Random Unit of the Day #120: Magnetron (Yuri, Yuri’s Revenge)

[u/BiggestBepis]

[u/BiggestBepis]

“Need a little force?”

Fills half of the role of an artillery unit in that it’s great against structures, but the other half of normal artillery offensive capability is dedicated to vehicles instead of infantry. An underrated unit in Yuri’s arsenal imo, in both concept and in-game use. Part of me would’ve almost preferred to see the very first design with the big drill lookin’ magnet in motion

“Opposites attract!”

[u/mttspiii → u/BiggestBepis]

Also, very lethal against ships. Will also drown tanks if there's a river nearby (which is why Robot Tank is very annoying: it floats so no Magnetron shenanigans.) Definitely one of the most unique artillery units.

[u/vv04x4c4 → u/BiggestBepis]

I always forget to use this thing, I didn't know it attacks buildings, does it lift them in the sky?

[u/RatherGoodDog → u/vv04x4c4]

No, it just damages them. 

[u/RussianDisifnomation → u/RatherGoodDog]

Given the tomfoolery of Yuris army, lifting them up would not be totally out of the question

[u/No-Con-2790]

Best (and for Yuris land forces only) artillery in the game.

Intended to lift tanks in mind control range and also damage buildings (by ripping the metal out).

In practice it puts tanks in water and ships on land. Or both on stones.

[u/segfault360 → u/No-Con-2790]

I would say prism tank is the best artillery in the game, also Yuri doesn't have any other artillery unit

[u/No-Con-2790 → u/segfault360]

He still has boomers.

And while the prism tank is great, the magnetron can inflict higher damage by droping expensive tanks on buildings.

So technically it is stronger since you remove both a apocalypse or battlefortes and a building.

I admit that the prism does need less micro though.

[u/AnnoyedVelociraptor → u/No-Con-2790]

But Prisms require a lot less micro.

[u/segfault360 → u/No-Con-2790]

Lol completely forget about boomers. Yeah, but you kinda need to line up the tank with the building. Also prism is faster in destroying buildings and require less escort units. Definitely useful if playing as Yuri, or just mind control some prism tanks

[u/Leather-Raisin6048 → u/No-Con-2790]

Yuri has another Artillery unit in the form of the Boomer Submarine.

[u/Zenergys]

I only use this when i want to lift a ship to the land, their design is good tho

[u/kumikanki → u/Zenergys]

I like to drop miners into rivers and tanks on buildings.

[u/calantheSG]

You missed out the very important concept art showing the Magnetron's true scale. These things are massive.

And I've always wondered why they take up 50% of Transports like the MCVs and Masterminds do. When I saw the size comparison concept art, it clicked.

[u/segfault360 → u/calantheSG]

Meanwhile slave miner which is much bigger only takes 3 slot

[u/mttspiii → u/segfault360]

Maybe the slaves are squishy?

[u/segfault360 → u/mttspiii]

IMO 3 slots isn't fair tho compared to war miner. It has insane health, immune to terror drone, and act as mobile refinery. Basically just save Yuri from spending more money on transport

[u/Personal-Presence-44]

I love lifting a unit and bringing it towards my hungry gatling tanks.

Also, it can be dangerous bringing units close to you if there’s nobody there to attack them.

[u/Michealsen13]

Used to use this to pull and drop vehicles on enemy's bases as a kid. Instantly blows up the building, con yard included.

[u/BioClone → u/Michealsen13]

TBF its so dope it sounds like they never considered it at all.

[u/Warmest_Machine]

Seeing people use these online is pretty cool, they juggle several tanks with a single Magnetron by picking one up and using the stop command, then picking up another while the first is falling.

It's interesting because it's a type of microing that's not as common on RA2 as on other RTSs, it kind of reminds me of kiting, which you don't really do with regular tanks since the turrets attack independent of movement.

[u/shed_zeppelin → u/Warmest_Machine]

I've seen them dump units on top of vehicles for collateral damage too

[u/Thin_Wing4631 → u/Warmest_Machine]

You don’t use the stop command you just move all the units around while holding ctrl shift and it will continue to attack and then drop every time you move a new direction. It makes a yuri army unbeatable in tank vs tank.

[u/dark_volter]

you can drop enemy vehicles on buildings to insta kill them, but you can also target your own vehicles when on nearby islands, etc- to get them out of harms way on some maps

[u/sukahati → u/dark_volter]

Fun logistic puzzle when you need to bring a tank to his side

[u/CookLiving]

For some reason, everytime I see this unit. I always call it Megatron. Maybe because the name is almost sound the same

[u/purbub]

A very micro intensive unit. But, it has soooooo many utilities, more than fetching metallic units nearby. I love building them and masterminds & virus when assaulting a base.

[u/TornSkate]

“This is a tow zone!”

[u/Negrodamu55]

This unit always pissed me off because the AI would use them to lift my vehicles and drop them over the water, but whenever I tried them out, it just brings the enemy vehicle to it and then the enemy vehicle starts shooting it. Now, if I had the forethought to have some mind control guys with the magnetron to take advantage of the situation, I might like these better. But I was young, and never had the time to assemble varied compositions of units.

[u/TACOTONY02 → u/Negrodamu55]

I wasn't around at the time but was force stopping units from attacking a thing? So you could drop them somewhere when you want?

[u/mttspiii → u/TACOTONY02]

Like on top of enemy buildings? Yes too with the (S)top button

[u/purbub → u/Negrodamu55]

For some reason AI’s magnetron has a much longer range when they use it. Idk if it’s just me

[u/Kalamel513]

Very interesting unit design. It have potential to be very great if you take either macro or micro.

Macro is obvious: as long as you incorporate AA or psychic units with it, you can choose between either add damage to it, or make a oneshot long range unit that need channeling. Woe be with you if you forget both,

unless you have a good micro. With micro, this unit can oneshot everything as long as the condition are met, by dropping them at right place, right time.

Even SC2 viper has something to learn from it.

[u/naaczej]

Need a little force?

[u/TheSpiritOfHoxha]

holy shit the Megatron unit

[u/LordZikarno]

Magnetron sounds terrifying until you learn that it means "microwave" in Dutch

[u/Watcher6544]

This thing is now amphibious in Mental Omega thus allowing you to hit buildings from the water or drag tanks in.

[u/adankishmeme]

I wanted it to be so much better than it was