EDF 5 - Mission 86 - Secret in the Dark

This is THE one. The hardest mission for the AR n the whole main campaign by far. This mission is hell.

I don't think it makes much difference using limpets or not. There are so many things that can go wrong that this is a giant PITA to do.

Details:

The mission is divided into 2 parts.

It starts with 4 tunnel exits spitting ants (between 8 and 12) and 1 spitting bees (12). Near the start position, you can destroy one of the ant's tunnels by dropping down to the right and using a limpet (which will enable you to summon a Depth Crawler). A Ranger (Grant MTX) or a WD (Plasma Great Canon) will be able to destroy the top bees tunnel by hitting the main pillar near it.

Once all 5 tunnels are destroyed the 2nd part starts. The biggest issue is the first part anyway, which is way worse than the 2nd.

You have 2 NPC groups of rangers that are not controllable and are scripted to go up to the bees tunnel (doesn't matter if it was destroyed or not by the time they reach it). There are 2 main dreadful spots: once you reach the arch that you can see in front of you when you start, and when the NPCs (and probably you) reach the place where the first ant's tunnel is in your path as they seem to stop there for a few secs and it can be a massacre.

To me, the ants are even worse than the bees. They're more difficult to hit and come in groups. Also, they will spit acid from far or just show up from under you and kill you or the NPCs in a snap. You'll see that easily when you pass under the arch.

What makes matters worse is that the only viable turrets if not using DLC ones are the ZEXR and the ZEX Launcher. I managed to do it once with tremendous luck with the ZEX Launcher... in around 200 or 300 tries. Granted when I died it was 99% of the time in the first minute or so. The biggest issue with the ZEX Launcher is how easy it is to wipe you and/or the NPCs, so you don't even need the enemies 😂 (really crying would be more correct). The second biggest issue is that the turrets and even the NPCs are very inefficient here. You just need an ant walking below you or the turrets and they will try to kill it which is impossible, while you and the NPCs are massacred by the other enemies. The ant will probably stop and try to kill the NPCs or you too, but can't either as she's under the ledge, but it's a deadlock, while it's a free-range for the other enemies. The hardest thing is surviving until the 4 ant tunnels are destroyed.

You can also be wiped out just by exiting the Depth Crawler to install a turret or a support turret. Also trying to climb the DC to install a turret is most of the time a nightmare due to the steep slant of the ledges as it doesn't work.

I eventually quit and switched the ZEX Launcher for the ZE Blaster, at least that one is feasible.

 

The Ranger has a much easier life here, as the Reverse Shooter fits like a glove in this mission. Even there the AR is at disadvantage, using the Life Vendor is very troublesome in this mission. I do recommend you just do this mission with him, and split-screen the other classes with the Ranger.

EDF 4.1 M87 Massive Mobilization Inferno

This is the hardest mission in EDF 4.1 for all classes. There's no way to cheese it or solve it with relative ease like Monster Party or Mountain Liberation which arguably are worse, but the AR can do both with specific load-outs. This mission is long, very long. You must deal with enemies in sections because if you piss a few parts of the map at once, you're likely dead.

The mission has 5 transports. The one on the right spawns purple ants, the one in the middle spiders, the one to the left that will be moving gold ants, the one in the back right gold ants, and the last in the far back left silver spiders.

The mission has a giant Quadruped Fortress which you really don't want to piss at the start (although I've seen an interesting strategy in multiplayer in which they started by doing that after wiping out the FVs and using it as a shield, as the mech body will not disappear). There are also 3 deroys, one of which is too much near to the mech to be possible to handle without waking it up. Four hectors are around, 3 of them shielded ones, the most troublesome ones are the Particle Stream Gun ones that will shoot the very fast and powerful projectiles that can wipe you in a single shot (at least with low armor).

And the icing on the cake, a bazillion flying vehicles...

The class that can handle this solo with fewer troubles is by far the AR (who else, if it's a messy mission he'll be there to solve it).

