Devastator

Who is the Devastator?

If the conflict cannot be settled peacefully, it is time to devastate!

The Devastator is a tactical unit suited to positional defense and concentrated fire on priority targets. It forms a durable front line for a ground army.

How do you play the Devastator?

The Devastator is useful as soon as it is produced, but becomes especially strong after earning chevrons. Its priority targets are Lynxes, Tanks, Tanks in N.A.T.A.S.H.A. mode, and Titans, all of which take bonus damage.

The Devastator’s role on the battlefield

Early on, the Devastator primarily defends the base. Good building placement creates narrow passages where it can drive off early Lynxes even without a Gate and keep them from killing Workers.

Below are examples of good and bad layouts:

In the first layout, the Lynx can reach the Workers, but the Devastator drives it off by maneuvering through the passages between buildings.

In the second layout, tightly packed buildings make it harder to reach the Workers, and the Lynx comes under Devastator fire on the way back.

In the third option, the opponent can drive around the Devastator on either side and attack the Workers. Even if the Devastator stands directly on the harvesting line, the enemy can damage Reactors, buildings under construction, and the Workers building them. This slows base development until reinforcements arrive.

The number of Devastators you need depends on scouting and the enemy composition:

• If the opponent adds Lynxes, increase your Devastator count and expand to a second base when possible. Watch for the opponent to begin producing aircraft or Balloons: you will need Hawks, Titans, or Turrets against air and a home garrison against troop landings.
• If the opponent is also producing Devastators, consider attacking with a deployed N.A.T.A.S.H.A. Tank as bait, a Wave, and Peacemaker or Lynx support depending on the enemy composition. This can create a local combat advantage or earn experience for your army.
• If the opponent focuses on Peacemakers or has built several Barracks, slow Devastator production and add the appropriate counter.
• Against several Tanks in N.A.T.A.S.H.A. mode, add two or three Devastators. Your own deployed Tank helps prevent the opponent from forcing an unfavorable fight.
• If the opponent begins producing large numbers of Titans, add a second Barracks and actively produce Devastators and Tanks. Early on, one Devastator will not stop a Titan: they become a reliable counter only in sufficient numbers or with chevrons. After the first engagement, load the surviving Devastators into a Balloon with Healing and add more if Titan production continues.

Besides their main role, Devastators can absorb damage for Peacemakers and keep enemy Lynxes away from them. Peacemakers deal especially high damage per point of energy, so preserve the Devastators protecting them while enemy Lynxes remain.

The Devastator works best in a mixed army with proper target selection. In the right composition, it becomes a durable core for ground forces.

Tips

• If an enemy Tank in N.A.T.A.S.H.A. mode is protected by an army, load two or three Devastators into a Balloon and deploy them on the exposed side. The opponent will have to undeploy the Tank or lose it.
• Against mass Titans, do not send Devastators into battle one at a time. Aim for two Devastators or Tanks per enemy Titan.

Devastator strategies

Devastator + Lynx + Hawk

A classic early-game composition: the first Devastator protects the base from Lynxes, your own Lynx scouts or attacks the economy, and the Hawk provides early defense against Thunders while scouting the enemy base.

There are several ways to reach this composition.

An early version:

Opening order: five Workers → Reactor → Barracks at 12 ore → sixth and seventh Workers → Factory → eighth Worker → second Reactor. Then choose one of the following:

Lynx → Devastator → Heliport → third Reactor → Hawk.

OR

Heliport → Devastator → Lynx → Hawk → third Reactor.

Adjust the order to your goal: an early Lynx adds pressure, a Devastator makes the opening safer, and an early Heliport provides faster scouting and air defense. Another option is:

Five Workers → Reactor → Barracks at 12 ore → sixth and seventh Workers → Factory → eighth Worker, sent immediately to build a Gate → Gate → Heliport → Devastator → second Reactor → Hawk → third Reactor. This option provides fast scouting and air defense but delays the Lynx.

A later version with a stronger economy:

Alternative opening: five Workers → Reactor → Barracks at 14 ore → sixth, seventh, and eighth Workers → Factory. Then:

Peacemaker → second Reactor → Heliport → Devastator → Lynx → Hawk → third Reactor. A safe option against an unexpected early Peacemaker attack.

OR

Send the eighth Worker to build a Gate immediately → second Reactor at 20 ore → Heliport → Lynx → Devastator → Hawk → third Reactor. The Gate protects against an early Peacemaker and Lynx incursions, while the Heliport allows Hawks to be produced soon afterward.

OR

Second Reactor → Heliport → Devastator → Lynx → Hawk → third Reactor. This is the classic option without a Gate, so the Devastator is produced first.

OR

Second Reactor → Devastator → Lynx → Heliport → third Reactor → Hawk. A safer option with two early ground units, but the Heliport must be built later and farther from the main base.

Unit order depends on scouting and your chosen attack timing. Without a Gate, producing the Devastator first is safer. If the passage is already blocked, you can start with a Lynx for scouting.

Tank + Devastator (production buildings near the enemy base)

In this Tank-and-Devastator strategy, an early Barracks and Factory are built near the enemy base, within reach of its harvesting line. The goal is to deny income by firing on Workers with a Devastator and a Tank in N.A.T.A.S.H.A. mode. The terrain can keep the deployed Tank safe and cover the Devastator’s retreat.

Attack once the Tank is ready. Near the position, build a Barracks for a Titan or a Turret for air defense. In the version without a Devastator, produce a Titan immediately and wait for it before beginning the assault.

This strategy is risky: a failed siege can cost you the production buildings, and there is usually not enough time or ore to rebuild them.

Which units pair well with the Devastator?

Devastator chevrons: what they are and how they work

Chevrons are curved stripes shown above the unit. They have three levels:

1. +10% health and damage
2. +20% health and damage
3. +30% health and damage + regeneration

To earn one chevron, the Devastator must deal a certain amount of damage to enemy units.

Upgrades in the Barracks

Each upgrade level adds another 10% of base health or damage to infantry. The cost rises in sequence: 10 → 20 → 30 ore.

Armor IArmor IIArmor III+10%, +20%, +30% to infantry health.

Attack IAttack IIAttack III+10%, +20%, +30% to the base damage of infantry units.