Air / Cortex / Economy first / OBSERVED BUILD

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.

Usually transports first (73%)

#eco #team support #air · 525 distinct matches · 115 players · 79% of Cortex Air games · team won 47% of 590 · Recently observed

HOW TO PLAY IT

Key timing: Aircraft Plant by 1:23

0:03Take 3 mex and open straight into Aircraft Plant.
by 1:23Finish Aircraft Plant, start pumping Valiant for escort duty.
5:58Get T2 constructor going to scale eco alongside air production.
6:50Add Advanced Metal Extractor to keep pace with team's economy.
10:57Bring Fusion Reactor online, keep making Hercules and Finch for allies.

Phase by phase

TYPICAL OF ITS 525 GAMES

10:00
21:02
35:00

PLAY THE OPENING

Follow the example game's first 6:00 step by step: what to build now, what comes next, and where it goes. At 1× it keeps pace with your own game.

1
Up to the Aircraft Plant
0:00 – 1:02
Economy
- 3Mex
- 4Wind
Order
1. Aircraft Plant ~1:02after 3 mex, 4 winddone ~1:21, middle half 1:13–1:34
Some games also: energy storage (37%)
By 1:02 in all: 3 mex · 4 wind
The example game in this phase · 4 steps
1. 0:03Mex ×4
2. 1:00Wind ×2
3. 1:12Energy storage
4. 1:27Aircraft Plantdone 1:57 · typical 1:21
2
Aircraft Plant to 5:00
1:02 – 5:00
Economy
- 1Mex
- 9Wind
- 3Wind
Builders
- 2 Con turret
- 1 Con aircraft
Army
- 5 Valiant
- 2 Finch for allies
- 2 Light transport for allies
- 1 Shuriken
- 1 Heavy transport for allies
Some games also: energy storage (46%) · light transport (44%) · converter (39%) · con turret (33%)
By 5:00 in all: 3 mex · 1 mex · 13 wind · 3 wind · 1 energy storage · 2 con turret
The example game in this phase · 28 steps
1. 1:32Wind ×2
2. 1:58Heavy transportfor Beach sea
3. 2:11Wind
4. 2:19Solar
5. 2:37Finchfor Beach sea
6. 2:43Light transportfor Geo sea
7. 2:53Finchfor Geo sea
8. 2:59Finch
9. 3:05Valiant ×2
10. 3:14Con turret
11. 3:31Con aircraft
12. 3:31Con turret ×3
13. 3:57Wind
14. 4:02Light transportfor Tech
15. 4:06Wind
16. 4:08Light transportfor Beach sea
17. 4:10Wind
18. 4:14Light transport
19. 4:20Wind ×2
20. 4:24Valiant
21. 4:26Wind
22. 4:29Valiant
23. 4:32Wind
24. 4:34Valiant ×2
25. 4:45Wind ×3
26. 4:53Converter
27. 4:54Wind
28. 4:56Converter
3
5:00 to 10:00
5:00 – 10:00
Economy
- 20Wind
- 5Wind
- 6Converter
Order
1. Aircraft Plant ~8:11after 18 wind, 17 wind, 6 converterin 58% of games
Builders
- 4 Con turret
Army
- 9 Valiant
- 1 Shuriken
Some games also: con aircraft (36%) · fusion (32%) · light transport (31%)
By 10:00 in all: 3 mex · 1 mex · 24 wind · 20 wind · 8 converter · 1 energy storage
The example game in this phase · 395 steps
1. 5:00Converter
2. 5:04Con turret
3. 5:07Wind ×2
4. 5:14T2 mexdone 5:44 · typical 6:50
5. 5:16Wind ×3
6. 5:33T2 mex
7. 5:34Wind ×6
8. 6:01T2 mex ×2
9. 6:38Bot Labdone 6:43
10. 6:44Con bot ×11
11. 7:22Wind
12. 7:22Con bot
13. 7:23Wind
14. 7:26Con bot
15. 7:26Wind ×3
16. 7:29Con bot
17. 7:30Wind ×3
18. 7:34Con bot
19. 7:35Wind ×11
20. 7:45Con turret
21. 7:48Wind ×4
22. 7:52Con turret
23. 7:53Wind ×2
24. 7:57Con turret
25. 7:58Wind ×6
26. 8:04Converter
27. 8:04Con turret
28. 8:05Wind ×5
29. 8:10Aircraft Plantdone 8:48
30. 8:11Wind ×4
31. 8:16Converter
32. 8:16Wind ×5
33. 8:23Converter
34. 8:23Wind ×2
