Collaris

Collaris is a Tier 5 ground mech unit introduced in Build 136. It functions as a long-range, split-shot artillery walker that fires a primary shell which breaks into multiple homing fragments on explosion. Collaris appears as a guardian unit — notably defending Karst on wave 9 in the Campaign and as a late-game enemy in Origin — and is one of the fastest Tier 5 units available, giving it exceptional mobility for assaults and base captures.

The unit cannot target air units; all of its offensive capability is ground-focused. Its main weapon fires two barrels at a high rate (two shots with a 0.23s cadence per barrel, overall weapon reload about 130 ticks / 2.1667s) and launches a slow-moving primary projectile that deals substantial area damage on explosion and then spawns multiple frag bullets. The primary projectile deals 195 direct damage and produces a sizeable area explosion (120 area damage, about 4.5 tiles radius after Build 152 changes) before generating frags. Each volley produces many frags (sources describe 15 initial fragments, with frag sub-fragments described in data), and the frag bullets themselves are homing, deal around 37 damage each, have small area splash (about 35 area damage ~3.7 tiles in later data), and possess limited pierce and tracking. Both primary and frag projectiles cannot hit air targets. The weapon inflicts a slow on the Collaris itself for a short duration after firing. Leg contact deals area leg damage around 32.

Collaris’ speed is a defining trait: it is the fastest unit among Tier 5 mechs, allowing it to quickly close gaps, bypass open terrain, and pressure bases before defenders can fully react. When directly controlled by the player (possessed), Collaris can leverage its firing mechanics: firing at a point where the primary shell will fragment allows players to use the fragment travel time to effectively extend engagement range and safely strike turrets that would otherwise be out of direct range. This playstyle can let Collaris threaten most static defenses except those with very long-range, high-damage options like the Scathe.

Defenses and counters rely on exploiting Collaris’ AI and its inability to hit air. Its default AI tends to walk into defensive lines rather than perform long-range sieges, which lets concentrated, high-DPS ground defenses stop it before its frags become overwhelming. Effective counters include high-damage, double-layered large walls and boosted Regen Projectors to reduce incoming damage over time; Shockwave Towers can neutralize massed shells once assembled. Because Collaris cannot target flyers, air units such as Obviates can pick it off with minimal risk. Ozone (bomb) effects that detonate within the group can also quickly neutralize them if timed well. In the Campaign, Cyanogen-fueled Sublimates provide a compact way to stop mechs attempting to climb walls, while Smite and Malign turrets handle Collaris units once established.

Practical points and numbers to consider:

• Introduced in Build 136; several balance adjustments occurred in Builds 142–152 altering range, damage, splash, and projectile lifespans.
• Effective weapon cadence: two barrels with quick successive shots; overall reload ≈ 130 ticks (≈2.17s).
• Primary projectile: 195 damage, large splash (120 area damage ~4.5 tiles after Build 152), 60 tick lifespan in current data.
• Frag bullets: large count per volley (commonly listed as 15 initial fragments), 37 damage each, homing with limited tracking, splash ~35 at ~3.7 tiles, shorter lifespan (40 ticks).
• Cannot target air units — vulnerability to aerial counters.
• Fastest Tier 5 unit; high mobility enables aggressive play and quick base assault.
• Best used under player control to exploit fragment timing and extended effective range; pair with friendly missile or repair-support when facing specific turret threats such as Scathe.