Three Different Uses of Air Sweeper
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The main function of the Air Sweeper of course is to push away flying troops through it's 'air wave' and protect the buildings in front, but through this action there are other ways for which the intentions can be used.
If you look at my image and examples they might seem the same (and they might overlap abit), but the attitude and the intention of the Air sweeper is completely different. Here are 3 different ways which the Air Sweeper is used to protect the base. |
If you want to know how to properly use all 3 of these properties of an Air Sweeper to the maximum, check out this page.
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To Deter
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If the Air Sweeper didn't exist in this example, all 4 'territories' would be equal. But the fact that the air sweeper is covering one particular territory, it's almost like saying "watch out bud, this is my territory so think before you enter my turf." Since the fact that you CAN see where air sweeper is and where the air sweeper is pointing at, and you know that it will influence your raid, therefore it creates a sort of 'boundary' where before you can treat it like the other territories, but now you are't able to.
The intention of this set up is to provide a 'barrier' and territorial coverage as a warning to the enemy attacker. This is a mind game used to control the enemy's deployment rather than let them control it. If you can force them to not play one hand (coming from the front) and you already anticipate they will come from behind, that would mean not only you stopped something, but you've gained something as well. |
To Protect
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It's alittle obvious the fact that the Air Sweeper is made to cover and protect other buildings, and prevent the enemy troops from killing a building and have it survive long enough for there defend itself.
Another example for which the Air Sweeper could be used such as this image where the air sweeper is pushing away the Lava pups from the Queen so they they don't surround her. The intention of this is for the building that the air sweeper is 'shield' the building that is in front, and provide enough coverage to the point where the previously vulnerable building that they know for sure will be taken down, will now have an uncertain feeling to it. The protection value of the Air Sweeper is severely overestimated since the fact it can only cover 1/3 of it's radius. More to be discussed as you read. |
To Stall
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There is a limit to how effective the Air Sweeper is with it's weakness, so the other use for it is to stall the inevitable. If the enemy is determined to attack from the front and it's not preventable from destruction.
The intention of this set up is to mess up the timing and tempo of the attack troops as well as incorporating the other two uses to a degree. This adds an uncertain element to the gameplay of the consistent Lavaloon/loon deployment. |
Aki's Thoughts on the Three Uses
My thoughts on the three uses of Air Sweeper is it's protection value is SEVERELY overestimated, I will explain it alot more in my other sections, but the fact that the Air sweeper locks onto 1 target that's within it's range, and only covers 1/3 the radius it has, a 5 second delay between each wave, and also the fact that it has a 3.5 travel distance, that makes it unsuitable for actual real time protection. I will explain the 'sweet spot' to put the defenses in the Air Sweeper radius in my [20 - Grid Concept] later on, but with this almost 6.5-8.5 second delay between each shot, alot can happen within a 6.5 window of time, as well as the fact that the protection zone is only a 1/3rd. That would mean you will need to focus the AS on only a 1/3 of the radius and have the remaining 2/3 be a separate section that is independent of the Air Sweeper. I will discuss more on it in my [How to Maximize the Air Sweeper] page.
In conclusion, The purpose of the Air Sweeper isn't it's protection value since it only accounts for 1/3 it's radius, and even then it's only subpar. The TRUE value of the Air Sweeper is it's ability to Deter and to Stall, of the enemy in the 2/3 section of the base, ruining the tempo of the enemy also control the movement. Trying to use Air Sweeper's protection of 1/3 isn't as meaningful (check out the [How it Affects Anti-3 Star Bases] section later) compared to it's ability to Deter and Stall/ruin the tempo of an attacker from being able to break that 2/3 section of the base. It doesn't need to protect that 2/3 section at all, that 2/3 section is a threat by itself (having two wizard towers there for example), and what that Air Sweeper needs to do is feints protection of the 1/3 side, but truly watches over the Wizard Tower Side, as well as 'suggesting' to the enemy, "you should attack from behind the AS.
In conclusion, The purpose of the Air Sweeper isn't it's protection value since it only accounts for 1/3 it's radius, and even then it's only subpar. The TRUE value of the Air Sweeper is it's ability to Deter and to Stall, of the enemy in the 2/3 section of the base, ruining the tempo of the enemy also control the movement. Trying to use Air Sweeper's protection of 1/3 isn't as meaningful (check out the [How it Affects Anti-3 Star Bases] section later) compared to it's ability to Deter and Stall/ruin the tempo of an attacker from being able to break that 2/3 section of the base. It doesn't need to protect that 2/3 section at all, that 2/3 section is a threat by itself (having two wizard towers there for example), and what that Air Sweeper needs to do is feints protection of the 1/3 side, but truly watches over the Wizard Tower Side, as well as 'suggesting' to the enemy, "you should attack from behind the AS.
