Scarabs

[rdwarren13]

Seems that the scarabs should cost more to generate. Players who don't build a harvester at the beginning of the match can just load up the missile pads with scarabs and because they are so cheap to build a player can keep them reloading. Makes for a not fun match.

[punishertrd]

happens all the time now days

[rdwarren13]

I was beat by a guy who only built scarabs and no other units. They need to be more expensive

[JadeXyan]

Honestly, scarabs need a redesign, they're a skill dependent unit, at high levels they are utterly unplayable, where lower down they can often feel oppressive and dominate games. Sure you could increase their cost or remove their ability to hit air or ensure they only get one shot, but at best you make them less playable at low levels and we continue to not run them at high levels.

How should they be redesigned? No idea, but they just aren't working as they are now and I don't think they can be properly balanced.

[crispy626]

100% agree, it way too cheap and has way too much dps for an early game unit. Especially that there is no other unit to counter it. The only way to counter i believe is to move the attacked unit of the tile before the scarab launches the attack.

But since scarabs are so cheap cheap they can simply flood the battle field.

It is a completely unbalanced unit it needs to have several nerfs such as.

1)Needs to become a mid-late game unit by increasing the cost and making it built from the war factory

2)reduced dps so it cannot 1 shot nearly every unit in the game, especially harvesters.

3)have it only target ground units and have effectiveness only against infantry or vehicles not both. Its the only infantry unit that has that combo wich makes it nearly impossibly to counter with any other ground units. And most air units are squishy so they're not much of a counter anyway

Hopefully the devs do something about them soon

[BattaIia]

Scarabs are one of the worst units in the game hands down. Not because they are too powerful, no they are utter garbage. But because people have a hard time understand it's MANY flaws. Wanna roll scarab players? Let's get started:

You start a game with a harvester and you are opening yourself up to a rush. Sure, some rushes are easier to fend off than others. But scarabs are a pain to shift once they have dug in. Start the game with riflemen, war dogs, drones, militants or any other future 10 tib unit. That is what they were designed for. Begin scouting with these units and identify your opponents units If there is no sign of a rush, great, build your harvester. Sure, you start the game at a slight economic advantage, but this isn't chess, it's war. And to win wars, you need counters. So if they open up with anything else, now you know what you are up against and you can build accordingly. Now let's say they have scarabs! Oh no! Don't panic, and remain calm. You got this.

1) Don't build a harvester! He hasn't, and you shouldn't.

2) Scarab spam is a game of attrition. The easiest way to beat it is to control the map. Get your 10 tib unit of choice as deep as you can. If the scarab stops, make sure you are 1 tile away. If it is moving, go for the kill. Wiith good timing, you will kill both scarabs. With poor timing you will get 1 and lose your unit. DON'T DESPAIR! If you lose your 10 tib unit, that is fine, get more out there to hold the line. Each scarab you kill sets him back 30 tib and you 10. So you are out ahead. Now let's say either through bad luck or poor micro (or perhaps you got greedy again and started with a harvester first) that a scarab is set up on both pads. Time to dig them out.

How to kill scarabs effectively.

The BEST unit to kill scarabs currently is 2 range units. Snipers, disruptors, artillary, MLRS, giga cannons, and sometimes even inferno's and titans can clear out scarabs at 2 range with their attacks. Safe and powerful scarab cleaning. Failing that, next best is drones as they are unaffected by fire. Next is war dogs as they are fire resistant. Next is militants/riflemen. But don't be discouraged, each of them are more than enough to beat a scarab. Bonus points if you have an anti-infantry vehicle or air unit like a rhino/buggy or drone/talon/venom/shockwave/flamers.

Build 1 of your 1 tib unit (or 2 drones will work fine) and 1 of your other unit. Move both units in, but move your 10 tib unit in first. The scarab will take out the 10 tib unit and your other unit will kill the other scarab and secure the area. If you can move forward, do so. If not, that is fine. All you need is to control 2 points to start charging the nuke. Rinse and repeat as required.

Okay, so all you have is riflemen/militants. Slap yourself for not having a better anti-infantry counter in your deck, let's make this work anyways.

IF YOU HAVE A LEVEL ADVANTAGE OVER SCARABS: Repeat the same steps as above. 2 units attacking the scarabs at the same time, the 2nd unit will beat the scarab.

If you do NOT have a level advantage over the scarabs with your rifles/militants then you will need 3 of them. If you can, circle around the scarab to behind it, then move in and let it blow up. This puts the fire on their side of the map and not yours. Do this twice, and then move your rifle/militants up to where they were. Ground taken.

If you can't get around them, then send 1 unit to it's death, wait for the fire to subside, then move 2 units it. You will lose 1 of them, but the other will live and take the ground.

Special cases:

1) He has TWO scarabs side by side!

This is actually in your favour. Send a 10 tib unit in where BOTH scarabs will target it. They will both blow up and you will clear 2 scarabs with one 10 tib unit. Winning! Do this twice and take the area with a 3rd unit.

2) My unit is fighting his unit and he is walking a scarab in beside it!

Always target the scarab if you are an anti-infantry unit. If not, move away, unless you are okay with losing it to a scarab.

3) I have a unit fighting his and it is about to die, but there is a scarab near by...

Disengage and send them to die by scarab hugs. Losing an almost dead unit to a scarab is always a great method to clear out scarabs.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll help you realize how scarabs are probably the worst units in the game. 

[Aussiet00]

Excellent advise has helped a lot. No longer fearing them.... Cheers from the Land Down Under

[evildude13]

I agree with Battalia, they are easy to counter. Riflemen are all you need. Like Battalia stated make sure they are 1 tile away if the Scarabs are set, and then just sit back. Scarabs are a huge, huge risk because of how cheap they are to counter, so it's not a wise gameplan. 

[WADofFORCE]

Riflemen, shock troopers, buggies and my favorite snipers