The Illuminate ACU was the staple command vehicle for a Illuminate commander throughout the Infinite War. This ACU was issued as standard to all Illuminate commanders.
The ACU plays as an important role during combat. Building structures quickly and, when fully upgraded, can be a formidable weapon if used correctly.
ACUs are also very important to protect, the destruction of one, causes a nuclear explosion. So despite its resilency, the commander should always make sure the ACU is well protected. But if core dump is researched, the threat of a nuclear detonation is averted. the player will still lose how ever unless playing a custom game where its destruction does not matter.
Upgrades[]
Movement Speed: 25% increased speed
Radar Range: 175% increased range
Teleport: Allows the ACU to instantly move to a specified point. Can be further upgraded to double the possible teleport distance.
Anti-Matter Chrome Shield: Adds a personal shield, equivalent to 75% of the base health.
Hunker: Allows the ACU to hunker, which reduces 50% of all received damage.
Energy Income/Mass Income: Increases energy and mass production from 1/5 to 5/20.
Rogue Nanites: Allows the commander to spawn Rogue Nanites. These cost 750 energy and sacrifice themselves to either do 5000 damage on one target, or heal 5000hp on one friendly unit.
Escape Pod: Allows the commander to eject the head of the ACU which will fly back to base and allow the player to survive the ACU's destruction. The body can be rebuilt by the Escape Pod.
Core Dump: A special emergency mechanism that turns the ACU from a walking 'nuclear bomb' into a falling ACU, this ensures base safety.
Tips[]
Using the teleport ability and overcharge upgrade, small bases and forward positions can easily be destroyed. It is recommended to walk the commander into the base, then use the teleport ability to escape if the ACU is getting overwhelmed. Remember that teleporter has a re charge phase after use, it is still a rather quick recharge though. and while very quick at teleporting out, it should still have a safe amount of health before deciding to teleport out.
Also, out of all the commanders, the Illuminate commander has the weakest offensive capability, but conversely, it has the best defensive capabilities because it is the only ACU with a shield upgrade & the ability to deploy rogue nanites, which can instantly repair the ACU. Thus, it is best kept safe within the base as its resource generation upgrade provides a major advantage to the illuminate economy, and losing it could be quite devastating.
However, when playing on small maps, the ACU is quite capable of harassing the enemy with its early damage & range upgrade (Illuminate ACU rush). It is also ideal for scouting as the radar range upgrade too can be unlocked equally early, thus, providing intel on the enemy's base & allowing mobile missile launchers to harass from a safe distance.
Note: A fully upgraded ACU (Illuminate ACU only) can take out a Universal Colossus and live, with no veterancy, which is amazing. Also, it gains 2 veterancy by killing one Universal Colossus. This is incorrect, as the Cybran ACU is also capable of taking out a UC, however it must be stationary for its Tactical Missiles to hit and fully upgraded, and use overcharge.
