Armada Late Game Scaling Strategy

Scaling for Victory

In the late game, Armada's balanced capabilities allow you to transition into powerful higher-tier units and structures, supporting your team in securing victory. As a frontline or support player, your role evolves from early defense to maintaining map control and countering enemy advances with advanced technology. This play-by-play guide focuses on scaling your economy and military presence during the mid to late game phases, ensuring Armada's strengths contribute to your team's overall strategy.

Late Game Scaling Steps (Minutes 10:00 - 30:00+)

1. Mid-Game Transition (Minute 10:00 - 12:00): After establishing your frontline defense as outlined in the Frontline Defense strategy, assess your resource income. Ensure you have at least 5-6 Metal Extractors operational, upgrading them to Advanced Metal Extractors (Amaxes) if possible for increased output (2.4 to 9.5 metal per second). Use a Construction Bot or request a T2 Constructor from an ally to perform these upgrades. Maintain energy production with additional Wind Turbines or Solar Collectors to support upcoming high-cost builds.
2. Energy Scaling (Minute 12:00 - 15:00): Begin constructing 3-4 Fusion Reactors (4300 metal for 1000 energy each) to significantly boost your energy income. Avoid building an Aphis (9700 metal) at this stage as it diverts too much build power and metal from unit production. Queue these with Construction Bots near Construction Turrets for speed, and space them out using Z or X to prevent chain explosions (check radius with Space + X). Reclaim older T1 structures like basic Solar Collectors for full metal return to fund these builds.
3. Unit Progression (Minute 15:00 - 18:00): Transition from early Pawns to mid-tier units. Queue Thugs (stronger infantry for pushing, though with less range than Roccos) from your Bot Lab to reinforce your defensive line. If resources allow, build a Vehicle Lab and produce T1.5 Stouts for mobility against fast enemy units like Hounds, and Light Artillery to outrange most T1 static defenses (except The Gauntlet). Use Ctrl+Click for formation movement to maintain a cohesive frontline.
4. Static Defense Layers (Minute 18:00 - 22:00): Enhance your defensive line with higher-tier static defenses. Build Wardens (T1.5, counters Thugs) and Pit Bulls (strong range for covering passes) at key chokepoints. If metal income supports it, add Rattlesnakes (T2 cloakable plasma artillery with long range) for significant defensive power. Position these behind your initial Light Laser Turrets (LLTs), using Construction Bots or Butlers (if available) for faster construction.
5. Anti-Air Precautions (Minute 22:00 - 25:00): Protect against enemy air threats by placing Obelisks along map edges or near critical structures like Fusion Reactors. These anti-air defenses are crucial against Bombers or Valiants that can target your backline. Queue these with a Construction Bot and ensure they cover key economic assets, checking coverage with their range indicators.
6. Tier 2 and Beyond (Minute 25:00 - 30:00): Request or build T2 Bots like Gunslingers from an ally's T2 Bot Lab or your own if metal income is high (avoid early T2 before ~10-15 minutes due to 2900 metal cost). Focus on maintaining Hounds for mobility to intercept enemy breakthroughs. If scaling to T3, aim for units like Thor (with EMP capabilities) or Battle Mech, supported by multiple Butlers for rapid build support. Use EMP Missile Launchers to disable enemy clusters for counterattacks.
7. Economy Optimization (Minute 30:00+): Once 3-4 Fusion Reactors are operational, consider building an Aphis for advanced energy production if build power and metal allow. Continue upgrading all Metal Extractors to Amaxes to maximize income. Reclaim obsolete structures or wrecks with Lazarus units for additional metal, ensuring your economy supports continuous unit production and defensive reinforcements.

Economic Scaling

• Prioritize 3-4 Fusion Reactors before an Aphis to maintain unit production; the high cost of Aphis (9700 metal) delays military scaling.
• Reclaim T1 structures like Solar Collectors for full metal return to fund late-game builds; use Lazarus for battlefield wrecks.
• Upgrade to Advanced Metal Extractors (Amaxes) for significant income boosts, ensuring resources for T2 and T3 units.

Military and Defensive Scaling

• Transition to Thugs and Stouts for mid-game strength; use Light Artillery to counter early static defenses.
• Layer defenses with Wardens, Pit Bulls, and Rattlesnakes to counter evolving enemy threats; protect against air with Obelisks.
• Scale to T3 units like Thor with EMP for late-game impact, supported by Butlers for rapid deployment.