The Phalanx is a base defense structure of the United States Army.
Gameplay[]
Phalanx is a specialized structure with a strange but overall excellent niche, with anti-stealth to all, surprisingly high health and a gatling gun for defense.
One of the few US Army units capable of sniping enemy missiles, Phalanx easily becomes a mainstay in the event of a missile attack, sniping many before they get close while taking relatively low to zero damage itself. This in particular can be relevant for any missile, but most specifically applies in the case of AAMs or ATGMs flying within range, reducing vulnerability of friendly units and teaming up with those that intercept missiles themselves to create an impenetrable obstacle that forces the opponent to reconside their strategy. And when it comes to other roles, the Phalanx rivals even the versatile MG Nest. It deletes infantry just as well without being deceived by stealth, and devastates enemy helicopters that come up close, as well as lightly protected ground vehicles. With its higher range and the ability to engage fixed-wind aircraft, several working together can even outmatch the US Army's other missile-firing units, scoring direct hits while being unaffected by flares.
With its extreme speciality, Phalanx has some huge problems as well. The first is its very high aluminum cost and power consumption, both of which can limit its use greatly as the US Army often has better uses of aluminum in other units, while electricity can be a chore to secure in the early game due to the Field Generator's vulnerability and others fighting with it for aluminum. Indeed, multiple Phalanxes can get the problem solved even when stronger vehicles arrive, but more often than not, to delay the enemy it's easier to field MG Nests, which only cost 800 credits and 1000 aluminum to fully arm each. Confined by its low range, it's safe to say even in the cases where it could be useful, placing one could be completely overkill whatever that walks in when a Blazer already gets the job done. In general, Phalanx is of limited use, but as a strong structure, it perhaps is just what's needed to get the job done.
Gallery[]
