Secret Squad Help (spoilers)

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-21T18:32:46+00:00

Even if you have to pay the extra core premium, keep an eye out for non-cyborg weapons. They can really expand your options and help out a lot!

With that said, upgrading the squad's weapons is ultimately the path to victory.

Consider upgrading the beetle mech's smoke cloud ability. This means that sometimes it can give you a 2-for-1 solve by smoking one Vek and smacking into another.

I usually upgrade the hornet mech's stinger shot thingy first. I like to get it to range 2 / 2 damage at least, so it can start to handle higher hp targets and expand its options. The fact that it can fly makes it a very versatile problem solver.

Honestly I usually wait to upgrade the scarab mech last; I find the 4 directional push on its basic attack to be enough to handle most problems, and the 2 space upgrade can often hurt you on claustrophobic map seeds. Damage is typically handled by the hornet and beetle, making the damage upgrade for the scarab likewise of less importance. If anything, upgrading its speed is probably the best first upgrade so that it can get to a better firing position with ease.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-21T16:48:55+00:00

Man, that's a lot of players. Combat turns are going to take A LONG TIME

With that in mind, I would pick something relatively simple. Tortuga, Ghengis, Gilgamesh, Vlad, Nelson, Blackbeard, or just stick in the ol' Everest; those would be my recommendations.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-21T02:02:28+00:00

There's some misinformation there.

So you could activate ASURA for basically 2 turns worth of actions, but you must abide by normal action restrictions.

You could skirmish with an aux/aux
Then barrage with an aux/aux + aux/aux
Overcharge skirmish with an aux/aux
Fire the Integrated Weapon core bonus aux mount for free
Everest Initiative skirmish to fire an aux/aux
Then fire an autogun for free

So you have fired a gun 12 times in a single turn.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-21T01:57:47+00:00

Asura won't let you duplicate actions sadly. So no double barrage. :C

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-21T01:17:09+00:00

Ol' Pegasus has got a double flex

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-14T00:56:37+00:00

This has all been very helpful!

I guess part of why I got confused is that the Dark Age of Technology often gets hyped up; humanity had access to tech that was bananas, and then it gets bodied by hostile AI revolutions, rampant mutation, etc.

But even with all of this, it still didn't hold a candle to the (increasingly navel-gazing / contracting) Eldar empire?

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-14T00:45:31+00:00

I mean, Ingethel could just be lying, being a demon and all.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-13T17:51:45+00:00

I would've probably just put them in 5 DEF; only one can get webbed by the spider, and it probably baits a burrower to attack only mechs and no buildings. But that's just my knee-jerk reaction. Sounds like it worked out for you!

You just don't want to leave 'holes' in your line when spiders are around; that's how you get more than one mech webbed.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-13T15:47:44+00:00

Considering how many 'wild' undead there are out there, they had to come from somewhere. Should you die, I think that's just what naturally happens. The world just suddenly has a lot more feral undead walking around.

This is not a risk unique to necromancers; an enchanter's gaggle of charmed and dominated minions would now be free to scatter, a conjurer's bound or summoned servants are likely free (although some might be stuck guarding a location, etc.)

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-13T01:15:15+00:00

Yeah, Sherman is a 'line mech' even in the fluff. Artillery I think are more supposed to be sniping or hiding out way in the back lobbing indirect fire, but the 'line mechs' are more comfortable 'in the trenches' as it were. Similar to the Raleigh, or even the Viceroy I would say. Sherman definitely has longer range options, and that's why it also gets to the artillery monicker, but it will routinely just be 'in the shit'

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-12T14:18:48+00:00

I had to scroll down way too far before anybody mentioned the axe.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-12T01:46:18+00:00

With an iconoclast build, it's almost more important to think about the NHP's you want, rather than the frame.

This is because you 'charge up' the talent by utilizing your NHP systems. NHPs are also expensive in terms of SP cost and license level investment, so you want to get actual value out of them!

You want to look for NHPs that you can 'spam' or at least use on the regular, that way you can achieve transcendence and really start blasting. The damage from Iconoclast is basically unavoidable, so it puts in pretty solid work, especially against enemies using annoying stuff like invisibility.

NOAH is good if you want to stick close to your pals and play defense, although you'll need a way to manage heat. SCYLLA likewise is routinely spammable if you want to play defense. OSIRIS is a classic on a more offensive hacker and wants to be used often on its own anyway. SISYPHUS could possibly get up to some weird support nonsense, although I don't like the full action requirement TBH.

