unit-collaris

Collaris is a Tier 5 melee-assault unit in Mindustry, designed as a fast, hard-hitting ground mech that specializes in breaching bases by walking into defenses and detonating a powerful main shell that spawns homing frag bullets. It appears as an enemy in campaign maps (notably as the guardian of Karst on wave 9 and as a late-game threat in Origin) and can be player-controlled; when possessed directly its firing behavior can be exploited to extend effective range by detonating shells at points where the fragments travel farther. The name Collaris is shared with some beetle species, reflected in its insectile design.

The Collaris mounts a two-part weapon: a main shell that deals strong point and area damage on impact and then releases many homing frag bullets. Key weapon characteristics (post-update values) include a firing cadence of two shots at about 0.23/sec, 195 main damage with 120 area damage (≈4.5 tiles), and frag salvos of 15 homing bullets that each deal roughly 37 damage with an area hit and limited pierce. Both primary and frag projectiles cannot target air units. Its leg strike also deals area damage (listed around 32 area damage over ≈4 tiles). The Collaris is notable for being the fastest Tier 5 unit across both planets.

In play, the Collaris is a glassy but potent brawler: its AI tends to make it walk straight into defenses rather than snipe from distance, so static defenses with sufficient stopping power will usually dispatch it if projectiles don’t break through. Strong layered walls and boosted Regen Projectors can blunt its advance; Shockwave Towers are specifically effective against incoming shells and larger swarms. Because it cannot hit air, sending flying units (for example Obviates) over the field is an easy way to neutralize it. Area-denial items such as ozone containers can also kill groups quickly if detonated in the blast center.

When used by players or allied forces, the Collaris can be highly effective at taking out bases if handled correctly. Direct possession allows skilled players to place the main shell so the resulting fragments travel farther, giving more reach than its listed range might suggest and enabling safe attacks on many turrets (the Scathe remains a notable exception due to its missile counters). Support with missile-denial units (Obviates, Averts) positioned just ahead of the Collaris plus a Unit Repair Tower can mitigate counter-missiles and keep it alive. Cyanogen-fueled Sublimates and high-damage beam or missile units (Smite, Malign) are recommended answers in base defense or campaign play.

Development history notes: Collaris was added in Build 136. Subsequent balance changes reduced its range and several damage figures around Build 142, and later adjustments (Build 152) altered drown scaling, increased primary area damage while decreasing projectile lifespans and slightly nerfed frag damage. Collaris shares an appearance role with Tecta as guardians on Erekir sectors.