CAS Weaponry, Loadouts, and You

[Tisx]

Ever wonder what hit you and dropped you dead when that little green dot appeared?

Look no farther then here, as today I will be sharing the data I have collected on the CAS weaponry from over 20 missions as a CAS pilot and a fuckton of observing, so strap in.

First, lets talk about the most common CAS strike weapon used,

The standard ammo GAU-21 gun run:

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The bread and butter of CAS, This 30mm BRRRRT gun is used to turn a 5x5 area into a T1 death zone. Good CAS pilots will always have gun runs during CAS runs, but ROBUST transport pilots will do gun runs during transport. Due to this you should always be on your toes even if a CAS run recently ended, you still need to be ready for surprise transport gun run as well.

DETAILS:
Impact time(Time from firing to impact on the ground) : 2-4 seconds
Damage: 1 hit = Crited or very low HP Young Runner.
Ammo used per burst: 20
Avg ammo used per CAS run : 100-140
Total ammo per crate : 200
Accuracy(average deviation from CAS laser dot): 4 tiles
AoE(Area of Effect): 5x5
Cost to buy (From Fab): 200 points

Pros:
Great area denial
Good damage per hit
Ammo is common as all fuck (If you somehow manage to use up all of the available ammo then you have either done something very right or very wrong.)
Usable in transport mode
Good vs T1 eh vs T2
Stuns if it directly hits a mob

Cons
20 shots per burst have to cover a 25 tile area, I.E some tiles in that 5x5 area won't get hit
Not very effective at attacking targets directly
Pretty much useless vs T3s (minus the hivelord)

Next is a somewhat under used upgraded ammo type, the High velocity (HV) GAU-21 rounds:

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The upgraded ammo type for the 30mm GAU, used to cover the same 5x5 area, but with double the bullets that are not only faster, but also do more damage.

DETAILS:
Impact time : 1-3 seconds
Damage: Cuts through T1s like butter, Insta-Crits most T1s
Ammo used per burst: 40
Avg ammo used per CAS run : 200-300
Total ammo per crate : 400
Accuracy: <1 Tile away
AoE: 5x5
Cost to buy: 400

Pros:
Full area denial (Whole 5x5 area covered)
Mows through T1s and T2s.
More bullets per burst (40)
More bullets overall (400)
Usable in transport mode
Stuns on impact

Cons:
400 points per ammo crate (13 minutes)
Mows through Marines like paper
Still pretty bad vs T3s
Ammo gets used up pretty quickly

Next up is the other common CAS weapon: Mini-pods!

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Mini-pods or as I like to call them, CAS Grenade launchers. They act as finishers most of the time, giving that last bit of damage needed to finish off a target, they have good accuracy and have somewhat common ammo and somewhat good knockdown on hits.
DETAILS:
Impact time: 3-5 seconds
Damage: Good damage vs T1s, T2s + knockdown
Total ammo per stack : 6
Accuracy <4 tiles away
AoE: 4x4 on hit
Cost to Buy: 300

Pros:
Knockdown
Common ammo (6 stacks at start of round(
Goodish damage
Somewhat quick
Somewhat rapid fire.

Cons:
Knockdown is pretty short
Only really good for finishing off targets
Ammo drys up quickly
Not usable on transport

The mini-pods also have an "upgraded" ammo type, it's move of side grade but whatever, they are the Incendiary Minirockets

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Incendiary minirockets work just like incendiary mortars, granted with a lot less alpha damage and splash
DETAILS:
Impact time: 3-5 seconds
Damage: Good damage on a direct impact vs T1s and T2s, other than that the fire's DOT
Total ammo per stack : 6
Accuracy: <4 tiles away
Cost: 500

Pros:
Knockdown + on fire on a direct hit
Great at making crushers fear the red dot
Good amount of ammo for a fire type

Cons:
Is near useless on damaging anything not within a tile of the impact zone
Expensive
You could just by a Napalm with those points

We now come to most versatile CAS weapon, the rocket pod.

Which comes with 5 different missiles/Bombs to use, first is the Keeper II GBU

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Think of this as a M5 RPG AP rocket on steroids. It's quick, hits extremely hard, and has great accuracy.

DETAILS:
Impact time :3-5 seconds
Damage: Gibs pretty much everything that isn't a T3, crits low T3s, High T3s and Queen lose at least 1/2 of there HP + knockdown
Total available at start of round : 4
Accuracy: <1 Tile
AoE = 3x3 on hit
Cost to buy: 300 points

Pros:
ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING DAMAGE
Fastest Bomb/Missile for missile pod
Turns T1s and T2s into powder and gibs
Turns boilers and crushers into gibs
Slashes at least 1/2 HP on most high T3s and Queens
Great accuracy
Somewhat cheap to buy if you run out (300 points)

Cons:
Smallest AoE of all the Bombs/Missiles
Requires good timing between SLs and POs for good hits
Turns marines to gibs if they get hit

Next up is the Banshee AGM:

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Want to light a 7x7 area into a flash fire pit? look no farther then the Banshee.

