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For an overview of the Apocalypse class, see Apocalypse tank. |
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| “ | Armageddon is here! - Apocalypse tank |
” |
The Apocalypse tank is a Soviet heavy assault tank in Red Alert 3 and its expansion, Uprising.
Background[]
| “ | You now have access to Apocalypse Tanks, the toughest armor in the world. - Soviet Advisor |
” |
The biggest, most powerful ground vehicle ever constructed, the Apocalypse certainly lives up to its nickname. Each of its two main guns is more powerful than the main cannon of a lesser tank, a second set of cutting treads installed into its hull allows it to simply roll over lesser vehicles, and its magnetic harpoon secondary weapon - one of the Union's first practical magnetic weapons - can draw fast-moving vehicles straight into its "meat grinder" chain-treads, which can carve through metal much like their namesake.
However, the Apocalypse tank is not without its flaws, such as a horrendous top speed, a complete lack of anti-infantry weapons, and an exorbitant price. Also, the schematics for manufacturing these vehicles are authorized only by battle lab technicians required to study the tank's performance characteristics. It should also be noted that, unlike its counterpart in the previous iterations of the Third World War, it has no defence against air units.
Because of this tank's notoriety, the identities of Apocalypse tank crews are kept secret by the Soviet Union. It is difficult to imagine what sort of person would be fit to operate such a weapon, let alone what the experience of this would do to that person.
Deployment History[]
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The following is based on the Soviet campaign of Red Alert 3 and might contradict canon. |
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In the Soviet campaign, the Apocalypse tank is first available during their invasion of Japan, where four are initially airlifted in by Twinblades and are immediately available once the prerequisites are met, as well as in all future missions.
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Until a future game comes out and says otherwise, all Red Alert 3 - Uprising missions are treated as canon. |
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During The Uprising, Apocalypse Tanks became available for production when prerequisites are met after Dasha Fedorovich orders the Commander to retreat and recuperate at an abandoned Soviet base until reinforcements arrive when Kirov Airships sent by her failed to neutralize a FutureTech facility in Russia. They remain part of the Commander's arsenal for all following missions.
Game unit[]
| “ | The Instrument of Doom. - Apocalypse |
” |
Apocalypse tanks are strong against other vehicles and structures. The Apocalypse tank will beat the allies and empires toughest vehicles one on one and win including the vastly inferior Mirage Tank, Assault Destroyers, FutureTank X-1 and the somewhat weaker King Onis.
The latest Apocalypse Tank does not have a great defense against most aircraft and infantry - the worst of which is that the Tank can be easily bribed to join the Allies for a fee of $1000. Anti-armor and anti-heavy units like Tankbusters, Javelin Soldiers, Hydrofoil's Weapon Jammers, Steel Ronin, Wave-force artilleries, Vindicators, Harbinger Gunships, Giga Fortresses, and Yuriko were additional reasons why Apocalypse Tanks require support.
If they are under attack from naval units, the Apocalypse Tanks cannot do much other than to run away inland - where they cannot be shot at. Their M-Harpoons are effective only on ground vehicles and structures. However, for any enemy ships that are close enough to the shoreline, the Apocalypse tank can utilize its special ability because non-amphibious units in the water which are reeled in by the M-Harpoons are dragged towards the shore and destroyed. Although rarely, this tactic can also destroy a ground vehicle if the tank manages to drag it into a body of water in between them.
Apocalypse tanks can crush smaller vehicles and walls but can still be outnumbered by larger numbers of smaller armor which includes large numbers of enemy main battle tanks. They also take 250% Explosive damage and are very slow, meaning artillery units such as the V4 rocket launcher and Wave-force artillery can make quick work of them.
The Apocalypse Tank's Magnetic Harpoon is typically used to disorient enemy units as using it puts the tank itself in the line of fire, but does serve to disable them, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks, although it can still gravely cripple whatever it touches. The beam does a negligible amount of splash damage on hit, so frozen units and structures can be heavily damaged (those that can be crushed are destroyed instantly).
