First Time Play - Ships seem completely pointless

[The Big Fish]

Just finished my first play. I got past Mother, but then got chopped up in the second area. Matter Destabiliser just seems to shred all ships. Drones, Frigates, Fighters, Cruisers... they all just melt to one enemy weapon. I ended up fighting without deploying ships, because it was a waste of time, they just all melt really quickly.

Am I doing something wrong, or is that weapon really overpowered?

[Meep]

they die from damage over time, so if you play around the strenghts of your ships, you should be fine. Try not to leave them grouped up, as this allows the enemy to hit more of your ships with the matter destabiliser, and instead leave 1 or 2 back in your launch zone to defend, and send the others to attack the other ships weapon systems. Overheat is really strong, and if you are having difficulty dealing with a certain thing, be it squadrons or weapons, attack the area that is giving you trouble.

[The Big Fish]

Originally posted by Swanky Swan:

they die from damage over time, so if you play around the strenghts of your ships, you should be fine. Try not to leave them grouped up, as this allows the enemy to hit more of your ships with the matter destabiliser, and instead leave 1 or 2 back in your launch zone to defend, and send the others to attack the other ships weapon systems. Overheat is really strong, and if you are having difficulty dealing with a certain thing, be it squadrons or weapons, attack the area that is giving you trouble.

If the enemy has a matter destabiliser, they just melt my ships before they even get close to anything. So far it has been better not to launch anything and just shoot at the enemy... but then I died to a ship later in chapter 2.

Is there any defence against a matter destabiliser?

[phenir]

Originally posted by The Ol' Razzle:

If the enemy has a matter destabiliser, they just melt my ships before they even get close to anything. So far it has been better not to launch anything and just shoot at the enemy... but then I died to a ship later in chapter 2.

Is there any defence against a matter destabiliser?

Retreat them, that clears debuffs and it also heals your ships while they are in the hangar. There is also an officer ability that heals your squads that are near you ship and it clears debuffs when it activates. Finally, I believe shields block destabilizer, like from force field gun or shield cruiser.

[The Big Fish]

Originally posted by phenir:

Retreat them, that clears debuffs and it also heals your ships while they are in the hangar. There is also an officer ability that heals your squads that are near you ship and it clears debuffs when it activates. Finally, I believe shields block destabilizer, like from force field gun or shield cruiser.

How do I retreat ships? I didn't even know I could put them back in the hangar! XD

[phenir]

Originally posted by The Ol' Razzle:

Originally posted by phenir:

Retreat them, that clears debuffs and it also heals your ships while they are in the hangar. There is also an officer ability that heals your squads that are near you ship and it clears debuffs when it activates. Finally, I believe shields block destabilizer, like from force field gun or shield cruiser.

How do I retreat ships? I didn't even know I could put them back in the hangar! XD

Right click their icon on the left side.

[kschang77]

You retreat squadrons by just right-clicking the squadron portrait in the left icon area, almost the same way you launch them, or was to swap them.. It will try to disengage, and fly back to the hangar. THEN it takes however many seconds for the squadron to be repaired by your officer(s).

[L4z3r]

Retreating your ships is very important. One of the things I like about this game is that protecting your troops is rewarded. Genuinely impressed you beat the first area without it honestly. Best of luck moving forward.

[Gyger]

Retreating also avoids the dock repair time, that is why you have more than 4 slots in your hangar bay. You can send out a fresh squadron the moment the damaged one enters the dock.