Weapons:

Dual ZEXR-GUN

Epsilon Armored Blast Railgun E

Armor: 1000

This can also be done with the ZEXR-GUN and Life Vendor ZD, but it's harder.

First the things you must take care of:

- the epsilon shots are piercing, so be REALLY careful what you shoot and what can be in the back as you can ruin the run with a simple mistake

- the worst enemies are flying vehicles, followed by the gold ants

- you should always try to use one set of ZEXRs at a time, saving the next one to when the first ends, especially if there's FVs around, and it's good practice to put the first set in the forward positions so that you know which one is each when you need to start them. The timing for rebuilding a set of ZEXRs is just slightly less than the time they last shooting. You can't be in the tank too much time, they don't rebuild while you're there.

- always keep moving with FVs around, this lessens the chances of them hitting you and the NPCs (same with Deroy and hector shots anyway)

- FVs have wildly varied flying paths most will go by you sometime even if they're not aggroed

- any enemies that are relatively close to any FV you hit will be aggroed too

- the mech can follow different paths, although usually it will go near your start position, and then near your current position

- the most likely way for you to die is by an FV homing on you, stunning you and zapping you to death

- NPCs can be easily wiped out by FVs, golds, and silvers.

The first thing you should do is get rid of as many flying vehicles as possible. They're the worst enemies as if one focuses on you or any of the NPCs it can wipe you or them out or do considerable damage. Your loadout isn't good to handle them. So all you can do is for a while lay consecutive sets of turrets to try to diminish the number of FVs. This is crucial or the number of FVs that will come in the first transport you'll bring down is so overwhelming that either you or most of your NPCs will be wiped out. During this phase a few spiders or even less common a few purple ants can come, the ZEXRs will handle them. The rightmost deroy can also wake, there's no issue just be alert to that and wipe him out with the tank ASAP. Yes, this is boring but crucial believe me. Your goal is to get a third to half the FVs down.

This can be considerably easier if you're playing (even alone) split screen with another class. The ranger excels at sniping (Hercules rocks here), WD is sadly a boredom (Monster) and even Fencer (whatever you can use for sniping) will help a lot. Hide the AR or the other class in the tank while you're not using it. Be careful NOT to snipe any FVs near the mech. NO GUIDED WEAPONS, so no Emerald, Mirage, FGX High Altitude Impact Missiles, zilch!!!

After this rebuild both ZEXR sets. The first goal is to take down the purple's transport. From the start position put one set towards the right (two rolls between each is good spacing), then the next 3 around the tank area. Bring down transport when it starts to open. This is always important so that you can bring him down in one opening, or he'll probably drop more enemies next time it opens again. If the deroy is still there' he'll probably wake at the first epsilon shot, kill him, then return to transport and bring it down. Activate the first set of ZEXRs, saving the next one for now. Shoot purple ants sideways, NEVER towards the back.

Activate the next set of ZEXRs when the first is gone, rebuild and keep doing this until all ants and FVs are gone.

This first transport will liberate a crucial area. The second lot at the right of the map is flat for a few squares to the left. You'll handle most things in that area since this will make the ZEXRs a lot more efficient. In most areas of the map, the rubble will help the enemies and will make a lot of the ZEXRs ammo be wasted on rubble hits. By moving and camping in this open area you'll maximize ZEXRs efficiency and will be so much easier to handle golds and silvers.

The next transport is the spider's one. Although it should be handled from your new conquered position, when downing him you'll wake 2 hectors. So getting rid of one will help. Only the left one (the blue unshielded) can be hit with confidence without making a mess further back. Install ZEXRs in front of him, as the spiders and a few FVs will come, and wipe him out facing him frontally slightly to its right, he'll be gone in 2 shots.

