Unit: Rapier

Stats:
Metal - 300
HP - 1100
Speed - 4.0
Build Time (Unassisted) - 30.9
--- Light Homing Missiles
Damage - 200
Reloadtime - 4.0
DPS - 38
Range - 340

Some might ask why I would do a write-up on such a universally unpopular and uninteresting unit. I simply feel that it doesn't get the respect it deserves; I am saddened every time I see a newbie gunship player mass these up in a wall formation and throw them at the enemy en masse, expecting that to win the game for them. That isn't how you use Rapiers. They are a SUPPORT gunship, NOT a mainline combat gunship. If you want a gunship that will rip apart ground targets in detail, go with Brawlers; Rapiers are in a far different league than the heavy gunships, and yet people always seem to use them wrong. This ends now.

Lets take a look at their stats; somewhat unimpressive, hmm? 1100 health is decent for a 300 metal unit, but its a bit slow for an air unit and its weapon is weak -- wait, hold on. Take another look at that weapon; Light Homing Missiles? yup. Rapiers are equipped with guided projectiles that, despite their low damage, are ideal for taking on fast-moving targets. The only problem is their low speed makes it somewhat hard to chase down such units, meaning they would have to come to them... you see what I'm getting at? Most if not all other gunships are geared towards fighting GROUND targets, which places the Rapier in a very clear role -- anti-Fighter screens for your other gunships.

A Rapier will single-handedly take down an Avenger in two shots, and has enough HP to survive most light fighter attacks and come out healthy -- and it is cheap enough to make cost to boot. They have an advantage over most Fighters due to the fact that their projectiles are guided, meaning they can continuously fire at their targets without needing to make passes like Vamps do. Rapiers remain somewhat useful even with no Fighters to take down, as long as there are soft targets like skirmishers, raiders, mexes, or LLT's/Defenders for them to hit. Heavier units are strictly the Brawler's prey.

The recent update gave the Rapier a much-needed buff, now it is a much more viable unit due to the extra damage, speed and range. It might even make it as a close air support unit for ground forces now, though it would easily get swatted down by any AA in the vicinity.

Note that Rapiers are still somewhat of a situational unit; they may take down quite a few fighters, but Vamps are still more than likely to outdo them in a pitched battle, so shouldn't be relied on as a primary defence. Ground-based AA tends to have wonderful range, so you should always look for opportunities to fight near your or your allies Razors, Cobras, Chainsaws etc. Rapiers are generally a horrendous waste of money if your enemy is not using planes, as you have far better, more cost-effective units at your disposal; but most of those can't even scratch an air unit, so Rapiers will probably remain useful as long as there are fighters, light gunships or the occassional Phoenix to swat down. Just don't ever rely on them as a primary force and you should be fine.

Some more facts:
* Blackdawns owns rapiers, but the damage is a bit random - especially if rapiers are not close to another.
* You need about 10 Rapiers ( 3000 metal ) to shoot down Shadows without much micro, but 3 shadows ( 1500 metal ) can kill 1 Blackdawn/Brawler if the gunship player don't spend much attention.
* Vamps have more range than rapiers.

<--- RAPIER

Looking good. So.. what happened to that wiki login?

You mean skirming and outranging them? I've tried that, it's all you can really do vs a superior rapier ball, but it is really, massively difficult, one fighter always strays into range and gets sniped.

I don't like this unit, it's not very good at what it does.

Slasher ain't a skirmisher. Don't say that, nubs might read and believe it.

Dominatrix.

Zomg, how many games have I seen that were won by pure Rapierspam. So many, I can't even remember, dozen for sure.

The problem with the notion of 'skirmisher' is we have three kinds of units that use range. One uses range and speed to kite an enemy. A cavalry archer. Another uses pure range from a fixed position- an artillery piece or catapault, good vs statics, typically inaccurate vs mobiles. Then you have a third kind of unit, that also uses range, but doesnt kite and is still good vs mobiles. What is this? An archer. In early CA when I was setting up the traditional unit classes, I neglected this middle kind of unit, somewhat naively assuming all ranged anti-unit things would at least try to kite. I tried to insert the 'support' name for this unit but that is more appropriate for jammers/shields etc and it never caught on (Also the 'combat' unit, which never made it into the mix, which focuses on DPS and anti-unit but lacks the AoE/RoF/accuracy of the riot or the HP of the assault).