Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars/GDI Units: Difference between revisions

The Global Defence Initiative is a UN-based organization. Their purpose is simple: to save the world from Tiberium and return the world to a standard state of living. Their chief opponents, the Brotherhood of Nod, consider them to be oppressive to their people, and forced people to live in the unstable Yellow Zones, whilst keeping the pristine Blue Zones - lands unscarred by Tiberium - to themselves.

<font color="red">Red</font> text means it is available in Kane's Wrath only.

===Riflemen squad===

{{CnC unit|image=CnC GDIRifle.png|requirements=Barracks|role=Various, primarily anti-infantry|abilities=Dig In, Call for Transport|upgrades=Composite Armour, <font color="red">AP Ammo, Tiberium Field Suits</font>|build=3 seconds|dtype=Gun|cost=200}}

GDI Riflemen are cheap and quite fast, and naturally excel at eliminating other infantry. While certain units are more dedicated, riflemen are capable of, in adequate numbers, dealing with almost any threat. Although their usefulness is eventually phased out later when vehicles become a larger issue, riflemen are a cheap and effective counter against missile squads - something that higher-tier vehicles will have issues dealing with.

As ordinary infantry, riflemen are prone to any and all means of anti-infantry and small-arms fire. Of particular pain are Black Hand units, as they can take a lot of punishment before falling. Since their damage type is gun, they also have difficulty attacking any means of vehicle, with a possible exception of tier-1 missile vehicles (Pitbulls, Seekers, and Attack Bikes).

Venoms and the Kane's Wrath-specific Hammerhead Gunship can attack riflemen with impunity. A hammerhead can be further equipped with snipers for further anti-infantry punch or grenadiers if the riflemen are in foxholes.

As with most infantry, riflemen can easily be squished by treaded vehicles (hover vehicles such as the Seeker are exempt from this benefit).

{{CnC unit|image=CnC GDIMissile.png|requirements=Barracks|role=Anti-armour, Anti-air|abilities=Call for Transport|upgrades=Composite Armour, <font color="red">Tiberium Field Suits</font>|build=4 seconds|dtype=Missile|cost=400}}

{{Quote|Attack Positions!|Missile Squad}}

Missile squads are good against what riflemen are poor against: tanks and aircraft. While slightly slower than riflemen due to their heavy launchers, missile squads should not be under any circumstance be underestimated. While in early patches missile squads had limited use, currently missile squads are highly effective against all forms of vehicles, especially tanks. Anti-infantry aircraft, such as the Venom and Hammerhead, can prove superior to missile squads, except when in a garrison.

Missile squads have the same weakness as riflemen do: anti-infantry fire. However, because they sport missiles, they stand a stronger chance against anti-infantry vehicles such as APCs and Gun Walkers. However, they should always move and attack in large groups; at least three missile squads are required to eliminate an APC.

Because each missile squad only has two members in it, it is imperative they be protected. Rifle squads, with their large groups, prove to often be effective meat shields for the deadlier missile squads.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC GDIGrenade.png|requirements=Barracks, Command Post|role=Anti-infantry, anti-structure, garrison clearing|abilities=<font color="red">EMP Grenade</font>|upgrades=Composite armour, <font color="red">Tiberium field suit</font>|build=8 seconds|dtype=High Explosive|cost=800}}

{{CnC unit|image=CnC GDISniper.png|requirements=Barracks, Armoury|role=Anti-infantry|abilities=Call for Transport|upgrades=|build=10 seconds|dtype=Sniper|cost=1000}}

Snipers are completely incapable of attacking vehicles or aircraft. Failing that, one can send rifle squads at them if the snipers are in small numbers. Since riflemen have large squad numbers, it will take the snipers a while to eliminate them - at which the riflemen will already be in range of the snipers. You will definitely have to outnumber the snipers, but given a rifle squad's low cost and build time, it should not prove too difficult.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC GDIZone.png|requirements=Barracks, Tech Centre|role=Anti-structure, anti-vehicle|abilities=Jump Jets|upgrades=Power Pack, Scanner Pack|build=13 seconds|dtype=Cannon|cost=1300}}

Zone troopers eventually replace missile squads in the anti-tank role. Zone troopers are highly effective against tanks and structures; as infantry, they take minimal damage from a tank's Cannon-type damage, while dealing back the maximum damage with their own Cannon-type. Their railguns can prove also effective against infantry squads, but only in small numbers.

