Mech Platoon FAQ v1.0 Strategy, Walkthrough, Parts Lists ---Table of Contents--- Looking for a particular section? Just search (CTRL+F) its name below and it'll be the next result. Introduction and Review Controls Buildings Tips and Strategies Tutorial Missions Story Missions Walkthrough Trampler Missions Ravine (Easy) Scorch (Hard) Ruin (Alliance: Trampler) Minos Missions Scorch (Easy) Lichen (Hard) Ruin (Alliance: Minos) Leon Missions Lichen (Easy) Ravine (Hard) Ruin (Alliance: Leon) Parts and Units Multiplayer Mode Legal ---Introduction and Review--- This is a practically complete guide for the game Mech Platoon, written and edited over a span of six months. It's quite detailed, but lacks detailed coverage of the multiplayer mode. Needless to say, this game offers an excellent multiplayer experience, and if you're interested in playing I highly recommend also convincing a friend to play. Mech Platoon is one of the few real-time strategy games for the Game Boy Advance. There's no story, and the music sounds like something out of an NES game, but it's definitely a real-time strategy game. It's all about mining resources and building units to take down the enemy base. The story mode offers a variety of missions, and you'll find yourself playing it anyway because of this game's unit system: new units are unlocked as you salvage wreckage from enemy units in the story mode. Two players can go head-to-head in the game's multiplayer mode for a fresh competitive experience. Having played over thirty hours of Mech Platoon to write this guide, I can offer a few pointers. First, the game's storyline is short, and the story mode can be beaten from scratch in under five hours. All the parts can be collected in 1-2 playthroughs (I got the last 10% on my second playthrough.), and secret units can be obtained from additional playthroughs (but they're practically worthless). The game's CPU is weak and predictable, but the story mode is still useful since it lets you practice and devise new strategies. Even if you don't have a friend with this game, it's still pretty entertaining just to see how quickly you can finish the missions. The multiplayer mode is where the game really shines. You can play the multiplayer maps with the CPU for practice, but it's more interesting to play with a human. The beautiful complexity of a real-time strategy game really shows in a competition. I managed to get my hands on two copies of the game, so I was able to check out the starting positions and get an impression of how balanced each map is. The only qualm I have with the multiplayer mode is that you can only use parts you've salvaged in the story mode. It doesn't take long to get all the regular parts, but that's something to keep in mind. ---Controls--- There aren't any tricks you can do on the menu (besides press Select for an explanation), so let's get to the action. Control Pad: Move arrow. A: Select unit or highlight area to select multiple units. B + L/R: Jump units. Good for managing distant units. L/R: Scroll really fast. Start (hold): Pauses the game and gives you the option to abandon mission or check mission objective. Select: View map. Map shows where all units are. While in a unit's menu, use the Control Pad and A to select an action to perform. Buildings have their own sets of actions, which are covered in the next section. Units can move to a designated spot, attack a designated enemy unit (or for Labor units, repair a designated building), form or dismantle groups, or self-destruct on a designated area once the ability to self-destruct is gained. Grouped units will all be selected if any one unit in the group is selected. However, any number of individual units from a group can be highlighted and controlled individually without dismantling the group. Grouping similar units is key to working faster, but individual units are easier to navigate around obstacles and enemy units. ---Buildings--- Buildings are essential to forming a powerful army. They have a variety of effects and abilities, and are vital to success. Once placed, a building cannot be moved, so build each building in an optimal position. Buildings start with 1 HP (Erect new buildings away from enemies!) and have no effect and can perform no action until Labor units fully construct them. Canceling the action of a building will refund the resources used in that action, but will not refund the time, so choose actions wisely. Each building-specific upgrade can only be performed by one building at a time, so there's no way to upgrade abilities faster than the times listed. All buildings except the Base are capable of self-destructing, but since the explosion does no damage, the only use of this feature is to remove buildings that are obstructing your movement. All buildings have a hidden defense rating, and ignore piercing damage from Laser attacks. These are the defense ratings: Base: 5 Warehouse: 5 Factory: 4 Laboratory: 3 Recycle Facility: 2 Laser Base: 6 Armory: 8 --Base-- Requirements: None. You can only have one Base. It's the first building you can build. You lose when it gets destroyed. Cost: 100 Energysand HP: 500 Actions 1) Produce Labor Units Cost: 30 Materialrock Time: 10 seconds Effect: Makes a new Labor unit. Cheap, fast, and vital to success. 2) Raise Build level Cost: 60 Materialrock Time: 60 seconds Effect: Raises Build level, speeding up the build speed of Labor units, increasing the base Hit Points of all your buildings by 10%, and allowing the Recycle Facility to be built. 3) Raise Military Skill level Cost: 150 Lasercrystal Time: 80 seconds Effect: Allows high-level units to be built and low-level units to be upgraded via the Laboratory. 4) Raise Technology level Cost: 100 Materialrock Time: 60 seconds Effect: Level 2 Technology allows the Laser Base to be built. Level 3 Technology gives all your units the ability to self-destruct. --Warehouse-- Requirements: None Cost: 80 Energysand HP: 80 Effect: A Warehouse acts as a second resource base. Labor units can put resources in the Warehouse, and they will go to your resource pool. They also let you double the speed at which Labor units can mine each resource. Place them near distant piles of resources, or build them at the start of a mission to speed up the mining process. Actions 1) Raise Materialrock mining efficiency. Cost: 75 Materialrock Time: 30 seconds Effect: Doubles the speed at which Labor units mine Materialrock. 1) Raise Energysand mining efficiency. Cost: 75 Energysand Time: 30 seconds Effect: Doubles the speed at which Labor units mine Energysand. 1) Raise Lasercrystal mining efficiency. Cost: 75 Lasercrystal Time: 30 seconds Effect: Doubles the speed at which Labor units mine Lasercrystal. --Factory-- Requirements: None Cost: 100 Energysand HP: 200 Actions 1) Produce Combat Units Cost: Varies by unit Time: Varies by unit Effect: Produces a unit. One factory can produce multiple units of the same type without additional input, so use this to your advantage. --Laboratory-- Requirements: None Cost: 120 Energysand HP: 150 Actions 1) Research Parts Performance Note: Each upgrade can be performed up to two times. a) Speed up 2-leg walker parts Cost: 60 Energysand, 80 Lasercrystal Time: 45 seconds Effect: Increases the Speed of all two-legged units by 10. b) Up live shell parts attack Cost: 80 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Time: 33 seconds Effect: Increases the Attack of all Gun and Gatling parts by 1. c) Up laser parts attack Cost: 60 Materialrock, 80 Lasercrystal Time: 30 seconds Effect: Increases the Attack of all Laser parts by 1. d) Up fight parts attack Cost: 80 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Time: 30 seconds Effect: Increases the Attack of all Melee parts by 2. e) Up missile parts attack Cost: 80 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Time: 30 seconds Effect: Increases the Attack of all Grenade and Missile parts by 5. f) Up tank parts defense Cost: 100 Materialrock, 40 Energysand Time: 45 seconds Effect: Increases the Defense of all tank units by 2. g) Up 2-leg walker parts defense Cost: 100 Materialrock, 40 Energysand Time: 45 Effect: Increases the Defense of all 2-legged units by 2. h) Up 4-leg walker parts defense Cost: 100 Materialrock, 40 Energysand Time: 45 Effect: Increases the Defense of all 4-legged units by 2. 2) Upgrade Unit Cost: Varies by unit Time: Varies by unit Effect: Upgrades an upgradeable unit, provided that you have the necessary Military Skill level. 3) Increase Construction Cost: 60 Materialrock Time: 45 seconds Effect: Doubles the building construction speed of Labor units. 4) Reduce Construction Cost Cost: 45 Materialrock Time: 35 seconds Effect: Reduces the construction cost of all buildings by 20%. --Recycle Facility-- Requirements: Build Skill level 2 Cost: 60 Energysand HP: 150 Effect: Salvaged enemy wreckage is converted into resources. This only happens when a Labor unit salvages enemy wreckage in Story mode. Actions 1) Change from Materialrock to Energysand Cost: 100 Materialrock Time: instantaneous Effect: Changes 100 Materialrock to 50 Energysand. 2) Change from Materialrock to Lasercrystal Cost: 200 Materialrock Time: instantaneous Effect: Changes 200 Materialrock to 50 Lasercrystal 3) Change from Energysand to Lasercrystal Cost: 100 Energysand Time: instantaneous Effect: Changes 100 Energysand to 50 Lasercrystal 4) Raise Resource Recycle Rate Cost: 50 Materialrock Time: 40 seconds Effect: Get 75 resource instead of 50 when using a Recycle Facility's abilities. 