3
Jul
2009
Anders, the highs and lows
So, like a good ol’ number of you, I play Proffessor Anders. I might prefer to meet her in a dark alley then Forge, but what’s she like on the battle field?
Let’s have a quick breakdown of her stats. First of all she has reduced upgrade cost on all units. Half-price infact (excluding Hawks). This gives incredible flexability to tactics with the ability to change unit type quickly without having to worry too much about cost, therefore getting maxed out units for countering quicker then others. This benefit has also given the bad reputation of the Gauss spam, or even warthog rush before countering got a grip on it. Also I’m talking pre-patch of the warthog changes to come, reducing efficiency and build-time, thankfully.
Next you have Hawks, super-unit upgrade of the Hornet. Although the price for this was increased a little while ago for balance, they’re still the best unit at her hands, especially with a few spartans riding them. Taking only 2 population per unit, possible max of 20 hawks (25 with a forerunner reinforcement structure) they can do considerable damage to buildings, good against most vehicles and can take down Scarabs without too many losses, none if combined with a well-timed Cyro. However, they can be thwarted good n proper by anti-air; Don’t even think you’ll survive against even 10 dual-launch-upgraded wolverines without support.
Finally, her chilly Leader Power. Cyro Bomb is an area-of-effect ability that freezes all units and buildings under it, stopping them from doing anything for a number of seconds. Against flying units there’s also a chance to freeze their flying abilties making them crash into the ground for instant killing. If put on a base, it stops affected turrets, supply pads and construction as well which can halt their reinforcements. Upgraded, the chance of flying units being intantly killed and freeze duration are increased. I find it more powerful then most people think, it can stop an attaking enemy in its tracks giving you time to support an area or ally, or even a good way to heal/repair in combat.
Being my favorite UNSC Leader, I can’t help being slightly biased. Anders can make any unit and max them out quicker then any other while Hawks can be extremely powerful if caught unaware or unprepared. However, they’re not the strongest unit out there and Cyro Bomb does no damage unless instantly killing air units.
