SUPREME ISTHMUS / 8 VS 8

Know your ground.
Build your advantage.

Openings found in real games.
Follow the sequence. Understand the role.
Find your next first move.

THE OPENING BOOK

Builds from the battlefield43

MOST COMMON FIRST · WHAT SETS EACH BUILD APART · TYPICAL TIMINGSEVIDENCE
01
Suicide frontFactory first#rush

Standard suicide front

Bot Lab first into Rocketeer/Centurion/Pawn to contest the middle early and hold until T2 arrives, the role's baseline play.

Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGBot Lab→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Radar Tower→Sentry→Metal Extractor→Sentry ×3×3

71% of Armada Suicide front games · team won 60% of 1411 · Then: rocketeer, centurion, pawn · Last seen 25 Sept

1185MATCHES125 players
02
Geo seaEconomy first#naval#eco

Standard geo sea

The role's default economy-first play: bot lab then shipyard in the cove, quick frigate/submarine/destroyer navy to contest sea and hold the coast, transitioning into whatever the sea fight needs.

Bot Lab → Shipyard → Submarine → Frigate

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine→Solar Collector ×2×2→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Metal Extractor→Construction Turret→Metal Extractor

83% of Cortex Geo sea games · team won 52% of 1005 · Then: frigate, destroyer, submarine · Last seen 25 Sept

897MATCHES97 players
03
FrontEconomy first#eco

Standard front

Standard economy-first Front play: Bot Lab and Vehicle Plant almost immediately, Advanced Metal Extractor around 9 minutes, with a mixed T1 army of Blitz, Rocketeer, Pawn and Janus sent to hold the wider gap and then middle.

Bot Lab → Vehicle Plant → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Metal Extractor ×3×3→Construction Turret→Wind Turbine ×9×9→Construction Turret→Wind Turbine ×15×15

75% of Armada Front games · team won 63% of 1063 · Then: blitz, rocketeer, pawn · Last seen 25 Sept

935MATCHES127 players
04
Beach seaEconomy first#naval#eco

Standard beach sea

The role's usual play: com goes to sea to build a shipyard around 2 minutes, pumping frigates and destroyers to contest enemy sea entry or hold vision, with an advanced metal extractor around 10 minutes as the transition into the team's…

Shipyard → Frigate → Destroyer → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Solar Collector→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Energy Storage→Wind Turbine→Shipyard→Tidal Generator→Metal Extractor ×3×3

84% of Cortex Beach sea games · team won 55% of 789 · Then: frigate, destroyer · Last seen 25 Sept

729MATCHES102 players
05
TechEconomy first#eco#t2#team support

Standard tech

Standard Tech play: rush T2 factory and constructor by ~4:15-4:33, upgrade the first mexes to advanced, and hand off constructors and army to Geo and allies while scaling eco over the game.

Bot Lab → Advanced Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×8×8→Energy Storage→Bot Lab→Construction Turret→Metal Extractor→Construction Turret→Wind Turbine ×2×2

59% of Armada Tech games · team won 53% of 793 · Then: anti-nuke, Platypus, anti-nuke · Last seen 25 Sept

681MATCHES101 players
06
GeoEconomy first#eco#t2

Standard geo

Standard Geo economy-first play: geothermal by 3:26, T2 constructor by 4:55, advanced geothermal and vehicle plant around 7:07, transitioning into Starlight and T1 vehicles for front while supplying allies with cons and Lazarus.

Bot Lab → Geothermal Powerplant → Advanced Metal Extractor → Advanced Geothermal Powerplant

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Energy Storage→Geothermal Powerplant→Construction Turret ×2×2

58% of Armada Geo games · team won 55% of 745 · Then: Starlight, Jaguar, blitz · Last seen 25 Sept

660MATCHES107 players
07
AirEconomy first#eco#team support#air

Standard air

The usual Cortex air game: Aircraft Plant just after the start, Advanced Metal Extractor around 7 minutes and Fusion Reactor around 11 minutes, making transports and fighters for the team while scaling economy normally.