5) Raise Repair Ability Cost: 60 Materialrock Time: 40 seconds Effect: Doubles the repair speed of Labor units. --Laser Base-- Requirements: Technology level 2 Cost: 80 Energysand, 60 Lasercrystal HP: 150 DEF: 6 Effect: Attacks nearby enemy units with a laser attack. The laser has an Attack of 15 and a Range of around 10. Actions 1) Increase Laser Base Accuracy Cost: 60 Materialrock Time: 45 seconds Effect: Raises the Range of all Laser Bases. 2) Increase Laser Base Attack Cost: 60 Materialrock Time: 55 seconds Effect: Raises the Attack of all Laser Bases from 15 to 20. --Armory-- Requirements: Build Skill level 3, Military Skill level 3, Technology level 3 Cost: 500 Materialrock, 300 Lasercrystal HP: 900 Effect: Starts a 60 second countdown, then launches an endless barrage of missiles directly at the enemy Base, destroying it in seconds. It's slow and inconvenient in story missions, but a good alternative win condition in multiplayer games. ---Tips and Strategies--- -Self-Destruct- Combat and Labor units deal 40 damage when self-destructing. A single well- placed Labor unit can destroy an entire squad of enemy Labor units or significantly weaken a tough combat unit. Buildings don't deal damage upon self-destructing, so only blow a building up if it's in your way and you don't mind losing it. -Laser Bases are the best defense- For 100 Materialrock (Technology upgrade), 80 Energysand, and 60 Lasercrystal, you get a defensive beast known as the Laser Base. Laser Bases distract enemy units, so by building a pair within shooting range of each other you can effortlessly hold off small enemy forces. This also allows you to upgrade one while the other holds off the enemy. Be sure to keep Labor units nearby to keep your Laser Bases in repair. -Sniping an enemy Laser Base- Laser Bases can be taken down by long-range units. A unit with range of around 15 or higher can safely snipe a Laser Base. On the flip side, beware of enemy units with high range, since a small group of them could decimate your Laser Bases in seconds. Laser Bases usually defend the enemy Base, so an easy win often follows the destruction of the Laser Bases. -Part Farming- Take 1-2 Labor units with your fighting force to pick up the wreckage of the defeated enemy units. When there are still stationary units on the map after clearing the offense, feel free to run around and collect parts. -Melee Units vs. Ranged Units- Oftentimes, you'll find that your melee units are slower than your ranged units. To ensure that the melee units are working to their full potential, lead them into the enemy unit you want to attack, and have the faster ranged units follow. It's always more effective to organize units by type to be able to move them effectively. ----Tutorial Missions---- Want information about the tutorial missions? Look here! ---Tenzan--- "Blessed with a mild climate, Planet Tenzan is a paradise in this war-torn universe. Unlike a typical resort, this is a military training facility. The roar from a drill instructor and screams from recruits reverberate in the canyons and dissipate into azure skies." Tutorial Mission 1 Briefing: "Welcome to Planet Tenzan. This Planet is a training facility for new recruits. In order to successfully complete your basic training, you'll need to pay close attention. Here's your first mission: Soldiers without a Base have no place to regroup after battle. Soldiers will give maximum effort if they have a Base to protect. You will organize your men and build a Base. After all, victory and survival do not depend on strategic might alone." Objective: Construct a Base. Tutorial Mission 2 Briefing: "Stockpiling natural resources is essential for projecting power in any combat theater. Order the workers stationed in Delusion Valley to collect natural resources. After work is initiated, build a warehouse to store the gathered resources." Objective: Create Labor units and build a Warehouse. Tutorial Mission 3 Briefing: "Before you can build a structure you'll need to acquire skills. Developing your unit's engineering skills is critical for the success of any mission. A trained soldier with engineering skills is worth more than a squad of untrained soldiers." Objective: Recycle and collect 100 Lasercrystal. Tutorial Mission 4 Briefing: "You need to be resourceful in order to survive. Recover the abandoned battlefield ordinance and salvage anything of value. Then build a laboratory to improve our army intelligence." Objective: Salvage 3 wrecks and build a Laboratory. Tutorial Mission 5 Briefing: "Nature is the most feared enemy. Terrible monsters are in control of the planet. You must neutralize all of the monsters nesting in the highlands. We will be the ruler here." Objective: Eliminate all monsters. Tutorial Mission 6 Briefing: "Defense is as important as offense. Winning the battle is nearly impossible when there is balance between them. Strengthening your defense is essential for survival." Objective: Build a Laser Base. Tutorial Mission 7 Briefing: "This is your final task. Remember everything you've learned so far. Watch the enemy carefully, then plan your strategy. Win this battle and your training will be complete!" Objective: Destroy all enemy units. ----Story Missions Walkthrough---- This section provides strategies for beating all the story missions. There are four planets, each with its own set of missions. You go through three of these in story mode. In your first game on your first file, you will be forced to do the tutorial missions, which are all self-explanatory and serve as an introduction to the game. In many mission strategies, I mention times at which certain events happen. It is often the case that a large enemy force will sit around and do nothing until your units approach, but sometimes they act on their own after a certain amount of time has passed or a certain set of units has been destroyed. Knowing when enemy reinforcements (which appear from outside the map) arrive allows you to prepare for them. I played through all the missions with a stopwatch and timed the events, so the times should be rather accurate. Key points: -Act quickly. Time is valuable. -Salvage enemy parts. Get better units. Keep a few Labor units with your attack force at all times. -Use fast, strong low-level units. Most missions end quickly. --Alliances-- Leon: planet Scorch; unit Azazel Description: "A nation of proud and skilled assassins, the Leon army is an unseen force in the universe. No one is immune from their long-range attacks." Trampler: planet Lichen; unit Caim 1 Description: "Comprised of highly mobile mercenaries, the Trampler army moves like a tempest, striking fast, striking hard, and leaving only ruin." Minos: planet Ravine; unit Orias 1 Description: "The allied army of Minos specializes in close-range combat and features heavy armor units. It is the toughest force in the universe." The alliances are pretty balanced, and due to the part system, most of the difficulty of the game comes from the first time you play it. I'll argue that Leon is easy to play first because it has the easiest sets of missions (and also because Azazels are awesome), and I'll argue that Trampler is hard to play first because of the difficulty of Scorch's harder set of missions. The Zaren unit is better than most of the units you'll pick up, so make good use of it (Abyss units aren't as useful, but they can snipe Laser Bases.). Everything gets easier once you have more units in your database. --Planet order-- Leon: Lichen --> Ravine --> Ruin Trampler: Ravine --> Scorch --> Ruin Minos: Scorch --> Lichen --> Ruin The missions are slightly different for the first two planets depending on which alliance you chose. The missions on Ruin are the same for all alliances. Some missions for different alliances have the same objective, but against different types of enemy units. ----Trampler Missions---- ---Ravine (Easy)--- Trampler Ravine Mission 1: First Strike Briefing: "Invasion operations are underway for Planet Ravine, a Minos army strongpoint. The enemy is aware of our presence and they're mining all available resources in an effort to consolidate their power. This is our first engagement with the Minos forces, so strike fast and hard. Your target is the enemy warehouse. Destroy it before time expires." Objective: Destroy the enemy Warehouses in less than 15 minutes. Strategy: Four Warehouses. Five enemies. Fifteen minutes. Rush the enemy units with your entire starting force and destroy the Warehouses. Trampler Ravine Mission 2: Escape from the Worm Hole Briefing: "Our initial engagement with the Minos army exceeded our expectations. As a result, the Minos are relocating their production facilities. Unfortunately we've experienced a setback. Numerous monster sightings have been reported around our production facility. Rescue the isolated labor units and redirect at least five of them to the designated target." Objective: Lead 5 allied Labor units to the target. Strategy: There are no resources on this map. Make a good starting force (fast, long-range units work well) and have it defeat Eruption monsters until the bottom half of the map is clear. Move the Labor units to the target. Trampler Ravine Mission 3: The Transport Train Ambush Briefing: "Intel reports indicate that the Minos forces are planning to transport massive amounts of resources via a new rail system through the valley. If this occurs, the balance of power on Ravine will shift in the favor of the enemy and doom our chances