Overview
A guide-in-progress on the respectable Admiral Swiggins! As I discover or hear about new tactics, and as things are updated and balanced, I shall update this accordingly.
Introduction
Good evening. This is a guide to Admiral Swiggins, a charming chap with a tendency to throw anchors at things. I shall be your guide into the mind of the Swiggins, so that you shall see how he does what he does. Of course, I may miss a thing or two here and there, but as people relay more information to me, and as I find more out myself, I shall update this here guide so that you may have the best knowledge I can offer!
Swiggins Himself
Slow/Medium speed, Initiator, Tank
Health – 155 (Maximum of 255)
Movement Speed – 6.8 (Maximum of 9.6)
Swiggins is NOT a speedy character at the beginning of a match, when even Clunk (with a speed of 7.2) can outrun him to some degree, nor does he have a boatload of health, having only 155. However, at mid to late game, he can have as much as 100 more hitpoints, and can be faster than a Leon wearing Space Air Max. His abilities help him engage enemies quickly, or catch up to a faster, fleeing adversary, or allow him to pin an enemy to an area for heavy punishment.
-Power Pills Turbo
Amount Purchasable: 3
Price Per Unit: 120 Solar
Increases Maximum Health
Maximum Health +20
Maximum Homboldt Health +5
AS I AM WRITING THIS, THIS ITEM IS BUGGED AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
This bug HAS been patched, making the power pills work quite well.
Notes: Almost required for any build you’d like to do. Swiggins is quite squishy at the beginning, starting with only 155 health, and he needs any help he can get in that area. The added health to Homboldt is quite helpful as well, as it is enough to (usually) keep a vaccum bite or splash dash from one-shotting it.
-Med-i’-can
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 120 Solar
Regenerate Health
Health +100/minute
Notes: Allows you to stay in-lane longer, as you do not need to leave to heal up as often. Probably not as useful as maximum health in a fight, but since that is currently not working, take what you can get, ya know?
-Space Air Max
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 135 Solar
Increases Movement Speed
Movement Speed +1.6
Notes: Since Swiggins is one of the slowest characters (if not THE slowest), a speed boost is very, very much needed. Combined with Bovinian Skimed Milk (covered below), the Admiral can obtain a movement speed of 9.6, higher than Leon can get, and higher than Coco if she doesn’t have Space Air Max as well.
-Solar Tree
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 50 Solar
Gain additional solar over time
Solar + 20/minute
Notes: Since Swiggins is rather slow and squishy at the beginning of a game, this may be a good investment, helping you get your items a bit faster.
-Piggy Bank
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 0 Solar
Gives solar
+115 Solar
Notes: As with any build, the boost this gives you is irreplacable. Using it, you an start with both of Swiggins abilities and Treasure Lottery Map (an item covered below that should be a part of every build) right away, allowing you to sally forth into battle prepared!
-Baby Kuri Mammoth
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 100 Solar
Reduces the effect of all debuffs
Debuffs -20%
Notes: Unfortunately, this item is HIGHLY situation, and therefore is typically outclasses by every other item that could take its place. It’s a shame, really, as it can be a life saver in a few situations, but since those situations are so much rarer than ones where, say, 60 more health would save you, you’re better off ot using it.
Basic Attacks
Swiggins has a variety of attacks, allowing for many different strategies and builds. Let’s start with his basic attacks, and then move on to his abilities.
Damage – 11
Attack Speed – 95.2
Range – 3.2
Swiggins primary attack. It does a decent amount of damage at a decent speed with a decent range. It hits ALL enemies within this range, allowing for easier destruction of droid waves, at least when they’re all clumped up. However, it’s not Swiggins only option…
Damage – 7
Attack Speed – 130.4
Range – 7.2
Swiggins OTHER primary attack, and a very unique ability. After using his “Drop Anchor” skill, Swiggins does not have his anchor to swing. How sad. However, he is far from helpless. When he doesn’t have his anchor, Swiggins fires small jets of ink instead, doing less damage at a higher fire rate, with over double the range. Of course, each shot only hits one target, unlike the Anchor Swing, but the range allows you to stay out or harms way.
These upgrades affect Swiggins himself, or his basic attacks, as listed above.
-Aquarium Pump
Amount Purchasable: 3
Price Per Unit: 135 Solar
Increases the attack speed of Anchor Swing and Ink Spray
Attack Speed +10%
Notes: This item appears to do next to nothing until it is maxed out, however when matched with Bag of Gravel can lead to a world of pain for your opponents.
-Bag of Gravel
Amount Purchasable: 3
Price Per Unit: 155 Solar
Increases the damage of Anchor Swing and Ink Spray
Anchor Damage + 3
Ink Damage + 2
Notes: This item can turn your attacks from pokes into devastating salvos. Goes well with pretty much any build you could want.
-Krill Biscuts
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 140 Solar
Increases your maximum health when holding Homboldt.