DETAILS:
Impact time 4-6 seconds
Damage: Turns every living thing that isn't a Queen or Rav into flames
Total available at start of round : 4
Accuracy: <3 tiles
AoE: 7x7
Cost to buy: 300

Pros:
Great clearing out weeds
Great for making the whole hive turn and run from fire
Great for taking on crusher + boiler combos
Double with Widowmakers for fire memes

Cons:
Eh accuracy
Great for making the whole marine force turn and run from fire
Somewhat slaking in insta damage
Fire doesn't last,
Ravs and Queens will laugh at you

The Widowmaker :

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Want to knockdown everything you see? look no farther then the Widowmaker.

DETAILS:
Impact time: 4-6 seconds
Damage: Ehhhhh, Good vs T1 the real damage is the mass knockdown
Total available at start of round : 4
Accuracy: <3tiles
AoE: 8x8
Cost to buy : 300

Pros:
SUPER KNOCKDOWN (6x6)
Great for the start of marine charges,
Great for breaking Xeno choke points that aren't in caves
Good vs T1s
Double with Banshees for fire memes
Good at destroying resin walls

Cons:
SUPER FRIENDLY FIRE
Somewhat lacking in direct damage

Now for the Fab missiles, First is the Fatty SM-17

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Wanna turn every Marine, T1, and T2 that is in view of the red dot into powder?

DETAILS:
Impact time : 6-8 seconds
Damage: Massive at impact point, still noteworthy even at farthest point of the AoE
Total available at start of round : 0
Accuracy: <3 tiles
AoE: at least 12x12
Cost to buy: 450

Pros:
Massive AoE and damage
Great for taking out huge sections of dug in xenos
Turns T1s and T2s into gibs if within 6x6 of impact point
Turns T3s into gibs if within 3x3 of impact point
Destroys pretty much any walls in the way

Cons:
Want to kill half of the marine force on a bad laser?
Slowest CAS weapon of them all
Expensive

The XN-99 Napalm

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]Welcome to Nam.

DETAILS:
Impact time :5-7 seconds
Damage: Huge AoE, lights anything within it on fire
Total available at start of round : 0
Accuracy: <3 tiles
AoE: at least 12x12
Cost to buy: 500

Pros:
Massive AoE fireball
Great for taking out huge areas of the hive along with xenos
Crushers will fear you

Cons:
Ravs and Queens will really laugh at you.
Wanna light the marine force on fire?
Really fucking expensive

Lastly we have Beam laser:

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Word of warning, Some pilots will beat the shit out of you if they see you with this. (Update it's no longer complete trash, still some pilots will beat the shit out of you)

DETAILS:
Impact time: 0-1 seconds (Instant)
Damage: Great if the laser hits anything + lighting targets on fire
Accuracy: 0 tiles (Always right on top of red dot)
Ammo: 200
Ammo used per brust: 10
AoE: a 6x6 square of fire
Cost to buy (+ammo) : 800

Pros
If timed right Xenos will have no time to react
Great damage on hit
Lights targets on fire
Great at ammo efficiency
Excellent area denial
Predictable

Cons
FUCKING EXPENSIVE AS ALL FUCKING HELL
Pilot mains MAY judge the shit out of you

Using this tips you can create a smart and devastating loadout that will make the red dot feared among the hive and your enemies,

and with a good SL giving good lazes you can expect drops like this: https://gfycat.com/PleasingLittleErmine

[Gnorse]

Am pilot main. Can confirm on the beam laser.
Overall, pretty good guide.

[Rataca100]

I usually mandate they have a Banshee or Napalm, just because, FIRE GOOD! When i am XO anyway, apart from that i dont care. I also take a banshee when PO.

[Lukey111]

I personally, don't know CAS at all, BUT... I can confirm that this is an amazing guide for ba- EXPERIENCED PLAYERS LIKE ME

[Lukey111]

Kidding, amazing guide!

[Jaketeaking]

theres an ammo type missing, minirocket incendiaries, otherwise, a solid outline.

[Sargeantmuffinman]

I'ma just leave this here...

https://i.gyazo.com/2961085e42c35040636 ... a846c0.mp4

[Dolth]

https://i.gyazo.com/2961085e42c35040636 ... a846c0.mp4

Thanks for the guide though. Will try to get some action, I have few ideas.

EDIT: You said the laser beam AoE was 12tile line. What do you mean?

[Weaselburg]

If I see anyone with the laser I will beat their skull in.

[Lorem123]

The biggest struggle I have as PO is actually getting SL's and Specialists to laze shit for CAS. Any advice on how to make people do that more often?

