Shade

"You're so shady"

- When ordered to attack

The Shade is an epic Nod aircraft in Command & Conquer: Rivals.

Background
The Shade is the next step in Aircraft design for the Brotherhood of Nod. It utilizes the stealth technology of the Stealth Tank and the EMP capabilities of the Phantom to the extreme. Borne from the Black Hand faction of the Brotherhood, the existence of the Shade was a secret known only to a few.

Abilities

 * Unleashes an EMP that affects adjacent, enemy Vehicles and Aircraft upon breaking Stealth for 1.5 seconds.
 * Flying.
 * Flying.

Game unit
The Shade is an anti-vehicle aircraft. With a single volley it can destroy Slingshot. Pitbull and Attack bikes just barely survives. The EMP combined with stealth means the Shade can unleash the volley before the opposing vehicle can respond.

The most suitable targets are light, long range artillery type units, like M.L.R.S. The stealth ability allows Shade to get into a firing range without taking damage from anti-air vehicles and wipe out the artillery unit.

Since the stealth is broken once the unit move over a pad, they are vulnerable on maps where it's hard to avoid stepping onto the pads, like Hold the line.

The main weakness of the shade is the Missile squad, which can both do great damage to it and break the stealth cloak, allowing other anti-air units to attack it. Shade is also vulnerable to air units, but the cloaking ability allows it to ignore the air threats most of the time.

The EMP completely blocks unit ability to attack, reload or turn their turrets for 1.5 seconds, but the movement and turn speeds are not affected.

When attacking, Shade can have up to three projectiles in flight. If the first of those projectiles kills the target, the remaining two will just hit the ground.

Laser drones provide higher damage per second and are much cheaper, but are a lot more vulnerable than Shades.

Changelog

 * Added to the game on December 10, 2019.
 * 2020-02-25:
 * Health to 1233 (was 1333)
 * Cost to 60 (was 40)
 * Reload Speed to 8.00 (was 6.00)
 * Stealth mode to 7.5s (was 5.5s)
 * Structure Damage -35%
 * 2021-06-09:
 * Tiberium cost increased to 70 (was 60)
 * Speed reduced to faster (was fastest)

When created

 * The Shade fights for Nod
 * Shade, here comes the thunder
 * Let's cast some shadows

When selected

 * Awaiting orders
 * Lurking in the shade
 * Shade blending in
 * How'd you see me?
 * Ready to strike

When moving

 * Moving the shade
 * Just a cloud in the wind
 * Rolling thunder
 * Stealth fighter moving
 * Engaging thrusters

When moving to attack favorably

 * Time for some shock therapy
 * You're so shady
 * Sounds electrifying
 * Resistance is futile

When moving to attack neutral

 * I love sneaking around
 * This will be enlightening
 * Let's ambush them
 * I'll bring the shade
 * From the shadows

When moving to attack unfavorably

 * My life for the cause
 * I don't know about this
 * Surprise may not be enough
 * A worthy opponent

When unable to attack target

 * Unable to comply!
 * Target unavailable
 * Sorry, try again
 * Can't strike that

When attacking

 * Strike them down!
 * Hurts, doesn't it?
 * Casting shadows
 * Muahahahahahaha!

When under attack

 * Taking fire!
 * There is nowhere to hide
 * Get us out of here!
 * I've been spotted

When crashing

 * No!
 * Mayday!
 * Help!

Behind the scenes
"With combined capabilities of Stealth and EMP, Shade will negate many of the enemy’s strategic moves and aid in conquering the field with its unique playstyle"

- YP

Trivia

 * Initially the Shade was designed to cost 60 Tiberium, but at the launch had price of 40.
 * At the time of release considered to be overpowered.
 * When attacking squad units, if one squad member dies in the middle of the volley, two projectiles will seem to hit the already destroyed squad member, but the damage will be done to the next squad member.
 * When moving, sometimes performs barrel roll. Male.