Aircraft Plant → Advanced Metal Extractor → Fusion Reactor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Solar Collector→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Aircraft Plant→Wind Turbine ×10×10→Metal Extractor→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Construction Turret

80% of Cortex Air games · team won 47% of 559 · Then: valiant, shuriken · Last seen 25 Sept

501MATCHES111 players
08
PondEconomy first#eco#team support

Standard pond

Standard Pond play: fast Bot Lab and early boosting into Advanced Metal Extractor, sending Tick/Pawn/Blitz to front while tidal-boosting allies throughout.

Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGTidal Generator ×10×10→Metal Extractor ×4×4→Wind Turbine ×8×8→Energy Storage ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×17×17→Energy Converter→Bot Lab→Energy Converter ×3×3

59% of Armada Pond games · team won 50% of 510 · Then: tick, pawn, blitz · Last seen 25 Sept

448MATCHES96 players
09
TechArmadaEconomy first#nuke#t2#team support

Nuke rush

After the usual T2 rush, Tech commits early to an Armageddon nuke silo from around 10:24, well ahead of the norm, aiming it at the enemy base while still supplying T2 to the team.

Armageddon from 10:24 · 7% of role by then

Bot Lab → Advanced Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor → Armageddon

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Construction Turret ×2×2→Metal Extractor→Wind Turbine ×5×5→Energy Storage

7% of Armada Tech games · team won 66% of 97 · Last seen 25 Sept

96MATCHES36 players
10
Suicide frontArmadaFactory first#artillery#defence

Gauntlet defence

Bot Lab first but committing to a Gauntlet by 4:10, much earlier than usual, to anchor the middle with area artillery before the standard timing.

Early defence from 4:10 · 8% of role by then

Bot Lab → Gauntlet → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGBot Lab→Metal Extractor→Wind Turbine→Metal Extractor→Sentry→Metal Extractor→Sentry→Metal Extractor ×2×2

5% of Armada Suicide front games · team won 47% of 106 · Then: rocketeer, Rattlesnake · Last seen 25 Sept

101MATCHES37 players
11
FrontArmadaEconomy first#defence#artillery

Gauntlet defence

Front builds a Gauntlet by around 5:30, well before the norm, to anchor a defensive line at middle while the economy develops, backing it later with Rattlesnake and more Gauntlets.

Early defence from 5:31 · 8% of role by then

Bot Lab → Vehicle Plant → Gauntlet → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Metal Extractor→Wind Turbine→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Solar Collector→Metal Extractor ×2×2

6% of Armada Front games · team won 56% of 86 · Then: rocketeer, blitz, Rattlesnake · Last seen 24 Sept

84MATCHES44 players
12
Suicide frontEconomy first#rush#raid#artillery

Janus skirmish rush

Vehicle Plant first with a Rover raid, then Janus skirmishers pushed to the middle by 1:18 to fight there well ahead of the usual timing, transitioning into Blitz/Whistler later.

T1 vehicle skirmishers from 1:18 · 6% of role by thenVehicle Plant in 100%Scout in 99%Blitz in 59%

Vehicle Plant → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGWind Turbine→Vehicle Plant→Wind Turbine→Metal Extractor ×3×3→Sentry→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Sentry ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×5×5

5% of Armada Suicide front games · team won 59% of 104 · Then: blitz, missile truck · Last seen 25 Sept

103MATCHES19 players
13
TechArmadaEconomy first#eco#t2

Fast fusion

Tech pushes a Fusion Reactor much earlier than normal (from 8:50 instead of ~12:11) to accelerate its own and the team's energy income, while still funneling T2 constructors to Geo.

