Scion & ISDF Comparison

Well, here are some arguments on both sides of an ISDF vs. Scion battle. Can you tell which one is better? Now that the 1.2 patch is out, I would have to side with the Scions due to, basically, their ability to take the upper hand very quickly in battle. Using rush-tactics, and fast attacks, the Scions can take over with more powerful units of all types. Smart utilization of a Scion Commander can do well against all races... here are some facts comparing the two:

ISDF

Scion

ISDF Scouts are armed with a low-damage Minigun

Scion Scouts are armed with a medium damage Cannon

ISDF has more access to High-yield weapons faster; Chain gun only requires factory. Plasma just needs Armory and Serv Station.

Scion has less access to good weapons until they have their entire tech tree, but the weapons are better, by far. Arc Cannon and Sonic Blast need an Overseer Array to build, and Shields need an Antenna for Deflection, Dower for Stasis, and Stronghold for Absorbtion

Scion Tech tree is costly, and you need it all to make units counterable to the Plasma Tanks: 60 (Kiln) + 60 (Antenna) + 50 (Dower) + 60 (Forge) + 70 (Stronghold) + 80 (Overseer Array) = 380 scrap, and you need it all for Arc or Sonic Warriors/Scouts

ISDF tech tree (to a fully equipped tank) costs only:
55 (Factory) + 50 (Relay Bunker) + 60 (Armory) + 50 (Serv Station) + 80 (Tech Centre) = 295 Scrap for the top of the tree; 215 plus two power plants : 275 Scrap for Plasma Tanks.

Scion Turrets can be rearmed (with a Gauss), and cost 45, but fire slower (if for more damage, but slightly) and miss more often at long range.

ISDF Can rearm their turrets with better guns, the turrets also cost only 40, and they fire faster, miss less than Guardians.

ISDF Have Long range weapons: Plasma 200m, Shadower 200m, Hornet 250m, ER Cannon (150-250m), Mortars (200-300m depending on terrain) and Comet Cruise. Almost any unit is capable of hitting out of a gun tower's range (200m).

Scion's long range weapons are the Howitzer (200-300m mortar), the Acid Cloud & Popper, Stinger, and the WASP. The next highest range is the Arc Cannon at 175m. This leaves only Archers with the capability of hitting gun towers.

ISDF must build their buldings next to another building or Relay Bunker. They ISDF buildings require Power to operate, from power plants.

Scion can make units everywhere without needing a bunker, and their buildings are self-powered, but have each one has a weak point in the geothermal lung.

ISDF Scouts cost more to make than Scion scouts. They also have less attack power (Cost 50 scrap).

Scion scouts cost only 45 to make, and have more attack power, plus the ability to invalidate the ISDF's secondary weapon, the FAF.

ISDF Gun Towers do less damage, cannot fire over their own buildings, and miss their target often, but cost only 50 scrap (need a bunker, too) and all their costs are split in pieces, making it easier to afford them.

Scion Gun Spires cost much more, and need to wait much longer for their gun towers. They have a slightly more powerful damage, though, and can fire over their own structures and terrain enhancements to reach their targets.

ISDF Walkers cost more  (100), but one walker can easily take down two Scion Titans (180) one at a time.

The Scion Mauler (80) can easily take on an ISDF Walker (100) (with Arc Streams) and can also take down any other ISDF treaded or walking vehicles with little effort.

Scion has the ability to jam a small outpost from enemy radar detection with a jammer.

ISDF has the ability to Retrain lost pilots that were sniped, and make bombers to attack undefended targets.

ISDF can use APCs and Bombers to attack from afar and break hardened targets without getting their feet wet.

Scion has one flying unit and no way of reaching en enemy base with a blitz APC or Bomber attack. Scion must use Blink or Archers (not as effective) to counter this.

Scion buildings are much more compact and can fit a large amount of building/defense into a small space.

ISDF buildings require more space than Scion, because there are more tech tree buildings (rather than upgrades) and they must build power plants and Gun Towers everywhere (inside/outside base) to fire on sneaky intruders/blinkers.

Scion units can morph their weapons, allowing up to 6 types of weapons, but leaving one special and one shield hardpoint as well. For this reason, Scion vehicles are superior to ISDF's equal priced ones if the correct shield is used.

ISDF units can hold, at maximum, up to 4 types of weapons, one being a special.

ISDF vs. Scion used to be a good challenge, but now is mostly hands-down victory. The best way to play is uni-racial, but otherwise this recent patch made the Scions TOO strong. The facts are, though, that a good ISDF commander has many units people never use.

If you play ISDF, use many different unit types and focus on gaining land slowly and steadily putting pressure on choking the enemy. If you play Scion, use quick strikes and dont try to hold ground too long. Scions are much better at flash-attacking due to Mauler's speed and Blink.

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