Commands used in this guide
Follow the below steps to get a good first impression of what the beginning of your game should roughly look like.
Metal
The 4 steps
The first things you need are:
- Metal from metal extractors
- Energy from solar collectors or wind generators
- Production of units from a factory
- Intel, by building radar and scouting
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Metal
Metal is the scarcer of the two resources, requiring more time and space to acquire. Metal extractors are your primary production of metal.
You should typically build 2 extractors before building anything else.
Metal extractors must be constructed on metal-rich deposits which are distributed across the map. Select a metal extractor in the build list or press F4 to reveal deposits in blue/green.
Metal extractors extract from an area, one is always enough to cover a metal spot. Their range is indicated by a red circle. TIP: Place extractors closer to your constructor to save time!
Metal can also be produced by converting energy. Learn more about Energy Converters.
Hold down shift to queue up multiple buildings in a row. Don't queue too many – remember to check what other units are doing!
Energy
Energy is a plentiful but crucial resource, used to build units and fire weapons. Keep a close eye on your resource bar to make sure you never run out.
Energy can be produced from many sources, most commonly from wind-generators and solar-collectors.
You can also use geothermal powerplants and tidal-generators at tech level 1.
If average windspeed is above 10, Wind Generators are best.
If it's below 10, go for Solar Collectors.
If your are in water, you can build Tidal Generators
TIP: Hover your mouse over the windmill icon to see more info about wind energy generation.
Construction
Factories and construction units can construct additional buildings and units.
Depending on your strategy, start location and optionally your teammates, you will choose a factory to start with. Generally the order below is what is commonly used, though each map you fight on will have advantages and disadvantages:
Bot Factory
The Bot Factory is called a Bot Lab. It produces bots which are relatively cheap and can traverse hilly terrain. Their low cost makes them great for scouting and rapid early expansion. However, bots have low armor and are not ideal for direct engagement with static defenses.
Vehicle Factory
The Factory for vehicles, called a Vehicle Plant, produces Vehicles and tanks, which are stronger, but overall slower than bots. If this fits your strategic plan, then vehicles can be your best bet.
Aircraft Factory
Aircraft are build in the Aircraft Plant and are both costly and weak; their benefit is in the element of surprise. Most units cannot target aircraft, so a lack of preparation may be catastrophic. Aircraft are best used once you're well established on the map, for surprise attacks and supporting allies. Construction aircraft build slowly, so prefer bot or vehicle constructors.
Shipyard
Shipyards are needed to build ships and submarines. Most often only viable when you play a water map. Ships, subs and amphibious units are expensive and metal hungry. Often not a wise choice for the first phase of your game.
There are more factories possible in BAR. In a later stage in the game you can also build Hovercraft, Seaplanes and Amphibious factories.
Intelligence
To be aware of any early attacks, called rushes, you need as much visual- and radar-intel as possible. So scouting with units is important, but radar coverage is cheaper and gives quite some useful intel on enemy movement.
Build radar towers, preferably on high ground. They are cheap and can provide crucial information of your enemies whereabouts and movement.
TIP: Also handy is to build one or two Light Laser Towers once you have metal, energy, production and intel. This will defend from early attacks.