Now go to the aforementioned place, the second block on the right of the map. Install the first batch of ZEXRs more towards the left, second near map edge where you'll stay with the tank. Two possibilities. You can try to hit at least once the shielded hector just below the transport (or twice) or down the transport first then deal with the hector. Exit tank and activate the first set of ZEXRs. If you did not destroy the hector be really careful where you hit him, chances are you'll have the mech, a deroy, and the silver spiders behind him. It's better to take a few hits from him, than risk a mess. As long as you're moving even slowly the hector will miss most shots, if necessary move backward to the map end. Activate the second set of ZEXRs when needed. The number of FVs may be still daunting at this point.

When spiders transport, spiders, yellow shielded hector, and FVs are gone, rebuild ZEXRs and time for next transport.

The next one will be the gold ants one to your right. Install the first batch of ZEXRs in the open area but towards that transport. The second, further back near the end of the open area. Destroy gold ants transport and activate ZEXRs. In this case activate the second set of ZEXRs shortly after the first, gold ants are nasty you want to get rid of them even more than FVs. Shoot tank at yellow ants to help. The yellow shielded deroy coming is a machine gun one, you'll have plenty of time to deal with it before it's a threat. When this part has ended rebuild ZEXRs and proceed to last gold ants transport.

The last gold ants transport is the one moving to your left. You should wait for it to be on the way to way and more to the left, to avoid waking the big deroy near it or the mech. Install the 2 groups of ZEXRs in the open towards the transport, as usual, the first more near the transport, the second more near your position. Takedown the transport and the ZEXRs will likely handle all yellow ants. The number of FVs should be pretty low.

At this point or when you handle the biggest deroy a group of rangers, the Omega team will spawn near the back map border. Capture them ASAP, they'll be great to handle FVs and silver spiders at the end.

Now attack and destroy the furthest deroy, it's the only medium one (2 diamond spikes on each leg). You can try to farm it for weapon crates by destroying the 6 laser diamonds and the 3 spikes before killing it but it's risky.

All that remains is the silvers transport, the mech, and its nearby deroy, and a sole hector near the last transport. You have 2 options:

- destroy transport then deal with mech

- deal with mech, then destroy transport, optionally farming the silvers

If you want to destroy transport place the ZEXRs the same way you did for the first yellow ant's transport. Then move along the right map border (from start), shoot the transport down, and move back quickly to near ZEXRs, activating them. If everything goes fine ZEXRs and NPCs will kill silvers, help with the tank. If the hector comes, deal with it too, although it's unusual.

Dealing with the mech isn't troublesome but you need to be careful to avoid that the NPCs are wiped out. Shoot and destroy the deroy so that the mech starts. If the deroy moves and the mech doesn't start you should destroy the last transport before dealing with the mech, you'll have to shoot some FVs moving around it to make it move. Sometimes after the mech starts moving it will be attacked by gunships and will be severely damaged.

The mech has 6 dangerous weapons: a really nasty cannon inside it on the back of the opening and 5 lasers, two on each side of the head and one below centrally between its back legs. The first one to be active will be the cannon, but as long as you keep a long-distance it won't hit you or the NPCs. It's the easiest one to shoot down, you'll see an explosion animation when you do. The other 5 are more troublesome. The mech has shields that make it hard to hit the lasers. It's also problematic to hit the ones on each side of the head from the same position. Try to deal with the back one first, then the two near the front in the side you can, hopefully, they will be in the open and not behind the shields. When this has been done wait for the mech to move and have its other side towards you so you can destroy the last 2 lasers.

When this has been done, approach the mech and try to hit it inside when its doors are open and you can see the red inside. The angle to hit that with the tank isn't totally easy to get. You can try this while the mech still has lasers active, but you risk that the NPCs are wiped out, and they will come in handy.

The mech part is easier with a second class of course since sniping the mech weapons with the ranger or WD will be a lot easier than with the tank, as both their weapons have zoom. 

When the mech is out, deal with the last transport if you didn't, then last hector, and finally the last few FVs. The last FVs can be a pain to kill, they're very high, and hitting them with the tank isn't easy. ZEXRs usually can't reach them either.

