Mantis
From Command and Conquer Wiki
| Black Hand Mantis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Weaponry | SAM missiles |
| Armour | Light |
| Type | Anti-aircraft Tank |
| Faction | Nod Black Hand |
The Mantis is a support droid available to the Black Hand designed specifically for anti-air defense to fill the gap left after the cult rejected optic camouflage technology, including the stealth tank. It has a large capacity anti-air missile battery (which can be upgraded to Tiberium core missiles) and a set of sophisticated sensors, allowing it to detect any cloaked vehicles or infantry. When massed in sufficent numbers, it is more than capable of taking on Scrin warships.
While the Mantis lacks the optic camouflage and the ability to attack ground-based targets that the stealth tank has, it is less expensive than and requires far less technology to build.
Interestingly, it's widely used by the Black Hand, despite it loathing robotics.
[edit] Assessment
Advantages:
- Probably the single most effective anti-aircraft unit in the entire war, rivalled only by the Slingshot.
- Can detect stealthed units.
- Upgradable with Tiberium Core missiles.
- Relatively fast, cheap and available at Tier 2.
- Damage against aircraft is very devastating that even Motherships feared it.
Disadvantages:
- Cannot attack ground units but can crush infantry.
- Light armour.
- Isn't stealthed itself.
- Only available to Black Hand
