Tempest Rising
Tempest Rising

Unit & Building Rosters

Command your forces effectively with Tempest Rising's unit and building rosters. Get breakdowns on GDF and Dynasty units to ensure battlefield victory.

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Unit & Building Rosters

Welcome, Commander, to the definitive guide on the forces at your disposal in Tempest Rising. Mastering your unit and building rosters is paramount to achieving victory. This section provides detailed breakdowns, strategic insights, and actionable steps to leverage every asset effectively.

Global Defense Forces (GDF) Roster

The Global Defense Forces (GDF) boast robust, well-armored units and formidable defensive structures, excelling in sustained engagements and fortified positions. Their technology often prioritizes durability, direct combat effectiveness, and a strong, conventional military approach.

GDF Units

  • Riflemen Squad: Your basic infantry, forming the backbone of early GDF ground forces.
    • Role: Early game harassment, garrisoning structures, anti-infantry, light anti-vehicle with upgrades.
    • Strategy: Deploy in groups of 3-5 to overwhelm enemy light infantry or secure early map control. Garrison them in civilian structures (e.g., "Abandoned Habitation" or "Industrial Complex" on maps like "Dust Bowl") for significant defensive bonuses, increased line of sight, and a damage boost. Upgrade with "Grenade Launcher" at the Barracks for improved anti-vehicle capabilities, making them a threat to light vehicles and even early medium tanks.
    • Countered by: Area-of-effect (AoE) attacks (e.g., Tempest Dynasty Scorchers, artillery), heavy vehicles, specialized anti-infantry units.
  • Bulwark Tank: The primary main battle tank of the GDF, known for its resilience and firepower.
    • Role: Main battle tank, anti-vehicle, base defense, frontline assault.
    • Strategy: Form lines of 4-6 Bulwark Tanks to push enemy positions or hold key chokepoints. Utilize their "Target Lock" ability (requires "Advanced Targeting Systems" upgrade at the War Factory) to focus fire on high-priority targets like enemy Harvesters, heavy tanks, or defensive structures. Position them behind "GDF Barricades" or natural cover for added protection. Their heavy armor makes them excellent for absorbing damage.
    • Countered by: Air units (e.g., Tempest Dynasty Vipers), specialized anti-tank infantry (e.g., Tempest Dynasty Disruptor Squads), overwhelming numbers, concentrated energy weapon fire.
  • Vanguard Gunship: The GDF's primary air superiority and ground attack craft.
    • Role: Anti-vehicle, anti-structure, scouting, rapid response.
    • Strategy: Use in small groups (2-3) to quickly eliminate isolated enemy vehicles, harass Harvesters, or provide air support for ground pushes. Their "Rocket Pods" upgrade (from the Airfield) significantly increases their damage output against structures and clustered ground units. Always scout ahead for enemy anti-air defenses and be prepared to retreat or engage strategically.
    • Countered by: Dedicated anti-air units (e.g., Tempest Dynasty Anti-Air Turrets, Viper Drones), massed anti-air infantry.
  • Engineer: Unarmed support infantry crucial for base expansion and map control.
    • Role: Capturing neutral structures (e.g., Tech Buildings), repairing damaged buildings and vehicles, disarming mines.
    • Strategy: Always have an Engineer ready. Use them to capture "Abandoned Research Labs" or "Communications Arrays" early to gain significant strategic advantages. Keep them protected, as they are vulnerable and valuable. Can repair damaged Bulwark Tanks or defensive structures under fire.
    • Countered by: Any offensive unit.
  • Grizzly APC: Armored Personnel Carrier.
    • Role: Transporting infantry, light anti-infantry, scouting.
    • Strategy: Use to quickly deploy Riflemen Squads to the front lines or to secure distant Tempest Fields. Can garrison up to 5 infantry units. Its mounted machine gun is effective against enemy light infantry. Can be upgraded with "Smoke Launchers" for temporary cover during assaults or retreats.
    • Countered by: Anti-vehicle units, heavy tanks.
  • Sentinel AA: Dedicated Anti-Air Vehicle.
    • Role: Anti-air defense, protecting ground forces from air attacks.
    • Strategy: Essential for countering Tempest Dynasty air units like Vipers and Stormhawks. Position them behind your main tank lines or near your Harvesters to provide air cover. Build in groups of 2-3 for effective air denial.
    • Countered by: Ground vehicles, concentrated anti-vehicle fire.