for success. Your mission is to locate the railroad, ambush the transport train and decisively sever the enemy's logistical artery. Destroy the train at once!" Objective: Destroy the train before it leaves. Strategy: You get resources in this mission, but you don't need them. Send a starting force of long-range units south and pick off the two enemies there. Head south around the bend and wait for the train to arrive in the station. Attack the train from below. Easy win. Trampler Ravine Mission 4: The Battle for New Parts Briefing: "Cancel all victory celebrations and leave requests we have a situation. Minos patrol units detected an allied team transporting prototype parts. Evasive measures have left the team isolated and deep in enemy territory. Find the team and guide them back to your Base. Judging from the size of the Minos forces, we can assume that the enemy knows what the team is carrying. Beat the enemy to the prize." Objective: Lead at least one Parts Transport unit to the allied Base. Strategy: The enemy units don't really do much on this map, aside from the two patrolling units north of your Base. Either destroy those patrolling units and send the Transport units to the right and down to the Base, or cut a diagonal path from the Base to the Transport units. There are resources to build more units with should the enemy units give you trouble. Trampler Ravine Mission 5: Minos Counterattack Briefing: "While most of Planet Ravine is under our control, small pockets of resistance threaten our natural resources. Reports indicate that isolated Minos units are attempting to assemble in an effort to raid our production facility. Productivity delays will potentially devastate our timetable and the development of staging areas for the invasion of Planet Scorch. Your mission is to eradicate all traces of the Minos army on the planet." Objective: Protect the Materialrock mining site (Destroy all enemy units without letting any enemy unit touch the site.). Strategy: This version of the mission is easy with Laser Bases. Immediately upgrade Technology and mine 160 Energysand and 120 Lasercrystal. First build one Laser Base by the west entrance halfway between the upper wall and the Base. Next, build a Laser Base by the north entrance, in front of the Materialrock cache. Sit back and enjoy the fireworks. Trampler Ravine Mission 6: Minos Interception Briefing: "We have an opportunity to force the reeling Minos army off Planet Ravine before they can regroup and launch a counteroffensive. Strike fast and you'll win the battle that will determine the future of the planet." Objective: Eliminate the enemy units. Strategy: The enemy won't attack for the first ten minutes, and you can win this mission with pure defense. Build Labor units and mine to build a Laser Base or two. Keep an eye on the enemy Abyss 3 units, since they are strong. If you don't want to sit it out, build an attack force and try to clean the map in under 10 minutes, before the reinforcements arrive. ---Scorch (Hard)--- Trampler Scorch Mission 1: Stop the Railroad Construction Briefing: "Our invasion of Planet Scorch is underway. The Leon Army controls most of the planet, but their influence is diminishing with every passing second. Your objective is the destruction of Leon's main railway system. If Leon completes the railway, they'll have unsurpassed logistical power to transport troops and materials anywhere on the planet. Make sure that system is permanently derailed." Objective: Eliminate the enemy units before the railroad is complete. Strategy: The enemy is slow, and never attacks your Base. Loop around and destroy the enemy Labor units to remove the time constraint, then build to your heart's content. If you bring a long-range unit or two up to the enemy Base, you can destroy it without being harassed by the Laser Bases. Trampler Scorch Mission 2: Shedding Bloody Tears Briefing: "Leon army labor units are assembling to send support teams into other battle theaters. Our orders are to stop these support teams before they can embark. Our forces are under heavy fire around a key strategic target area. Your mission is to prevent enemy units from reaching the target area while eliminating all of the enemy labor units. This won't be an easy engagement." Objective: Destroy all enemy Labor units without letting any reach the target. Strategy: The starting force is all you get, and you start right next to the enemy. Use a mix of melee units and slow, long-range units like Abyss and you'll easily wipe out the entire enemy force. Trampler Scorch Mission 3: The Strongest but Worst Weapon Briefing: "New reconnaissance reports indicate that the Leon army is attempting to sabotage a nearby lava dam. If their diabolical plan succeeds, our forces will be awash in molten rock and we'll lose everything we've accomplished so far. Your mission is to stop the enemy at all costs!" Objective: Eliminate the enemy units and protect the Lava Dam. Strategy: There isn't much to protect the Lava Dam from at first, but a ton of enemy reinforcements will arrive. You have about 6 minutes to build 2-3 Laser Bases in front of the Lava Dam, and that's much more time than necessary. After that, nothing happens! Feel free to destroy the enemy at your own leisure. If your units can't handle the enemy units, build some long-range units to hit their Base, or start building an Armory and make yourself a sandwich. Trampler Scorch Mission 4: Lost on the Plains Briefing: "We've intercepted a distress call from neutral army labor units stranded in the Sunbaked Wilderness. Their Base won't reply, which means that these units are probably doomed unless you save them. We can always augment our labor force with these new additions. Locate and return all five labor units, but keep in mind that the Leon forces are also looking for the labor units and they won't give them up without a fight." Objective: Lead 5 neutral units to the target. Strategy: All you get is your starting force. The trick to winning this mission is to keep your starting force together and beat up all the enemy units on your favorite side of the map. Use the recruited Labor units to recruit more Labor units, and send five to the target. Trampler Scorch Mission 5: Breaking out of the Shrinking Net Briefing: "Leon forces cut off access to our Lasercrystal mining team. If we want to control the planet, we need to reestablish contact with the team and collect at least 500 Lasercrystal. Your mission is to engage the Leons while maintaining mining operations. No one said that winning a war was easy!" Objective: Collect 500 Lasercrystal. Strategy: The enemy forces unite and attack shortly after the mission starts, and there are a lot of them. Set up your starting force to defend your Base (or build a Laser Base within shooting range of the Base), and go for either the Lasercrystal cache (Build a Laser Base nearby.) or the Materialrock and Energysand in the lower right corner of the map (Build a Recycle Facility and convert to Lasercrystal to win.). Endless enemy reinforcements come once you've defeated every enemy on the map, but the Laser Bases can handle them. Warehouse upgrades make this mission a lot faster. Trampler Scorch Mission 6: The Battle of Scorch Plains Briefing: "Recon indicates that the Leon army is consolidating their forces for a final stand in the Scorch Plains. Their labor units are refitting enemy units with new ordinance. Winning the battle here on the plains will probably be your last engagement with the Leons. Of course, losing this battle will undoubtedly be your last engagement with the Leons, too!" Objective: Eliminate the enemy units. Strategy: Two upgraded Laser Bases can eliminate every enemy unit that gets within range of your Base. Just hold off the enemy until the Laser Bases are built, and upgrade the Laser Bases between waves of enemy reinforcements. The last group of enemy reinforcements shows up at eight minutes. ---Ruin (Alliance: Trampler)--- "They appeared quickly and quietly, destroying everything before we could react. The Barbiels are a powerful new force in the universe, a marauding scorpion, looking for easy prey, plentiful resources and bloody conflicts." "In most systems, planets predictably revolve around the secure gravity of a fixed star. If a planet is released, it is a wandering nomad destined for tragedy. The Planet Ruin is a lost orb with a doomed future and a doomed past. The planet's prosperous civilization perished when their sun vanished. Now Ruin is a wanderer, a shadowy rogue among the stars." Trampler Ruin Mission 1: Under Fire Briefing: "Barbiel forces are desperately searching for our Base. If they find it, they'll launch a devastating attack. Your mission is to eliminate their offensive force." Objective: Eliminate the enemy units. Strategy: Move your units down to the Base immediately. Defeat the enemies that attack the Base, then start mining. Build a Laser Base to defend the Base from the enemy wave that comes at eight minutes. To win this mission, you'll want to destroy the enemy Base and Laser Bases with long-range units (or build an Armory). There are a lot of stationary enemies on the map, and the enemy units hiding right next to the enemy Base are so well-protected by the Laser Bases that you might as well destroy the enemy Base with them. Trampler Ruin Mission 2: Exterminator Call Briefing: "We're outnumbered and outclassed against the powerful Barbiels, so we'll need to proceed with extreme caution. Before we can