Rockworm

"The best Rockworm is a surprise Rockworm. Unless you're GDI."

- Unit blurb

The Rockworm is a Nod tech unit in Command & Conquer: Rivals. It is a large worm-like mechanism that cannot be damaged while moving underground, and when it does surface, it deals considerable damage to ground units. It takes 2 seconds to burrow.

Background
Based on technology developed for the infamous Montauk subterranean transport, the Rockworm is a symbol of Nod's mastery of burrow technology. The Rockworm's terrifying size and razor-sharp cutting teeth can reduce even the heaviest GDI armor to shreds in seconds.

Abilities

 * Moves underground.
 * Deals splash damage.
 * Deals damage to all adjacent ground units upon unborrowing.
 * Deals damage to all adjacent ground units upon unborrowing.

Game unit
Rockworms are a heavy anti vehicle unit that no ground unit can take down easily. Given an opportunity it will chew up a Mammoth tank in three bites. Squad vehicles like Attack bikes and Cyberwheels will go down in a single bite due to the splash damage. Even infantry will struggle a bit, since most of the infantry units are organized in squads.

Their burrowing mechanics are a double edged sword. So long Rockworms are under ground, they can suffer no damage, but neither can they contest the pads. The unborrowing mechanic is great for sowing chaos behind the enemy lines, but no ground unit can safely support it, since surfacing will damage the nearby friendly ground units too. The air units are a safe option for support.

Main role of the Rockworm is to counter long range deployed units, like Artillery, Juggernaut and M.L.R.S. The Rockworm is not very effective against fast moving units.

Rockworms cannot target air, neither directly or by resurfacing, making Rockworms vulnerable to air attacks form Mohawk gunship and Orca.

Changelog

 * 2018-06-20: Burrow time increased to 2 seconds (was 0.5 seconds)
 * 2018-07-25: Vision range while burrowed increased to 1 (was 0)
 * 2018-10-04:
 * Damage vs. Infantry increased to 250 (was 150)
 * Damage increased to 2000 (was 1600)
 * Attack cycle duration increased to 3.75 seconds (was 3.0)
 * 2019-01-24:
 * Changed Rockworm damage to AoE Splash Damage
 * Damage when Unburrowing vs. Infantry reduced to 90 (was 150)
 * Damage when attacking vs. Infantry reduced to 90 (was 250)
 * 2019-02-06: Pop up damage cooldown decreased to 6s (was 10s)
 * 2019-03-13: Base damage reduced to 500 (was 2000).
 * 2019-05-01: Speed increased to 4.5 (was 3.959)
 * 2019-06-05: Infantry damage increased to 180 (was 90)
 * 2019-07-31: Speed increased to average from slow.
 * 2020-08-12: Reduced infantry damage to 90 (was 180)

Trivia

 * Has no human voice, only mechanical monstrous screams.

Videos
Rockworm idling

Rockworm moving