The escorts of the Imperial Navy represent the smallest armed combat ships of the fleet. Of the five ships, three are essentially different flavors of torpedo-carrying escorts, with the remaining two being a choice between macros + lance or just macro guns. Unable to launch any boarding actions and with small troop counts, they are susceptible to assaults and concentrated fire when standing still, but their small profiles and fast speeds allow them to effectively dodge and harass if kept maneuvering.
All Imperial Navy escorts come with a sensor sweep ability unique to their ship size, that allows you to ping nearby enemies and keep them identified and targetable for 30 seconds, even if they would normally enter stealth. This and their ability to quickly run ahead and act as scouts or point cappers, makes these ships fill a very valuable role despite their small size and weak hulls and armaments.
Patch Status: Updated for Patch 7 (v.11218) – 7/05/2020
Imperial Navy Guide Navigation
- Escorts – [You Are Here]
- Light Cruisers
- Cruiser
- Battle Cruiser
- Grand Cruiser
- Battleship
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Shared Attributes
All of the Imperial Navy Frigates and Destroyers share the same attributes, with the exception of the Cobra Widowmaker which has the Sensors attribute (see ship details).
- Plasma Reactor: Gives access to Imperial maneuvers.
- Dedicated: The ship isn’t submitted to any basic bravery bonus or penalty.
- Escort: This ship does not have access to assault skills.
Cobra
Cobra: Stats
| Point Cost: 34 | Raw DPM: 70 | Raw CPM: 0.175 |
|---|
| – HIT POINTS – | – SYSTEMS – | – CREW – |
|---|---|---|
| Shield: 200 | ID Range: 9,000 | Defense Turrets: 3 |
| Armor (All Sides): 50 | Speed: 240 | Bravery: 0 |
| Hull: 200 | Rotation: 20 | Troops: 4 |
Cobra: Weapons
- [2] Torpedo Launcher *Special Weapon
Basic (2 Uses) | Melta (2 Uses) - [1] Light Macro Turret
Efficient Accuracy – 270° Front – Range: 9k
Shots: 1 | Damage: 7 | Reload: 6s | Crit: 1.75%
Cobra: Weapons
- [2] Torpedo Launcher *Special Weapon
Basic (2 Uses) | Melta (2 Uses) - [1] Light Macro Turret
Efficient Accuracy – 270° Front – Range: 9k
Shots: 1 | Damage: 7 | Reload: 6s | Crit: 1.75%
The Cobra Destroyer ship of the Imperial Navy is their light and fast torpedo-carrying ship. Armed with a single macro gun and two torpedo tubes, a single Cobra is pretty vulnerable in a fight on its own, and it’s pair of torpedoes aren’t enough on their own to make it past enemy turret defenses.
A wing of three or more, however, can launch their torpedo’s in unison to be effective against larger ships. Since they can be launched from different points, this means that it’s comparable to a full spread of Cruiser torpedoes with multiple possible angles of attack, allowing you to better box in the target with incoming torpedoes and avoid a dodge. Keep in mind that this will come at the cost of a heavier demand for proper micromanagement on your part to coordinate several ships versus a single Cruiser with six tubes.
If supported by interceptor wings that are keeping enemy line ship’s turrets busy, and not shooting down your torpedoes, they become even more deadly.
Their second main benefit is that with their quick speeds, Cobra’s are effective point capers. Being able to rush ahead of the main group to fast cap, or slink around enemy battlegroups to capture points behind them.
Cobras will generally be more effective against larger slower ships that are easier to nail with torpedoes, but will still need either wing-mates or fighter support to avoid turrets shooting down their torpedoes. While they can fend off a single small craft as a group with their light macro guns, a stranded Cobra, or wing of Cobras versus a wing of enemy destroyers and frigates spells bad news with their weak armor and minimal hull points.
