Cobalt Frigates with Akkan Cruiser

Do it all the time.

Try a couple Akkans, the targeting/range ability stacks as near as I can tell. A few Kols for center punch really add to this too.

Cool, I wanted to be different and just make sure I wasnt doing a NOOB move.

Add in some flaks for anti-LRM and I think you've got something pretty solid there. Keep the fleet in tight formation so all your ships can benefit from Akkan's targeting uplink.

I think the Akkan is bugged and doesn't increase DPS atm. Even if it did, wouldn't it be better to buff LRMs than cobalts?

My fleet of choice ! One Akkan to three Kols, with tons of frigates ( or Kodiaks ). Six Kols with two Akkans usually blows out the first enemy capital fast, or totally depletes the shield restore capability.

No, Im sure the Akkan works. I know because when i begin a game and clear planets, once i get the targetting ability the Cobalts own the miltias ALOT faster.

That's VERY scientific...not...

The akkan doesnt increase dps. The %hit increase is mainly useful for fighters, bombers, and flak. It also gives you a range increase that basically just helps you get the first shot in and again increases the affectiveness of fighters, bombers, and flak. Pairing an Akkan with a fleet of mainly light frigates will give you no real advantage. LRM spam will murder you.

Agreed. An LRM spam will not only be able to take out your Akkan, but will destroy the cobalts as well. Especially if the LRMs have an Akkan of their own, giving them that much more range on you.

HOWEVER

The Akkan/cobalt combo for clearing militia is generally effective, as your fighters can kill the LRMs, while your cobalts take out their flak, and your akkan handles everything else.

If your map has a lot of asteroids the targeting system can give some advantage... if you can persuade a unwary opponent to engage you there. Most people don't really pay attention to terrain much though I suspect that will change over time. Not a huge advantage but it can make a difference.

The problem with this theory is most people make a large group of long range frigates for their first fleet. That leaves cobalts for cannon fodder and the akkan to be chewed apart. If people did a mix of strategies in the beginning I'd be inclined to agree, but everyone's order is:

1. Initial Expansion - 4-5 basic frigates with either a colony capital or capital and colony ship

2. LRM mini-spam to first tier and at least partway through the second tier

3. Whatever their next expansion on the fleet is. Should be attempting to scout to get a read.

Everyone will have a counter to the cobalt fleet early, and a good opponent will move on you pretty damn quick.

I like out of the box thinking, I really do, but the problem is the first 15-25 minutes of the game are pretty one dimensional now.

Yeah thanks for the input...just sick of the normal "TECH TO LRM ASAP" game beginning.

I try to grab an akkan and then 2 kols and a sova, along with cobalts as my frigate meat wall, the sova will act as an anti-LRM/bomber base, so i don't have to waste a research early on to get the flak, so i can grab the repair cruiser instead. I find that works as well as the flak frigates, but it doesn't cost me as much in research time and allows me to power up weapons or other abilities to get an edge tech wise.

just my 2 cents

I couldn't agree more, but the fact is the long range frigate is the best early choice in general. Early in the game it gives the best damage payoff.

There are a couple options though to go outside the mainstream, but the one I like and use is going straight to heavies. Teching straight to heavy cruisers often throws people so much because they often have the LRF and immediately run at the sight of HC's.

TEC does this the best IMO. You can get to Kodiaks pretty quick, and once your opponent switches to fighters, you can start building flaks. What's especially convenient is upgrading Kodiaks also ups flaks too. The only problem is this takes slightly longer than making LRM's, and in that time the rush could have landed, but that's only on maps where the opponent is 2 - 3 jumps away to begin with.

The problem is this requires a bit more time, proper implementation, and a fair amount of resources, kodiaks aint cheap, but if you can get that 4th planet with just a cap and a couple ships, this strategy can work for early surprise.

Play Advent and spam aerias. Your objective should be to get as much crystal early game as possible. I had 22 when someone had 31 LRMs, and I owned, even with his 10 dinky flaks, which were completely overwhelmed by my 198 fighters.

Then, after you killed a lot of his lrms, switch to bombers like a feind in anticipation of the flak revenge. Also start building some LRM prey, illuminators or diciples. Once you start tearing into his flaks and they retreat (i find they are impossible to truly kill. it just takes too long), tech up to crusaders as soon as possible.

If you like Aerias, what I do is build some disciples and a lot of defense vessels for a meat shield (and the disciples also attack flaks). Get some Guardians with repel to keep the enemy at arms length. Then build a mongol horde of drone hosts, loaded 1/3 fighters and 2/3 bombers.

It's amazing what 40 bomber squadrons can do to a capital ship.

lol what?..

Is this a joke?


Targetting uplink increase chance to hit, not damage.