It's not totally easy but the best way I found. This is the hardest mission, after all, it wasn't ever going to be easy. You can do similar runs with the Ranger and WD solo, but it's a lot harder than with the AR (best weapons for Ranger will be Hercules + AF100 or Reverse Shooter X, and WD the Monster-S + Idunn-FF or Laser Lance Sigma).

https://youtu.be/7g_EGrk_TeI

EDF 5 - 60 Mountain Investigation Inferno AR, WD and Ranger

This is a scripted mission that apparently seems easy but it's very hard to accomplish. Without knowledge of what happens and thinking of a way to solve it, you'll never do it in Inferno.

There will be 3 NPC squads. A double one with rangers that will be near your start position, of which their captains (2) and only them are invincible until they can be joined after they reach the mountain top and the voice line "Attack the nest" is heard. One with WDs that will spawn later in the mountains off the map and so really hard to capture, roughly opposite the hive from your start position. And another with rangers that will spawn to the left of your start.

There will be a lot of bee waves, but your biggest concern will be the last 3, that will spawn from the nest, and the last also includes 3 queens. However, the game will end sometime during this last wave. Once your 3 squads are wiped out you're dead. The biggest issue is that the 3 squads will be in different positions which makes attacks on the bees during these waves difficult as they will be spread on 3 different areas and it's not possible to hit them all at the same time. Capturing any squads isn't easy. The simplest one to do that is the last rangers squad that will spawn towards the left of the hive. All of them will be wiped out in a snap if you don't kill the bees REALLY fast, as the dumb idiots stay in their position and that's the worse you can do with bees (well basically that's the worse you can do with most enemies).

The best strategy is simple and the same for all classes.

At first, go back so you can kill the nearest bees without them aggro them on you. Then proceed slowly as the first group of rangers advance. You do need to kill all possible bees, or you'll risk that only the 2 invincible captains reach the mountain top. So while staying back wipe out all bees on the ground and the small waves that arrive flying.

When the rangers start climbing the mountain towards the nest you should proceed fast to the left of the nest to capture the last ranger squad. You'll have to wipe more bees there too. Then climb the mountain towards the WD squad that you won't be able to capture, at least easily (can be done with a rocket by hitting the leader but it's hard and not necessary). Lastly staying in the back of the mountain wipe out the first 2 waves as fast as possible, as in this place it's seldom any bees will come up to bother. When the 3rd wave starts and the queens come, go away as the mission will end shortly and it's hard for any NPCs to be alive then. The ranger squad you captured will be useful as final bait.

Air Raider - The best vehicle is the Naegling. However, it's crap to drive it in EDF 5 in rough terrain as it can easily topple. Beware that most strafe attacks will be too low to hit bees. Also, they're not very wide so only a few bees are hit.

The KM6 attacks I used in the following video were the ones that worked better. Still, they're not perfect and you have to be careful when to use them, as you'll need credits to be able to use them again.

I did not go to the place I wanted (top of the mountain like with Ranger and WD videos) but amazingly, the game still awarded the mission complete, that's the reason I uploaded this run.

https://youtu.be/66wi2C7o3mo

Ranger - MEX5 Emerald and Reverse Shooter are the best options here. MEX5 Emerald needs to be fairly upgraded, especially in the number of ammo. Use wisely the reverse shooter between waves to freshen the NPC bait (see video). You need the Hybrid Protector E9 suit or it's a pain to get where you need on time, the travel distance is very long.

https://youtu.be/66wi2C7o3mo

Wing Diver - Gleipnir α and Mirage 15WR are the best options, but both need to be fairly upgraded to work. The best core is the VM Rush Core, however charging the Gleipnir and flying are not compatible, so you must save the Gleipnir for the best opportunities and not touch it while flying. Also, the Mirage isn't the best option for bees as they will aggro to you in circles and the hitbox of the mirage is small and focus only on the front (you can't track enemies around you like the Naegling and Emerald), this can cause serious problems.

