How to play as UNSC - Halo Wars 2

This guide covers general information for all UNSC leaders. The UNSC has eight leaders: Captain Cutter, Isabel, Professor Anders, and Sergeant Forge (Base Heroes), plus Kinsano, Sergeant Johnson, Commander Jerome, and Serina (DLC Leaders).

Early Game Build Order

Opening Strategy

1. Build a Supply Pad immediately
2. While the Supply Pad builds, send one Marine squad to gather nearby blue supply crates
3. Send your other Marine squad to the furthest power crates on the map
4. Once Supply Pad is done, immediately upgrade it to Heavy Supply Pad (you'll have 400 supplies)
5. Build a Generator

Recommended Pad Order

Supply Pad → Generator → Supply Pad → Supply Pad → Generator (fifth pad)

Note: This is a general build. If you're doing early tactics like a rush or leader build, adjust accordingly.

Leader Point Selection

For Captain Cutter: UNSC Raid is better than Battle Hardened

Critical Early Game Tips

Generator Management

• Upgrade generators immediately when you have 300 power
• Always upgrade your generators - the 200 power investment pays off

Mini Bases

• Take mini bases nearby - they provide low-cost extra pads
• Use mini bases to train additional units or boost economy
• NEVER build a Generator on a mini base
  • Mini bases have less protection than regular bases
  • Generators increase in cost (200 → 500 → 800 → 1100 supplies)
  • You don't want to lose expensive generators on easily destroyed mini bases
• Good choices for mini bases: Armory, Supply Pads

Power Nodes

• Power nodes give approximately 1.5 power per second
• May not seem like much, but compounds over 10-15 minutes
• Set rally points near nodes or send starting Marines to capture them

Turret Placement

• Build turrets for cheap, effective base defense
• To cover your entire base area efficiently, build turrets diagonally
• Place one turret in front on one side, one in the back on the opposite side

Scouting

• Scout your opponent to understand what they're building
• Get a heads up if they're rushing you
• Use Jackrabbits or Marines to scout

UNSC Strengths

Superior Turrets

• UNSC turrets are better than Banished turrets
• Banished turrets fire slower and are generally weaker
• UNSC Siege Turrets can protect or even be offensive (depending on map size) without consuming population

Marines and Snipers

Marines with Combat Tech upgrade are excellent:

• Get rocket launchers for automatic rocket attacks
• Can heal anything mechanical (base, vehicles, even Hornets)
• Almost act as Nightingales
• Only limitation: Can't heal other infantry
• Great cheap option when you need vehicle healing

Vultures

• Still one of the best units in the game
• Were nerfed slightly but remain very powerful

Mid-Game Transition

Expansion

• Start expanding your base once you reach Tech 2
• Grab a second base strategically
• Generally take the nearest expansion base (aggressive expo grabbing is risky)

The Numbers Game

• Halo Wars 2 is generally a numbers game
• More units typically beats fewer upgraded units
• Not always true, but generally holds

Production vs Economy Buildings

• It's actually more beneficial to build more economy buildings (Supply Pads, Generators)
• Multiple production buildings aren't always fully utilized
• Don't miss out on additional resources

Army Composition

General Guidance

• No definitive upgrade path - depends on the match
• Consider your leaders, allies' leaders, and opponents' leaders
• As the game progresses, move away from counter infantry (Cyclops, Sniper, Hellbringers)

Recommended Late Game Units

• Scorpions: Great overall unit
• Wolverines: Mix with Scorpions for anti-air
• Nightingales: Essential for healing
• Hornets: Excellent when upgraded with Wingmen and full air upgrades
• Warthogs work well in mid-game, especially for certain playstyles

Cutter's Cyclops Drop

• One of the exceptions to weak UNSC counter units
• Drops a Vet 2 Cyclops on the battlefield
• Extremely powerful ability

UNSC Weaknesses

Base Defense

• No shield generators on base turrets (unlike Banished)
• Can't cloak bases like Banished
• Workaround: Build Nightingales and use their cloak ability on your base (heals too, but temporary)

Counter Units

UNSC counter units are weaker than Banished counterparts:

• Hellbringers < Elite Rangers
• Cyclops < Hunters
• Snipers are an exception - they're really good

Condor

• Not recommended to build
• Not as good as the Scarab
• Slow and susceptible to attacks
• 40 population could be better spent elsewhere
• Air upgrades (Level 1, 2, 3) do NOT apply to the Condor

General Tips

Always Be Active

• Always be doing something
• Get upgrades
• Go on attacks
• Prepare for counterattacks

Map Control

• Take all nodes and mini bases
• Be aggressive

Know When to Retreat

• Don't be afraid to retreat and rebuild
• If you have a big army you know you'll lose and can't afford to counterattack, regroup and try again