defeat the enemy, we'll need to build a base on Planet Ruin. We found a location with a lot of Lasercrystal and just as many monsters. Your mission is to wipe out all of the monsters in the vicinity of the base. As with every mission, failure is not an option." Objective: Eliminate the monsters in less than 10 minutes. Strategy: Send your starting force down and around the map, and build a Factory that sends units up and around the map. This mission is all about managing your units, and you should be able to clear the monsters within seven minutes if you manage everything well. Trampler Ruin Mission 3: Container Containment Briefing: "Recon indicates that the Barbiels are using large-capacity containers to transport precious resources. Their logistical methods are highly evolved and amazingly effective, so we have to move fast for the mission to succeed. Your job is to collect at least half of the enemy's containers before time expires." Objective: Use Labor units to collect at least 4 containers and survive for 10 minutes. Strategy: To collect all the containers, send one Labor unit along the lower half of the map, one to the top left, and a third to the top right. Send attack units with the Labor unit going to the top right, because you might need to destroy a few enemy Labor units (Leave the stationary units and the Warehouse alone if you want to collect parts at the end.). At 8:30, the enemy Labor units start moving towards the containers. At 2:30, the enemy forces start to mobilize. By 2:00, every single enemy unit on the map will be running straight towards the right entrance to your base. Have three upgraded Laser Bases stationed at the right entrance of your Base by then. Feel free to salvage the excessive enemy wreckage as the last 30 seconds tick away. Trampler Ruin Mission 4: Barbiel's Retaliation Briefing: "Our victories continue, but the Barbiels are playing dirty now. Rather than launching a major counterattack, the Barbiels deployed a mass of high-explosive time bombs in our territory. It's your job to remove all the bombs before they detonate." Objective: Use Labor units to remove all the Bombs in under 10 minutes. Strategy: There are no resources in this mission. The only enemy units are monsters. Build a strong, fast starting force and take down the problem monsters one by one. Bombs can only be removed by Labor units, so be sure to remove the nearby monsters before disarming. There are mines all over the map, so save time by keeping 2-3 Labor units on standby all over the map. It's relatively easy to finish this mission with over 5 minutes remaining with a starting force that can handle the monsters. Trampler Ruin Mission 5: Chance Arrival Briefing: "One of our scout units uncovered a natural resource stockpile. If we can reach this valuable area, we'll have enough resources to commence with a frontal attack against the Barbiel forces. Our only concern is how to deal with the Barbiel units guarding the resource. Actually, it's your concern because we're counting on you to break through enemy lines and seize the designated target." Objective: Collect 500 Energysand. Strategy: This is a long, tricky mission, and the hardest part is surviving the first onslaught. Move the attack squad between the Materialrock and Lasercrystal, then build a Base between the Materialrock and Energysand. Upgrade Technology and prepare to build exactly one Laser Base. While this is happening, your attack force should be fighting a group of enemy Gogs (one scout followed by three attackers). As long as a few melee units survive, you should be able to take on the remaining Merizims (by putting a melee unit in between all three Merizims, rendering them helpless). If the Merizims survive your units and the Laser Base, you might have to restart the mission. There's another enemy onslaught a few minutes after the first one, so pay attention to your Base when these enemies appear. Now, if you clear every enemy on the map, endless weak reinforcements will come, so try to leave at least one stationary enemy unit alive. Fight (or sneak) your way over to the Energysand, build a Warehouse (and upgrade Energysand mining rate to speed things up), and enjoy the show. Trampler Ruin Mission 6: Escape from Old Subcenter Briefing: "A neutral forces medical aid team is stranded in the Old Subcenter Area. The Barbiel Minister of Propaganda is asserting that this is a Barbiel medical aid team, proclaiming to the universe that our army is responsible for the crisis. While we realize that this is probably a vicious trap, we want you to advance into the Old Subcenter Area and rescue the neutral medical aid team." Objective: Lead at least one neutral Medical Team unit to your Base (the game says target, but it means base). Strategy: The Medical Team units are slow and defenseless, so forget about the escort until you have control of the map. The first assault consists of four powerful Belias units, and you won't have Laser Bases in time, so use your starting attack force wisely. After eliminating the Belias units, the entire enemy force is going to attack, half at a time. Build a Laser Base or a Factory and build up a defense. Send a scout (a Labor unit works well) to save some time by recruiting a Medical Team unit. When all the enemy units are eliminated, endless reinforcements (Belias x2) will come from the lower right portion of the map. Keep the enemy units away from the Medical Team while it makes its way back to the Base. This is a tough mission, but sometimes you'll luck out and an enemy unit will get stuck doing nothing behind the Lasercrystal, in which case you can safely escort the Medical Team to the Base. Trampler Ruin Mission 7: Time for Revenge Briefing: "Time for a little revenge. Intel reports suggest that Barbiel transport teams are assembling at enemy warehouses in the Old Downtown Area. Destroy the warehouses and disrupt the supply lines. Eliminate as many transport teams as possible before they can reach their destined target. If you're successful, the Barbiel army will be reeling." Objective: Destroy all enemy transport units and warehouses without letting an enemy transport unit reach the target. Strategy: Easy but lengthy mission. Fend off attacks (Build a Factory and 1-2 Laser Bases.) until there's no enemy units left, then send an attack force after the transport units. Clean up the enemy Warehouses afterwards. You can sneak an attack force in early, but make sure you defend the Base until all the enemy Warehouses and transport units are destroyed (Of course, if you use speedy melee units like Babels or Gogs to end the mission fast, all you have to worry about are the wandering Erebus units.). Trampler Ruin Mission 8: The Capital of Ruins Briefing: "The enemy is weak and our greatest hour draws near. We suspect that this could be the final battle for control of Planet Ruin, but we've heard reports that the enemy is so desperate that they may try to use a secret weapon against us. Whatever they try, we will emerge victorious! It's time to show the Barbiels and the universe the supreme might of our massive army!" Objective: Eliminate the enemy units. Strategy: Well, there are quite a few enemy units, but it's sufficient to destroy the enemy Base to win this mission. Play defense first. A group of Nergal units attacks right off the bat. They have high defense, so I recommend building a Laser Base or two right off the bat. Enemy reinforcements won't come for at least 6 minutes, so mine and build like there's a sixteen minute time limit in this mission, because there actually is. At around 8 minutes, the enemy Labor units will start building an Armory. They'll finish it at 15 minutes, and at 16 minutes it will finish you. The three enemy Laser Bases don't make things easier, but the AI does: All you have to do is sneak around the right side of the map and attack the enemy Base. If you have trouble finishing this mission quickly (or if you're challenging yourself by not destroying the enemy Base), launch an attack on the Laser Base and Labor units surrounding the Armory to get more time. "Future historians will put the effectiveness of our struggle into perspective and gauge the success of our accomplishments, but look around you today. Our citizens dig among the ruins of our wreckage for lost valuables. Remember you actions and the words of the wise men: 'there is no end to the truth.' In this place, there are two things without end--the universe, and greed." ----Minos Missions---- ---Scorch (Easy)--- "Once a peaceful place, Scorch fell victim to a massive meteor that rendered most of the planet's tranquil surface uninhabitable. Countless volcanoes now pockmark the landscape, gushing lava and spewing ash high into a bloody, lifeless sky. This is a place of scorching heat and extreme volcanic violence." Minos Scorch Mission 1: (Identical to Trampler Scorch Mission 1) Minos Scorch Mission 2: Breakthrough in Sorrowful Wasteland Briefing: "As far as you're concerned, this briefing never took place. All you need to know is that you must escort a transport team to the designated target. The cargo is top secret. Mission success hinges on all units arriving at their destination intact. For a mission that doesn't exist, an awful lot of top military brass have their eyes on you. Just remember, you don't make the orders you follow them." Objective: Lead all three allied transport units to the target. Strategy: Your starting force is all you get. Make sure it can handle 4-7 enemy