| “ | These things rip through them like a plasma knife through polybutter! - GDI Soldier |
” |
The Sonic Emitter is a GDI terraforming station-weapon with unique defensive abilities employed in Tiberium Wars.
Background
Based on the Harmonic Resonance technology, this station carries a sonic cannon originally designed for the eradication of Tiberium, though thanks to its sheer power, it became employed as a brutal, but effective base defence weapon after discovering the Scrin's vulnerability to sonic waves.
The sonic emitter is available to both GDI and ZOCOM, but Steel Talons commanders chose to rely on Guardian cannons for anti-vehicle defense.
The technology was first utilized in Disruptors during TW2. Between the end of the Firestorm Crisis and the beginning of the Third Tiberium War, it was used to dam the spread of and eventually dissolve Tiberium in Yellow Zones worldwide. Though re-tooled into a containment system rather than a purpose-built weapon, they soon became one of the most powerful base defenses in GDI's arsenal.
Mobile versions
GDI constructed a number of mobile Sonic Emitters that used HoverTech, known as Shatterers, with ZOCOM using a more powerful variant known as the Zone Shatterer. The Steel Talons did not use Shatterers or sonic emitters of any sort, preferring instead to rely on more conventional firepower in the form of Titans and Mammoth Tanks.
Game building
The Sonic emitter is powerful and could deal damage to multiple enemies due to its sonic wave not dissipating when it strikes a target. The sonic wave is also capable of dealing friendly fire. However, it suffers from a low rate of fire and a lack of precision against highly mobile targets - without proper support they can be outmaneuvered by Attack bikes, Pitbulls or overwhelmed by groups of enemies in a formation resistant to the multiple-hit effects of the sonic weapon. The Sonic emitter also lacks any sort of anti-air weaponry, and can also be outranged by enemy artillery. It also has a minimum attack range, so will not attack any threat that comes too close to the station.
Assessment
Pros
- Attack is able to pass through and damage several units in a line.
- Detects stealth.
- Effective counter against rush attacks late-game.
Cons
- Causes friendly fire.
- Ineffective against close targets.
- Expensive (costs $2000).
- Slow projectile speed and rate of fire render it unable to effectively strike fast-moving units such as attack bikes.
- Unavailable to Steel Talons.
- Artillery such as Juggernauts and Specters can outrange it.
