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ETHEREAL ABILITIES
For The Greater Good –
This passive ability will boost the health, morale, and attacking power of
all Tau units on the map. This ability stays in effect until the Ethereal who used it is killed, at which
point all Tau units on the map experience a temporary, but dramatic, drop in health, morale, and
attacking power.
H
olo-Projection (Hot Key: H) –
This diversionary tactic allows an Ethereal to clone any Tau unit.
These clones, while incapable of attacking the enemy, can absorb a modest amount of damage,
making them excellent distraction units while you prepare a more power assault.
S
ummon Elite Bodyguards (Hot Key: S) –
Even though the Ethereal is fairly ineffective in combat,
he can still summon an elite squad of Tau bodyguards. These fanatical bodyguards have more
attack power than regular Tau Fire Warriors, and can absorb more damage than their
counterparts.
A
ir Caste Strike (Hot Key: B) –
For extreme attacks, the Ethereal can summon an aerial attack
from the Air Caste. The resulting attack deals tremendous damage to the targeted area.
TAU INFANTRY ABILITIES
Photon Grenade (Hot Key: G) –
Fire Warrior squad leaders have the ability to throw Photon
Grenades. Photon Grenades do heavy damage to infantry in an area of effect, and disrupt
formations by throwing units back.
E
MP Grenade (Hot Key: E) –
Stealth Team squad leaders have the ability to throw EMP Grenades.
EMP Grenades temporarily disable the circuitry of vehicles and buildings, preventing them from
firing or moving for a short period of time.
I
nfiltration Fire –
This ability allows Tau Stealthsuits to fire while infiltrated, increasing their role
as a stealth and reconnaissance unit. This is not an upgrade, but an innate ability.
D
etect Infiltrati
on –
A passive ability which allows Vespid Stingwings and Tau Pathfinders to
better detect enemy stealth units.
M
ark Squad (Hot Key: M) –
To better aid their compatriots, the Tau Pathfinder can mark enemy
targets. Once marked, other Tau infantry can more accurately target those enemies.
C
annibalism (Hot Key: C) –
Kroot Carnivores can cannibalize the corpses of defeated enemies.
Each body consumed will increase the maximum health of all Kroot Carnivores.
F
eral Leap (Hot Key: F) –
Feral Leap gives both Kroot Hounds and Carnivores the enhanced ability
to leap at their foes from greater distances, stunning the target while doing considerable
damage.
S
hred (H
ot Key: D) –
This ability allows Vespid Stingwings to shred the armor from enemy
buildings with their diamond-hard claws.
E
ntrench (Hot Key: E) –
This ability allows the Broadside to forfeit mobility in order to deploy its
twin-mounted rail guns.
TAU VEHICLE ABILITIES
Launch Harbinger Drones (Hot Key: S) –
The Drone Harbinger can release a set of drones to
attack enemies directly. The Drones can only attack for a limited amount of time before falling to
the ground inert from lack of power.
M
issile Barrage (Hot Key: B) –
The Skyray has the ability to unleash all of its missiles onto a
concentrated area in a massive burst of destruction.
B
urrow (Hot Key: B) –
Drone squads can use this ability while waiting for unsuspecting enemies
to pass by.
VEHICLE BEACON (HOT KEY: V)
The Vehicle Beacon allows you to call in the use of Tau vehicles, including the
Devilfish Troop Carrier, Skyray Missile Gunships, Drone Harbingers, Drone
Squads, and Hammerhead Gunships.
THERMO PLASMA GENERATOR (HOT KEY: T)
The Thermo Plasma Generator operates much like the regular Plasma Generator,
but must be erected directly on a Slag Deposit. Once built, the structure will let
you accumulate Power resources at a much higher rate, but like its Plasma
Generator counterpart, it is very unstable. Once destroyed, it will damage any
nearby unit or structure.
MONT’KA COMMAND POST (HOT KEY: M)
The Mont’ka Command Post guides the Tau in the ways of the Mont’ka, or the
“killing blow.” The structure is needed to requisition XV8 Crisis Suits,
Hammerhead Gunships, as well as build the Coalition Center structure. The
building also allows you to research more advanced upgrades for your units. If
you choose to build a Mont’ka Command Post, you are prohibited from building a
Kauyon Command Post.
KAUYON COMMAND POST (HOT KEY: K)
The Kauyon Command post guides the Tau in the ways of the “patient hunter.” The
structure allows you to requisition both Kroot hounds and Krootox, research more
advanced upgrades for your units, as well as build a Coalition Center. Once built,
you are prohibited from building a Mont’ka Command Post.
COALITION CENTER (HOT KEY: S)
The building of this structure further pushes the Tau in their quest for The Greater
Good. The Coalition Center allows you to requisition the Tau Ethereal, and is also
required for the creation of the Greater Knarloc.
TAU EMPIRE UNIT ABILITIES
While the Tau have less Commander-type abilities, they do feature a wider variety of abilities that
take in to account their large number of unit types. Abilities can be researched to increase not
only Tau units, but also Kroot and Vespid units.
TAU COMMANDER ABILITIES
Snare Trap (Hot Key: N) –
The Tau Commander can release a Snare Trap that, once triggered, will
stun and temporarily immobilize any nearby enemy units.
T
arget Acquired (Hot Key: G) –
To increase his attack damage, the Tau Commander can charge
his main weapon for a powerful attack that targets a single unit.
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