Maximum Health +20
Notes: This ONLY gives you more health while Homboldt, Swiggins anchor, is in his, er, tentacles. If you have full health and use Anchor Drop, you are essentially taking 40 damage if this is maxed out, but if you’ve lost 40 (or more) health then it essentially has no ill effects.
-Not seeweed
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 175 Solar
Adds a blinding effect to Ink Spray
Blind Duration + 0.1 Seconds
Notes: No, that name isn’t spelled wrong. This item only effects your Ink shot, so if you’re carrying your anchor around constantly, don’t bother. The blind duration is very short, more disorienting than anything, but a good human player usually isn’t that effected by it. The slot could go to something a bit more useful.
-Royal Toy Castle
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 165 Solar
You gain a damage reducing shield when NOT holding Homboldt
Shield +12.5%
Notes: This is a useful upgrade. Usually, when you do not have your anchor, you are engaging a target that you have pinned. 25% damage reduction can save your life more often than you might think.
-Pool Boy
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 240 Solar
Doubles damage of your next basic attack after switching between weapons
Damage X2
Notes: In short, your first Ink Shot after throwing your anchor, as well as your first Anchor Swing after picking it back up, does double damage. Useful for builds involving lots of anchor dropping.
Abilities
Swiggins’ abilities involve movement and hinderence much more than damage, trapping enemies in an area or grabbing at them from afar, and even switching between his ranged and melee attack.
Anchor Hook
Damage – 25
Flying Damage – 10
Cooldown – 7 seconds
Range – 11
This ability fires Homboldt across the screen. If it hits an enemy Awesomenauts or a wall, Swiggins is pulled to it. “Damage” refers to the amount of damage dealt to an enemy Awesomenauts when it is latched onto. “Flying Damage” is the damage the anchor does to any enemy droids as it passes by, since it cannot hook onto them. If the anchor doesn’t hit anything, it returns to Swiggins, hitting all driods in its path again, making it an okay crown clearing tool.
This skill has 2 major uses: Moving to a point very quickly, or catching up to a fleeing enemy. Since you have to have your anchor to use it, putting yourself in melee range with your target is highly benefical. Just be careful not to pull yourself into range of a turret when snagging a fleeing enemy, or grabbing a Clunk who decides to explode. It won’t end well.
Currently, if you hook the hatch on Sorona where the sandworm comes though, you will be killed by the worm. So try not to do that. This was also fixed in the Swiggins fix patch, so fire your anchors at that hatch all day long! Of course, it may be benificial to hook the platform just under the button-it’ll activate the sandworm long enough that anyone standing on it goes down, but short enough that by the time you drop, you’ll be A-OK!
-Flying Fish Compass
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 145 Solar
Reduces the cooldown of Anchor Hook
Cooldown -1 second
Notes: If you plan on using this skill a lot, this in an important item to have. Obviously.
-Blue Heart Medal
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 165 Solar
Increases damage of anchor hook
Damage + 10
Flying Damage + 5
Notes: A must-have. While 25 damage can be shrugged off by most classes, 45 is a more formidibale amount. Combine that with the fact that the hit leaves you withing melee range of an enemy, allowing you to lay a smackdown right then and there makes this item the bee’s knees. Or something.
-Mobile Periscope
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 185 Solar
Increases range of anchor hook
Range +4
Notes: You anchor hook ability already nearly crosses the entire screen, so if you’re gonna grab this upgrade you’d better be good at aiming using your minimap.
-Treasure Lottery Map
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 80 Solar
Increases the solar gain for the whole team when killing an Awesomenaut
Team solar per kill +15
Note: This is part of your build. No, really, if your build DOESN’T involve this, you need to go sit down and think about your life choices. Normally, when you get a kill, all of your teammates get 30 solar. If you have this upgrade, they get 45 instead. See what that means? It’s an upgrade that helps your teammates get more powerful faster. And if your teammates are more powerful, then you’ve got better backup if the unthinkable happens, and you die, or need to retreat for a bit. In other words, THIS IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR YOU, REGARDLESS OF YOUR BUILD. It’s only drawback is that you’d have to get 6 kills in a match for it to pay for itself. But, if you count the bonus solar given to your teammates, you only need 2 kills. It’s still a very cheap upgrade that can give your team a competitive edge.
-Kraken Statue
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 200 Solar
Increases the stun duration of anchor hook
Stun duration + 0.5 seconds
Note: Although it isn’t mentioned, anchor hook has a small stun period on targets. It’s hard to see without this upgrade, and this upgrade can help you get those few extra hits in before retaliation.
-Ancient Octant
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 240 Solar
Makes anchor hook do damage in an area
Explosion size +3.4
Notes: Adds an AoE effect when your anchor strikes a valid target. Useful for crowd control.
