Strike Craft (Vasari specifically) pros/cons

I have seen people in the forums mention to only build Vasari fighters instead of bombers. I checked out a unit sheet in that sticky thread and from the comparisons, the only *disadvantage* between the two is that there are 3 bombers in a squad as opposed to 4 for fighters. All other statistics on that sheet are superior for the bomber. The damage types are the same, so I guess that question is, why fighters over bombers? Is there a stat in that sheet that is not being reported? Any information is appreciated!

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Bombers get shredded by fighters in mere seconds, and can do nothing about it.

Fighters protect themselves from other fighters, and only flak frigates can really stop them. The basic idea is that living strike craft are FAR more useful than dead strikecraft.

Fighters also do more damage against long range frigates, which are easily the most deadly frigate in early stages of the game.

That's 2 pros for fighters, and none for bombers.

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In later games, bombers are good for taking down a starbase without getting into range. Horses for courses. You need fighters and should have them early. Later on, mix in some bombers too

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There is nothing special about the Vasari fighters and bombers, except that they operate in small squads and are individually strong. This means that they can shrug off a flak burst or telekinetic push, but will be horribly owned by Magnitize. For the Advent the opposite holds, for their fighters will get instagibbed by flak burst lvl. 3, but they don't mind Magnetize very much.

As for fighters vs. bombers: like has been said, fighters are more valuable early game because they shred LRF and siege frigates and of course bombers. Bombers are mainly useful vs Capital ships, structures and Heavy Cruisers. Those aren't the biggest threat early game, so you shouldn't get bombers early.

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A huge pro for strikecraft with vasari is the fact that both of them use phase missiles and thus get a huge boost from the main weapon upgrade for vasari. As for bombers: the trick is to keep them docked until either your flak or your own fighters reduced the enemy fighters sufficiently to protect your bomber squadrons. As always mixed fleets surpass fighter/bomber only fleets. Neither is there a perfect balance ratio of fighters/bombers, it all depends how and if your enemy counters them (cap ship ability, flak or fighters).

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OK, well from all these posts it seems clear that there are undocumented stats about these units. Thanks for the comments guys, this makes sense to me.

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It's not that they are undocumented as much as they are not made obvious in flashing lights.... I have seen ships, esp advent ones with shield restore going off die with shields still up to SC due to the phase missile upgrades - so nice to see the advent go boom...

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