You can try with the Big Bang core but it drives me insane dragging around, so I seldom use it, but the 200% weapons charge is amazing.

https://youtu.be/_WoOs62Wmow

EDF 5 - 109 No.11 Inferno AR

This is going to be nirvana for the TL;DR people.😋😂 This mission is long as hell. There are a ton of things to describe.

The mission isn't terribly hard but I'm still not happy with any of the solutions I've found. The mission is overall easy, except for the third phase of the shield, the bullet hell phase.

Major hint

If you're struggling to do this mission with any class on solo use split screen and as a second class choose an AR with the best Barga you have, a guard post, and optionally the Electromagnetic Wall and Life Vendor (or ZEXRs). Capture all fast NPCs with main class (WDs, Grim Reapers, optionally Sarge squad), install shield around NPCs where they start with 2nd AR, kill frogs and cosmos, then go front left beyond spiders ship, bring it down, destroy main ship mega cannon, destroy pillbugs ship, return near AR which should have already been able to request a Barga. Install Barga ahead of tanks and players, protect them with shield, then bring down the ants ship. Most enemies will focus on the Barga, leaving you in peace, the NPCs will handle small fish. Before destroying the mothership shield for the next phase get a new Barga and put it forward more under the next barrier, rebuild shield and install around tanks, return AR to Barga, pick health crates for you and NPCs and just turkey shoot the mothership shield parts from near the tanks inside your shield. Rinse and repeat.

I've settled that the best way is with ZEXR, Bulge Laser Beam Mode Z, Life Vendor ZD and Nix ZC. Takes close to 1 hour to do this way, it's likely a lot easier with Limpet Sniper, Bargas or a heli, but since I'm allergic to all of them...

I don't know if I'll publish a video or not, it's very long and there's too much boring parts. A screen taken at the end:

I know this could be from any difficulty, but yes it's from inferno. Still had a few NPCs left on this run, mostly the WDs, one or Fencers and Rangers, and amazingly 2 of the slower fencers.

Essential weapons:

- Life Vendor ZD, I tried shields, Guard Posts, Zone Protectors, basically everything from support. Life Vendor works best because although you only have 5 they're really only necessary at the start of the 3 shield phases. Shields are blown in a snap in all shield start phases, so completely unuseful. Protection / guard is not enough during these parts, so the reason for the Life Vendor, and the same reason the Reverse Shooter X is almost essential for the Ranger too.

- ZEXR-GUN. What else would be awesome? Although your NPC soldiers and the3tankswill help a lot with the small stuff, the ZEXR makes this even more productive and more efficient. It also helps a gazillion since only enemies will wield ponts for the exoskeleton and you're going to need a lot of them.

- Bulge Laser Beam Mode Z. Not perfect but the best other weapon that works here. shields have wild trajectories and are very fast in phases 2 and 3, but they help. Also excellent to deal with cosmos and frogs when needed, along with the giant cannon. As they say in my country, constant water dropping wears away a stone, so keep using them they will help.

- Nix ZC. Only option for exoskeletons. Sturdy and plenty of options. And the best to destroy shield cannon and locks, and the mothership itself. And frogs and cosmos. And everything else for that matter. Yes, Nix ZC rocks.

Armor: 1000

You can be one shot with 1k armor, but it's not that common. As long as there's NPCs around you or closer to the worse things (cannon from shields, cosmos, frogs and blue tadpoles) it can be done.

Plan:

At start

EDF 5 - 108 Scorched Earth Inferno AR

Mission 108 does deserve a separate post. In the end, it's the best mission overall in the main game campaign and by a long distance. Like Scorching which was already the best mission overall in 4.1, they maintained the tradition with this evolution.

The mission is relatively quick to do with the AR and there's a variety of weapons that can be used to accomplish it successfully. It has a varied enemy roster that makes it pleasing to do, and the waves are different enough to keep the pressure and interest from start to end.

