The Balloon is an air transport. It carries ground units, moves slowly, and has high health. It cannot attack. Produced in: Heliport. Requires: Laboratory.
Health
203
Speed
4
Sight range
14
Capacity
6
Who is the Balloon?
The Balloon is a non-combat air transport that carries ground troops over terrain and past defensive lines. It delivers Workers to areas unreachable by land, unloads combat groups behind enemy lines, and helps redirect an attack where the opponent least expects it.
The Balloon carries ground units costing up to 6 energy in total. It is slower than the Hawk but has a view range of 14, one of the highest among units.
The Balloon cannot attack by itself, so its effectiveness depends on the chosen cargo, a safe route, and the timing of the landing.
Healing lets the Balloon restore the health of Workers, Peacemakers, Devastators, and Titans on board.
How to use
There are two ways to load and unload units:
Select the Balloon, press Load, and choose a unit. A flying Balloon will move to the selected target, while a unit will walk to a landed Balloon. The Unload button deploys the squad if there is enough free space on the ground below it.
Select the ground units, press Action, and choose the Balloon to send the squad for loading. To unload, select the Balloon, press Action, and choose a point on the map. Unloading is canceled if the selected location has no free space.
Balloon controls are also covered in the in-game tutorial.
Why use the Balloon?
Use the Balloon to:
Carry a Worker to an area unreachable by land to build a new base.
Deploy a combat squad at the enemy base while bypassing ground defenses.
Troop landing options
Deploy three Tanks to destroy buildings, especially Reactors and Centers. Send them to an enemy base after its main army has moved out.
Transporting two or three Lynxes is a relatively inexpensive way to attack the economy. Workers are the main target.
A Wave and four Peacemakers form an expensive landing force for attacking the economy, Reactors, and arriving reinforcements.
A Titan is a versatile early-game choice for attacking the enemy economy. Healing restores its health on board, while the remaining two capacity points can be used for other units.
Transporting six Peacemakers with Overclock is an expensive way to attack Reactors and the economy. With good control, the squad can handle several Lynxes, but unloading it into a large Lynx force is too risky.
Upgrades in the Heliport
Each armor level adds 10% of the Balloon’s base health. The cost rises in sequence: 10, 20, and 30 ore.
Armor IArmor IIArmor III+10%, +20%, +30% to aircraft health.
Upgrades
Stats
No upgrades
Health: 203
Armor I
Health: 224
Armor II
Health: 244
Armor III
Health: 264
Takeoff and landing
Air units can land and take off again. Landing and takeoff each take 2 seconds. During the transition, the unit cannot move or carry out other commands.
LandingLanding requires a free space on the ground. Once the landing is complete, the air unit becomes a ground unit, cannot move, and has its view range halved. The Thunder and Hawk also stop attacking.
TakeoffAfter takeoff, the unit can move again and regains its full view range. The Thunder and Hawk can attack again. Take off in advance: during the two-second transition, the aircraft cannot defend itself.
Landing lets the unit escape an enemy Hawk: the Hawk attacks only air targets and cannot fire at a landed unit. However, aircraft on the ground become vulnerable to ground forces. In return, a Worker can repair them while they are landed.
Do not leave a Balloon on the ground without a reason: the reduced view range hampers scouting.
A landed Balloon is convenient for loading and unloading troops, but it must take off again before moving them elsewhere.
Balloon view range after landing: 14 → 7.
What does the Balloon say?
I’m in the sky!
Transport present!
Right away!
Lighter than air!
With the wind!
Can’t land here.
Careful!
I believe in you.
We can manage!
Who are we dropping?
All aboard!
Woah!
Who, if not us?
I can do that!
Now that I understand!
Agreed!
Sneaking in now.
Full speed ahead!
Pretending to be a cloud!
Frequently asked questions about the Balloon
Can the Balloon attack?
No. It is a transport unit that carries ground troops and, after Healing is researched, restores the health of Workers and infantry on board.
How many units fit in the Balloon?
Capacity is 6 energy: for example, it can carry three Tanks or six Peacemakers.
Which troops are most commonly transported?
Two or three Lynxes are relatively inexpensive to transport and effective against the enemy’s Workers and economy.
How do I unlock the Balloon?
The Balloon is produced at the Heliport for 12 ore in 20 seconds. A Laboratory is required for production.
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Units / Balloon
12
2
20
Armor II
Armor III
+10%, +20%, +30% to aircraft health.
Landing requires a free space on the ground. Once the landing is complete, the air unit becomes a ground unit, cannot move, and has its view range halved. The Thunder and Hawk also stop attacking.
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