35. 8:27Converter
36. 8:28Wind ×4
37. 8:31Converter
38. 8:34Wind ×2
39. 8:36Converter
40. 8:36Wind ×4
41. 8:41Converter
42. 8:42Wind ×4
43. 8:46Converter
44. 8:48Wind ×2
45. 8:49Converter
46. 8:50Valiant
47. 8:51Wind ×5
48. 8:54Converter
49. 8:54Valiant
50. 8:55Wind ×2
51. 8:58Valiant
52. 8:59Wind
53. 8:59Converter
54. 9:00Wind ×3
55. 9:02Valiant
56. 9:03Converter
57. 9:04Wind ×2
58. 9:06Converter
59. 9:06Wind ×2
60. 9:07Valiant
61. 9:09Converter
62. 9:10Wind ×2
63. 9:11Converter
64. 9:12Wind
65. 9:12Valiant
66. 9:13Wind
67. 9:15Converter
68. 9:15Wind ×3
69. 9:17Valiant
70. 9:18Converter
71. 9:19Wind ×4
72. 9:22Valiant
73. 9:22Wind
74. 9:23Converter
75. 9:24Wind
76. 9:26Valiant
77. 9:26Wind
78. 9:27Converter
79. 9:28Wind ×3
80. 9:30Converter
81. 9:30Valiant
82. 9:31Wind ×3
83. 9:35Converter
84. 9:35Wind
85. 9:35Valiant
86. 9:36Wind ×2
87. 9:38Converter
88. 9:39Wind
89. 9:41Valiant
90. 9:41Wind ×2
91. 9:42Converter
92. 9:43Wind ×3
93. 9:46Converter
94. 9:47Valiant
95. 9:48Wind ×5
96. 9:52Valiant
97. 9:55Wind ×4
98. 9:57Valiant
99. 9:59Wind ×2
100. 10:01Valiant
101. 10:02Wind ×2
102. 10:05Valiant
103. 10:05Wind ×3
104. 10:08Converter
105. 10:08Valiant
106. 10:09Wind ×5
107. 10:13Converter
108. 10:13Valiant
109. 10:16Wind ×2
110. 10:17Valiant
111. 10:17Converter
112. 10:18Wind ×4
113. 10:21Finch
114. 10:21Converter
115. 10:23Finch
116. 10:25Wind ×2
117. 10:26Converter
118. 10:26Wind
119. 10:26Finch
120. 10:27Wind ×2
121. 10:30Finch
122. 10:30Converter
123. 10:32Wind ×2
124. 10:32Valiant
125. 10:33Converter
126. 10:33Wind ×2
127. 10:36Converter
128. 10:36Wind
129. 10:36Valiant
130. 10:38Converter
131. 10:39Wind ×2
132. 10:40Valiant
133. 10:40Wind ×2
134. 10:42Converter
135. 10:43Wind
136. 10:43Valiant
137. 10:46Wind ×3
138. 10:47Valiant
139. 10:48Wind
140. 10:49Converter
141. 10:51Wind
142. 10:51Valiant
143. 10:53Converter
144. 10:53Wind ×4
145. 10:55Valiant
146. 10:57Converter
147. 10:57Wind
148. 10:59Valiant
149. 11:00Wind ×2
150. 11:01Converter
151. 11:03Valiant
152. 11:04Wind ×2
153. 11:06Converter
154. 11:06Wind ×2
155. 11:07Valiant
156. 11:08Wind ×2
157. 11:09Converter
158. 11:09Con turret
159. 11:11Converter
160. 11:11Wind ×6
161. 11:15Con turret
162. 11:17Converter
163. 11:19Wind ×3
164. 11:21Valiant
165. 11:22Converter
166. 11:22Wind
167. 11:23Con turret
168. 11:23Wind ×3
169. 11:27Converter
170. 11:27Wind ×5
171. 11:31Con turret
172. 11:31Wind
173. 11:31Valiant
174. 11:32Converter
175. 11:33Wind ×5
176. 11:36Con turret
177. 11:36Converter
178. 11:37Wind ×4
179. 11:41Converter
180. 11:41Wind
181. 11:42Valiant
182. 11:43Wind ×2
183. 11:45Valiant
184. 11:46Wind ×4
185. 11:48Valiant
186. 11:50Wind ×2
187. 11:52Valiant
188. 11:53Wind ×3
189. 11:56Valiant
190. 11:56Wind ×4
191. 11:59Valiant
192. 12:01Wind ×3
193. 12:02Valiant
194. 12:04Wind ×2
195. 12:05Valiant
196. 12:06Wind ×3
197. 12:08Converter
198. 12:08Valiant
199. 12:09Wind ×2
200. 12:11Valiant
201. 12:11Wind
202. 12:12Converter
203. 12:12Wind
204. 12:13Valiant
205. 12:13Wind ×4
206. 12:16Valiant
207. 12:17Wind
208. 12:18Converter
209. 12:18Wind
210. 12:18Valiant
211. 12:19Wind ×2
212. 12:21Valiant
213. 12:21Wind ×2
214. 12:23Valiant
215. 12:24Wind
216. 12:25Converter
217. 12:25Wind ×2
218. 12:26Valiant
219. 12:26Wind ×2
