Overview
Well, this guide should teach you some gameplay tips and tactics when playing with all factions.
Introduction
This guide is based off of my own personal experience, so some things might be missing that you might know about. Also, we will be going over some tips, gamemodes, maps etc.
Factions.
Currently, there are two factions to play as in Annihilation.
The Rebels/Resistance is a large group of civilians who are, well, rebelling against the combine. They, in general, have weaker weapons and buildings, yet they cost less allowing for more units to be made for swarms. This faction normally has to look out for synths.
The Combine
Units.
Now, we will talk about the units of each faction.
The Rebels
Engineers-These guys build the main buildings and defenses, as well as gather scrap.
Scouts-These guys are used to capture control points early in the game, and is used to gather early intel about their base.
Partisans-Civilians who dont have much training about combat, and use molotovs.
Rebels-The main force of The Rebels, as they are the ones with the most training and have a great arsenal.
Medic-The Medic hands out health packs to injured troops, and is weak in combat.
Veteran Rebels-Equiped with a crossbow and is used to chase down and slaughter fleeing units..
Vortigaunts-Can spawn antlions which can swarm and bug the heck out of you.
DOG-Heavy unit, and when destroying enemy buildings returns you scrap.
The Combine
Stalkers-The building unit of the Combine, used to make most base buildings.
Loyal Citizen-Unarmed citizen who scouts out areas and punches things with it’s fists.
Metrocops-Equiped with a Shield and a Stunstick, they can be used to block damage and bullets from hitting your troops, along with force enemies who are too close back.
Metrocops(SMG)-Light infantry, mainly used as defense, but not used for front lines.
Combine Soldiers-The Backbone of the Combine on Earth, have better weapons, including SMG’s, SG’s and AR2’s.
Combine Elite-The strongest of the combine, as it has AR2 and uses Dark Energy Ball, along with experimental combine armour..
Combine Sniper-Used to scout and pick off enemies, mainly used to aid in a push.
Hunter-Light and agile, it also has a explosive flechettes as it’s weapon.
Strider-Largest Synth. Has pulse cannon and uses a heavy Warp Cannon.
Claw Scanner-Small carrying Synths that have Hopper Mines.
City Scanners-Used to blind enemies and to reveal cloaked enemies.
Manhacks-Light and flying, they use razor sharp blades to slice up enemies.
Rollermines-Small, shock drones used to weaken up enemy forces.
Tips
This section is about tips and tricks you can use when in a game.
1. Get all the capture points. Get as many as you can to start crippling your enemy’s economy.
2. Choke points. Always gain control of choke points, as enemies could easily push through. I would recommend gaurding them with turrets or AR2 soldiers.
3. Block off reinforcements. Block off all ways reinforcements can come. As they will start sending more troops to keep the battle.
4. Have reinforcements ready. Incase enemies attack, always have a group of reinforcements to come and help the rest.
5. Have a couple of RPG troops on rebels side, and Elites on combines side, as they can take down multiple units before dieing, and the RPG can take down Synths.
6. On Rebel side, have DOG about mid-end game, as it could make a huge difference in gameplay.
7. Large rushes is almost never the way to go. Sure, you could get a few kills, but mostly your troops will get quickly shot down. Not only do troops die, but your economy is severely crippled by the amount of units you produced.
8. Headcrab canisters are great for use of quick infestations of choke points and small rebel encampments.
9. Use Rebel Saboteurs or Combine Snipers to kill of high threat troops/buildings.
10. If fighting against headcrabs/zombies, use shotguns, as a quick blast can easily kill a zombie.
11.Try to locate the enemies field bases/emergency bases in order to attack and destroy them before they flank your defenses.
Weapons
There are many weapons in this game, and this section will go over them we will also go over Building Weapons, like headrab canisters
Weapons:
9mm Pistol-Basic, least damaging gun. Wielded by Engineers, Scouts, and Pistol CPs, this thing is not what to use for frontlines or defenses.
SMG-Better than the pistol. Wielded by Rebels, Combine Soldiers, and SMG CPs. Automatic, higher fire rate, and better damage means it is useful for pushes and defenses.
AR2-Now we’re into some good stuff! Held by AR2 Combine Soldiers, AR2 Rebels, and Combine Elites, the best gun for defenses.
AR2(CE)-A little different than normal AR2, as it fires a dark energy pulse, which disentegrates, literally, everything in its path.
Shotgun-Very useful in close range. Wielded by shotgun soldiers on both rebels and combine. Troops holding it run slighty faster. Not for use in long range.
Turrets-Very useful for defending choke points, not open areas. Great to have ’em in a pinch but don’t expect em to save your life all the time.
Crossbow-Held by Rebel Veterans, it is best used for long rang firing. I would also recommend to use them for headcrabs, as one shot takes one out.
Headcrab Canisters-Useful for blocking off reinforcements and choke points. If you notice they are pushing one way, infest that area before they get there.
RPG-Wielded by Rocket Rebels, thsees are used for quick assassinations of groups of combine, or to quickly kill off striders.
Gameplay
In this section, we will go over gameplay. Such as build orders and phases such as beginning game, mid-game, and end-game.