Zone troopers are immune to the harmful effects of Tiberium, but like all infantry, they fall easily to flame-based weapons and small-arms fire. Zone troopers can be upgraded to improve sight range and detect stealth, and to boost their hit points and allow themselves to heal.

Zone troopers also sport powerful jump jets that allow them to cover impassible terrain. Jump jets are also very effective against enemy tanks, as it allows the squad to strike them from behind where the tank has less armour. Additionally, Zone troopers cannot be crushed by tanks (except by Scorpion Tanks with the Dozer Blade upgrade).

{{CnC unit|image=CnC GDICommando.png|requirements=Barracks, Armoury, Tech Centre|role=Anti-infantry, anti-structure, anti-walker|abilities=Jump jets|upgrades=|build=20 seconds|dtype=Sniper|cost=2000}}

The Commando also features the same jet pack system as the Zone trooper. A Commando with Zone trooper support can prove to be a tough combination to beat.

An aerial attack on a Commando will almost always work, but failing that an anti-infantry vehicle will work. Commandos cannot be crushed as of Patch 1.09, except by the Epic Units featured in Kane's Wrath. To secure your base against Commando raids, try building anti-infantry base defences; they cannot be attacked from range by a Commando.

Pitbulls have problems against infantry, but only if they lack the mortar upgrade. Tanks and aircraft both are a strong counter to Pitbulls due to their lack of armour.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_APC.png|requirements=War Factory|role=Anti-infantry, anti-air, transport|abilities=Call for Transport|upgrades=<font color="red">AP Ammo</font>|build=7 seconds|dtype=Gun|cost=700}}

{{Quote|Ready weapons!|APC}}

APCs are capable of holding a single infantry squad. Units inside the APC can fire out, however, making the APC quite versatile. While their machine gun is of limited use against vehicles, a pair of rocket soldiers can easily remedy this. They also can work in tandem with the machine gun when attacking aircraft.

APCs are perhaps deadliest with an engineer. Players can execute an APC-Engineer rush by loading an engineer into an APC then charging them at an enemy's base. As soon as an APC is next to a structure, the Engineer can exit the vehicle and capture it. This greatly improves the engineer's survivability; however, since Kane's Wrath, Engineers take several seconds to capture a structure, making APC-Engineer rushes easier to stop.

A Predator's true power shines however when equipped with the railgun upgrade.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_GHarvest.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

Harvesters are the core of your economy; they work in conjunction with refineries to produce money which can be used on your war effort. Targeting enemy harvesters is the quickest and easiest way of bringing their economy to a halt; they aren't as heavily armoured as a refinery, and they're often forced into the middle of the map later in the game when Tiberium runs out.

The two GDI subfactions use variants of Harvester. The Steel Talons use a Heavy Harvester which is capable of garrisoning an infantry squad, making it an APC-Harvester combination. Putting a missile squad inside will give the Heavy Harvester the powerful ability to fire missiles, making it more capable of defending itself against tanks. The ZOCOM Rocket Harvester is identical to a Heavy Harvester with a missile team. The rockets on this Harvester, however, completely replace the machine gun; it cannot be garrisoned.

Due to its slow speed and lack of effective counterattacks, any unit can attack a harvester and emerge victorious. Missile troopers in a garrison work quite well, as do tanks. Infantry alone, however, can be shot by the harvester's machine gun or crushed.