220. 12:28Valiant
221. 12:29Wind ×3
222. 12:30Converter
223. 12:31Valiant
224. 12:33Wind
225. 12:33Valiant
226. 12:33Wind ×3
227. 12:35Converter
228. 12:35Wind
229. 12:36Valiant
230. 12:36Wind ×2
231. 12:38Light transport
232. 12:39Wind
233. 12:39Converter
234. 12:40Wind ×3
235. 12:41Valiant
236. 12:41Wind
237. 12:43Converter
238. 12:43Wind
239. 12:44Valiant
240. 12:44Wind ×2
241. 12:46Converter
242. 12:46Shuriken
243. 12:47Wind ×4
244. 12:48Shuriken
245. 12:49Wind
246. 12:50Shuriken ×2
247. 12:51Wind ×2
248. 12:52Converter
249. 12:53Shuriken
250. 12:53Wind ×2
251. 12:55Shuriken
252. 12:55Wind ×2
253. 12:56Converter
254. 12:57Shuriken
255. 12:57Con turret
256. 12:59Wind ×3
257. 13:00Converter
258. 13:00Wind
259. 13:01Con turret
260. 13:01Shuriken
261. 13:03Wind ×2
262. 13:03Converter
263. 13:04Wind ×2
264. 13:04Shuriken
265. 13:05Con turret
266. 13:07Converter
267. 13:07Wind ×4
268. 13:09Con turret
269. 13:09Shuriken
270. 13:10Wind ×4
271. 13:12Converter
272. 13:13Shuriken
273. 13:14Wind
274. 13:14Shuriken
275. 13:15Wind
276. 13:16Converter
277. 13:16Shuriken
278. 13:16Wind ×2
279. 13:17Shuriken ×2
280. 13:19Wind
281. 13:19Converter
282. 13:20Wind
283. 13:20Shuriken
284. 13:21Wind
285. 13:21Shuriken
286. 13:22Wind
287. 13:23Converter
288. 13:23Shuriken
289. 13:23Wind ×2
290. 13:24Shuriken ×2
291. 13:26Con turret
292. 13:26Wind ×3
293. 13:27Converter
294. 13:27Wind
295. 13:29Shuriken
296. 13:30Con turret
297. 13:31Wind
298. 13:31Shuriken
299. 13:31Wind ×2
300. 13:32Converter
301. 13:32Con turret
302. 13:32Wind ×2
303. 13:34Shuriken
304. 13:35Wind ×2
305. 13:36Converter
306. 13:36Shuriken
307. 13:37Con turret
308. 13:37Shuriken
309. 13:37Wind ×3
310. 13:39Converter
311. 13:39Wind ×2
312. 13:41Valiant
313. 13:41Wind
314. 13:43Valiant
315. 13:43Wind
316. 13:44Valiant
317. 13:45Wind ×2
318. 13:45Converter
319. 13:45Wind
320. 13:46Valiant
321. 13:46Wind ×2
322. 13:47Valiant
323. 13:49Converter
324. 13:49Valiant
325. 13:50Wind
326. 13:50Valiant
327. 13:52Wind
328. 13:52Valiant
329. 13:52Wind
330. 13:52Converter
331. 13:52Wind ×2
332. 13:53Valiant
333. 13:54Wind
334. 13:55Valiant
335. 13:55Wind
336. 13:56Valiant
337. 13:58Converter
338. 13:58Valiant
339. 13:58Wind ×4
340. 14:00Valiant
341. 14:00Wind
342. 14:02Valiant
343. 14:02Converter
344. 14:03Wind
345. 14:04Valiant
346. 14:04Wind ×2
347. 14:05Converter
348. 14:06Wind
349. 14:06Valiant
350. 14:07Wind
351. 14:07Converter
352. 14:07Wind
353. 14:08Valiant
354. 14:08Wind
355. 14:09Valiant
356. 14:11Converter
357. 14:11Wind
358. 14:11Valiant
359. 14:11Wind ×2
360. 14:12Valiant
361. 14:13Wind
362. 14:14Valiant
363. 14:15Wind
364. 14:15Valiant
365. 14:16Wind
366. 14:17Valiant
367. 14:17Converter
368. 14:18Valiant
369. 14:20Wind ×2
370. 14:20Valiant
371. 14:20Wind ×2
372. 14:21Converter
373. 14:21Valiant ×3
374. 14:24Wind
375. 14:26Converter
376. 14:26Valiant
377. 14:27Wind ×2
378. 14:27Valiant
379. 14:28Wind
380. 14:29Valiant ×3
381. 14:32Converter
382. 14:33Valiant
383. 14:34Wind ×2
384. 14:35Valiant
385. 14:35Wind
386. 14:36Valiant
387. 14:37Converter
388. 14:38Valiant ×2
389. 14:41Wind
390. 14:41Valiant
391. 14:41Wind ×2
392. 14:42Valiant ×2
393. 14:45Wind
394. 14:46Advanced Fusion Reactornot finished by 15:00
395. 14:47Wind ×3

