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Disambig
For Rivals variant, see Shatterer (Rivals).

Engage sonics!
- Shatterer

The Shatterer is a GDI support vehicle available only in Kane's Wrath.

Background[]

The Shatterer was something of the magnum opus of GDI's many research divisions, a testament to their deep advances into various scientific fields. Designed with Tiberium abatement in mind, the Shatterer boasted an advanced HoverTech drive for mobility and flexibility accompanied by a Sonic Emitter-derived cannon designed to propel concentrated waves of sonic energy deep into Tiberium fields.[1] To preserve its mobility, the vehicle's armor was kept relatively light. While this meant they were relegated to a support capacity, they served exceptionally in this respect: the frequency used by GDI's harmonic resonance technology was equally effective against organics as it was against Tiberium it was originally designed to eradicate.

Following the unexpected attack on GDI installations across the globe and the destruction of the GDSS Philadelphia by a seemingly long-deceased Nod, GDI scrambled to recover their bearings and utilize any advantage they possessed. The Shatterers, long used only for breaking down Tiberium crystals, were repurposed for military use. The nature of its weapon made them invaluable at dispersing the hordes drawn from the masses that the Brotherhood commanded, and later, breaking down the Tiberium-based physiology of the Scrin's fiercest warriors. It was through this that, despite their light armor and a speed no better than that of GDI's main battle tank, Shatterer crews proved themselves time and time again to be an invaluable ally both on and off the battlefield.[2]

GDI's specialized Tiberium abatement division, dubbed ZOCOM, used a derivative of the Shatterer nicknamed the "Zone Shatterer". This version possessed even greater amounts of sonic-related apparatuses, and was capable of drawing upon its reserves to fire an even more powerful and concentrated sonic wave at the cost of a temporary lapse in the Zone Shatterer's operational function. The Steel Talons, on the other hand, completely abstained from deploying these weapons platforms in favor of more conventional armament.

The Shatterer eventually met its end after Nod allied with GDI during the Incursion War, which saw a temporary alliance between the two longstanding rivals to solve the spread of Tiberium - a problem that was only exacerbated by the two (potentially three) Liquid Tiberium explosions of the previous conflict. With the development of the Tiberium-absorbing TCN Nodes by the newfound alliance, Shatterers were no longer needed to break down the already-receding Tiberium fields, and they and their counterparts were thusly retired. The mobility of modern combat units also meant that their slower sonic weapon could only do so much against them, and they ultimately were condemned to the history books alongside the ZOCOM division they once served with distinction.

Game Unit[]

The sonic wave was relatively slow compared to other weapons, which made the Shatterer more useful against slow moving/larger units or stationary targets, like buildings. Heavier units were also able to withstand the sonic blast for a while, though not forever. The wave's speed and its heavy bulk made the hovertank vulnerable to fast units, making escorts (or manual control) necessary against competent enemies. Also, the Shatterer's fixed turret meant that they were both unable to fire on the move, and that they had to rotate to face their target before releasing a blast. Much like many other units, they also had no defense against aerial units, a weakness compounded by their thin armor. The Shatterer was also somewhat expensive, at 1500 credits.

However, the Shatterer had several advantages that made it an effective weapon when used right. It was capable of damaging all units that its shockwave hit, making it effective at destroying entire swarms of lightly armored units, infantry, and closely-built structures. This also made Shatterers effective in urban settings, as they could simply firing through the buildings to hit other units, or demolish other buildings that were occupied by the enemy without exposing themselves to unnecessary fire.

To cap all of it off, their sonic weapon was largely effective against anything that the sonic wave could hit - most infantry would collapse from contact alone, and vehicles and structures suffered serious damage when they were hit. This unusual trait allowed the vehicle to be a valuable multipurpose weapon when used in the right hands.

Abilities[]

Changelog[]

Quotes[]

When created[]

  • Sonic tank, ready to go!
  • Shatterer ready!

When selected[]

  • Resonance status green!
  • Sonics ready!
  • Shatterer, standing by!
  • Sonics powered up!
  • Ready for battle!

When moving[]

  • Got it!
  • HoverTech active!
  • Move out!
  • Move in!
  • On the way!

When ordered to attack[]

  • Tracking 'em down!
  • Target coordinates acquired!
  • Moving to arc position!
  • Attack position confirmed!

When attacking[]

  • Blow 'em away!
  • Engage sonics!
  • I like the sound of that!
  • Let's break 'em down!
  • We have a target!
  • We've got 'em now!

In combat[]

  • Keep firing!
  • We're taking fire!
  • We've got 'em in our sight!
  • Checking calibrations!
  • Keep it safe!

When retreating[]

  • Let's get outta here!
  • Retreat!

Trivia[]

  • This unit is known as the Thunderer (Громовержец) in the Russian localization of the game.
  • Though the Shatterer's sonic weapon was mounted on HoverTech for mobility (especially in dangerous Red Zones), the technology was oddly noted to be prone to malfunction in the presence of Ion Storm - many of which occur in said Red Zones.
  • Unlike its Nod and Scrin counterparts, Shatterers could not clear garrisons, though they were capable of safely demolishing them in their own way.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

References[]

  1. Electronic Arts Los Angeles, Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath. Intelligence Database: Nod Weaponry, "GDI Shatterer".
  2. 2008-03-11. Unit Spotlight: The Shatterer. Mirror: Unit Spotlight: The Shatterer. Command & Conquer official website. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
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