unit-vela

Vela is a flying combat unit that fires a massive continuous laser beam which both damages enemies and repairs allied structures. Introduced in early builds of the game, it occupies a mid-to-high tier role as a mobile wallbreaker and battlefield support: its beam inflicts high sustained damage, applies incendiary effects, and can mend friendly units or blocks using built-in repair-point weapons. It is uniquely capable among ground-capable units of delivering unit-to-unit repair (non-naval), and its design and name reference both the Vela constellation and a candle-like melting laser motif.

The beam weapon is a ContinuousLaserBulletType with a long reach and piercing laser behavior; its firing rate and duration mean it deals very high DPS in a sustained burst (recent data lists 420 DPS from the damaging beam). The beam also inflicts fires on hit and applies a movement slow to the Vela itself while charging or firing. In addition to the offensive beam, Vela carries two dedicated repair-point weapons that each heal at 84 units/s (effectively 2×84/s shown), making it a potent mobile repair platform. Over development builds the unit has received several balancing changes: increases to health (now around 8200 in later builds), armor, speed (about 3.3 tiles/s), build speed (notably a 300% build speed buff added in Build 126), and range adjustments; it also gained command-mode options such as Rebuild and Assist Player and had its command limit removed in later updates.

Tactically, Vela excels at cutting through poorly insulated bases and supporting other aggressive units:

• Use it as a mobile wallbreaker to slice through defenses that lack Plastanium Wall coverage; its piercing laser can devastate contiguous blocks if not interrupted.
• When commanding its movement in attack runs, alternate between two positions to swing the beam and keep pressure on different parts of a base. Boosting while firing helps offset the unit’s self-imposed slow during beam use.
• Its repair points make it an excellent companion for heavy wallbreakers (for example, pairing Velas with Reign-class units). Multiple Velas can outheal certain high-DPS turrets: estimates suggest 3 Velas (504/s heal) can outpace a Foreshadow hitting a single target, while 4 Velas (672/s) can outheal a thorium Spectre on a moderately armored target.
• Velas also work well with static defenses, providing mutual repair and clearing swarms without needing advanced surge alloys; the 300% build speed is useful when rebuilding large blocks quickly.

Defensive counters and cautions:

• Plastanium Walls (and actively extinguishing fires with Waves and constant mending) are recommended to stop the Vela’s beam from shredding your base; place more durable walls in front so the beam clips inner Plastanium coverage instead of tearing inward unopposed.
• High-damage turrets and focused anti-unit fire can destroy Vela quickly; inexpensive options include swarmers or Ripple with blast compound, and Cryofluid Waves can add freezing synergy to reduce its effectiveness.
• Vela is vulnerable to certain enemy status effects and one-on-one encounters with units like Arkyids and Toxopids; although durable, its beam slow and incendiary environment can leave it exposed.
• Be mindful of healing clippage: some rail or piercing projectiles that do not decay can still damage both Vela and its heals if not positioned carefully.

Other notes: Vela is immune to Burning (an attribute shared with a few other units), and since its introduction it has been one of the most frequently adjusted units in terms of stats and capabilities.