Although I can understand the difficulty and time it takes to create a mission like this it's a pity there's so little compared to it in the whole game. 110, 109 and 100 would be a lot more interesting with less RNG and extreme enemies that just make the missions more dependent on luck than strategy or skill, which makes them annoying and unpleasing to do again. 94, 98, 104, 105 and 107 are good, but even 94 falls short of the thrill that is 108.

Let's hope EDF 6 brings more of this kind of mission.

First strategy - Naegling and bomber attacks

Weapons:

Heavy Bomber Phobos Z Plan 4

Combat Bomber KM6 Plan Z4

Bulge Laser Beam Mode Z

Naegling Self-Propelled Missile Launcher XEM

Armor: 1000

The most exciting and interesting missions in the game. It's an improvement from Scorching in 4.1, with the worse benefit that there's no chance for a pause or relaxation between the 4 waves, it's a rarely ending onslaught of enemies.

I really wanted to solve this one in inferno as nicely as in hard but it's not possible. I don't know if Spritefall's are an option for Bulge. My 3 ones (Power Mode, Maximum and Destroy) are very basic and don't even handle a large anchor, so an oversized one would take forever, and even maxed out I don't think they will work. In practical terms, it takes the same time to use the bulge or Spritefall on an anchor, the bulge can require more work for the giant bee if she moves. UPDATE As I have 2 of the Spritefalls more upgraded, I don't think Spritefalls can be an option. You need 2 or 3 uses of one to takedown a large anchor, can't even dream to use it for the oversized one, there's no concentration of enemies where it would be useful too.

At start use immediately Phobos and KM6 incoming mob. While capturing all 6 NPC squads continue to use Phobos and KM6. If you're too successful it will be a pain as the next wave will spawn before you have the vehicle. When you can summon the vehicle as far back as possible. Always use Phobos and KM6 until all Deroys are gone, as unfortunately, it's difficult to kill their leg weapons in inferno, considering there's bigger fish to deal with, as they would be mostly harmless then. When in the vehicle drive in reverse to the left back corner of the map. Focus first on drones, then deroy legs if there's one alive, then ground stuff (spiders, cosmos). When you reach the map end continue until you have some buildings to your left, summon new naegling when you can.

Bees, pill bugs and the queen bee will come from the right considering start. Use Naegling extensively to eliminate remaining bombers, bees, pill bugs and everything else alive. When you see the queen bee in range kill her with the bulge, it works surprisingly well for that. When it arrives, enter it and proceed driving in reverse to the opposite right corner of the map, shooting sideways to kill tadpoles. Proceeding up by the left of the map is a bad idea, as you'll be very near the anchors when they drop. Before you reach the end exit and drop KM6 along the road, it will kill many tadpoles. When you reach the map end, go up, yes always driving in reverse. At this point the only NPCs alive should be the WDs and some fencers, the others should be dead or almost. Use KM6 again if possible or necessary

If you performed too well, you'll still be going in the back road when the pylons arrive or you should be driving up after reaching the map ends when the pylons drop, the larger one in the middle will be the last and it comes later than the 4 small ones. Use the bulge ASAP on that one.

Send Phobos to the mob coming from the pylons and KM6 too, or along the road if there are many enemies still coming along that way. Continue using Naegling when the attacks are coming and summon 2 more when possible. It's likely the queen ant spawned (king spider is spawned later), use KM6 or Phobos on her.

Use bulge on the 2 LEFT pylons. Massacre the coming small fish with Naegling, and when possible kill the nearest right pylon. Don't destroy the furthest one, it will "only" drop red and black ants. It's likely you'll only have 2 or 3 NPC WDs alive, perhaps 1 or 2 fencers too. Start picking crates, to heal NPCs (and you)and pick weapons. Use Naegling to kill spawning small fish, if you kill them all the laser ranger squad and GR fencers will spawn again, but with low health. Pick crates to heal them to full and then you can travel around picking what you want, the NPCs will kill the small fish. If you keep on using the Naegling against the small fish, the pylon will probably be destroyed too.

