Nova

The Nova is a flying support combat unit that fires dual laser bolts which both damage enemies and repair allied structures. It occupies a hybrid role between light combat and field support: cheaper and faster to produce than heavier repair-capable units but slower to construct than most pure combat units. The Nova requires titanium for manufacture and appears where titanium is obtainable; it is unavailable in sectors that lack titanium resources. The unit retains flight mobility and a boosting mechanic that allows it to disengage or kite when pressured.

The Nova fires two simultaneous LaserBoltBulletType shots at a combined firing rhythm of 2 × 1.25/sec (a combined reload of 0.8 seconds / 48 ticks). Each bolt deals 13 damage and heals 5% of a block’s health on hit. The weapon’s effective range is 19.5 tiles, with a projectile speed of 39 tiles/sec and a lifespan of 0.5 seconds (30 ticks). Movement speed was standardized in a later build to 4.12 tiles/sec. The Nova’s build speed is 30%, the slowest build speed among build-capable units, and it can use the command-mode options assist player and rebuild to support construction tasks.

Praxis for use and counters:

• The Nova functions best as a defensive support unit or as a hit-and-run harasser rather than a primary frontline blender. Its combination of moderate range, moderate damage, and on-hit repair makes it effective at prolonging the life of static defenses and kiting lone high-tier units (Spiroct, Fortress, Quasar).
• In AI-driven PvE, the Nova’s movement and aggression patterns often resemble the simpler Dagger, limiting its theoretical advantage from mobility and causing it to underperform against organized concentrated fire. Their group healing is not sufficient to outpace sustained turret or splash damage.
• Effective anti-Nova defenses include splash and high-damage turrets such as Arc and Lancer. The Lancer’s high single-shot damage can one-shot a Nova, making it a reliable hard counter. Scatter units and cheap, agile ground units (Flares) also intercept and overwhelm Novae in PvP by forcing them into unfavorable engagements.
• Command-group strategies: historically the Nova could outrange Lancers and was used offensively with command multipliers (e.g., Micro Processor) to win early raids; range nerfs in later updates removed that edge and shifted the unit’s primary role toward defense.
• Manufacture and logistics: Novae are inexpensive repair-capable flyers compared to the Poly line, but require titanium and suffer from the slowest build speed of build-capable units, so using them as mobile builders requires accounting for long build times.

Development notes and history:

• The Nova was added in Version 6.0. Subsequent updates reduced its range and damage (range reductions through several builds and a damage change to 13), standardized its speed to tiles/sec units, removed an 8-unit command limit, and added the assist player and rebuild command options. Its description was refined to clarify that its bolts target enemy targets and repair allied structures.
• The Nova is mechanically derived from the earlier Tau Mech concept (a healing-equipped ship from Version 4.0). The unit line draws its name from astronomical terminology; Novae are luminous stellar events, distinct from supernovae.
• The Nova shares its firing sound with the Mega and retains a notably slow build speed at 30%.