According to the Transformers Wiki at TFWiki.net, “The Cybertronian Omnifunctional Modular Battlefield Assault Tech System[1] — or the C.O.M.B.A.T. System for short — is a type of modular weapons technology purported to be the most advanced in the universe. Employed by the Transformers in the final days of their conflict on Cybertron, C.O.M.B.A.T. weapons can convert into alternate forms suited for different types of combat or combine to become bigger and stronger.”

So what are C.O.M.B.A.T. bots and how are they used? Much like Power Cores, C.O.M.B.A.T. bots can be attached to your favorite Autobot or Decpticon to augment their in-battle behavior and enhance their abilities. C.O.M.B.A.T. bots are comprised of Battler Masters, Micro Masters and Mini Cassettes. What makes C.O.M.B.A.T. bots so interesting is they are not universal or class specific when it comes to compatibility. Instead, they appear to be based on basic attack range values with a few exceptions. As a primer, bots have basic attack characteristics based upon range. The attack ranges are melee (level 1; generically warriors and some specials), short/medium (level 2; generically aerials and some specials/triple changers) and long (level 3; gunners). Depending on the basic attack range of a given bot, some C.O.M.B.A.T. bots may or may not be compatible.

C.O.M.B.A.T. bots can only be leveled via C.O.M.B.A.T. spark which is available from events or C.O.M.B.A.T. crystal duplicates.

What is really exciting about C.O.M.B.A.T. bots is how they can coexist and enhance existing Power Cores.

NOTE: We have added specific guidance on which COMBAT bots to use with each bot to many of our Best Power Cores & COMBAT Bots pages. Please check out the individual bot pages for more specific guidance as we will be continuously updating this content.

• LJ, February 7, 2023

 

Nightstalker/Ravage

The Transformer Earth Wars player community has been waiting for a long time for Nightstalker/Ravage to be introduced into the game. Nightstalker/Ravage are compatible with any bot in the game. However, while they are attached to a single bot, they are truly autonomous bots unto themselves. They spawn in proximity to the attached bot and based upon basic attack rage engage in battle. They appear to be melee (level 1) range however when outpost bots are popped, Nightstalker/Ravage will sometimes disengage from their current target and engage the outpost bots. In addition, as of this writing, healers like Reflector will chase them all over the map in an attempt to heal them which can get them in trouble. Unlike Blaster/Soundwave minions, Nightstalker/Ravage do not derive their health or damage from the attached bot. Instead, they have their base health and damage that can only be increased via C.O.M.B.A.T. spark. Additionally, unlike Blaster/Soundwave minions which can be respawned via ability points, Nightstalker/Ravage do not respawn after death. They spawn only once. Nightstalker/Ravage also regularly disappear from defenses, much like Slash/Rippersnapper, preventing defenses from targeting them though they can still take indirect damage from defensive area of exposure.

Recommended Bots: No bot specifically benefits from having Nightstalker/Ravage attached outside of potentially drawing defensive fire away from the attached bot. However, bots that cannot make optimal use of Firedrive/Blowpipe, Pteraxadon/Terror-Daxtyl or Flak/Cratermaker would be recommended.

Recommended Power Core: None

 

Firedrive/Blowpipe

Firedrive/Blowpipe augments the attached bot’s basic attack to shoot plasma dealing 2x more damage to walls and bursting regularly into flames causing damage over time in an area (75% of bots DPS) while increasing bot damage by X%. Compatible bots are typically going to be bots with short/medium (level 2; generically aerials and some specials/triple changers) and long (level 3; gunners) basic attack ranges. However, this is not an absolute and there are exceptions. For example, Firedrive/Blowpipe are compatible with Hot Rod/Nemesis Prime but incompatible with Ultra Magnus/Galvatron despite all four bots having a basic medium attack range. In the end, this core is a combination of the Attack Power core with some added area of exposure damage that is designed to help you clear defenses behind walls.

Recommended Bots: All gunners except Sky Burst/Onslaught (this will stop their basic attack spray effect which limits the effectiveness of Prima if attached), all aerials, specials like Cheetor/Blackaracnia, Rust Dust/Scavenger, Perceptor/Bombshell, triple changers Sandstorm/Octone and Springer/Astrotrain.

Recommended Power Core: Alchemist due to regularly occurring bursting of flames area of exposure which will provide more health restored.

 

Pteraxadon/Terror-Daxtyl

Pteraxadon/Terror-Daxtyl augments the attached bot’s basic attack causing an earthquake dealing 30% of the bot’s DPS value as damage to enemies around your target. All of your attacks (basic and special) heal you for X% of the damage done. Compatible bots are typically going to be bots with melee (level 1; generically warriors and some specials) basic attack ranges. While these C.O.M.B.A.T. bots are compatible and viable attached to fan favorites Optimus Prime/Megatron as per the current in-game artwork, Pteraxadon/Terror-Daxtyl will really shine with Star Saber/Deathsaurus, Elita-1/Lugnut, Goldbug/Ramjet and Snarl/Hun-grrr. Utilizing their special abilities and the potential damage, Pteraxadon/Terror-Daxtyl can provide a tremendous amount of health restoration.

Recommended Bots: Star Saber/Deathsaurus, Elita-1/Lugnut, Goldbug/Ramjet and Snarl/Hun-grrr.

Recommended Power Core: Alchemist due to special ability area of exposure which will provide more health restored.

 

Flak/Cratermaker

Flak/Cratermaker augments the attached bot’s basic attack to mimic Sky Burst/Onslaught which shoots 5 rockets, each dealing X% of the bot’s DPS value. Compatible bots are typically going to be bots with short/medium (level 2; generically aerials and some specials/triple changers) and long (level 3; gunners) basic attack ranges. However, this is not an absolute and there are exceptions. For example, Flak/Cratermaker are compatible with Hot Rod/Nemesis Prime but incompatible with Ultra Magnus/Galvatron despite all four bots having a basic medium attack range. This is far and away the favorite C.O.M.B.A.T. bot of the player community and for good reason. Flak/Cratermaker enables you to transform the basic attack of a wide selection of bots into Sky Burst/Onslaught which coupled with Prima creates the potential for varied attacks. Imagine the awesomeness of attaching Flak/Cratermaker and Prima to Springer/Astrotrain for backdoor strategies. What about Silverbolt/Thundercracker with Flak/Cratermaker and their G1 Power Core creating the potential to stun several defenses over a large local area? Sounds stunning! More What about attaching Flak/Cratermaker to a special class bots such as specials like Cheetor/Blackaracnia, Rust Dust/Scavenger or Perceptor/Bombshell? While most gunners stand in one place and take damage, Cheetor/Blackaracnia, Rust Dust/Scavenger or Perceptor/Bombshell would dodge most of it with their defensive backflips. While common for gunners and other low health bots, one drawback to Flak/Cratermaker is the introduction of knock back behavior to bots who previously were not susceptible such as Hot Rod/Nemesis Prime, pausing their basic attack.

Recommended Bots: All gunners except Sky Burst/Onslaught, all aerials and in particular Sliverbolt/Thundercracker, specials like Cheetor/Blackaracnia, Rust Dust/Scavenger, Perceptor/Bombshell, triple changers Sandstorm/Octone and Springer/Astrotrain.

Recommended Power Core: Alchemist due to special ability area of exposure which will provide more health restored. G1 for Sliverbolt/Thundercracker for stun attribute.

 

By b0dhi74