Lonestar Guide for New Players (no level unlocks needed)

This guide has been customized to meet the needs and abilities of new players. You can use this build without getting additional levels.

Introduction

Who is this guide for?

This guide is for low level players who are new to Lonestar. It's not for people who have high levels and have unlocked all the upgrades.

My other guides for beginners
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=149185292
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=151779409

Character Introduction

Lonestar is a versatile and reliable character that is friendly for newcomers. Lonestar is also one of the most popular choices among top players. While Lonestar’s main role is pushing, it is possible to rack up a lot of kills with him.

Lonestar is good for new players as his main role is to push and his Dynamite and Hyper Bull allow him to push from a relatively safe distance without requiring pinpoint precision. His Hyper Bull is able to quickly knockback a group of enemies giving him a good escape mechanism as well as an excellent flanking tool to force enemies into dangerous positions. In addition, his Dynamite skill has a short cooldown and is relatively easy to aim.

Lonestar doesn’t really have a significant weakness. He does have some minor weaknesses but they are not too glaring- he is slow (mitigated with boots), has relatively low health and doesn’t have a stun.

Lonestar Sheriff Stats

Health: 135 base (165) <base health increases over time>
Movement Speed: 7 <Low, but with boots he gets a triple jump>
Attack Type: Medium Range
Role: Pusher <Arguably the best pusher in game>

Recommended Build Order

An interactive tool to customize and analyze the build order can be found here:
NautsBuilder Lonestar Beginner Build[nautsbuilder.com]

Some build rationale

• You'll need one solar generation item- Solar Tree is good as it will help you to keep up in levels which may be difficult for beginners in the mid-late game.
  
• Hyperbull is taken after Regen as you’ll need to stay in the lanes as long as possible to keep utilizing your dynamite. You can also take some shots for your team to make up for the fact that you don’t have bull.
  
• If you have saved up for it, buy An Extra Stick and Mr TNT before getting Blind. If you are forced to retreat to the back to base often, which is likely the case if you are new, just get Blind first as it is cheap and good at deterring enemies.
  
• Dynamite is maxed before Hyperbull as the base level of bull is pretty good for pushing and your main issue will probably be surviving the harassment from enemies while pushing so upgrading dynamite will help more.
  
• Missiles are a relatively cheap and easy way to add damage and utility (such as shooting down Yuri or Flying droids) so it’s taken before blaster damage. While I get missiles pretty late in the build, it’s good to get it earlier if there is a Yuri in game.

How to play?

It's best to watch a video guide than to read on how to play, so I present to you my concise video guide.

What to do once I levelled up?

This build is generally quite good even at higher levels with the exception of the blaster upgrades. Get another missile instead of eagle bullets as it’s cheaper and more effective against nauts.

You can consider rushing double missiles if your team is focused on harassing and killing such as in this tournament game by Edwiener Tr (Ribbit IV map). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc6fkvcoOvA

It’s hard to really go wrong with the upgrade selection as long as you get An Extra Stick and double missiles (just don't get cheetah bullets as it doesn't affect missiles). This is my own personal build selection, but it’s pretty flexible.
My normal Lonestar Build[nautsbuilder.com]

I also recommend watching these two videos by some high ranking players.

Mizuhonova (Sorona map) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVQg8OpOiLU
Edwiener Tr (AI Station map) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MCEFdE-hZo

Highly Recommended Links

Awesome Guides

CodeXCDM:
Character Tricks you should know[www.awesomenauts.com]

Edwiener:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5EN1sJ-las

High-level players with regular gameplay videos:

Toilethumour[www.twitch.tv]
-Toilethumour plays almost every naut and is usually ranked top 5 worldwide.
Edwiener
-Good videos and guides.
Kngrichard[www.twitch.tv]
-Usually plays Froggy G. Lots of team conversations.
Lightning
-Gamepad user. Only showcases high-level matches.

Other Great Links:

Naaza
-He has video guides for every single naut, though please check the dates as some of the nauts have changed drastically in recent patches.
SlowWolf[www.twitch.tv]
-He has the best Awesomenauts commentary.
Levi[www.twitch.tv]
-He plays a good Yuri (which is probably the best naut for gamepad users) and is the most active Awesomenauts streamer on twitch. Only plays Yuri.

[eggwickTTV]

After reading this, I went from no kills to killing machine.

But please update it, I had to go with the levelled guide, even then I still had to change up some stuff.

[русский = проигры]

The next build is the new one I assume without the tree?

[Bignastycupcake]

Please upgrade you guide to Patch 2.8 , where Solar Tree doesn't exist.

[Bacon ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ]

Been practicing this build, I'm dying far less than my usual amount lol

[Derrick]

@DukeTheKurgan, thanks! I may make more guides in the future, but I'm taking a break from Awesomenauts for the time being. In any case, my guides are aimed at beginners, if you've mastered the initial three nauts, then you're probably no longer a beginner and I would recommend watching top players in action.

These people make YouTube videos or stream quite often:
Toilethumour: http://www.twitch.tv/toilethumor/videos?kind=past_broadcasts
(Toilethumour plays almost every naut and is usually ranked top 5 worldwide).
Edwin: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNWv-birFzZLC2VOULl8fQ
KngRichard: http://www.twitch.tv/kngrichard/videos?kind=past_broadcasts
Lightning: http://www.youtube.com/user/mizuhonova/featured

Otherwise, Nazaa has video guides for every single naut.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22OUlOpXgBtorr0u4qsLhPZ3dmHPdEHo

[ReVmerchants]

Really helpful guide, Leon one is great aswell. Do you plan on doing any more for other characters?

[Derrick]

@Weather Machine, GabboDk, thanks!

[Gabbo]

Great guide

[D-FENS]

Very good guide, it has helped me progress my skill tremendously.

[Derrick]

@Honeydew, I know it takes forever to unlock piggy bank! Haha, but seriously the other skill upgrades take too long to unlock.