7 steps to beat a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game

Real-Time Strategy games certainly offer a plethora of opportunities to learn to manage resources and time through complex interfaces consisting of unit heads, base buildings, militia, air units, etc. In a typical RTS, a player learns to utilize resources in an effective manner so as to infiltrate troops into enemy territory or defend the base region. Indubitably, the player needs to loose the game umpteen numbers of times to come out with a unique strategy to beat a level. Assuming that the difficulty level in an RTS is set to the highest, the following tips may be useful to beat an RTS.

Note: These tips won’t guarantee victory in an RTS game, but will surely increase the possibility of winning the game.

Step 1: Make constructive use of AI – AI, in any RTS, is predictable. Try and understand the patterns of unit behavior, directions of attack, and other computer responses. Make decisions based on smart inferences that you draw from your understanding of AI.

Step 2: RESPOND, don’t REACT – When you are playing an RTS, you are bound to fail many times. Most often, players tend to get emotional after each failure and take many thoughtless decisions during the game play that constitute to failure. Consider every trial anew. Learn from your losses and don’t repeat tactics that didn’t work.

Step 3: Balance the resources – Most of the players focus on building complete base units, or constructing all the buildings, or spending more time on attacking enemy buildings, or having complete defense, etc. None of these strategies are proven to be successful. Hence it is important to have a balanced use of resources. Allocate your resources in an effective, efficient and optimal manner.

Step 4: Destroy enemy building units – If there is a time constraint, it is always preferable to destroy all the units who construct buildings, like repairmen, villagers, woodcutters, etc. This will not only halt the resource acquisition for the enemy forces to make their buildings or militia but also give you enough time to plan your defense and constructive offense.

Step 5: Use Scouting tactic – This is a necessary strategy to adopt. The sooner you explore the map the better you can position your buildings. So use scouting units to spy on enemy territories.

Step 6: Be smart and agile – Don’t panic when your units are outmanned. Preserve your basic building units and protect your base building. Have a considerable defense mechanism to protect research centers. Build the houses and research centers at corners or edges.

Step 7: Use ‘Tower Crush’ tactic – This is found to be one of the most effective techniques to win an RTS. Place your watchtowers/attack towers near the resources of enemy territories at the beginning of the game. This will not only destroy the enemy building units but also attack enemy buildings and will increase your possibility to win the game.

                                                                                        Thanks for reading...

                                                                                        Written by Anirudh