Sturm (Black Hole CO)

Learn about Sturm, the Black Hole CO in Advance Wars. Details on Meteor Strike, unit buffs, and movement costs.

Advance Wars 1 Unit Stats:

• All Units Firepower: 80%
• All Units Defense: 120%

Advance Wars 2 Unit Stats:

• All Units Firepower: 120%
• All Units Defense: 120%

Movement: Sturm's units have movement costs of 1 across all terrain types, except in snow.

Advance Wars 1 CO Power: Meteor Strike

• Cost: 5 bars
• Effect: Pulls a giant meteor from space, inflicting -4 HP to all impacted units. Sturm's own units gain +20 to Firepower and +30 to Defense.

Advance Wars 2 CO Power: Sturm does not have a normal CO Power in Advance Wars 2; he only has a Super CO Power.

Advance Wars 2 Super CO Power: Meteor Strike

• Cost: 10 stars
• Effect: Pulls a giant meteor from space, inflicting -8 HP to all impacted units. Sturm's own units gain +20 to Firepower and +30 to Defense.

Meteor Strike Area of Effect:

The Meteor Strike targets units in a diamond pattern:

--X--
-XXX-
XXXXX
-XXX-
--X--

The Meteor Strike automatically targets the most expensive group of units within the diamond. If a unit has less than 4 HP in Advance Wars 1 or 8 HP in Advance Wars 2, it will always be reduced to 1 HP; it cannot kill units. Sturm's own units can also be damaged by Meteor Strike.

Strategy:

• Sturm's basic ability to have units move over any terrain (except snow) for 1 movement point is a significant advantage, breaking terrain balance, especially over forests.
• His Recons, Tanks, Artillery, and Rockets can traverse forest tiles easily, and his Infantry can move over mountains effectively.
• Campaign Sturm in Advance Wars 2 is noted as being even stronger and potentially unplayable due to his power.