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Urrrah!
—An excited Syckle driver

The Syckle is a Soviet stolen tech unit acquired by infiltrating an Epsilon Pandora Hub and Construction Yard. It is the fastest ground unit ever seen in the war.

The Syckle is armed with a pair of rad cannons similar to that of the Desolator's and has a miniature Iron Curtain Device that makes it briefly invulnerable.

Official description[]

The Syckle is not so much an example of stolen or reverse-engineered technology, as it is a study of the Epsilon's design philosophies and tactics. The Syckle is a marriage of the speed and versatility of the Epsilon's tanks, with the Soviet firepower, resulting in a vehicle that excels in harassment and chasing down enemy units. Two powerful rad cannons and one-of-a-kind mobile Iron Curtain device make the Syckle an almost perennial threat to the Epsilon tank divisions and infantry squads, and is quite possibly one of the fastest hit'n'run units out there, especially when it can't be damaged during the "run" part of it.

But the truth probably is, the Soviets wanted to have a cool bike of their own.[1]

Overview[]

Faster than a flying Foxtrot, the Syckle is incontestably the fastest land vehicle in the Soviet arsenal. Bearing twice the firepower of a Desolator with its dual rad cannons, it can easily pursue and dispatch most enemy ground forces before they can get into range, considering proper micromanagement is at play. It is very easy to ferry large numbers of them at once using Zubrs and, interestingly enough, infantry transports such as Borillos or Armadillos. What's worse for the enemies of the Union is that its armaments can hit vehicles stationed in Tank Bunkers; nothing on the ground is safe from the Syckle!

Devious Soviet generals can use an Iron Curtained Syckle, or several, in order to draw fire from enemy base defenses. While they are distracted, Soviet forces can destroy them with little fear of retaliation, save for when the enemy commander is micromanaging defenses. As the Syckle stands still, it can permanently remain under the Iron Curtain effect, complimenting this strategy even more.

Its incredible speed didn‘t come without a cost, however. It is barely sturdy enough to survive a few shots from most anti-vehicle weapons, so Soviet commanders must take care and pay close attention to their health to know when to pull them out of danger. With such a heavy price tag, using them expendably is simply not an option in most cases.

Appearances[]

Challenges[]

Assessment[]

Pros Cons
  • Very effective against ground targets, especially infantry.
  • Moves extremely fast.
  • Its extreme speed, rate of fire and attack range allows it to overtake, outmaneuver and then obliterate enemy units.
  • Twice the firepower of a Desolator.
  • Mobile Iron Curtain allows it to make speedy getaways without suffering damage.
  • Can enter smaller transports as it only takes 2 units of space.
  • Can self-repair.
  • Mobile Iron Curtain keeps it permanently invulnerable as long as it does not move or attack.
  • Can clear Epsilon Tank Bunkers.
  • Expensive ($2000).
  • Very fragile for its hefty price tag.
  • Cannot attack air units and structures.
  • Late game unit, only available after infiltrating an Epsilon Pandora Hub and Conyard.
  • Mobile Iron Curtain lasts for a very short duration.
  • While shielded, it cannot attack enemy units.

Behind the scenes[]

  • The Syckle replaced the scrapped Iron Fist that was supposed to appear in version 3.0. In fact, the Syckle utilizes the mobile Iron Curtain mechanic from the Iron Fist. However, the Syckle's engine doesn't overheat when activating the mobile Iron Curtain that would supposedly damage it, unlike the Iron Fist's intended weakness.
  • The Syckle has another recorded voiceset with the same quotes but it remained unused in the game files, possibly a placeholder during development. A link for the voiceset can be found here. This voiceset has been removed from the game files as of version 3.3.6.

See also[]

Other Soviet stolen tech units:

External links[]

References[]

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