Overview
Robocraft is a unique game due to its emphesis on creativity, but it lacks a clear structure for roles and tactics. This guide will attempt to cover some simple and complex strategies that can be applied to one’s own robots and grant them a deeper understanding of the mindgame of Robocraft.
Introduction
Welcome! You’re here in order to try and create a smarter, more battle-ready robot! Robocraft, at it is at the time of writing this guide, is a very new and unstable game in terms of team strategy. Unlike other team-focused game such as League of Legends, Robocraft is a very individual game; yet, all of its modes are team-based. Thus, it is most important that you build your robot in a manner that benefits your entire team, and not just yourself.
We have a few major points:
- 1. You must be willing to work as a part of a team. Robocraft is a very team-based game, and it is imperative that you recognize this. You must be willing to fulfill a role within a team in order to increase your chances at winning. Although there are situations where a robot can single-handedly carry a team to victory, it is very unlikely you will do so alone against even just three or two skilled, competent opponents.
- 2. You must be wiling to think strategically. Due to the large amount of freedom given to you during the building process, there is a potentially infinite amount of strategies that can be executed within the game–provided you can work with your team to carry them out. To make this easier, think of yourself as a musical instrument: while your solos may be amazing, multiple instruments can come together to create a full-bodied orchestra. Likewise, multiple robots can come together to create a well-oiled scrapping machine.
- 3. YOU MUST COMMUNICATE! I can’t stress this enough. Robocraft games are often silent throughout, and this is not good. I suggest you call out your role at the beginning of each match to plan our your strategy as a team.
Possible Roles
- Tank – Defined in the sense of the classic class, tanks are dedicated to tanking damage for their team, and focuses on defensive capabilties. Equip tanks with heavy armor and focus on attracting fire.
- Bruiser – Brusiers can take a lot of damage and can deal a lot of damage, but their weakness is that they may be able to be outmanuvered. Equip brusiers with plasma launchers or SMGs, and put on heavy armor.
- Speeder – Speeders are lightweight, high-speed land vehicles that can be used for hit and run purposes. They can often serve as scouts/recon. Equip with high-tier wheels and preferably plasma launches or SMGs. Consider long-range radars and powerful jammers to benefit your team.
- Sniper – Snipers are long-range attackers that can take out priority targets from a distance. Aim at weak targets with high firepower, such as bombers, interceptors, or other snipers. Equip with railguns, or if you can, plasma launchers.
- Bomber – Bombers are flyers that are capable of dealing high-damage to ground targets. Take out bombers with interceptors or anti-air. Equip with plasma launchers, and if you choose, moderate to heavy armor.
- Interceptor – Interceptors are fast flyers that are focused on taking out other flyers. They are often very fragile. Equip with SMGs, or less preferably, railguns.
- Anti-Air – Anti-Air robots are focused on taking down aircraft. While the railgun may be most effective, the SMG is often a good choice due to their burst-fire capabilities. Equip with heavy armor suited to defend vs. flyers.
Basic Tactics & Strategies
Within Robocraft, there exists a few strategies. I will go through them:
- War of Attrition – Like the endless standoff trench shooting in World War I, this strategy relies on sheer power and stamina. It consists of many robots simply tanking and avoiding damage and firing back and forth at each other. The team doesn’t make risky dives or pushes into enemy territory, only doing so when safe, and relies on its consistant pressure to win the match. Defense is prioritized. Core roles: Tank, Bruiser, Sniper, Anti-AIr
- Hit and Run – This strategy relies on speed, mobility, and burst firepower. It consists of small teams of robots quickly advancing on an enemy, dealing a high amount of damage/striking at weak points, and then quickly backing off while taking the least amount of damage. The team takes risks in order to get the jump on the enemy team, taking enemies out when appropriate. Offense is important. Core roles: Bomber, Interceptor, Speeder
- Bait and Ambush – One of the hardest strategies to execute, this strategy requires great knowledge of the map, your enemies, and your team, and it relies on stealth and burst firepower. It consists of a team hiding in various places, and then suddenly smashing isolated targets that come across them. The team is very defensive, but also can be very offensive when necessary. Core roles: Bruiser, Tank, Speeder
Working Together
Call out your roles! If you’re a tank, call it out as soon as the match starts. It is often advisible to stay together. Here are some favorable groupings:
- Bomber + Interceptor/Anti-Air – The bomber can focus on bombing, while any challengers will be taken down by the interceptor or anti-air.
- Tank + Bruiser – Paired together, there are few weakpoints between the two, and the enemy can’t really focus on any weak target. This is a strong combination that allows a team to push into a base.
- Sniper + Speeder – Paired together, the sniper can focus on sniping while the speeder can alert the sniper of any incoming enemies.