units, one at a time, then pick your favorite path through the map (i.e. the one that hits as few enemy units as possible). Once you've cleared a path, send all three transport units down to the target. Minos Scorch Mission 3: (Identical to Trampler Scorch Mission 3) Strategy Differences: The enemy force that attacks the Lava Dam at 6 minutes consists of a whopping three units, so this version of the mission is much easier. Minos Scorch Mission 4: A Hunter in the Wilderness Briefing: "It's obvious that the Leon army expended staggering amounts of units and resources in the push to destroy the lava dam. Recent intel suggests that they've refocused their efforts on relocating and rebuilding their base. Intercept and destroy the enemy units before they can regroup. Consider the mission a failure if a single enemy unit escapes." Objective: Destroy all enemy Labor units without letting one reach the target. Strategy: The enemy Labor units move in short bursts, so you have plenty of time to build an attack force and send it across the map to intercept them. Alternatively, you could escort a few of your own Labor units to the target and build a few Laser Bases below it. There's enough time for it. Minos Scorch Mission 5: (Identical to Trampler Scorch Mission 5.) Strategy Differences: There are fewer enemy units that attack you, making this mission easier than the Trampler version. Minos Scorch Mission 6: (Identical to Trampler Scorch Mission 6.) Strategy Differences: You can finish this mission without having to fight enemy reinforcements. Build a Factory and rush the sparse enemy units to end the mission quickly. ---Lichen (Hard)--- "Planet Lichen was once a quiet place with rich soil and plentiful water. Historic accounts suggest that the planet was engulfed in a mysterious cloud of radioactive particles, transforming insects and plants into gigantic mutations. Now it's a subtropical planet nearly engulfed by a colossal forest." Minos Lichen Mission 1: The Spy in Stagnant Forest Briefing: "Planet Lichen is held by the Trampler army. Our foothold here is small at best, which is why we must defend it at all costs. Here's your first objective: Locate the Trampler units currently patrolling in the forest and destroy all enemy forces. Recent intel suggests that the enemy is marshalling their units at strategic points before advancing into our zones of control. You must not reveal our positions. Seek out the enemy before they find you." Objective: Eliminate the enemy units without letting one reach the target. Strategy: You have tons of resources, and the enemy units all have weak Gatling attacks. If a starting force of high-defense melee units can't eliminate the enemy units from the start, mine resources and build more. If your units are still too weak, build Laser Bases near the target. The enemy units take 6 minutes to make their way across the map in short bursts, so don't worry about one escaping and beating you to the target. Minos Lichen Mission 2: Onlooker's Waterfall Briefing: "Stealth is vital for the success of this mission and essential for the survival of our allied forces. Your objective is to move at least 5 units to the target while remaining undetected by the enemy. To complicate matters, you must conserve resources by freezing unit production. This mission must be completed using your existing forces. Proceed with extreme caution." Objective: Lead 5 units to the target. Strategy: Clear one of the two northern passages, then send all units through that passage. Defeat the uppermost enemy units on the right. Now the path is clear. Send five units around the border of the map to the target. Minos Lichen Mission 3: The Hunter and the Pursued Briefing: "Bad news. The technology gap between our forces and the Trampler Army is highly apparent. Much of their technology is a complete mystery. Your objective is to obtain samples of the enemy's latest equipment. New Trampler combat units are on the move in the valley. Salvage the parts from these units while preventing the prototypes from linking up with the Trampler forces." Objective: Destroy the two marked units (a Magog and a Shax) and collect their parts. You lose this mission if a marked unit makes it to the target or a marked unit's wreckage decays. Strategy: This mission can be tricky, so here's an equally tricky strategy that works well. The enemy units won't move for a while if you leave them alone, so mine resources. Build a Factory/Laboratory to build/upgrade units (depending on your starting force), then send your attack force and 2 Labor units to the southeast bridge. Destroy all the enemies in the vicinity of the bridge. Eventually, enemy reinforcements will come from below the bridge, so keep the 2 Labor units separated (the enemy units like to pick on them). At this time, the Shax and Magog will have started moving upwards across the north bridge (If you had left the southeast bridge alone, they would have walked across it instead.). Clean up any aggressive enemy units, then head east across the southern bridge and head north to greet the Shax and Magog. Destroy the Magog first (it fights back), then salvage its wreckage. Destroy the Shax, then salvage its wreckage. Minos Lichen Mission 4: Ebb Tide Briefing: "We need labor units for our army so we can increase overall productivity. Build 10 labor units and move them to the designated target. Avoid the river and refrain from wandering into the inhospitable terrain surrounding your base." Objective: Guide 10 allied Labor units to the target. Strategy: This mission is easy if you have a good starting force. Build 3 Labor units and mine Materialrock to build 2 more. Lead the attack force north and have the Labor units follow. Wait for enemy reinforcements to come from the north and destroy them before heading west. Once you've started going west, keep going right to the target. Have your attack force move southwest to let the Labor units cross the bridge, then order your Labor units to the target while the attack force fends off attacks from the south. If your starting force isn't good, you can mine resources and play the mission defensively. Start mining and move an attack force to the bridge north of your Base to stop two early attacks: one at thirty seconds, and one at 2 minutes (via reinforcements). At 3 minutes, reinforcements will come from the west, so move your attack force there. At around 3 minutes 45 seconds, more reinforcements will come from the north. In another minute, more reinforcements come from the west. At 6 minutes, the enemy units on the map start an attack on your Base from the west, and more reinforcements come before 7 minutes (but these just stand still). One more enemy comes from the enemy Factory afterwards. Some factory they have. Put a check on the last moving enemy unit, and you're free to do whatever you want. Clear the path of enemies and move your units to the target. Minos Lichen Mission 5: Powerless Brave Men Briefing: "Your objective is to secure 500 Materialrock. This is a limited resource that the Trampler army needs to maintain a production edge. Collecting the Materialrock will sway production power in our favor, resulting in complete control of Planet Lichen." Objective: Collect 500 Materialrock. Strategy: Immediately begin upgrading Technology, and mine Energysand. Move 3 Labor units and the attack force down to the left side of the Materialrock cache, and have the attack force guard the opening on the bottom left of the cache from future attacks. Build a Warehouse to the left of the Materialrock cache, and two Laser Bases below it. Now, whenever the enemy attacks, they'll instantly be shot down by the Laser Bases or your attack force. If a stray enemy gets to your base, have the Labor units there build a third Laser Base. Now, mine Materialrock to your heart's content (and feel free to upgrade Materialrock mining rate at the Warehouse to save time). Minos Lichen Mission 6: The Battle of Lake Lichen Briefing: "The ragtag remains of Trampler forces here are mere shadows of its former self, but intel reports indicate that these remnants may be assembling for a potentially devastating offensive. While a scattered enemy is weak, a consolidated and organized force is a significant threat. We won't relinquish our hard-won price. Protect your Base at all costs and eradicate the remaining Trampler force on Planet Lichen!" Objective: Eliminate the enemy units. Strategy: You can build up a force if you like, but a good starting force should suffice. Send the force south (avoiding the overcrowded monster territory in the southwest) and attack the enemy units on the south bridge (enemy reinforcements arrive at 2 minutes from the south and at 3 minutes from the east). Head northeast and defeat the remaining enemy units. Done. ---Ruin (Alliance: Minos)--- Minos Ruin Mission 1: Seize and Destroy! Briefing: "We have a plan to attack the Barbiel warehouses. Your mission is to attack one of the three warehouses and destroy it. After the attack, move labor units to the destined target area." Objective: Destroy at least one enemy warehouse and send a unit to the target. Strategy: There are no resources, so your starting force is all you get. Pick a starting force with a fast melee unit, since two very powerful long-range Magog units will step in to guard the target area. Attack the middle or upper warehouse to save time. It's possible to get to the target before the Magogs do, but it's also possible to beat them by sneaking a melee unit in between them. Minos Ruin Mission 2: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 2.