What is the point of the Infiltrator unit?

[enricofermi2]

It is able to copy the abilities of a T1 and T2 unit, but I'm not sure how thats all that useful. It can't equip mods and it can't use mods from copied units.

Why go out of your way to build a T2 unit, that can only be a worse version of enemy units of a lower or equal rank? Is there some upside to the unit I am missing.

[JimmyTheSnake]

It's fun and allows some degree of flexibility in tactical combat.

[enricofermi2]

Originally posted by JimmyTheSnake:

It's fun and allows some degree of flexibility in tactical combat.

I'll agree its a fun and unique ability. I'd just prefer if it's wasn't balanced to be terrible. Stuff is more fun when it's at least somewhat useful.

[sandman25dcsss]

I find the unit quite useful early game, shakarns don't have any healers so usually I copy a healer. Biomancer is probably the best. I don't like it costing 10 cosmite though so I don't buld more before I get the empire upgrade to be able to copy tier 3 units.

[JimmyTheSnake]

Originally posted by sandman25dcsss:

I find the unit quite useful early game, shakarns don't have any healers so usually I copy a healer. Biomancer is probably the best. I don't like it costing 10 cosmite though so I don't buld more before I get the empire upgrade to be able to copy tier 3 units.

One of many examples on how to use the unit effectively. Don't have a healer, copy a healer. Don't have a ranged unit, copy a ranged unit. Don't have a flying unit, copy a flying unit. On and on...

[Astasia]

I'd rather just make a solid group of units that doesn't need to try to fill in any role with a subpar imitation. Especially since you have no control over what enemies you are going to face and be able to copy. Not to mention how they act in auto-resolve.

If they didn't cost cosmite I could see them being a cheap unit you could spam and bring in as reinforcements to a real squad, and they could copy whatever is available and do the job poorly but without any real cost.

An unmodded unit in a game all about modding units is just boring dead-weight after the first few turns.

[Motive]

Originally posted by sandman25dcsss:

I find the unit quite useful early game, shakarns don't have any healers so usually I copy a healer. Biomancer is probably the best. I don't like it costing 10 cosmite though so I don't buld more before I get the empire upgrade to be able to copy tier 3 units.

Please forgive my ignorance, where is the empire upgrade at in the tech tree to allow Infiltrators to holoshift into tier 3 units? I can't seem to find it to save my life.

Thanks.

[ArgoBletchley]

I wonder if it can copy a shepherd unit and then force evolve Psi-fish units, get a Siren every 3 battles is very useful.

[The Liability]

The devs said they removed the ability to copy mods because it was overpowered, but they just ended up making the unit kinda bad. The raider has problems as well, the low range, poor damage when not up close and status resistance penalty all add up to a unit that just isn't that impressive. Shakarn early game is pretty rough with no healer and awkward infantry unit.

[sandman25dcsss]

I have just learned that the unit can use once-per-turn abilities several times. I became a healer, healed some unit, then the form expired in 4 turns and I was able to become a healer again and heal another unit again. Also the unit is resurected in its natural form when the transformed form is killed so I guess it can be good for either too easy or too hard combats.

[leon feargus]

So far, the infiltrator seems lacklustre to me.
Yes, you can copy a healer, but all other factions have their own basic healers. The propagator has a healing ability and will stay useful later in the game.
Yes, you can copy a ranged unit, but why? You have plenty of fire-power.
Yes, you can copy a flying unit, but flying is mostly useful on the strategic map.
Copying a melee unit seems to be your best bet, since you might not get access to melee until later.
No, you can't ever copy t3 units. Research will unlock the ability to copy machines.

All in all the unit is not worthless. It brings versatility (additional damage channel for instance), has the same useful ability as the syndicate runner for survivability (only in morphed state) has evasive and stagger, I think. I just don't think this warrants the 10 cosmite cost, especially considering you can't equip mods.

I hope it gets buffed.
- Less/no cosmite cost
- High tier research to copy t3 units
- Moddability (I wonder why this is the only unit in the game that can't be modded)
Either one of these would be fine.

[ArgoBletchley]

Originally posted by Motive:

Please forgive my ignorance, where is the empire upgrade at in the tech tree to allow Infiltrators to holoshift into tier 3 units? I can't seem to find it to save my life.

Thanks.

Lifelike Hologram, a Tier VII Empire Upgrade, it doesn't say on the tech itself, but check the unit info it shows.

[Motive]

Originally posted by ArgoBletchley:

Originally posted by Motive:

Please forgive my ignorance, where is the empire upgrade at in the tech tree to allow Infiltrators to holoshift into tier 3 units? I can't seem to find it to save my life.

Thanks.

Lifelike Hologram, a Tier VII Empire Upgrade, it doesn't say on the tech itself, but check the unit info it shows.

Thank you, I thought I was losing my mind.

[Black Hammer]

The ability to copy naval units is quite nice since those tend to be disproportionately strong for their tier in that role.

[Syrris]

I've usually wound up copying a sniper unit from a stack somewhere since I don't really care for the Shakarn one with its high cost and poor mobility. Shepherds are also a good option if you end up with animal units - and that healing power resurrects Shakarn units too.

[Poet]

Its versatile. Allows you to get access to units you cant easily recruit. To me its as good as pretty much any t1 or t2, which is huge.