Abilities[]
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Main Cannons | The Apocalypse Tank uses its twin 125mm cannons to engage enemy units. |
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Magnetic Harpoon | The Apocalypse Tank activates its magnetic harpoon to engage a variety of targets. Against most ground and naval ones, they are dragged to it, instantly destroying those that aren't amphibious if they hit terrain they cannot exist in. Against buildings, the Apocalypse Tank drags itself there to deal damage. |
Changelog[]
- Red Alert 3 beta patch 1.3:
- can now grind large vehicles (MCVs) and even structures using its harpoon and grinder
- heroic Apocalypse tank damage type changed to explosive from cannon
- heroic Apocalypse tanks now fire high explosive rounds that detonate in a similar fashion to that of V4 rockets
- Red Alert 3 beta patch 1.5: can be lifted by the Twinblade
- Red Alert 3 patch 1.05:
- can now properly change targets when using its Magnetic Harpoon ability
- fixed a bug where units would potentially warp when being disengaged from an enemy Apocalypse tank's magnetic harpoon.
- will now display its grinder effects on medium and lower LOD settings
- Red Alert 3 patch 1.11:
- grinder damage halved
- vision range in harpoon mode increased
- can no longer move while harpooning
- while inside a Nanoswarm, Apocalypse tanks can now properly attack other units within the Nanoswarm
Quotes[]
Created[]
- The Apocalypse has begun!
- Armageddon is here!
Select[]
- We wait!
- Soviet Power Supreme!
- I have the final say...
- The Instrument of DOOM...
- It is day of judgement!
- Where are they?
- Vengeance is near...
Moving[]
- We cannot be stopped!
- It is time!
- They will run in fear!
- Make a path...
- They will pay!
- Excellent!
- Be patient...
- We know they are here...
Attacking with Cannon[]
- Crush them!
- Now!
- Amusing!
- Pathetic!
- Kill it!
- Leave nothing!
- Eradicate them!
- With pleasure!
Attacking with Magnetic Harpoon[]
- A fine choice...
- An appetizer...
- This one looks good!
- GET OVER HERE!
- YOU CANNOT ESCAPE!
- Your turn!
Move to Attack[]
- WE WILL BURY THEM!
- Annihilating!
- The day has come!
- At last!
- So it begins!
- *Maniacal Sadistic Laughter*
In combat[]
- Such Fools!
- The end is at hand!
- It's soon shall be over!
- This will be their last moments!
- Their end draws near!
- We shall end this!
- It will soon be a wasteland!
- There is no mercy!
Retreating[]
- Armageddon will wait!
- Soviet Power must be preserved!!
- Let them be!
Under fire[]
- The fools cannot hinder me!
- The Apocalypse cannot be stopped!
- I will not be interrupted!
- They have not accepted their fate!
Trivia[]
- Conceptually, the M-Harpoon is similar to Yuri's Magnetrons; the only difference between the two is that the Apocalypse uses it to drag vehicles underneath its grinders, while the Magnetron lifts the victim unit in the air and pulls it towards the Magnetron.
- Most of the Apocalypse tank's lines are direct quotes from Red Alert 2's Apocalypse tank as well as the Rhino tank.
- If the Apocalypse Tank magnetizes any unit (enemy, ally or player units), by the time the Apocalypse starts grinding, use reverse move or simply move the Apocalypse forward but doing this will only crush the target vehicle. If done right, the target will explode instantly. Does not work on ships and tier 3 units.
- The Apocalypse's M-Harpoon can magnetize lower-leveled time bombs.
- One of the Apocalypse's quotes when using the M-Harpoon, "Get over here!", is a reference to the iconic phrase spoken by Mortal Kombat character Scorpion when using his spear attack.
- The Apocalypse tank is the only Soviet unit that can crush other vehicles.
- The Apocalypse tank is also the only Soviet unit that can smash through walls. Unfortunately, the tank will do this even if the walls are owned by the same player.
- "Apocalypse" was the codename of alpha test 1 in Stormgate. The patch was named after the Apocalypse tank.[1]
Gallery[]
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Early in-game model -
One of the design iterations
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Concept art
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Ditto
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Cinematic render
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In-game model
Videos[]
See also[]
- FutureTank X-1, Allied counterpart
- King Oni, Imperial counterpart
References[]
- ↑ Stormgate Patch Codenames & Origins. Reddit (May, 2025). Retrieved on 23 July 2025.
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