You can farm the pylon but it's not very interesting. Most crates will be to the right of the place you probably ended (up right corner from start) as it was the point where many enemies died with your initial attacks and around the start area and its back.

Some will be inside the pools area, these will be easier to pick on foot, which is safe once you have enough healthy NPCs alive again.

The Naegling is junk at 6600 armor, but the ability to kill small fish like bombers, bees and tadpoles that NPCs struggle to handle is a must.

This isn't easy. It's not possible to succeed always, there are too many waves and hard enemies in this mission. Important:

- try to get rid of the 3 deroys, they will fry your 2 NPC exoskeletons in a snap, if they last longer the mission will be easier.

- try to use the first Naegling as much as possible, as you'll use the 2nd a lot because there are 102 tadpoles in the third wave and it's the most difficult time to recall one

- the only likely survivors until almost the end of the mission from the first wave are the 2 heavy cosmonauts because if they don't get hit by Naegling missiles NPCs won't kill them as they're too spread and stuck with other issues

- the queen bee is important but not crucial to handle quickly, but the bulge works surprisingly well with her

- the 2 blue tadpoles from wave 3 are also thorny as you have no easy way to handle them, they will eventually die to Naegling missiles or KM6 but can take time.

- not being hit is almost impossible if you join all NPCs, so some damage is 99% likely

- abuse the Phobos and KM6, the idea is not only to kill enemies but to create havoc and make it easier for you and the NPCs to move and battle what is essential

- driving the Naegling in reverse isn't easy and you'll get a lot of weird camera views, so get used and try anyway, it's worth it

- you can expect a few slowdowns, especially when the Phobos, KM6 and Naegling rockets are all active simultaneously

If you succeed 25-33% of the time, it's a good success rate. This mission is hard (EDIT - OK not that hard after all). For comparison, I have a 99% success rate in Scorching on 4.1, and I do it there with inferior armor and weapons. Well the Epsilon isn't exactly an inferior weapon, is it 😋

https://youtu.be/a_1drs8W01Y

UPDATE

I've come up with other possibly easier ways to solve this one:

https://youtu.be/65a4vp61Qi8

https://youtu.be/rEY_of73BAA

2ND UPDATE

I thought it couldn't be more insane but it can:

https://youtu.be/a6UeixwhI3I

Second strategy - Nix ZC and support or turret

Weapons:

Life Vendor ZD

Guard Post M3 or Zone Protector ZM

Power Post ZM or ZEXR-GUN

Powered Exoskeleton Nix ZC

Armor: 1000

The second way does not involve much movement. You'll stay near the start during all the missions. The advantages are:

- you'll have almost all crates in a small area

- more NPCs will survive

- the armor of the Nix is way beyond the "paper tissue made" Naegling

If you just want to use support equipment the 3 ones above are stellar. Choosing between Guard Post M3 or Zone Protector ZM is a matter of protection efficiency versus distance covered, either will work. The ZEXRs which are one of the best AR weapons will work in a stellar fashion here.

At the start just proceed to the front corner of the area where you spawn while collecting all 6 NPC squads. The 2 NPC Nixs will arrive roughly at the same time at their positions as you'll get there too.

It's difficult to support both NIXs. Although they won't be in exactly the same position in all runs, I seldom managed to support both. Only Zone Protector ZM will be able to do that. Supporting the left one is a better strategy as it's the one that will usually be more battered by enemies.

Install one of each support post near the corner (see video), if you have ZEXRs send them forward in an arc. Wait until you can summon Nix, staying within range of the Life Vendor is a good idea. When Nix arrives concentrate on the 3 deroys. Be extremely careful shooting the Nix's Shoulder Howitzer, if you hit a nearby enemy or NPC you'll likely kill most of the NPCs as this thing does 10k damage. After the deroys concentrate on the drones and cosmos. Do remember to summon more NIXs when you can this is crucial.