See Also: Mechanicus Cobra
Cobra Widowmaker
Cobra Widowmaker: Stats
| Point Cost: 37 | Raw DPM: — | Raw CPM: — |
|---|
| – HIT POINTS – | – SYSTEMS – | – CREW – |
|---|---|---|
| Shield: 200 | ID Range: 13,500 | Defense Turrets: 3 |
| Armor (All Sides): 50 | Speed: 240 | Bravery: 0 |
| Hull: 200 | Rotation: 20 | Troops: 4 |
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Cobra Widowmaker: Weapons
- [2] Torpedo Launcher *Special Weapon
Basic (2 Uses) | Melta (2 Uses) - Enhanced Sensor Range
The Cobra Widowmaker is a special variant of the torpedo destroyer that drops the one macro gun for an enhanced sensor citadel (check out the gnarly spire at the front of the ship, in the pictures) leaving the vessel with only its limited charge, dual tube torpedo launcher for actual damage dealing. While this seems like a pretty big drawback for a ship that costs more than it’s original, the increased sensor range is incredibly valuable, especially when combined with augur range fleet upgrades that stack another bonus on top of the 13,500 base range of the Widowmaker.
Remember that identification means visual acquisition and the ability to actually fire on a target, so a Cobra Widowmaker set on stealth orders, can zip about the map spotting at long range for other ships of yours with long-range weaponry, all while never being noticed. If something does detect the Widowmaker, while vulnerable in a fight, the quick speed combined with an All Ahead Full! can get you out of harms way quick, with stealth orders cloaking your ship once again after the burn is over.
For such a cheap price, the Widowmaker can cause such glorious amount of headache for your enemy when used properly both as spotting as mentioned above, and as a fast-flying point caper that can see enemies that might be coming to intercept them way before they can see it, opening up some fun possibilities for taunting your opponents.
You honestly will most likely never use the torpedoes on the Widowmaker in typical circumstances since there is little reason to fly them as a wing and you typically want to keep them much further away from enemies than you’d want to be at to launch torpedoes effectively. Remember, the Torpedoes themselves will be visible even if your Widowmaker is not, so beware giving away its position, though you could use this as a means for distracting or confusing a human player.
Do you use Enhanced Sensor vessels in your Imperial Fleets? (Poll Results)
- 18% Yes, but I only use the Battleship’s (Oberon/Emperor).
- 32% Yes, but I only use the Widowmaker, and only one of them.
- 12% Yes, but I only use the Widowmaker, but I use two or more.
- 14% I use both the Battleship’s (Oberon/Emperor) and Widowmaker.
- 24% I do not use Enhanced Sensor vessels in my fleets.
554 people have voted in this poll.
Firestorm
Firestorm: Stats
| Point Cost: 41 | Raw DPM: 290 | Raw CPM: 1.10 |
|---|
| - HIT POINTS – | – SYSTEMS – | – CREW – |
|---|---|---|
| Shield: 200 | ID Range: 9,000 | Defense Turrets: 6 |
| Armor (All Sides): 67 | Speed: 200 | Bravery: 0 |
| Hull: 400 | Rotation: 16 | Troops: 4 |
Firestorm: Weapons
- [1] Light Lance Artillery
Perfect Accuracy – 90° Front – Range: 9,000
Shots: 1 | Damage: 15 | Reload: 6s | Crit: 7.5%Armor Piercing (-25%) - [1] Double-Barrel Light Macro Turret
Efficient Accuracy – 270° Front – Range: 9,000
Shots: 2 | Damage: 7 | Reload: 6s | Crit: 1.75%
Sword
Sword: Stats
| Point Cost: 41 | Raw DPM: 280 | Raw CPM: 0.7 |
|---|
| - HIT POINTS – | – SYSTEMS – | – CREW – |
|---|---|---|
| Shield: 200 | ID Range: 9,000 | Defense Turrets: 6 |
| Armor (All Sides): 67 | Speed: 200 | Bravery: 0 |
| Hull: 400 | Rotation: 16 | Troops: 4 |
Sword: Weapons
- [2] Double-Barrel Light Macro Turret
Efficient Accuracy – 270° Front – Range: 9,000
Shots: 2 | Damage: 7 | Reload: 6s | Crit: 1.75%
The Sword class frigate vessel is now the second in terms of overall DPS, and has lost out to the Firestorm’s boost to critical hit chance, while previously it held the top spot for both. This is fair considering the benefit the Sword holds in terms of firing arcs, which means it gets to fire its full armament more consistently while on the move, keeping it safer.