Fusion Reactor from 8:50 · 13% of role by then

Bot Lab → Advanced Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor → Fusion Reactor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Metal Extractor→Wind Turbine→Construction Turret ×2×2→Energy Storage

6% of Armada Tech games · team won 66% of 77 · Then: anti-nuke, Armageddon, Platypus · Last seen 25 Sept

76MATCHES28 players
14
Beach seaEconomy first#raid#amphibious#rush

Hovercraft raid

Player rushes a Hovercraft Platform by 1:10 and pushes out Seeker hovercraft as an early raid by 2:13, well before the shipyard which is delayed to around 4:16, using the raid to harass while sea presence catches up later.

Hovercraft Platform in 100%Seeker in 99%

Hovercraft Platform → Shipyard → Destroyer → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Solar Collector→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Energy Storage→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Hovercraft Platform→Sentry→Metal Extractor ×5×5

11% of Armada Beach sea games · team won 53% of 70 · Then: destroyer, seeker, dolphin · Last seen 24 Sept

70MATCHES27 players
15
GeoEconomy first#raid#rush

Blitz raid

Geo rushes a Vehicle Plant and pushes out Blitz tanks from 4:14, well before the usual T2 focus, fighting forward in the middle rather than sitting on defence, then transitions back into the normal Starlight/T2 economy.

T1 vehicle raid from 4:14 · 6% of role by thenVehicle Plant in 100%Blitz in 65%

Bot Lab → Geothermal Powerplant → Vehicle Plant → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Bot Lab→Construction Turret→Metal Extractor→Geothermal Powerplant→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Construction Turret

5% of Armada Geo games · team won 51% of 65 · Then: Starlight, Jaguar, Platypus · Last seen 23 Sept

64MATCHES20 players
16
GeoArmadaEconomy first#raid#air

Centurion push

Geo builds Centurion bots very early (from 2:39) and gets a transport from Air, moving into an early Aircraft Plant with bombers and fighters instead of the usual T2 rush; despite the name, units only reach the middle rather than being…

T1 bot riot from 2:39 · 7% of role by thenLight transport from an ally in 75%Aircraft Plant in 50%Bomber in 48%

Bot Lab → Geothermal Powerplant → Advanced Metal Extractor → Advanced Geothermal Powerplant

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Geothermal Powerplant→Wind Turbine→Energy Storage

5% of Armada Geo games · team won 57% of 60 · Then: Starlight, blitz, bomber · Last seen 23 Sept

60MATCHES12 players
17
Suicide frontArmadaEconomy first#rush#push

Mace bot assault

Bot Lab into an early Mace-led T1 bot assault by 2:07, pushing into the middle and sometimes into the enemy base, well ahead of the role's usual army composition.

T1 bot assault from 2:07 · 12% of role by thenMace in 94%Centurion in 42%

Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Metal Extractor→Sentry→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Construction Turret→Metal Extractor

3% of Armada Suicide front games · team won 53% of 64 · Then: blitz · Last seen 24 Sept

63MATCHES13 players
18
PondArmadaEconomy first#raid#rush

Blitz raid

Pond skips straight to a Vehicle Plant by 3:37 and pushes a Blitz-led tank raid into the middle from around 4:14, with units reaching the enemy base in over half its games, before settling into the usual eco transition.

T1 vehicle raid from 4:14 · 5% of role by thenVehicle Plant in 98%Blitz in 74%

Vehicle Plant → Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGTidal Generator ×10×10→Metal Extractor ×4×4→Energy Storage→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Vehicle Plant→Construction Turret ×3×3→Wind Turbine→Construction Turret

6% of Armada Pond games · team won 64% of 53 · Last seen 23 Sept

53MATCHES30 players
19
GeoArmadaEconomy first#artillery#t2#push

Mauser artillery

Geo skips straight to an Advanced Vehicle Plant and fields Mauser artillery from 5:57, much earlier than the role's usual T2 timeline, sometimes with Umbra jammer support, pushing into the middle and occasionally the enemy base.

