They Are Billions: Unit Guide & Strategy
They Are Billions is a nail-biting steampunk strategy game where you're tasked with building and defending a colony against, you guessed it, billions of zombies. To survive, you'll need a strong economy and, crucially, a well-balanced army. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each unit is paramount to your success. So, let’s dive deep into the They Are Billions unit roster and figure out how to use them effectively!
Core Concepts: Unit Roles and Tiering
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of individual units, it's important to understand some key concepts. Each unit in They Are Billions generally falls into one of several roles:
- Early Defense: These units are cheap and quickly deployable, perfect for fending off early zombie waves. Think of them as your first line of defense.
- Mid-Game Offense/Defense: Versatile units that can hold their own in a fight and provide decent firepower. They form the backbone of your mid-game army.
- Late-Game Powerhouse: Expensive, high-tech units that pack a serious punch. These are your game-enders, capable of tearing through massive hordes.
- Support: Units that provide buffs, debuffs, or other utility to your army.
- Specialized: Units that excel in specific situations, such as clearing buildings or dealing with armored zombies.
Unit tiering is also crucial. As you progress through the game and research new technologies, you'll unlock more advanced and powerful units. Knowing when to transition to higher-tier units is essential for staying ahead of the escalating zombie threat.
Understanding Unit Stats
Each unit in They Are Billions has several key stats that determine its effectiveness in combat:
- Health: How much damage a unit can take before being destroyed.
- Damage: The amount of damage a unit deals per attack.
- Attack Range: The distance at which a unit can attack.
- Attack Speed: How quickly a unit can attack.
- Movement Speed: How fast a unit can move across the map.
- Armor: Reduces the amount of damage a unit takes from attacks.
- Noise: How much noise a unit generates, which attracts zombies.
- Upkeep: The amount of resources a unit consumes per day.
Understanding these stats will allow you to make informed decisions about which units to build and how to deploy them effectively. For example, a unit with high damage but low health might be best used in a support role, while a unit with high health and armor is better suited for frontline combat. Knowing that noise will attract zombies will ensure you don't lose your rangers to unnecessary exploration.
Early Game Defenders
These units are all about surviving those first few, crucial waves. Cheap and cheerful, they'll keep the undead at bay while you tech up.
Ranger
The Ranger is your go-to early game unit. Cheap, fast to train, and with decent range, they're perfect for scouting and defending against the initial zombie waves. Rangers are excellent for early exploration due to their speed, enabling you to expand your colony and secure valuable resources quickly. Their low noise generation is a major advantage, allowing them to explore without attracting too much unwanted attention. However, their low health means they're vulnerable to hordes. Use them in groups and keep them moving.
Key Strengths:
- Fast and cheap
- Good range
- Low noise
- Excellent for scouting and early defense
Weaknesses:
- Low health
- Weak against armored zombies
Soldier
The Soldier is the meat shield of the early game. More expensive than Rangers but with significantly higher health and armor, they can hold the line against larger hordes. Soldiers are reliable defenders, especially when positioned behind walls or other obstacles. Their higher health allows them to withstand more damage, making them ideal for holding choke points and protecting your Rangers. However, their slower movement speed and higher noise generation mean they're not great for scouting. Use them defensively to bolster your colony's defenses.
Key Strengths:
- High health and armor
- Good for holding the line
Weaknesses:
- Expensive compared to Rangers
- Slow movement speed
- High noise
Mid-Game Powerhouses
As the waves get tougher, you'll need something with a bit more oomph. These units are your mid-game all-rounders.
Sniper
The Sniper is a They Are Billions player's best friend. With their incredible range and high damage, they can pick off zombies from afar, thinning out the hordes before they even reach your walls. Snipers are invaluable for defending against special infected, such as spitters and fatties, which can quickly overwhelm your defenses. Their long range allows them to target these threats before they get close, minimizing the damage to your colony. However, their low health means they're vulnerable to melee attacks. Position them carefully behind walls or other defenses to maximize their effectiveness.
Key Strengths:
- Extremely long range
- High damage
- Effective against special infected
Weaknesses:
- Low health
- Vulnerable in melee combat
Veteran
Veterans are tough, versatile, and can handle most threats. Veterans serve as your mid-game offensive force. With a good balance of health, damage, and range, they can push into zombie territory and clear out infestations. Veterans are effective at clearing buildings and securing resource deposits. Their increased health and damage output make them capable of taking on larger groups of zombies, allowing you to expand your colony more aggressively. However, their higher cost means you'll need to carefully manage your resources. Use them to spearhead your expansion efforts and secure key strategic locations.
