of a scattered mix of ships with scattered upgrades. Also, whenever possible try to select Artifacts that affect the frigates you capture, since you will have a higher number of those than any of your other frigates.
  • In rare instances, the final stage of Mission 3 will involve you having to destroy a Titanship; like the ending Battlecruiser this is also a significantly enhanced ship from what you find in Skirmishes, and is the most powerful ship you will ever face in a War Games scenario. Be prepared for this.
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