Xerxes
| Xerxes | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Faction | Clan | |
| Ticket cost: | 13 upon destruction | |
| Tier: | 15 | |
| Tonnage: | 85 tons | |
| Variant Armament | ||
| Variant | Weapons | Equipment |
| Prime: Class: Attacker Price: 139 000 CBills Total Armor: 26 837 Maneuverability: 3 Max Speed: 481 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| A: Class: Bomber Price: 122 750 CBills Total Armor: 29 687 Maneuverability: 2.4 Max Speed: 448 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| B: Class: Attacker Price: 119 300 CBills Total Armor: 26 837 Maneuverability: 3 Max Speed: 481 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| C: Class: Bomber Price: 134 500 CBills Total Armor: 29 687 Maneuverability: 2.4 Max Speed: 448 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| D: Class: Attacker Price: 128 500 CBills Total Armor: 26 837 Maneuverability: 3 Max Speed: 481 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| E: Class: Bomber Price: 128 500 CBills Total Armor: 29 687 Maneuverability: 2.4 Max Speed: 448 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| F: Class: Attacker Price: 124 000 CBills Total Armor: 26 837 Maneuverability: 3 Max Speed: 481 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| G: Class: Bomber Price: 143 500 CBills Total Armor: 29 687 Maneuverability: 2.4 Max Speed: 448 km/h Opt. Turning: |
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| Armor Points Distribution | ||
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All stats current as of release 0.15.3
The Xerxes was a canceled Clan Aerospace fighter that could not be finished before the 0.7.0 final beta release.
However, since development restarted, the Xerxes was released in the 0.8.3 patch in 2017. It supercedes the Visigoth as the heaviest Clan aerospace fighter by a large margin, as many variants of the Xerxes carry immense anti-ground firepower in the form of direct-fire weapons such as the air UAC20 and a significant payload of bombs for finishing off damaged targets. In this regard, it is very similar to the Shiva - lethal to unwary ground units, yet helpless against enemy aerospace assets. Every variant boast Rear Firing Laser.
Contents
Roles and Gameplay Hints
Prime
One of the deadliest aerospace fighters in MWLL, the Prime variant makes use of two air UAC20s to deliver crushing firepower against any ground assets caught in its strafing run. Two ER Large Lasers provide some additional damage when lining up a pass, while three High-Explosive Bombs are excellent for delivering the killing blow or for busting targets trying to hide from the rain of shells. With such incredible firepower, this Xerxes tends to be a player favorite. Of course, not every aircraft can be without flaws: The lack of any spare tonnage does mean that the Xerxes Prime is forced to make resupply trips quite often, and the exclusively anti-ground focus of its armament means enemy aerospace fighters can pose a significant threat to it.
Variant A
With its two Air LRM10s, two Air LRM15s, and two ER Large Lasers, the Xerxes A can deliver a punishing blow from afar and with impunity. When working together with a spotter using TAG or NARC, its bomb payload of three Laser-Guided Bombs can together deal devastating damage to distracted or unwary ground targets. A pair of Clantech Air ER Medium Lasers are the only backup weapons, offering light close- to medium-range firepower in the event anything survives the bomber's initial bombardment or another aircraft attempts to intercept it. Nine Double Heat Sinks can just barely keep heat in check, while six free tons for ammo can give the Xerxes A up to two extra bombing runs if its pilot chooses to use all three bombs at once each run. An extra ton of armor helps maintain this bomber's presence in the skies, and a Beagle Active Probe allows it to detect enemies from 1200 meters away and lock its LRMs slightly faster.
Variant B - "Apep"
Simply lock your thirty Standard Air ATMs and let loose – they will deal tons of damage, provided the enemy hasn't reached cover. Three Cluster Bombs round out the Apep's air-to-ground attack capabilities, while a pair of Heavy Medium and Heavy Small Lasers provide some form of anti-air deterrence. The lack of spare tonnage does force this variant to make rearm trips often.
Variant C - "Storm"
Two Air LBX10s with two Air CERPPCs, wrapped in the fiery explosions of up to nine High Explosive Bombs. The bow tie of this package is a pair of Air CMPLs, providing additional anti-ground and minor anti-air damage. This variant is quite an interesting – if niche - pick on cold maps and, thanks to its good bomb payload, can deal massive damage in one run before having to rearm.
Variant D
A loadout consisting of two Air Gauss Rifles paired with two Air CLPLs and three Laser-Guided Bombs makes for an effective variant when the enemy team decides to stand still. With its attacker profile, this variant's loadout is also suitable for fighting off other aircraft.
Variant E
A budget Xerxes Prime: Two Air UAC10s, four Air CERML and twelve Air SSRMs, and the capability to carry up to nine High Explosive Bombs. Additionally, it also mounts GECM, making it easier to approach enemy ground units virtually undetected from up to 500m away, and is thereby able to clear AA and other ground targets with relative ease.
Variant F
A classic example of an attacker aircraft, the Xerxes F wields - as its only long-range weapons - four Air Ultra AC5s, which can provide ample firepower from range as it lines up a strafing run and closes in on its target. Once it's dropped altitude to just above the target, this attacker can unleash a devastating volley of twenty individual SRMs from its two Air SRM4s and two Air SRM6s. As the Xerxes F nears the end of its run, it can call upon three Cluster Bombs to ensure anything left in its wake is thoroughly obliterated. Of course, all this raw damage output potential is balanced by an absence of any electronic warfare equipment or spare tonnage for ammunition, making this variant vulnerable to easy radar detection and forcing it to make frequent resupply trips. Two Double Heat Sinks keep heat under control.
Variant G - "Suplex"
Two HAG20s, two Air CERLLs, GECM, and BHP make this variant the most expensive of the ASF for when you've pissed off the enemy team with ASFs hard enough for them to put out a few huits and partisans on the field. Hit them with the HAG20s from 1250-900m under the cover of GECM, and BHP to spot them better yourself. Opening up that dual HAG20 on unsuspecting enemy fighters is also effective. Additionally, the Suplex can carry a total of six Cluster Bombs for finishing off crippled assets, and has two Air CERMLs for some extra all-purpose punch.
Canon
The Xerxes is an 85 ton second-line air supremacy Aerospace Fighter, nicknamed the Hunchback IIC of the skies. Its main role was to bring down enemy aerospace quickly, its heavy armor allowing it to survive prolonged engagements against more agile assets, though it was also a deadly ground attack fighter capable of crippling Mechs. Designed by Clan Smoke Jaguar, the Xerxes mounts two UAC20 on its wings and 2 ERLL, making it able to strip off enormous amounts of armor in a single pass. A squadron of Xerxes can easily bring destruction to any unit that managed to withstand its first strike. It also saw use in space battles, where its immense array of weapons could tear away the main armor of DropShips with other fighters finishing what was left. After the annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar, Clan Hell's Horses captured the factory where the Xerxes was being built, leading to a variant mounting two ERLL and two Gauss Rifles.
Date Introduced 2827 during the Era known as "Early Succession War" (2781 - 2900) - Unit Role: Dogfighter