[Jaketeaking]

The biggest struggle I have as PO is actually getting SL's and Specialists to laze shit for CAS. Any advice on how to make people do that more often?

if you're on prison, forget it. as of this post, cas, mortars, and supply beacons are basically useless on prison.

another tip would be to turn on all squad channels, often a laze will be asked for by somebody other than the sl/ asl.

Remind them of your loadout, like once every 10 minutes or so, dont keep spamming it.
equip a fatty. that seems to garner more responses.

on a sidenote, if comms go out, Keep flying for medevacs. just because you cant hear them being called for, doesnt mean they dont happen.

[Lorem123]

Yeah, I do all of those things. No CAS is one of the reasons I really do not like Prison or Ice.

[Rafar9]

Remember that along with the minirockets and missles directly above the normandy, there are more above the alamo's landing pad. Probably common knowledge, just putting it out there.

Also, if the SLs aren't using CAS, they aren't using CAS. Not much you can do then repedeatedly scream over the radio that it's available

[Pedr007]

Question about the 30mm GAU:

If I double mount 2 30mm, will I fire them simultaneously??? Potentially doubling its DMG?

[Herac]

Question about the 30mm GAU:

If I double mount 2 30mm, will I fire them simultaneously??? Potentially doubling its DMG?

Pretty sure no, you can fire one and then the other though.

[Pedr007]

Pretty sure no, you can fire one and then the other though.

SUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS

[Grubstank]

Question about the 30mm GAU:

If I double mount 2 30mm, will I fire them simultaneously??? Potentially doubling its DMG?

Some people do delude themselves into thinking that having two mounted will improve the fire rate - in reality it doesn't make much difference. You're better off offering a gau to each gunship.

[Dolth]

Fun fact with 30mm GAU, the high velocity ammo works pretty well coupled if you go with the laser camera, wait for a dumbo to cunt around, GAU GAU KEEPER GAU GAU BANSHEE GAU GAU, if you shot at the right moment the first high velocity GAU hits planetside way faster than regular and would stunlock aliens enough to let the keeper hit, if it does, two additional GAU will stun anyone trying to get close, potentially killing the first, while the banshee will set on fire/finish the two who went in, then two last GAU as a bravado and a sign of 'Get fucked' to aliens. Potentially finish that filthy T3 than ran in and you didn't see.

EDIT: I have no idea how works the new CAS system but as far as I remember, if you as a SL contact the PO to tell him to shoot a KEEPER as soon as he sees your laser, and to SPAM THAT FUCKING COMPUTER to see it, you can do some so-called 'Fast Lazes' which are designed to fuck up boilers, AKA, laze his feet for one second, stop, observe, laze back etc. If by any chance the PO manages to shoot the KEEPER, the boiler will probably shrug off that 1 second lazer under his feet, then instantly gets gibbed. Works on ravs too if you're aiming for a "xeno-rest-zone".

[Pedr007]

Some people do delude themselves into thinking that having two mounted will improve the fire rate - in reality it doesn't make much difference. You're better off offering a gau to each gunship.

Does Dual GAU improve accuracy tough? Cause the GAUs spread hard core

[Rafar9]

Does Dual GAU improve accuracy tough? Cause the GAUs spread hard core

No, since you can only fire one at a time. Generally you only have one equipped, anyways, I rarely do CAS with GAU anyway, missles launchers and mini-rockets are much better. If you are running transport, One GAU and a sentry is a better loadout

[ThesoldierLLJK]

This guide is nice, but at the moment no one lazes targets anymore unless it's on LV or maybe Big Red if you're lucky.

[Nimiety]

The only reason to use twin GAU on transport is to double the ammo capaicty -- so that you don't have to move the dedicated CAS reloader or the parts printer powerloader half as often. Same with twin minirocket pods on the Normandy to save time moving from one side of the Normandy to the other.

[KingKire]

So... i keep coming back to the laser. Its instant... which means no sound warnings.

This is some OP stuff if you can get it, because xeno's always listen deeply for the sound of that rolling thunder, but you cant dodge instant...

[Pedr007]

So... i keep coming back to the laser. Its instant... which means no sound warnings.

This is some OP stuff if you can get it, because xeno's always listen deeply for the sound of that rolling thunder, but you cant dodge instant...

From what Ive read you can snipe Boilers with Laser. So its pretty OP but underused and requires teamwork.

Ive also had good success with 2x GAU and 30mm HV Ammo, firing them one after another, it does increate the ROF a tad, it also helps with spread, cause the GAU spread is dictated by ticks. If you fire it so many ticks without stopping the GAU spread will become fucking hilariously large. It goes from Center to outside and if youve ever seen the meme video from the post above, its 1 drone in the middle of a GAU barrage that has spread so far, because the pilot is hammering the fire button, that theres exactly 0 bullets hitting center.

[Audi_Gzz]

You can lase behind boilers and shit while they are trying to gas, if the CAS pilot is in the air already and drops everything you can kill a boiler lmao, because 7/10 times the boiler wants to push the marines back with a gas cloud before he moves.