T2 vehicle artillery from 5:57 · 3% of role by thenAdvanced Vehicle Plant in 71%Vehicle Plant in 71%Jammer in 45%

Bot Lab → Geothermal Powerplant → Vehicle Plant → Advanced Vehicle Plant

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Bot Lab→Construction Turret→Energy Storage→Metal Extractor→Geothermal Powerplant→Construction Turret

4% of Armada Geo games · team won 57% of 49 · Then: Jaguar, Starlight · Last seen 25 Sept

48MATCHES22 players
20
TechArmadaEconomy first#t2

Sharpshooter snipers

Tech adds early T2 Sharpshooter snipers around 8:09-8:52 alongside its usual T2 supply role to support the front.

T2 bot snipers from 8:09 · 7% of role by then

Bot Lab → Advanced Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor → Sniper bot

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Energy Storage→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Bot Lab→Construction Turret ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Solar Collector ×3×3

4% of Armada Tech games · team won 24% of 51 · Then: anti-nuke · Last seen 22 Sept

50MATCHES25 players
21
GeoArmadaEconomy first#air#drop

Banshee gunships

Geo builds an early Aircraft Plant and commits to Banshee gunships from 5:10, paired with a Stork transport drop, fighting mostly in the middle instead of bringing the usual T2 land units to front.

T1 air gunships from 5:10 · 1% of role by thenAircraft Plant in 100%Light transport in 89%Banshee in 63%

Bot Lab → Geothermal Powerplant → Aircraft Plant → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Bot Lab→Energy Storage→Bot Lab→Metal Extractor ×3×3→Geothermal Powerplant→Construction Turret ×3×3

1% of Armada Geo games · team won 47% of 19 · Then: blitz · Last seen 23 Sept

19MATCHES5 players
22
PondArmadaEconomy first#defence#artillery

Rattlesnake defence

Pond builds pop-up artillery (Gauntlet/Rattlesnake/Agitator) from around 6:17, receiving a light transport from an ally early, to reinforce the front's defensive line.

Early defence from 6:17 · 2% of role by thenLight transport from an ally in 59%

Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor

OPENINGTidal Generator ×8×8→Metal Extractor ×4×4→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Bot Lab→Energy Storage→Wind Turbine ×2×2→Gauntlet→Construction Turret ×2×2

3% of Armada Pond games · team won 36% of 22 · Then: Rattlesnake · Last seen 23 Sept

22MATCHES9 players
23
GeoEconomy first#air#raid

Stormbringer bombers

Geo builds an Aircraft Plant and pushes out Stormbringer bombers from 6:41 with fighter escort, striking directly into the enemy base rather than sending T2 units to front, a clear detour from the standard Geo job.

T1 air bombers from 6:41 · 10% of role by thenAircraft Plant in 92%Valiant in 79%Scout plane in 50%

Bot Lab → Geothermal Powerplant → Advanced Metal Extractor → Aircraft Plant

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×2×2→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×3×3→Metal Extractor ×2×2→Energy Storage→Wind Turbine→Geothermal Powerplant

2% of Armada Geo games · team won 79% of 24 · Then: Starlight, Jaguar · Last seen 21 Sept

24MATCHES13 players
24
TechArmadaEconomy first#artillery#defence

Rattlesnake defence

Tech sets up early Rattlesnake pop-up artillery from 8:52 to hold the middle, supported by Butlers, instead of purely funneling T2 to the team.

Early defence from 8:52 · 2% of role by then

Bot Lab → Advanced Bot Lab → Advanced Metal Extractor → Rattlesnake

OPENINGMetal Extractor ×3×3→Wind Turbine ×4×4→Bot Lab→Wind Turbine ×5×5→Construction Turret→Metal Extractor→Construction Turret→Energy Storage

2% of Armada Tech games · team won 52% of 23 · Last seen 25 Sept

23MATCHES14 players

Showing the 8 most common builds per role and faction. Show 2 more ↘

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01 / OBSERVE

Real games. Real sequences.

02 / RECOGNISE

Repeated openings, made readable.

03 / ADAPT

A starting point for your own game.