Databank Download: Kraken, Super Tactical Droid, & B2 Battle Droids

SWP05Kraken, Super Tactical Droid, & B2 Battle Droids

In this Databank Download, we’re taking a look at Kraken, Super Tactical Droid™, accompanied by the advanced B2 Battle Droids™ from the Appetite for Destruction Squad Pack for Star Wars™: Shatterpoint.

As anyone who has fought them knows all too well, there are many tiers of battle droids, some of them only dangerous in large numbers, but others that are singularly formidable and deadly. The droids in this preview most certainly fall into the second category, representing some of the better assets possessed by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Separatist forces relied heavily on advanced droids to shore up their professional military, with Kraken being an example of a special military strategic and tactics droid. Kraken has the capability of leading large numbers of fighting units and specializes in bringing out the full capabilities of battle droids. Kraken had the honor of serving none other than Count Dooku™ in the conflicts between the Separatist Alliance and the Republic, where he fought with some distinction.

Whenever he is deployed in battle, Kraken will invariably be accompanied by numerous other battle droids, serving as the hub of their Tactical Network. This enables Kraken to briefly take control over another nearby battle droid, moving them into a defensive position, or enabling them to perform an immediate attack. This combines well with his tactic Do Not Let Them Escape which can provide some additional movement, either advancing on the enemy to exploit an attack which would otherwise be out of range, or simply to close on an objective.

As one would expect of such a tactical droid, he can perform a Complete Analysis of the battlefield situation, gaining greater flexibility in using the Order Card reserve option. One of the best uses of Kraken is to use him to personally seize a vital objective, facilitated by flanking battle droids. Conqueror’s Resolve bolsters him in these situations, letting him gain Protection and Steadfast, which reduces incoming damage and makes him harder to Shove out of position.

Kraken’s Ruthless Logic Stance demonstrates how he is a versatile and formidable adversary, albeit one that is specialized in long-ranged attacks using his E-5 Blaster Rifle. This weapon has an excellent Attack Expertise Chart, and the Stance has a strong Combat Tree, offering options to Shove or Pin or use an Active ability, in addition to dealing potentially considerable damage. And while Kraken is less formidable in melee, he can still hold his own against weaker troops. It’s worth noting that Kraken is quite durable and can therefore soak up quite a bit of damage before being wounded, particularly if defending an objective. His Self-Preservation instincts are shown with a solid Defense Expertise Chart, which includes at the upper end a vital repositioning option.

A pair of B2 Battle Droids is a sight no Galactic Republic soldier is eager to see advancing on his position. These heavily armored droids can take some punishment during their Relentless Advance, laying down powerful coordinated Saturation Fire as they come. This type of fire is particularly effective at clearing away adversaries attempting to secure objectives. The Enhanced Blast Armor shielding the upper torsos of these droids reduces incoming fire, necessitating focused and sustained fire to hinder or eliminate them.

Suppression Protocol, the basic Stance of the B2 Battle Droids, is a straightforward and aggressive one which places less emphasis on defense. Ideal for their role in clearing enemy objectives, the B2’s Wrist-Mounted Blaster can Shove, Pin, or Expose enemies while also offering tremendous potential damage output, capable of putting the hurt even on formidable adversaries like Jedi. And while not intended as a melee machine, the B2 Battle Droid can still bash enemies that close on it and are still difficult to incapacitate within the protection of their armored shells.

That’s it for our first look at Kraken and the B2 Battle Droids! Accept no lesser droid substitutions! Or rather, take all the droids at the same time!

Make sure to check back for our next Star Wars: Shatterpoint Unit preview, where we give you a first look at how your favorite characters from the Star Wars galaxy translate into the gameplay of Star Wars: Shatterpoint. Pre-order your own copy of the Appetite for Destruction Squad Pack at your local game store or through the webstore today.

Until next time, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!