Rocket Harvesters can be countered with infantry, but be careful of nearby Tiberium. Heavy Harvesters should be approached with caution depending on the infantry unit inside, if any.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Jugg.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

{{Quote|I'm the Juggernaut!|Juggernaught Crew, in a manner similar to the famous "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!" line}}

 

One ability unique to the Juggernaut is its ability to bombard, from any range, anything within line of sight from a sniper team. Although it reveals the snipers for a brief moment, and renders the snipers immobile (if they move, the Juggernauts cancel), it can be a powerful distance attack on enemy defences, and is one of the best ways to counter a turtling player or computer.

 

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Rig.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

{{Quote|Ready for that Battle Base?|Rig}}

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_MCV.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

 

Regrettably, there is no statistical data available on an MCV. It is completely unarmed and quite slow, and is lightly armoured. It is very important, however, as it deploys into a Construction Yard, the core of your operation. It is also capable of packing up and relocating where needed.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Survey.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

The Surveyor is an unarmed vehicle capable of deploying into an outpost structure which provides ground control. It essentially acts as a new MCV would, but it costs less and does not build any structures on its own. Additionally, Surveyors take a few seconds to unpack into an Outpost, while MCVs unpack into Conyards on a moment's notice.

While the Surveyor can crush infantry, it is lightly armoured and rather slow, so any unit with a weapon can eliminate a surveyor. Nod Shadow teams often target Outposts.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Mamm.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

{{Quote|Mammoth tank assembled.|Mammoth Tank}}

Without a doubt the most powerful tank of the GDI arsenal, the mammoth tank is powerful, pricey, yet still quite vulnerable. Unlike other tanks it is armed with rocket launchers capable of eliminating enemy aircraft. Venoms will have a difficult time damaging the tank. The mammoth tank can also crush lower-tier units such as the Scorpion and Predator.

The GDI's version of the Avatar or Tripod, the mammoth tank has a few advantages. Firstly, it can attack air units, something neither the Avatar nor the Tripod can do. Additionally, they don't leave a husk when killed, so players don't have to worry about their investment on mammoth tanks turning on them.

Like all vehicles, however, mammoth tanks lack armour in the back, making attacks to its back quarter extremely devastating.

While the average player wonders how to stop an army of a million mammoth tanks advancing on a player's base, the solution is actually quite simple. They are most vulnerable to an EMP attack, as once disabled, they can easily be taken apart by just about anything. EMP-equipped raider buggies can seriously cause a lot of problems for a huge group of mammoths, as can Grenadiers equipped with the EMP Grenades ability (regrettably, this tactic is available in Kane's Wrath only). The GDI can also use the Shockwave Artillery support power to disable mammoth tanks, and the Scrin can use the Stasis Field on half of the mammoth tanks to reduce their numbers. Tripods also have a secondary EMP attack that disables vehicles close to them.

Aircraft will be taken apart by the missile launchers, so don't use them. Zone troopers, stealth tanks, other Mammoth Tanks, and Shock troopers are all very powerful mammoth counters. Zone troopers and shock troopers can use their jump jets or blink packs to get behind mammoths and cause them problems. Stealth tanks can't teleport, but they can still cause problems by sneaking behind the mammoth tanks. A Redeemer's rage generator is also effective.

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Orca.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

*Time to fire all rockets: ~5 seconds

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Fhawk.png|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

A versatile attack aircraft, the Firehawk is the most versatile GDI aircraft, next perhaps only to the Kane's Wrath-specific Hammerhead gunship. They are often abbreviated to "Fhawk".

{{CnC unit|image=CnC3_Ox.PNG|requirements=|role=|abilities=|upgrades=|build=|dtype=}}

The V-35 Ox can be "produced" by any unit equipped with the Call for Transport ability. Sporting no weapons of its own, the Ox transport is a swift transport vehicle used to reach impassible areas. If an Ox is shot down before it can drop its cargo, the cargo is destroyed with the transport.

V-35s also bring in reinforcements most of the time - the GDI Sharpshooter team, the Bloodhounds, and the Airbourne support powers all require V-35s to deliver the units to their location - therefore, keeping these units safe is of utmost importance.

V-35s have no weapons of their own and can be countered by any unit capable of attacking aircraft.