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 3: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 3.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 4: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 4.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 5: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 5.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 6: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 6.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 7: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 7.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 8: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 8.) Strategy Differences: You get attacked by Ronwes at the beginning, which is kind of annoying since they stand a chance against Laser Bases. Keep your starting force at your Base and destroy all the initial Ronwes before heading up to the enemy Base. ----Leon Missions---- ---Lichen (Easy)--- Leon Lichen Mission 1: (Identical to Minos Lichen Mission 1.) Strategy Differences: You start with fewer resources, but with the right starting force (high DEF units), you shouldn't need any resources. Leon Lichen Mission 2: (Identical to Minos Lichen Mission 2.) Strategy Differences: There are fewer enemy units, meaning the mission can be done easily by fighting your way to the target.
Leon Lichen Mission 3: (Identical to Minos Lichen Mission 3.) Strategy Differences: The Minos map was swarmed with enemy units, but this map barely has any. This mission is much easier and can be done through brute force. Leon Lichen Mission 4: (Identical to Minos Lichen Mission 4.) Strategy Differences: There are fewer enemy units, and no groups of enemy reinforcements to make things at the Base difficult. Just build 10 Labor units and take them to the target. Leon Lichen Mission 5: (Identical to Minos Lichen Mission 5.) Strategy Differences: The enemy units just kind of stand around. You can win this mission without being attacked simply by taking the initial 5 Labor units down to the Materialrock and building a Warehouse (with upgraded Materialrock mining rate). Leon Lichen Mission 6: (Identical to Minos Lichen Mission 6) Strategy Differences: There are so few enemy units that a high DEF starting force can easily rush them. If yours can't, then first build a Laboratory to upgrade defense. ---Ravine (Hard)--- "Ravine is half a planet divided. Eons ago it was one, but something split it, forming a ghost planet made of gas and dust and Ravine, a sandy, rock-strewn orb. Civilization once existed here, but now it is nothing but wind-blown grit. Old fables speak of a time when the gas planet became jealous and lashed out at Ravine." Leon Ravine Mission 1: (Identical to Trampler Ravine Mission 1.) Strategy Differences: There are more enemy units, and there are now monsters. Destroy the enemy units and Warehouse around the resources so you can build extra units if you need them. The rest is as simple as running around the map and destroying the Warehouses. Leon Ravine Mission 2: Wanderers in Quicksand Forest Briefing: "We've intercepted a distress call from neutral army labor units mired in the Quicksand Forest. Their Base won't reply, which means these units are probably doomed unless you save them. We can always augment our labor force with these new additions. Locate and return all five labor units, but keep an eye out for the monsters lurking in the shadows of the forest. Objective: Lead 5 neutral units to the Base. Strategy: There are no resources on the map, so choose your starting force wisely. The only enemy units on this map are the monster Eruption, which is easily destroyed by a group of long-range attack units (or a single melee unit, if there's only one Eruption). Destroy all the monsters in the lower half to recruit 2 neutral units. Destroy either the middle or left group of monsters to open a path to 3 neutral units. Be careful when leading the neutral units back to the Base, since units tend to run off if they hit a wall on the path to their destination. To keep units from running off, direct them back to the Base in short, straight paths that avoid walls and obstacles. Leon Ravine Mission 3: (Identical to Trampler Ravine Mission 3.) Strategy Differences: There are lots of Merizims and Kiriels guarding the shortest path to the train station. It's still possible to destroy the train in under 2 minutes if the Merizims don't destroy your entire starting force, otherwise you're going to have to build more units to finish the job. Leon Ravine Mission 4: Enemy Labor Strike! Briefing: "Recent reports indicated that a large number of Minos labor units are in transit. We're not sure what they're doing, but it's a safe bet that they're up to no good. You* mission is to locate the labor units and eliminate them. If they manage to get wherever they're going, our new offensive will end up on the defensive." *: Editor's note: actual in-game typo. Objective: Destroy all enemy Labor units without letting one reach the target. Strategy: Build a bunch of fast melee units (like Gogs or Babels) and run past the enemy to destroy the Labor units in under a minute. Otherwise, mine whatever resources you need and stage an assault on one of the two groups of enemy units (the Abyss 2 at the top of the map are tough, so it's better to destroy the lower group of enemy units quickly) in order to attack the Labor units. Leon Ravine Mission 5: (Identical to Trampler Ravine Mission 5.) Strategy Differences: There are a lot more enemy units in this version of the mission. Build lots of Laser Bases by the north and west entrances to the Materialrock cache, but keep your starting force handy. The last enemy assault includes Abyss 3 units, which can outrange a fully upgraded Laser Base. Make sure your units destroy the two Abyss 3 before they get too close to the Laser Bases. Alternatively, you could build a starting force of 3 Belias units and tear down the enemy Base before the first wave of enemy units makes it to the Materialrock cache. Quick and simple. Leon Ravine Mission 6: (Identical to Trampler Ravine Mission 6.) Strategy Differences: Play defense and build Laser Bases immediately. If you can upgrade them, great. Otherwise you'll have to use your starting force to take down the Abyss 3 units. Maintain the Laser Bases until the remaining enemy units are stationary ones, then either wait for them to attack, or send an attack force after them. ---Ruin (Alliance: Leon)--- Leon Ruin Mission 1: Hit and Run Briefing: "We have a plan in place to attack the Barbiel warehouses. Your mission is to attack one of the three warehouses and destroy it. After the attack, move labor units to the designated target area." Objective: Destroy an enemy warehouse and reach the target. Strategy: Send an attack force to a Warehouse, and a Labor unit to the target. The bottom Warehouse is mostly protected by weak Gog units, so I recommend attacking that one. Leon Ruin Mission 2: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 2.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Leon Ruin Mission 3: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 3.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Leon Ruin Mission 4: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 4.) Alternate Briefing: "It's amazing that we've had this much success with minimal Barbiel resistance. That's about to change. Rather than launching a counterattack, the Barbiels deployed a mass of high-explosive time bombs in our territory. It's your job to remove all the bombs before they detonate." Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 5: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 5.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 6: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 6.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 7: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 7.) Strategy Differences: None. It's the same mission. Minos Ruin Mission 8: (Identical to Trampler Ruin Mission 8.) Strategy Differences: You get attacked by Ronwes at the beginning and after enemy reinforcements come, so make sure you prepare both a starting force and a Laser Base to protect yourself at the beginning. Well, that's all for the story mode missions. You'll probably want to replay the story mode to pick up missing parts, play as all the alliances, and unlock secret units. Story mode is a lot easier the second time, since the parts database (including the useable units) carries over from game to game. -----Parts and Units----- Part of the fun of Mech Platoon is completing your database. To collect parts, a Labor unit must salvage them from the wreckage of an enemy unit or pick them up in a mission. To obtain new units, all parts used for those units must have been collected. If there's a unit you have yet to obtain, salvage parts from enemy units of that type in Mission mode. In the following sections, parts and units are numbered as they appear in a completed database. ---Units--- This section lists data on all the units. Listed in each entry are the unit's HP (Hit Points), AT (Attack), DF (Defense), SP (Speed), RA (Range), Level, Cost, Weapon, Point, Parts, and Special Abilities. HP: How much damage the unit can take before it is destroyed. AT: The amount of damage the unit deals with each attack. DF: The amount of damage that gets reduced per hit when