Combat

Summary

The Dark Fog is the main antagonist of Dyson Sphere Program, and it continually tries to expand throughout star systems. The player must engage in combat against it to prevent it from growing out of control, or to prevent it from interfering with operations.

Combat falls into two different categories: planetary and space combat.

Planetary Combat

Planetside fights involve Planetary Bases and the units they produce. Each base has a threat level that gradually rises as the player's facilities use power, until the base launches a wave of units to attack. Bases also will defend themselves if Icarus or facilities come too close.

The player has several weapons at their disposal to deal with planetary threats:

• Icarus has a medium-range laser weapon from the start of the game. While it deals very low damage (even when upgraded), it is enough to handle small skirmishes and does not require ammo.
• Beyond this, Icarus's magazine has slots for 3 sets of ammo and 1 type of throwable weapon. Within the Mecha Panel menu, the player can set weapons to be automatic and/or manual. The maximum amount of different weapons that can be used at once is 3: setting 1 non-throwable weapon and the laser cannon to Auto targeting, and setting the throwable to Manual targeting. When used by Icarus, ammo behaves the same way it would when used by its respective turret.
• A total of 3 types of automated combat drones can be researched and manufactured: Prototypes, Precision Drones, and Attack Drones. Prototypes are the weakest and have no outstanding characteristics, but they are a necessary stepping stone to reach Precision and Attack Drones. Precision Drones have significantly longer range and better mobility than Attack Drones, but they are less durable and deal slightly less damage. No matter which drone(s) the player chooses, they are a valuable asset for fending off the Dark Fog, boosting the player's damage output while simultaneously drawing attacks away from Icarus.
• Turrets deal significant damage to anything in their range, making them very useful for forming an automatic defense against the Dark Fog's assaults. The first turret to be unlocked is the Gauss Turret, which is a basic but effective turret, and its ammo is very easy to manufacture. However, sufficiently advanced Planetary Bases can manufacture aerial units that Gauss Turrets are helpless against. In this case, upgrade the defensive line with Missile Turrets or Implosion Cannons.

Planetary Combat Tips & Tricks

• When planning an attack on a Planetary Base, scout out how many units are patrolling it. The Dark Fog is dangerous even at level 0; their numbers are what really dictate their overall danger level. Make sure to bring along plenty of combat drones. Running in headlong alone will result in every single unit firing on Icarus at once, likely eradicating it in an instant.
• Besides automated units, Planetary Bases are backed up by Plasma Sentries. These deal severe damage at long range and can tear through Icarus quickly. However, since they fire in a predictable rhythm, it's possible to consistently dodge their fire. Jump right before the Plasma Sentries fire, so that they shoot when Icarus is at the peak of the jump and is about to start falling. This will make all the shots harmlessly pass over Icarus's head.
• Throwable weapons are the best weapon by far for destroying Planetary Bases, as they deal heavy damage in a radius. They also don't have a traditional rate of fire, and Icarus can throw them repeatedly (although throwing them long distances requires charging the throw). At close range, Icarus can repeatedly throw these weapons and deal huge damage per second, and they have a big enough blast radius to hit multiple structures and fighters at once. With a few combat drones to draw some fire away from Icarus, using throwables to tear down Planetary Bases is surprisingly straightforward.
  • Later in the game, Plasma Capsules and Antimatter Capsules can serve a similar purpose. They are also relatively simple to produce. However, they occupy a normal ammo slot and have a slow rate of fire, so using throwables as a damage source is still a good idea.
• It is generally not possible to win a fight against a Planetary Base with stalling tactics. The Space Hive will continually supply the base's Relay with energy, so it will always be able to produce more fighters and continue operating its sentries. However, destroying the Relay cuts off its supply of energy, making this strategy viable. Be warned that attacking and destroying a Relay will increase the Hive's threat level considerably, and a new Relay may be sent to that same Planetary Base. If planning to destroy the Relay, it's imperative to wipe out the base soon after.

Space Combat

Space combat involves Dark Fog Space Hives and their space fighters. The Hive's threat level increases incredibly slowly, but will drastically increase if its established Relay Stations are damaged or destroyed. Once the Hive's threat level is maxed out, it sends a wave of space fighters to assault the planet Icarus is currently on.

Icarus is woefully outgunned when it comes to handling space threats. Weapons that can fight back against space threats are few and far between compared to planetary ones, but they are necessary nonetheless:

• Missile Turrets and Plasma Turrets can use the Space targeting option, allowing them to shoot at the Dark Fog's space units if they come too close to the planet. They can also attack and destroy Relays that are approaching the planet, which does not increase the Hive's threat level.
• Corvettes and Destroyers are automated combat drones that follow Icarus into space and engage in fights. Corvettes are weaker overall compared to Destroyers, but they can be deployed in greater numbers and are easier to produce. Both types of fighters can help defend the planet from space threats, automatically spreading into orbits around the planet when Dark Fog fighters get close. Additionally, they can be set to attack and destroy Relay Stations.

Space Combat Tips & Tricks

• Distances in space are so vast that any weapon with a blast radius is effectively single-target. Don't expect explosives to clear out hordes of fighters at once like they can in planetary combat.
• Like with Planetary Bases, numbers are the name of the game. A well-established Hive can have upwards of 1500+ units patrolling, with hundreds more in reserve. However, Icarus itself generally cannot contribute to space fights in any meaningful way. The Dark Fog's space fighters are significantly stronger than their ground units, and they can destroy Icarus with ease. Getting close enough to shoot at the Hive is also almost certain death, and Icarus's damage is so insignificant compared to the Hive's durability that it won't even leave a scratch. When attacking a Hive, bring along as many Corvettes and Destroyers as possible, as they are the only viable source of damage and also help Icarus stay alive by distracting the Dark Fog.
  • When approaching the Hive to initiate a fight, don't aggro all its fighters at once. Instead, skirt past one side, just close enough to get the fighters' attention. In this way, only about half of the fighters will become aggressive at once.
• To truly destroy a Hive, it and its Relay Stations must be completely wiped out. If either one is left alive, the Dark Fog can rebuild. A Hive's true extermination is confirmed once its threat level no longer appears in the top left of the screen.