Key Strengths:
- Good balance of stats
- Versatile in combat
Weaknesses:
- More expensive than earlier units
Thanatos
Thanatos are heavy hitters, dealing splash damage that can wipe out entire groups of zombies. Thanatos excel at defending choke points and clearing large hordes. Their splash damage is particularly effective against tightly packed groups of zombies, allowing them to quickly thin out the ranks. However, their slow attack speed and limited range mean they're vulnerable to fast-moving zombies. Position them carefully to maximize their effectiveness and protect them from flanking attacks. Thanatos are your go-to unit for defending against massive waves of zombies.
Key Strengths:
- Splash damage
- Effective against large hordes
Weaknesses:
- Slow attack speed
- Limited range
Late-Game Powerhouses
When billions are at your door, you need the big guns. These units are your last line of defense, capable of turning the tide of battle.
Titan
Titan are walking tanks, boasting incredible health, armor, and damage. Titans are your ultimate defensive unit. With their massive health and armor, they can withstand tremendous amounts of damage, making them virtually indestructible. Their high damage output allows them to tear through even the largest hordes of zombies. Position them strategically to hold key defensive positions and protect your colony from the final wave. However, their high cost means you'll need to invest heavily in your economy to produce them in sufficient numbers. Titans are the cornerstone of your late-game defenses.
Key Strengths:
- Extremely high health and armor
- High damage
Weaknesses:
- Very expensive
Railgun
The Railgun is a long-range artillery unit that can devastate zombie hordes from afar. Railguns are your primary source of long-range firepower. Their high damage and extreme range allow them to target key threats and thin out the zombie hordes before they even reach your defenses. Railguns are particularly effective against special infected and large groups of zombies. However, their slow attack speed and vulnerability to close-range attacks mean they need to be protected by other units. Position them carefully behind walls or other defenses to maximize their effectiveness. Railguns are essential for defending against the final wave.
Key Strengths:
- Extreme range
- High damage
Weaknesses:
- Slow attack speed
- Vulnerable in close combat
Lucifer
Lucifers are flamethrower units that excel at clearing buildings and burning through hordes. Lucifers are your go-to unit for clearing infested buildings and burning through hordes of zombies. Their flamethrowers deal continuous damage over time, quickly wiping out even the largest groups of zombies. Lucifers are particularly effective against tightly packed groups of zombies. However, their short range and vulnerability to ranged attacks mean they need to be used carefully. Deploy them strategically to maximize their effectiveness and protect them from enemy fire. Lucifers are essential for clearing out infested areas and securing valuable resources.
Key Strengths:
- Continuous flame damage
- Effective at clearing buildings and hordes
Weaknesses:
- Short range
- Vulnerable to ranged attacks
Support Units
These units don't do much damage themselves, but they make your other units much more effective.
Engineer
Engineers are crucial for building and repairing structures. Engineers are the backbone of your colony's infrastructure. They're responsible for building and repairing structures, as well as upgrading your defenses. Without engineers, your colony would quickly collapse. Protect them at all costs and ensure they have the resources they need to keep your colony running smoothly. Engineers are essential for expanding your colony and maintaining your defenses.
Key Strengths:
- Builds and repairs structures
- Upgrades defenses
Weaknesses:
- No combat ability
Executor
Executors are stationary towers that provide long-range fire support. Executors are your primary source of stationary defense. With their long range and high damage, they can thin out zombie hordes before they even reach your walls. Executors are particularly effective against special infected and large groups of zombies. However, their stationary nature means they're vulnerable to flanking attacks. Position them carefully to maximize their effectiveness and protect them from enemy fire. Executors are essential for defending against the final wave.
Key Strengths:
- Long range
- High damage
Weaknesses:
- Stationary
- Vulnerable to flanking attacks
Unit Composition and Strategy
Knowing the individual units is only half the battle. You also need to know how to combine them effectively. Here are some general tips:
- Diversify your army: Don't rely on a single unit type. A well-rounded army is more resilient to different threats.
- Use combined arms: Combine units with different strengths to cover each other's weaknesses. For example, pair Snipers with Soldiers to provide long-range firepower and frontline defense.
- Focus fire: Concentrate your fire on high-priority targets, such as special infected and armored zombies.
- Use terrain to your advantage: Position your units in advantageous locations, such as behind walls or on high ground.
- Adapt to the situation: Be prepared to adjust your unit composition and strategy based on the evolving zombie threat.
They Are Billions is a challenging game that requires careful planning and execution. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each unit, you can build a powerful army and defend your colony against the zombie hordes. Good luck, commander!