Rebels
Start-game
Rebels are sort of easy to get going, but later in the game might be more difficult. Let us go over the gameplay now.
Build order:
1 Engineer
1 Scout
1 Junkyard
1 Barracks
2 Rebels
After you got that done, have the scout go with one of your rebel troops to a capture point. Keep going around until you are either killed or can’t go no more.
Have one of your engineers start to salvage scrap. As you progress on, get more rebels and engineers. Use those engineers to salvage more scrap.
Mid-game
Build a Munitions Depot and a Triage center. Gather more rebels and get a medic. After that, make pre-battle preparations and make sure everything is fine, then go for a control point you didn’t get.
Have a group of reinforcements. Spread out troops to prevent multiple troops being killed by explosives. Just keep sending wave after wave. If you succeed, capture the point and gather up more troops. If you fail and your troops are being slaughtered, retreat.
End-game
This is when the biggest battles happen.
Build a Spec Ops and get some RPG troops.
Build manned turrets around the base. Keep sending more troops.
Build a vort den and get some vorts, spam antlions, and go for the enemy base.
The Combine
Start Game
Combine are not as easy as rebels. I would recommend going Quality over Quantity for combine.
Build order:
1 Stalker
1 Loyal citizen
Power Core.
Garrison
2 SMG CPs
Use your Loyal citizen to cap points and use it for a scout. Have it being escorted by one of the CPs. Use the other CP to guard one of the control points the scout has already captured.
Build Energy Cells as these are essential to store power for better weaponry and buildings.
Mid-Game
Build an Armory and some Soldiers. In the Armory unlock Turrets and ‘Nades, as these will be useful for invading enemy bases.
After that, start guarding capture points with unmanned Turrets. In the Armory, unlock AR2 and SG, as these will be more useful against more forces.
Build a Synth Factory and create Hunters, as these will be the main force at this time.
End-Game
At this point, you should’ve gotten enough Energy Cells to store about 300 power. Use that 300 power for a Strider. When the strider is unlocked, start building it in the Synth Factory. Once it is built, prepare for some massive battles.
Build a Spec Ops Building for some Elites. Once you got about 7 of the Elites, your strider should be done. Take the Elites and the strider to the enemy base with other troops. At the point, there should be silence as all capture points were probably abandoned.
General
This section is for both teams and also just general gameplay.
Start-game
Start to cripple the enemy’s economy, as it will be useful later on in the game. Also, Guard points with some lighter infantry, like partisans or CPs.
Mid-game
This is the time for attack. Always have reinforcements and rush in with as many troops possible. Try to flank the enemy without being seen, use saboteurs to sneak behind enemy lines and plant bombs.
End-game
Get heavier units to attack the enemy, and also to guard. Use manned turrets to guard choke points and what-not. Try cornering you enemy in their base to have an amazing economic advantage.
Buildings
In this section we will talk about buildings.
Rebels
Headquarters-Engineers and Scouts are recruited here.
Billet-Where scrap is stored, expands population.
Junkyard-DOG unit is recruited here.
Barracks-Most infantry is recruited here.
Munitions Depot-Weaponry is unlocked here.
Triage Center-Unlocks Medic, can upgrade abilities.
Vortigaunt Den-Vorts are recruited here.
Aid Station- Heals anyone inside it.
Special Ops-Heavier units are recruited here, such as Flamers and RPG troops.
Radio Tower-Allows scanning which gives vision of the scanned area.
Rebel Defense
Barricade-Simple, wall. Troops take cover behind it.
Turret-Troops can man the turret in order to guard.
Barrel Trap-Launches barrels at specified location.
Combine
Citadel-Where Stalkersand Loyol Citizens are recruited.. Population is upgraded here.
Power Generator-Required for most buildings.
Energy Cell-Stores power for alot of infantry units.
Garrison-Most infantry units recruited here.
Healing Station-Heals troops within a certain radius.
Armory-Unlocks better weaponry and Strider.
Synth Factory-Synths are built here.
Spec Ops-Heavier units are recruited here, such as Combine Elite and Combine Sniper.
Mech Factory-Used to build City Scanners, Manhacks, and Rollermines.
Combine Defenses
Barricade-Troops can take cover behind.
Turret-Mannable turret.
Mortar-Deadly building which launches a mortar at the specific spot, obliterating almost everything in the vicinity.
Headcrab Canister Launcher-Used to launch Headcrab Shells in specified areas that are within your fog of war vision.
Conclusion.
That was my guide, I hope you liked it and I will add things in the future.
Things to add:
Maps
Gamemodes
If you want anything else that is not on this list on the guide, post it in the comments.
If I missed anything, let me know! I will quickly add it to the list.
Log
1/23/2015-Guide Created.
1/25/2015-Added Synths section to Units. Added Tactics section.
2/14/2015-Added tips section. Added Weapons section.
2/15/2015-Added Gameplay.
2/21/2015-Added General to Gameplay section.
2/27/2015-Updated Rebels section on everything.
2/28/2015-Added Buildings.
6/17/16-The Great Rework. Removed Tactics and Adv./Disadv. Reworked almost every section. Changed the guides name.