GDF Buildings

  • Construction Yard: The central hub of your GDF base.
    • Role: Deploys all other structures, cannot be rebuilt if destroyed. Acts as a core power generator.
    • Strategy: Protect at all costs. Its loss is an instant defeat. Expand your base by deploying "Power Plants" and "Refineries" first. Consider placing it behind a natural choke point or within range of defensive turrets. Its initial placement is critical for your base layout.
  • Power Plant: Generates power for your base.
    • Role: Provides essential power for all GDF structures and upgrades.
    • Strategy: Build enough Power Plants to avoid power deficits, which can cripple production and disable defenses. Place them strategically, as they are often targeted by enemy raids. Can be upgraded to "Advanced Power Plant" for increased output.
  • Refinery: Processes Tempest harvested from Tempest Fields.
    • Role: Converts raw Tempest into usable resources. Essential for economic growth.
    • Strategy: Build near Tempest Fields and assign Harvesters to them. Defend your Refineries and Harvesters vigorously, as they are prime targets for enemy raids. Multiple Refineries are key to a strong economy.
  • Barracks: Trains GDF infantry units.
    • Role:T Infantry production, infantry upgrades (e.g., "Grenade Launcher" for Riflemen, "Advanced Training" for veteran ranks).
    • Strategy: Build 2-3 Barracks early to maintain a steady stream of Riflemen Squads and Engineers. Research "Advanced Training" here to unlock veteran unit ranks and improved combat stats for all infantry.
  • War Factory: Produces GDF vehicles.
    • Role: Vehicle production, vehicle upgrades (e.g., "Composite Armor" for increased durability, "Advanced Targeting Systems" for Bulwark Tanks).
    • Strategy: Essential for Bulwark Tank, Grizzly APC, and Sentinel AA production. Research "Composite Armor" here to increase vehicle durability. Position near your front lines for faster unit deployment to the battlefield.
  • Airfield: Produces GDF air units.
    • Role: Air unit production (Vanguard Gunships), air unit upgrades (e.g., "Rocket Pods").
    • Strategy: Build when air superiority or air support is needed. Protect with anti-air defenses. Multiple Airfields can accelerate air unit production.
  • Guard Tower: Basic defensive turret.
    • Role: Anti-infantry, early vehicle deterrence, base perimeter defense.
    • Strategy: Place around your base perimeter, especially near resource nodes ("Tempest Fields") and choke points. Upgrade with "Machine Gun Emplacement" for increased damage against infantry and light vehicles. Can be upgraded to a "Heavy Guard Tower" for more armor and firepower.
  • AA Emplacement: Dedicated Anti-Air Defense Structure.
    • Role: Static anti-air defense for your base and resource operations.
    • Strategy: Crucial for protecting your base from enemy air raids. Place near Refineries, Construction Yard, and other high-value targets. Combine with Guard Towers for layered defense.
  • Research Lab: Unlocks advanced GDF technologies and units.
    • Role: Provides access to high-tier units and powerful global upgrades.
    • Strategy: Build this mid-to-late game to gain access to powerful units like the "Titan Mech" or advanced defensive technologies. Prioritize research based on your strategic needs and enemy composition.

Tempest Dynasty Roster

The Tempest Dynasty relies on advanced energy weapons, stealth, and highly mobile units. Their forces are often glass cannons, capable of immense damage and rapid assaults but vulnerable if caught unprepared. They favor precision strikes and technological superiority.

