Actually I have found that turning the AI up to suicidal really helps against the dreadlords, since then your allies are getting obessen advantages.

I think the reason you lose your tech from level to level is that if you didn't you could just spend alot of time on the first level. Make sure the Drengi don't die and have insane tech for all other levels

Who Hates Crazy Dread lord ships of Mass Destruction? *Raises hand* Luckily I came up with odd "lame" tactics to thwart their insane ships of "gib me crooked-ness".

I took advantage of attack first bonus and later fleet bonus. I spamed Cargo Ships loaded with engines and the best and most weapons I Could throw on them. Had a base that could bump them one out every turn which helped... Basically I fought an insane war of attrition. The Dread Lord Ships with kill any ship you make so might as well send in a ship that can possibly damage it... and eventually destroy it. Logistics helps here too, fleets will get more shots in (fleet of 3 cargo ships take out the "small" escort ships with no losses, the battle ship was a bit more tricky but he died too).

Also sometimes the dread lords will fail to attack you or "target" certain ships... Yes they love eating your troop transports... (Luckily I had one of their battle ships chase the little transport and I used other ships to "wall it off" from chasing them all.) It reminds me a lot of Star Wars Hoth... except while they pound you your head in and your transports are "escaping" their really headed to invade The Inner rim T_T.

Anyhow spam super attack drones. I used small ships with a lazer to take out their troop transports but they obviously became fodder too. Just need to spam as many damage dealing ships and get the "attack first" bonus if non-fleeted. (nice thing is they only have so many of their super ships... even if they do respawn... )

Anyhow sorry for the ramble, hope this mess gave you an "idea" of what gambit to try doing. Also try "surrounding" their offensive ships with your mass spamed ships... when I finally got my troop transports moving I "surrounded" his last death beam ship (the escort respawned with more shields then my 3 cargo ship fleet had in firepower T_T), the ship never made a move out (of course it could destroy all the ships escape and start picking off the transports... but somehow That dread lord captain must of come down with a severe case of... whatever =P)

Anyhow good luck, on "apocalypse" myself =P. It suggests you "rush" them, which may work in Achilles’ Heel as well *shrugs* Good Luck =P.

It takes the dread lords a long time to build new ships and imrpovments, that's your advantage, and they don't use defenses so they really go down just like any other enemy.

Dread lords use defences now (in 1.2? I dunno, I bought it after 1.2 came out).

Its luck of the draw though. They usually specialize in one defence, but it goes up really fast. If you're unlucky and they pick your weapon type, you're screwed. I usually have to restart the scenario because by then they start spamming carriers.

It takes the dread lords a long time to build new ships and imrpovments, that's your advantage, and they don't use defenses so they really go down just like any other enemy.

Wrong, they use defences if u let them live too long. like 16 armour....which was annoying when I had an all-mass-driver fleet....