the unit is damaged. SP: The speed the unit moves at. RA: The farthest distance the unit can attack from. LV: The level your Military Skills must be at before you can build the unit from a Factory or upgrade to the unit from a Laboratory. Cost: The types and amounts of resources required to build the unit. Point: The number of points the unit costs when placed in your Start Point in Mission mode. You can build a maximum of 20 points of units of any level, but only the lowest number of each numbered unit (Abyss 1, Merizim 1, etc.) can be built in the Start Point. Weapon: The type of attack the unit does. The Arm, Body, and Leg parts listed are the parts that must be in your database before that unit appears in your database and becomes useable in battles. Most weapons deal damage regularly, but some have additional effects. Laser: Ignores defense when damaging normal units. Gatling: Fires three shots, each with the strength of the unit's attack. SP-1 and SP-2 stand for the special abilities the unit has. This is what all of them do. The full names and effects are taken from the game's manual, and aren't explicitly mentioned anywhere in the game. Full Name: Assault Slay Abbreviated Name: A-Slay Manual's Description: Increased attack strength against close combat units. My Observed Effect: Damage to melee-attack units increased by 2. Full Name: Building Slay Abbreviated Name: B-Slay Manual's Description: Increased attack strength against buildings. My Observed Effect: Damage to buildings increased by 5. Full Name: Cannon Slay Abbreviated Name: C-Slay Manual's Description: Increased attack strength against artillery units. My Observed Effect: Damage to laser-attack and missile-attack units increased by 2. Full Name: Gunner Slay Abbreviated Name: G-Slay Manual's Description: Increased attack strength against gun or gatling units. My Observed Effect: Damage to gun-attack and gatling-attack units increased by 2. Full Name: Shell Shield Abbreviated Name: S-Shield Manual's Description: Increased defense strength against gun or Gatling gun units. My Observed Effect: Damage from gun and gatling attacks reduced by 2. Full Name: Ray Shield Abbreviated Name: R-Shield Manual's Description: Increased defense strength against Laser weapons. My Observed Effect: Damage from projectile (Missile, Grenade, Laser) attacks reduced by 2. Also negates piercing damage from Laser attacks. Full Name: Regenerate Abbreviated Name: Recovery Manual's Description: Gradually recovers HP whenever unit is inactive My Observed Effect: The unit recovers 5 HP about once every ten seconds. Full Name: Decoy Abbreviated Name: Decoy Manual's Description: When in range, it is always targeted first by the enemy. My Observed Effect: Enemy combat units forget their previous orders and automatically attack this unit. Name: Hover Description: Units with the "Hover" or "Worm" leg part can hover over water, sand, and lava. There are also a number of secret units. Secret units are unlocked by beating the game with high database completion (around an 80%-90% minimum). When you beat the game, you'll sometimes acquire a secret unit. These units are neat- looking, but weak compared to normal units. I have unlocked the following units in my 104% completion game: 53) Weaver HP: 50 AT: 11 DF: 0 SP: 50 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 30 Energysand Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Body: Leg: SP-1: SP-2: 54) Eruption HP: 55 AT: 11 DF: 1 SP: 9 RA: 7 LV: 1 Cost: 30 Lasercrystal Weapon: Grenade Point: 4 Arm: Body: Leg: SP-1: SP-2: 55) Hidden HP: 70 AT: 10 DF: 1 SP: 29 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 30 Materialrock Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Body: Leg: SP-1: SP-2: 56) Labor 2 HP: 40 AT: 13 DF: 2 SP: 32 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 30 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 3 Arm: Body: Leg: SP-1: SP-2: Other: Unfortunately, this unit cannot mine or build/repair buildings, so it's not really a Labor unit. If you have a complete list of secret units and associated completion percentage, submit it to GameFAQsâ Cheats section and post it on the Message Boards and I will add it to this guide (with credit given) in a future update. ---Normal Units--- 1) Agares 1 HP: 80 AT: 14 DF: 5 SP: 32 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 45 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Hulkbody Body: Hulkbody Leg: Armedcar SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 2) Agares 2 HP: 100 AT: 14 DF: 6 SP: 32 RA: 1 LV: 2 Cost: 45 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 5 Arm: Hulkbody Body: Hulkbody Leg: Tank SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 3) Agares 3 HP: 120 AT: 14 DF: 7 SP: 32 RA: 1 LV: 3 Cost: 45 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 6 Arm: Hulkbody Body: Hulkbody Leg: H-Tank SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 4) Orias 1 HP: 40 AT: 9 DF: 5 SP: 19 RA: 8 LV: 1 Cost: 15 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 3 Arm: Cannon Body: Cannon Leg: Armedcar SP-1: SP-2: 5) Orias 2 HP: 60 AT: 9 DF: 6 SP: 19 RA: 8 LV: 2 Cost: 15 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 4 Arm: Cannon Body: Cannon Leg: Tank SP-1: SP-2: 6) Orias 3 HP: 80 AT: 9 DF: 7 SP: 19 RA: 8 LV: 3 Cost: 15 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: Arm: Cannon Body: Cannon Leg: H-Tank SP-1: SP-2: 7) Abyss 1 HP: 60 AT: 20 DF: 6 SP: 12 RA: 11 LV: 1 Cost: 60 Energysand, 110 Lasercrystal Weapon: Grenade Point: 5 Arm: Grenade Body: T-Armor Leg: Armedcar SP-1: G-Slay SP-2: 8) Abyss 2 HP: 80 AT: 20 DF: 7 SP: 12 RA: 13 LV: 2 Cost: 60 Energysand, 110 Lasercrystal Weapon: Grenade Point: 6 Arm: Grenade Body: T-Armor Leg: Tank SP-1: G-Slay SP-2: 9) Abyss 3 HP: 100 AT: 20 DF: 8 SP: 12 RA: 15 LV: 3 Cost: 70 Energysand, 80 Lasercrystal Weapon: Grenade Point: 7 Arm: Grenade Body: T-Armor Leg: H-Tank SP-1: G-Slay SP-2: 10) Belias HP: 60 AT: 20 DF: 4 SP: 37 RA: 13 LV: 2 Cost: 80 Energysand, 100 Lasercrystal Weapon: Grenade Point: 6 Arm: Grenade Body: T-Armor Leg: M-Car SP-1: G-Slay SP-2: S-Shield 11) Babel 1 HP: 40 AT: 16 DF: 2 SP: 75 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 20 Energysand, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Kill Body: Kill Leg: Bike SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 12) Babel 2 HP: 45 AT: 16 DF: 4 SP: 75 RA: 1 LV: 2 Cost: 20 Energysand, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 5 Arm: Kill Body: Kill Leg: Tricycle SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 13) Caim 1 HP: 50 AT: 7 DF: 2 SP: 71 RA: 7 LV: 1 Cost: 40 Energysand, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 3 Arm: Gatling Body: Pyramid Leg: Bike SP-1: SP-2: 14) Caim 2 HP: 55 AT: 7 DF: 4 SP: 71 RA: 7 LV: 2 Cost: 40 Energysand, 40 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 4 Arm: Gatling Body: Pyramid Leg: Tricycle SP-1: SP-2: 15) Agiel 1 HP: 60 AT: 7 DF: 2 SP: 50 RA: 7 LV: 2 Cost: 40 Energysand, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 3 Arm: Gatling Body: Box Leg: Bike SP-1: SP-2: 16) Agiel 2 HP: 65 AT: 7 DF: 4 SP: 50 RA: 7 LV: 2 Cost: 40 Energysand, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 4 Arm: Gatling Body: Box Leg: Tricycle SP-1: SP-2: 17) Gaap 1 HP: 60 AT: 7 DF: 3 SP: 41 RA: 7 LV: 1 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 45 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 3 Arm: Gatling Body: Shell Leg: Hover SP-1: SP-2: 18) Gaap 2 HP: 65 AT: 7 DF: 3 SP: 41 RA: 7 LV: 2 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 45 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 4 Arm: Gatling Body: Worm Leg: Worm SP-1: Recovery SP-2: 19) Erebus 1 HP: 60 AT: 9 DF: 3 SP: 36 RA: 8 LV: 2 Cost: 20 Materialrock, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 4 Arm: Bit Body: Shell Leg: Hover SP-1: SP-2: 20) Erebus 2 HP: 65 AT: 9 DF: 3 SP: 36 RA: 8 LV: 3 Cost: 20 Materialrock, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 5 Arm: Bit Body: Worm Leg: Worm SP-1: Recovery SP-2: 21) Zinimar HP: 50 AT: 9 DF: 2 SP: 44 RA: 8 LV: 1 Cost: 15 Energysand, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 3 Arm: Cannon Body: Cannon Leg: Nozzle SP-1: S-Shield SP-2: 22) Kiriel 1 HP: 70 AT: 12 DF: 6 SP: 26 RA: 10 LV: 2 Cost: 25 Energysand, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 5 Arm: Shotgun Body: Radar Leg: Nozzle SP-1: R-Shield SP-2: 23) Kiriel 2 HP: 80 AT: 12 DF: 7 SP: 26 RA: 10 LV: 3 Cost: 25 Energysand, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 6 Arm: Shotgun Body: Shield Leg: Nozzle SP-1: R-Shield SP-2: G-Slay 24) Merizim 1 HP: 70 AT: 25 DF: 6 SP: 12 RA: 15 LV: 2 Cost: 50 Energysand, 90 Lasercrystal Weapon: Missile Point: 6 Arm: Missile Body: Radar Leg: Nozzle SP-1: R-Shield SP-2: 25) Merizim 2 HP: 80 AT: 25 DF: 7 SP: 12 RA: 15 LV: 3 Cost: 50 Energysand, 90 Lasercrystal Weapon: Missile Point: 7 Arm: Missile Body: Shield Leg: Nozzle SP-1: R-Shield SP-2: G-Slay 26) Gog 1 HP: 45 AT: 13 DF: 2 SP: 69 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 25 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Claw Body: Scorpio Leg: W-Leg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 27) Gog 2 HP: 65 AT: 13 DF: 3 SP: 69 RA: 1 LV: 2 Cost: 25 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 5 Arm: Claw Body: Scorpio Leg: L-Leg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 28) Nergal 1 HP: 70 AT: 13 DF: 4 SP: 44 RA: 1 LV: 2 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 50 Energysand