Terror Drones are a terror to have running around the battlefield against you. With some basic micro techniques and a couple of the right units described here, you'll be able to effectively counter Terror Drones. If with your scouting, you find out that your opponent has made a couple of Terror Drones, you will have a couple of opportunities to get rid of them. You can either try to intercept them before they reach your Ore Collectors, stop them right before they enter your Ore Collectors, or repair your Ore Collector to remove the Terror Drone.
Anti Infantry Interception
Each army has sufficient early game anti-infantry to deal with a Terror Drone threat. You will most likely see Terror Drones early game, before you even have a chance to tech to tier two. Don't worry about needing anything expensive or high tech to kill a Terror Drone. They are
highly vulnerable to anti-infantry weapons, so a couple shots from the most basic units will kill one. Below are the best counters to Terror Drones at tier one.
Allies- Peacekeeper - Two will one shot a TD
- Riptide ACV - Really only viable if going for Riptide harassment
- Dolphin - Will one shot a TD
Soviets- Conscript - A cheap counter, but shouldn't be necessary with Sickles available
- Sickles - Should be main counter to TDs for Soviets
Empire- Ore Collector - Secondary ability will kill an approaching TD if switched early enough
- Imperial Warrior - Not really the most effective counter to TDs
- Mecha Tengu - Depending on BO used, might be out a little late to stop a TD
Secondary Abilities
Ore Collectors have secondary abilities that are very effective against Terror Drones. The Soviet's ability is a must use, because it makes it impossible for a Terror Drone to enter an Ore Collector. Although this ability shuts down harvesting operations, if you lost an Ore Collector, you wouldn't be harvesting anyway.
The Empire's Ore Collector's secondary ability is switching to a short ranged weapon that is incredibly strong against Terror Drones. If you switch to the secondary mode before the Terror Drone enters range, the Ore Collector will easily kill any Terror Drone trying to infect it. Beware of the Terror Drone's Electrostasis Ray, because a Terror Drone won't need to get in the gun's range to disable it.
Continue Harvesting After Terror Drone Threat Dispatched
After the Terror Drones are destroyed, switch out of the secondary mode back to harvesting, but make sure to give a move command to either the Refinery or Ore Node (depending on how full the Ore Collector is). Ore Collectors do not go back to collecting even if just switched to primary mode.
Repairing Ore Collectors
In order to salvage any Ore Collectors that have been infected by Terror Drones, you must send them to your War Factory (Allies), Mecha Bay (Empire), or Crusher Crane (Soviets - late game). As the Allies or Empire, it's important to place your War Factory in an easily accessible location, within reach of both Refinery/Ore Nodes.
War Factory and Mecha Bay Placement
Although its good to have a forward War Factory, ideal building placement is between the two primary Ore Nodes, so that an Ore Collector can make it there in time to be repaired.