Tempest Dynasty Units

  • Storm Trooper: Elite infantry armed with energy rifles.
    • Role: Anti-infantry, anti-light vehicle, garrisoning structures.
    • Strategy: Their "Plasma Burst" ability (requires "Energy Amplifiers" upgrade at the Citadel) can devastate clustered infantry. Use their superior range and damage to kite slower GDF infantry. Garrison them in buildings for increased firepower and defensive bonuses. They are more expensive but significantly more effective than GDF Riflemen.
    • Countered by: Heavy vehicles, AoE attacks (e.g., GDF Artillery), concentrated machine gun fire.
  • Phantom Tank: Stealth-capable main battle tank, utilizing advanced cloaking technology.
    • Role: Harassment, hit-and-run tactics, anti-vehicle, disrupting enemy economy.
    • Strategy: Utilize its "Cloaking Field" (activated ability) to sneak past enemy defenses and target vulnerable structures or Harvesters. Uncloak to unleash devastating energy blasts, then re-cloak and retreat before reinforcements arrive. Best used in small, coordinated groups to pick off high-value targets. Requires careful micro-management.
    • Countered by: Detector units (e.g., GDF Sensor Array, Commando), AoE damage that can hit cloaked units, massed anti-tank fire once revealed.
  • Viper Drone: Fast, agile air unit with energy weapons.
    • Role: Scouting, anti-air, anti-light vehicle, harassing Harvesters.
    • Strategy: Excellent for early game map control and harassing GDF Harvesters. Their "Disruptor Beam" (requires "Advanced Power Cores" at the Air Nexus) can quickly dismantle enemy air units and light vehicles. Keep them moving to avoid concentrated anti-air fire. Can quickly clear out GDF Riflemen squads.
    • Countered by: Massed GDF Riflemen (with upgrades), Sentinel AA vehicles, Vanguard Gunships.
  • Infiltrator: Stealthy support infantry.
    • Role: Capturing neutral structures, sabotaging enemy buildings, scouting.
    • Strategy: Similar to the GDF Engineer but with inherent stealth. Use them to capture "Abandoned Research Labs" or "Communications Arrays" covertly. Can also plant "Sabotage Charges" on enemy buildings to disable them temporarily or deal damage. Keep them protected and utilize their stealth for maximum effect.
    • Countered by: Detector units, any offensive unit once revealed.
  • Scorcher: Mobile artillery unit.
    • Role: Long-range bombardment, anti-structure, anti-infantry, area denial.
    • Strategy: Use to shell enemy defensive lines, Harvesters, or production buildings from a safe distance. Their AoE attack is devastating against clustered infantry and light vehicles. Requires careful positioning and protection from direct attacks. Can deploy a "Plasma Field" for temporary area denial.
    • Countered by: Fast-moving units that can close the distance, air units, direct tank assaults.
  • Disruptor Squad: Specialized anti-vehicle infantry.
    • Role: High damage anti-vehicle, ambushes.
    • Strategy: These units excel at destroying GDF tanks and heavy vehicles. Hide them in cover or garrison them in buildings to ambush approaching enemy armor. Their "Energy Barrage" ability can quickly melt even the heaviest GDF tanks. Vulnerable in open combat.
    • Countered by: Anti-infantry units, AoE attacks, air units.