Weapon: Strike Point: 5 Arm: Claw Body: Winged Leg: W-Leg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: S-Shield 29) Nergal 2 HP: 90 AT: 13 DF: 5 SP: 44 RA: 1 LV: 3 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 50 Energysand Weapon: Strike Point: 6 Arm: Claw Body: Winged Leg: L-Leg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: S-Shield 30) Magog 1 HP: 40 AT: 25 DF: 3 SP: 19 RA: 15 LV: 2 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 80 Lasercrystal Weapon: Missile Point: 6 Arm: Drumpod Body: Drumpod Leg: W-Leg SP-1: A-Slay SP-2: 31) Magog 2 HP: 60 AT: 25 DF: 4 SP: 25 RA: 15 LV: 3 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 80 Lasercrystal Weapon: Missile Point: 7 Arm: Drumpod Body: Drumpod Leg: L-Leg SP-1: A-Slay SP-2: 32) Marbas HP: 40 AT: 12 DF: 3 SP: 62 RA: 10 LV: 1 Cost: 25 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 4 Arm: Ball Body: Ball Leg: Horseleg SP-1: SP-2: 33) Azazel HP: 55 AT: 12 DF: 3 SP: 46 RA: 10 LV: 1 Cost: 30 Materialrock, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 4 Arm: Shotgun Body: T-Armor Leg: Horseleg SP-1: SP-2: 34) Belzecue HP: 55 AT: 12 DF: 4 SP: 46 RA: 10 LV: 2 Cost: 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 5 Arm: Ball Body: Ball Leg: C-Leg SP-1: SP-2: 35) Muriel HP: 55 AT: 12 DF: 4 SP: 37 RA: 10 LV: 1 Cost: 35 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 4 Arm: Shotgun Body: Taskbody Leg: Horseleg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: B-Slay 36) Boltis HP: 70 AT: 12 DF: 4 SP: 29 RA: 10 LV: 1 Cost: 70 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 4 Arm: Shotgun Body: T-Armor Leg: C-Leg SP-1: SP-2: 37) Malacoda HP: 70 AT: 12 DF: 5 SP: 21 RA: 10 LV: 2 Cost: 85 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 5 Arm: Shotgun Body: Taskbody Leg: C-Leg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: B-Slay 38) Zagan HP: 65 AT: 20 DF: 7 SP: 22 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 35 Materialrock, 65 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Claymore Body: Knight Leg: Humanoid SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: R-Shield 39) Nemesis HP: 65 AT: 9 DF: 4 SP: 19 RA: 8 LV: 1 Cost: 10 Materialrock, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 3 Arm: Crossbow Body: Crossbow Leg: Humanoid SP-1: A-Slay SP-2: 40) Furcas HP: 65 AT: 7 DF: 7 SP: 19 RA: 7 LV: 2 Cost: 20 Materialrock, 50 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 4 Arm: Gatling Body: Knight Leg: Humanoid SP-1: R-Shield SP-2: 41) Zoa HP: 75 AT: 14 DF: 5 SP: 32 RA: 5 LV: 1 Cost: 65 Materialrock, 40 Energysand Weapon: Lance Point: 4 Arm: Cyclops Body: Cyclops Leg: Humanoid SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: A-Slay 42) Satyr HP: 45 AT: 20 DF: 5 SP: 56 RA: 1 LV: 2 Cost: 25 Materialrock, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 5 Arm: Claymore Body: Knight Leg: Horseleg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: R-Shield 43) Baal HP: 45 AT: 14 DF: 3 SP: 66 RA: 5 LV: 1 Cost: 85 Materialrock Weapon: Lance Point: 4 Arm: Cyclops Body: Cyclops Leg: Horseleg SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: A-Slay 44) Kataris HP: 45 AT: 9 DF: 2 SP: 52 RA: 8 LV: 2 Cost: 15 Materialrock, 55 Lasercrystal Weapon: Laser Point: 4 Arm: Crossbow Body: Crossbow Leg: Horseleg SP-1: A-Slay SP-2: 45) Buer HP: 45 AT: 7 DF: 5 SP: 52 RA: 7 LV: 2 Cost: 25 Materialrock, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gatling Point: 4 Arm: Gatling Body: Knight Leg: Horseleg SP-1: R-Shield SP-2: 46) Andras HP: 90 AT: 12 DF: 4 SP: 21 RA: 10 LV: 2 Cost: 30 Energysand, 60 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 5 Arm: Railgun Body: Shell Leg: C-Leg SP-1: G-Slay SP-2: S-Shield 47) Ronwe HP: 75 AT: 14 DF: 8 SP: 25 RA: 1 LV: 2 Cost: 70 Materialrock, 70 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 5 Arm: Hulkarm Body: Tower Leg: Humanoid SP-1: S-Shield SP-2: R-Shield 48) Vepar HP: 60 AT: 7 DF: 6 SP: 16 RA: 7 LV: 1 Cost: 50 Materialrock, 25 Energysand Weapon: Gatling Point: 3 Arm: Dualgun Body: T-Armor Leg: Armedcar SP-1: A-Slay SP-2: 49) Zaren HP: 80 AT: 12 DF: 4 SP: 32 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 35 Materialrock, 35 Energysand Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Solid Body: Pyramid Leg: Tank SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: 50) Saraiel HP: 60 AT: 12 DF: 6 SP: 37 RA: 10 LV: 2 Cost: 25 Materialrock, 70 Lasercrystal Weapon: Gun Point: 5 Arm: Shotgun Body: T-Armor Leg: M-Car SP-1: Recovery SP-2: B-Slay 51) Zedex HP: 75 AT: 20 DF: 6 SP: 27 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 90 Lasercrystal Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Claymore Body: Taskbody Leg: Humanoid SP-1: C-Slay SP-2: B-Slay 52) Shax HP: 70 AT: 5 (Meaningless. Unit does not attack.) DF: 7 SP: 19 RA: 1 LV: 1 Cost: 40 Materialrock, 40 Energysand Weapon: Strike Point: 4 Arm: Jammer Body: Shield Leg: W-Leg SP-1: Decoy SP-2: Other: This unit cannot attack. ---Arm Parts--- All arm parts provide 5 Lasercrystal when salvaged. 1) Hulkarm AT: 14 RA: 0 2) Claymore AT: 15 RA: 0 3) Cyclops AT: 12 RA: 0 4) Claw AT: 11 RA: 0 5) Dualgun AT: 8 RA: 7 6) Gatling AT: 8 RA: 7 7) Cannon AT: 13 RA: 8 8) Bit AT: 13 RA: 8 9) Shotgun AT: 10 RA: 10 10) Railgun AT: 10 RA: 10 11) Grenade AT: 20 RA: 11 12) Missile AT: 30 RA: 15 13) Drumpod AT: 30 RA: 15 14) Crossbow AT: 13 RA: 8 15) Hulkbody AT: 14 RA: 0 16) Ball AT: 7 RA: 13 17) Kill AT: 16 RA: 0 18) Solid AT: 15 RA: 0 19) Jammer AT: 0 RA: 0 ---Body Parts--- All body parts provide 5 Energysand when salvaged. 1) Hulkbody HP: 60 DF: 0 2) Knight HP: 30 DF: 2 3) Kill HP: 30 DF: 2 4) Shell HP: 60 DF: 2 5) Cyclops HP: 40 DF: 1 6) Taskbody HP: 20 DF: 2 7) Winged HP: 50 DF: 2 8) T-Armor HP: 40 DF: 1 9) Scorpio HP: 25 DF: 0 10) Worm HP: 60 DF: 0 11) Tower HP: 40 DF: 3 12) Radar HP: 50 DF: 2 13) Shield HP: 40 DF: 5 14) Ball HP: 30 DF: 1 15) Pyramid HP: 40 DF: 0 16) Box HP: 50 DF: 0 17) Crossbow HP: 30 DF: 0 18) Cannon HP: 20 DF: 0 19) Drumpod HP: 20 DF: 2 ---Leg Parts--- All leg parts provide 5 Materialrock when salvaged. 1) Humanoid HP: 35 DF: 3 2) C-Leg HP: 30 DF: 1 3) L-Leg HP: 30 DF: 2 4) W-Leg HP: 20 DF: 1 5) Horseleg HP: 15 DF: 0 6) Bike HP: 10 DF: 0 7) Tricycle HP: 10 DF: 3 8) M-Car HP: 20 DF: 1 9) Armedcar HP: 20 DF: 2 10) Tank HP: 40 DF: 3 11) H-Tank HP: 60 DF: 4 12) Hover HP: 0 DF: 0 13) Nozzle HP: 30 DF: 0 14) Worm HP: 5 DF: 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----Multiplayer Mode---- Mode differences: You start with 5 Labor units (no starting force) and a preset amount of resources, and there are also resources on the map. Building a Base in a strategic location is an important factor. Handicaps can be used to offset imbalances due to skill or map design. --Options-- 1P Color: Changes Player 1's color. 2P Color: Changes Player 2's color. Map: Sets the map. Set Level: This menu allows you to alter the initial resources and skill levels of each player. Great for handicapping matches or balancing unfair stages. Build/Technology/Military: Sets the respective skill level to the selected level. Resources Level 1: Start with 100 Materialrock, 300 Energysand, 100 Lasercrystal. Resources Level 2: Start with 300 Materialrock, 500 Energysand, 300 Lasercrystal. Resources Level 3: Start with 500 Materialrock, 700 Energysand, 500 Lasercrystal. ---Multiplayer Maps--- I'll refer to the player who can change the options as Player 1. I haven't extensively played these maps with another person, so I'll give my opinion of how balanced each map is. 1) Ascetic Monk's River This map has four corners connected by bridges, with resources in the top half of the map. Fairly well-balanced. Player 2 is slightly farther away from the resources, but can stick the Base in a better corner. 2) Almost Extinct River This map is U-shaped and fairly linear, except for one junction. This map favors Player 2, who starts next to a huge Materialrock cache. Player 1 has to travel a great distance to get to the resources, so a resource handicap would help balance the stage. 3) Lake Lichen This map is U-shaped with a lot of bridges in the middle of the map, making for interesting combat. The top half of the map is flooded with water, which Gaap and Erebus units can hover over. 4) Forest of Quicksand The players start in opposite corners, and each has two openings to defend. The middle of the map is barren. 5) Weathering Ruins This map is mazelike. Player 1 has easier access to Energysand, but Player 2's corner is much easier to defend. 6) Crater Area The map is slashed in half with a "\" of walls, and each player has resources on one side. 7) Sunbaked Wilderness A balanced, linear map. There's lava in the lower half that can be crossed by Hover units. 8) Old Ruins Area This map has an interesting twist: All the Lasercrystal is in the middle of the map. The only unbalanced feature of this map is that Player 1's second Energysand pile is in the middle of the map, right above the Lasercrystal. 9) Old Warehouse Area Fairly open in the middle, with resources in the top-left and lower-right corners. 10) Old Downtown Area Both players start on the bottom of the map next to fewer resources than normally and there's an Energysand cache in the top middle area of the map. There is little obstruction on the bottom of the map, making for a fast-paced battle. ----Legal---- Copyright 2009-2010 Robert Weckstein This guide has my permission to appear on www.gamefaqs.com. This guide is intended only for private, personal use only.