When the second wave comes, install a new Life Vendor. You don't have time to rebuild the Guard Post and you only have 3, so don't use one. Same with ZEXRs, they will be crucial on the third wave and wave 2 usually goes pretty fast so you wouldn't have time to use and rebuild them. The Life Vendor is enough on this phase. Kill as many bees as you can with the Nix Revolver and Missiles, handle Giant Bee when she's in range, leave pill bugs mostly to NPCs.

When the third wave comes install both support posts and the ZEXRs if you have them. Remember the tadpoles will do a circling flight but you should install them before they end it. The ZEXRs help a lot in this phase, they mince the tadpoles very efficiently. If possible handle the blue ones.

The fourth wave will not be very hard. Install the support posts and the likely ready ZEXRs. If the latter is not ready do exit Nix and install them when possible. they will help a lot in the initial onslaught. You now have 2 options. If you want the level done, kill queen ant, destroy huge anchor (do realize that the Shoulder Howitzer shots from one Nix won't be enough for the bugger pylon). Then starting from the right destroy each remaining pylon, the 2 rightmost ones will be the ones spawning bees which are the most troublesome for the NPCs. Each large pylon will go down with 5 Shoulder Howitzer hits. Leave the leftmost pylon alive which only spawns red and black ants and collect crates.

The alternative is to while killing any giant enemies that appear, destroy immediately the rightmost pylons that spawn bees, and then the second from left that spawns spiders (or all the smallest ones) and then keep killing the giant enemies that the huge pylon spawns. You'll be able to call a ton of NIXs, no problem there. A shoulder howitzer hit in a king spider will stun it for a while and send it flying across the map. The howitzer isn't good for the queen ant, advance towards her and use flamer and revolver she'll go down in a snap.

Usually, the NPC WDs and almost all rangers will be alive at the end. NPC fencers like to make inroads towards enemies and are crushed quickly.

Although the Nix ZC is slow as molasses, the crates will be in a small area compared to other strategies, making their pickup not a dreadful job.

Third strategy - Naegling and turrets

Weapons:

ZEXR-GUN

Bulge Laser Beam Mode Z

ZEX Launcher or ZE Blaster (if you want to use DLC weapons)

Naegling Self-Propelled Missile Launcher XEM

Armor: 1000

I was really surprised that this loadout is very successful. The ZEX Launcher is dangerous but it does work if you're careful with its placement. The Bulge Laser is essential for pylons but surprisingly works very well with the 3 deroys.

Easiest strategy overall

With so many possibilities which is the easiest way to do this mission? Although it's possible to do it in different ways 2 are easiest and more prone to success:

- Nix ZC, Life Vendor ZD, Guard Post M3 or Zone Protector ZM (one favors protection strength, the other area covered) and ZEXR, by staying in the start area. The Nix will do the majority of the job, but the ZEXRs can help a lot in waves 1, 3 and 4 and will maximize the number of NPCs that survive. My personal record stands at 11 NPCs alive at the end (none respawned).

You can farm infinitely the mission if you want with this loadout. Just don't destroy the big anchor and keep killing the spawned queen ants and king spiders. However take care that when there are only 3 pylons left the huge one will also spawn waves of 5 tadpoles, spiders and black ants, which your turrets, Nix machine guns and NPCs will handle with some ease anyway.

 - Naegling Self-Propelled Missile Launcher XEM, Bulge Laser Beam Mode Z, ZEX Launcher (or ZE Blaster if you want to go with DLC weapons) and ZEXR-GUN, by falling back, right and up. Amazingly the 2 turrets do provide the best solution if not staying near the start is the option. Although the ZEX Launcher is dangerous, using it with some thought does deliver the best way and a few times I even managed to have a few rangers alive at the end (not considering the ones that respawn), besides the fencers and the WDs.