The significant advantage of the Sword is that all of its DPS is in the 270-degree arc, where the Firestorm has its lance tied to a frontal 90-degree cone. This means that the Sword has the best ability to maintain it’s DPS output of all the escorts while moving, considering the Falchion and two destroyers require use of their torpedoes and the proper timing, attention and maneuvering that requires, for their full potential to be realized.
Armor Piercing Ammunition, as an upgrade unlocked in the campaign or one of the 2 selected as a Multiplayer fleet bonus, can give a boost to the effective DPS of the Sword if you plan on using them within the 4,500-meter range of the buff.
Setting Lock On orders and switching the Sword to attack in a broadside manner versus a frontal chasing method is highly recommended, since front-facing will keep the escort standing still while in range, which it doesn’t need to do as mentioned. Letting them circle their targets at long ranges with their fast speed makes the Sword escort undoubtedly the best “set and forget” ship and harasser of its class. Alternatively Stealth orders at max weapon range with a circling attack profile can be just as obnoxious.
Falchion
Falchion: Stats
| Point Cost: 41 | Raw DPM: 210 | Raw CPM: 0.525 |
|---|
| - HIT POINTS – | – SYSTEMS – | – CREW – |
|---|---|---|
| Shield: 200 | ID Range: 9,000 | Defense Turrets: 6 |
| Armor (All Sides): 67 | Speed: 200 | Bravery: 0 |
| Hull: 400 | Rotation: 16 | Troops: 4 |
Falchion: Weapons
- [2] Torpedo Launcher *Special Weapon
Basic (2 Uses) | Melta (2 Uses) - [3] Light Macro Turret
Efficient Accuracy – 270° Front – Range: 9k
Shots: 1 | Damage: 7 | Reload: 6s | Crit: 1.75%
The Falchion is essentially the heavy Cobra/Torpedo Frigate, still only carrying two tubes, but dropping some speed to match the other Frigates and adding an additional two macro turrets and doubling the hull points. Of the frigates the Falchion is the widest target, making it easier to hit than the others, but not so much so as to negate its usefulness.
A benefit of the Falchion over the Cobra when taken as wings to supplement each other’s torpedo salvos, is that when unable to fire their torpedoes or once they run out, they are still quite capable of contributing to the fight, with their three macro guns coming up a bit comparable to the Sword and Firestorm in terms of dps output and crits caused per minute.
The 270 degree firing arc of the 3 turrets, means the Falchion, like the Sword, can benefit from a ranged broadside stance that keeps it maneuvering and circling it’s enemies, however you will still need to bring the Falchions closer in for a head on run to launch their torpedoes.
Do you prefer to use the Falchion Frigate or the Cobra Destroyer for a torpedoes? (Poll Results)
- 35% I prefer to use the Falchion Frigate for it’s torpedoes.
- 12% I prefer to use the Cobra Destroyer for it’s torpedoes.
- 8% I will use both the Cobra and Falchion.
- 36% I do not use either ship, I use larger vessels for torpedoes.
- 8% I do not use either ship, and I do not use torpedoes in my fleet.
579 people have voted in this poll.
Changelog
- 7/18/2020 – Weapon Tables 2.0
- 7/16/2020 – Removed terms and added link to the new guide section for them.
- 7/5/2020 – Updated stats and descriptions for patch 11218
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