unit-obviate

Obviate is a flying tier-3 combat unit that functions as a durable, high-damage bomber/support flyer in late-game engagements. It trades long-range reach for raw burst and area damage: its primary weapon fires a slow, heavy shot that spawns multiple linked lightning segments, plus a rapid set of short lightning interval bullets. Obviates appear in sector Ravine onward and are commonly encountered as unpredictable attackers that can bypass ground lines and strike production or core-adjacent areas if left unchecked.

The weapon fires at 0.42 shots/sec (about a 2.33 s reload) with an effective lightning reach and a final maximum range extended by the lightning length. The main projectile deals around 56.25 base damage and also generates 8 lightning segments (~17 damage each, shocked) while the interval lightning bullets deal 16 damage each but only 25% of that against buildings (effectively 4). The short lightning segments have limited length (roughly 1.5–4.5 tiles) while the main lightning chain reaches 1–5 tiles; the overall effective range reported is about 22.5 tiles with a theoretical maximum near 27.5 when including the lightning extension. Many of the lightning effects apply the shocked status.

In offensive play, Obviates are essentially heavier, higher-damage versions of Averts; they survive and dish out more punishment, so committing them to direct strikes on walls, lightly defended production buildings, or near the enemy Core is a viable tactic. Because they are the most fragile of the tier-3 flying units and lack the extreme range of some peers, direct frontal assaults into well-defended, turreted areas can be costly. Against ground-targeting turrets and slow-firing single-target guns, Obviates perform well thanks to their extra damage and mobility. For air-defended zones use hit-and-run: open with a large burst, then retreat to allow weapons to cool. Prioritising enemy ammo or severing turret supplies reduces the threat from high-end defensive flyers like Disperse.

On defense, Obviates are effective counters to many late-game ground units. Their lightning helps against clusters and larger targets; they are particularly strong versus Quell, Disrupt, and Collaris because those units do not target air. Conquer-type units, which fire slowly and can only engage one Obviate at a time while circling, are also vulnerable. Stationing Obviates over an area to let them hold fire on approaches often performs better than ordering them to chase fast targets, since their slow firing and rotation can make them ineffective if constantly repositioning.

When facing Obviates, expect sudden, hard-to-predict incursions that can bypass ground layers. Place Disperse turrets and air defenses preemptively in sectors that signal air spawns, and prepare Build Towers to accelerate turret construction when an air wave appears. Fast interceptor units like Avert can circle and harass individual Obviates; paired Clerois can shut down incoming projectiles, and splitting your forces reduces splash vulnerability. In some matchups, unit micro matters: an Elude flown optimally has been reported to beat an Obviate due to the Obviate’s slow rotation, so exploiting rotation and kiting can swing engagements.

• Key stats to remember: slow firing (0.42/sec) but high single-shot damage with chained lightning; interval lightning has reduced building damage and cannot hit air.
• Best targets: walls, unguarded production buildings, cores, and clustered ground units.
• Weaknesses: slow rotation and reload make them vulnerable to kiting and concentrated anti-air; less effective against well-defended, high-range emplacements.