Tempest Dynasty Buildings

  • Nexus Core: The heart of your Tempest Dynasty operations.
    • Role: Deploys all other structures, generates core power. Critical to your economy and production.
    • Strategy: Its loss is catastrophic. Consider building "Shield Generators" nearby for added protection. Its initial placement is vital for your base's defensibility and resource access.
  • Conduit: Generates power for your base.
    • Role: Provides essential power for all Tempest Dynasty structures and upgrades.
    • Strategy: Build enough Conduits to avoid power deficits. They can be upgraded to "Advanced Conduits" for increased output. Place them strategically, as they are often targeted.
  • Harvester Drone Bay: Produces and houses Harvester Drones.
    • Role: Produces Harvester Drones to collect Tempest. Essential for economic growth.
    • Strategy: Build near Tempest Fields. Harvester Drones are faster and more agile than GDF Harvesters but are also more fragile. Defend them vigorously. Multiple Harvester Drone Bays are key to a strong economy.
  • Citadel: Trains Tempest Dynasty infantry.
    • Role: Infantry production, infantry upgrades (e.g., "Energy Amplifiers" for Storm Troopers, "Neural Enhancements" for improved speed and vision).
    • Strategy: Build multiple Citadels for rapid Storm Trooper and Disruptor Squad deployment. Research "Neural Enhancements" here to improve infantry speed and vision, crucial for hit-and-run tactics.
  • War Spire: Produces Tempest Dynasty vehicles.
    • Role:T Vehicle production, vehicle upgrades (e.g., "Adaptive Shielding" for temporary invulnerability, "Cloaking Field" for Phantom Tanks).
    • Strategy: Essential for Phantom Tank, Scorcher, and other advanced vehicle production. Research "Adaptive Shielding" here to give vehicles a temporary invulnerability ability, perfect for aggressive pushes.
  • Air Nexus: Produces Tempest Dynasty air units.
    • Role: Air unit production (Viper Drones, Stormhawks), air unit upgrades (e.g., "Advanced Power Cores").
    • Strategy: Build when air superiority or air support is needed. Protect with anti-air defenses. Multiple Air Nexuses can accelerate air unit production.
  • Plasma Cannon: Advanced defensive turret.
    • Role: Anti-vehicle, anti-structure, base defense.
    • Strategy: Offers superior firepower compared to GDF Guard Towers. Place at strategic choke points and around your Nexus Core. Upgrade with "Overcharge Beam" for increased damage and range, making it a formidable threat to even heavy GDF tanks.
  • Anti-Air Turret: Dedicated Anti-Air Defense Structure.
    • Role: Static anti-air defense for your base and resource operations.
    • Strategy: Crucial for protecting your base from GDF air raids. Place near Harvester Drone Bays, Nexus Core, and other high-value targets. Combine with Plasma Cannons for layered defense.
  • Research Matrix: Unlocks advanced Tempest Dynasty technologies and units.
    • Role: Provides access to high-tier units and powerful global upgrades.
    • Strategy: Build this mid-to-late game to gain access to powerful units like the "Stormhawk" or advanced stealth technologies. Prioritize research based on your strategic needs and enemy composition.

Neutral Structures & Resources

Understanding and controlling neutral elements on the map is crucial for both factions, providing strategic advantages and additional resources.

  • Tempest Fields: The primary resource nodes scattered across the map.
    • Role: Source of Tempest, the game's main currency, essential for building units and structures.
    • Strategy: Secure these early with "Refineries" (GDF) or "Harvester Drone Bays" (Tempest Dynasty) and their respective Harvesters. Defend them vigorously with defensive structures and mobile units, as they are prime targets for enemy raids. Losing control of Tempest Fields can cripple your economy.
  • Civilian Structures: Buildings like "Abandoned Habitation," "Industrial Complex," or "Small Townhouses."
    • Role: Provide garrison points for infantry, offering significant defensive bonuses, increased line of sight, and a damage boost for units inside.
    • Strategy: Garrison infantry inside these structures to create strong defensive positions, especially at choke points, near Tempest Fields, or along common enemy attack routes. Infantry inside are protected from direct attacks and gain a significant damage bonus, making them formidable against early pushes.
  • Tech Buildings: Specialized neutral structures (e.g., "Abandoned Research Lab," "Communications Array," "Medical Bay," "Supply Depot").
    • Role: Provide unique global buffs, unlock special units/abilities, or grant continuous resource income when captured.
    • Strategy: Capture these with an Engineer (GDF) or Infiltrator (Tempest Dynasty). Prioritize capturing them early in the game, as their benefits can turn the tide of battle. For instance, capturing a "Medical Bay" might grant all your infantry passive healing, while a "Supply Depot" could provide a steady trickle of resources. A "Communications Array" might reveal enemy movements on the minimap. These are high-value targets and should be defended once captured.
  • Observation Post: A neutral structure that grants extended vision over a large area when captured.
    • Role: Provides crucial intelligence on enemy movements and base layout.
    • Strategy: Capture early to gain map control and scout enemy expansions or attack routes. Defend it, as losing vision can put you at a significant disadvantage.
  • Reinforcement Point: A neutral structure that, when captured, allows you to call in a limited number of free or discounted units.
    • Role: Provides a temporary boost to your army or a cost-effective way to replace losses.
    • Strategy: Capture this strategically, especially before a major push or after sustaining heavy losses. The units provided can vary and might include specialized forces not normally available.