Drop Anchor
Damage – 10
Cooldown – 1 second (see below)
Duration – 4 seconds
Homboldt Health – 30
This ability hurls your anchor yet again, only this time it flies in an arc, not a line, and does things completely different. Rather than tethering you to an enemy Awesomenaut, like your Anchor Shot, this one tethers the Awesomenaut you hit to your anchor, which sits innocently on the ground and keeps your opponent in a restricted range. It also changes your primary attack from Anchor Simg to Ink Shot, forcing you into a ranged attack mode and preventing you from using Anchor Hook. If your anchor, Homboldt, is destroyed, or if the duration ends, the chain goes away, and the enemy is free again.
After the enemy is free, however, you still do not have your anchor back, and are still stuck with a ranged attack and no abilites.. If it has not been destroyed, you can walk over it to pick it up, as long as it isn’t still chained to anything. If it has been destroyed, don’t worry, it will respawn on you in a short while.
The two primary uses of this ability is to either plant an enemy in one spot, so that they must fight you, or cannot escape a turrets range, or to catch fleeing enemies and stop them from getting away. It is also highly effective on any character that uses a melee attack (or a short ranged attack, such as Froggy or Coco), as you can fire at them with your ranged one from just outside of the anchors reach, allowing you to deal damage with no immediate repercussions.
Homboldt, unfortunately, starts with very low health. A dash from Froggy or a bite from Clunk will take it out easily, leaving you near-defensless with an enemy that is no longer pinned. Its health can be upgraded, however, so that it can survive the rough-and-tumble of the battlefield.
Another use for this skill, albeit a risky one, is to throw your anchor at a turret. It cannot damage the turret, however the turret will shoot at it as long as it is closer than you are. Since you then have a ranged attack, you can fire at the turret from behind your anchor for as long as your anchor has health. This strategy quickly falls apart if enemy driods or players show up, but if noone is around, you can push onward yourself.
-Bovinian Skimmed Milk
Amount Purchasable: 1
Price Per Unit: 145 Solar
Increases movement speed when NOT holding Homboldt
Movement +1.2
Notes: Someone chasing you down? Throw an anchor at them! Not only will they be unable to follow you, due to being chained to the ground by an anchor, but, if you have this upgrade, you will move SUPER fast too! Think of the possibilities!
-Palladium Teabag Chain
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 170 Solar
Increases the duration of the chain
Duration: +1 second
Notes: Keep your enemies pinned longer! Does NOT work well with Pneumatic Spoon, but works WONDERS with Magnetic Anchor. It’s all in the build!
-Alien Sweetener
Amount Purchasable: 3
Price Per Unit: 135 Solar
Increases the health of Homboldt
Maximum Health + 20
Notes: Highly useful. More health means it is much harder for enemies to break free of your trap, and it also makes it a better shield vs driods or turrets. Highly reccomended for any buld that uses this ability at all. Which it probably should.
-Pneumatic Spoon
Amount Puchasable: 3
Price Per Unit: 190 Solar
When the chain breaks the caught enemy will recieve additional damage
Damage + 10
Notes: This item adds damage when an enemy breaks free of your anchor, however the damage is ONLY applied if the duration runs out, and it is NOT applied if the enemy destroys Homboldt first. Because of this, Alien Sweetener can help a lot, and Palladium Teabag Chain just gives them longer to bust than anchor. The added burst damage, though, is quite useful for a skill with such low damage.
-Magnetic Anchor
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 170 Solar
Adds a damage over time effect to drop anchor
Damage + 13.3
Notes: While an enemy is chained to your anchor, they take damage, about as rapidly as one does in a damage-dealing timerift. One upgrade is one damage per hit, and two is two damage per hit. Combine it with Palladium Teabag Chain, and the total damage is increase by 50%. Just make sure your anchor doesn;t go kaput during it, though, or the damage stops. Regardless of that, it does do SOME damage, even if Homboldt eventually goes down, unlike the Pneumatic Spoon, which doesn’t deal damage till then end.
-Double Glazed Royal Porcelain
Amount Purchasable: 2
Price Per Unit: 170
Adds a healing effect to picking up Homboldt
Health + 10
Notes: Recovering 20 health when picking up your anchor may not seem like much, but it can be very useful. However, as with most of the rest of these items, this effect will not be available if your anchor is destroyed, so Alien Sweetener becomes very useful once again. Synergizes well with Krill Biscuts, as a portion of the maximum health you regain upon retreiving your anchor is instantly healed.
NOTES
I’m tired, I’ve been working on this for almost 4 hours now, and I wanna go to bed, but I figure I have enough to publish.
Tomorrow evening, I shall finish this up with some overall strategies, build sugestions, and maybe some matchups. I will continue to update this as I develop more strategies and such, and there WILL be images once I get around to it.
Did I miss a detail? Accidentally misstate how something works? Did I make a typo? Please, tell me in the comments and I will fix it ASAP.
Also, if anyone knows the formula to calculate DPS, that’d be great. Get some better numbers in here.
Goodnight All!