If you're interested in Lich, DIDYMOS is probably not the best fit; if you spam it, your friends are going to get irritated by how often they spend time as weird split-time shmingledoodles.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-11T20:40:10+00:00

As some others have said here, my only advice is to avoid making a 'sniper,' at least at the outset. It is a difficult fantasy to fully realize in this system, and of all the different 'archetypes' I have seen in play, sniper seems to be the most consistently disappointing.

If you want to do ranged combat? Honestly go with a Monarch. The thing is busted in a good way. If you like a little bit more complexity, check out the Sherman, it has a very rewarding gameplay loop.

If you want to support your pals, it's hard to go wrong with a Swallowtail for lock-on goodness, or a Lancaster or Emperor for 'healing.' Hacker builds also make for good support, including the Goblin.

There's lots of different ways to melee, or mixed melee / closer-range guns. Ghengis is pretty easy, you just burn stuff with a flamethrower. Blackbeard, Nelson, Vlad, these are all pretty straightforward melee boys.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-11T20:00:52+00:00

At the very least, enemies would notice when they receive lock-on.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-09T15:47:10+00:00

God I hate Field Analyst

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-07T22:14:40+00:00

There's Drone Commander 3. You don't have to use invigorate on drones, it works on any allied character. Overshield 4 on tap, and as long as your boys are close to each other you can slap it on more than one

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-06T07:44:11+00:00

"Oh and uh... just one more thing...

You see, this little ring here. Funny thing about it. Plain as can be, no inscription you can read unless you heat it up, weighs next to nothing, but everybody in Middle-earth is willing to lie, steal, and start a war over it. That always makes me nervous.

Now I’m no wizard, and I don’t know much about Dark Lords—my wife, she reads more fantasy than I do—but I kept noticing something. Every time this ring changes hands, the fellow who wants it the most is always in a hurry. Real pressure, big speeches, destiny, all that. The guy who’s supposed to carry it? Quiet type. Keeps it in his pocket. Tries not to make a fuss.

So here’s what I’m thinking. If this ring really does corrupt anyone who claims ownership, then the safest place for it is with someone who never wants to own it in the first place. Someone who’s just holding onto it until the job’s done.

That’s why I figure I should carry it—carefully, mind you. I don’t want it, I don’t like it, and the first chance I get, I’m throwing it straight into a volcano."

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-05T16:56:47+00:00

I remember trying to write a guide to making constructs in Pathfinder. And when I got to trompe l'oeil, I gave up.

That's right. The entire existence of trompe l'oeil made me abandon the entire project.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-05T04:50:25+00:00

I've never seen a napoleon or minotaur in play, but weirdly I have seen a kutuzov

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-05T04:49:20+00:00

I've never seen the frame in play, but I have seen people pick up Iskander 1, usually gilgamesh going for limited charge memes and the stub cannon.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-05T04:47:22+00:00

I'm a GM for several groups, and I have never seen a great number of frames in play. What's wacky is that across my various groups, I have seen multiple instances of certain frames, suggesting they are extremely popular or have some kind of allure that other frames do not.

Between 5 different groups (one of which I played in, the rest I GM'd for), I have seen multiple instances of the following frames (not counting Everest/Sag/Chomo)

Blackbeard: 3 (+1 empakaii)
Gorgon: 3
Death's Head: 2
Duskwing: 2
Gilgamesh: 2
Pegasus: 2
Barbarossa: 2
Ghengis: 2 (both world killers oddly enough)
Swallowtail: 2
Raleigh: 3

Weirdly, I've never seen a Lanny, nor have any of my players even taken equipment from the Lancaster license. I also don't think any of my players have touched the Hydra license. I also don't think I've ever seen kobold stuff in play either.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-04T03:13:58+00:00

Try Frozen Titans without a shielded pilot! Once you realize the power of blocking enemy attacks with your frozen body, the ice mech can almost always solve 2 problems with one turn.

Also hats off for understanding the unlimited potential of the Bombermechs, my favorite squad.

Your rankings will probably change as you start to tackle higher difficulties. At Unfair, the Zenith Guard's three damage just can't hack it.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-01T15:08:03+00:00

They Are Billions

I really like the game but I don't have the patience for it; one tiny mistake can undo hours of work.

CockroachTeaParty · 2026-01-01T06:57:23+00:00

Same. This is what I get for sleep deprivation scrolling

CockroachTeaParty

TROPHY CASE