Counts are medians over the build's games: half of them build more, half fewer. The example game is Crazydogg's (37 OS, 27/09/2026); pick another.

Team trades

IN AT LEAST 30% OF ITS GAMES

You hand over

2 Finch to Geo sea or Beach seafirst at 1:51 · in 96% of games
3 Light transport to Tech or Geo sea or Geofirst at 2:05 · in 99% of games
1 Heavy transport to Beach sea or Pond or Techfirst at 2:25 · in 75% of games

You get

3 Wind from Beach sea or Geo seafirst at 1:39 · in 66% of games
3 Wind from Beach sea or Geo sea or Pondfirst at 1:44 · in 48% of games
1 Con bot from Techfirst at 2:20 · in 84% of games
1 T2 con bot from Techfirst at 6:04 · in 94% of games

How it plays out

Typical game of this build, running totals by minute

Metal produced

010k20k30k

0:005:0010:0015:00

metal

Enemy metal destroyed

01k2k3k

0:005:0010:0015:00

metal

Own metal lost

01k2k3k

0:005:0010:0015:00

metal

590 games.

Show as table

By	Metal produced: This build	Enemy metal destroyed: This build	Own metal lost: This build
1:00	393	0	0
2:00	924	0	0
3:00	1458	0	0
4:00	2050	0	51
5:00	2763	73	102
6:00	3766	125	150
7:00	5129	176	219
8:00	7014	219	285
9:00	9298	248	341
10:00	11788	315	470
11:00	14397	439	639
12:00	17105	603	950
13:00	19943	870	1236
14:00	22637	1351	1806
15:00	25493	2002	2670

WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY

This is the role's standard support job, winning less than half its games while producing little combat impact but reliably feeding transports and scouts to teammates.

+ Reaches Aircraft Plant almost immediately (1:23), fast T2 constructor by 5:58.
+ Keeps own losses low (2789 by 15:00) versus other roles.

− Destroys only 2027 enemy metal by 15:00, minimal combat contribution.
− Fusion Reactor only completes in 57% of games, some games stall on eco.

THE EXAMPLE YOU ARE READING

Crazydogg

37.1 OS · 27/09/2026

Open source match ↗

8 received units · includes a constructor
381 metal received · 56665 energy received

Allied construction assistance is unknown. Timings are observations, not a promise of solo reproducibility.

Typical milestones

Aircraft Plant1:21Middle 50%: 1:13–1:34 · n=590

Advanced Metal Extractor6:50Middle 50%: 6:22–7:27 · n=566

Fusion Reactor10:55Middle 50%: 10:03–12:16 · n=355

Played most by

DRM36games of this build Adeus32games of this build CentientWaffle32games of this build Immort25games of this build Nutzz25games of this build

Supporting games

Pick a game to read and play it above.

Tregan28/09/2026 · 39 OS↗Hummell28/09/2026 · 45 OS↗Tregan28/09/2026 · 39 OS↗Rysica27/09/2026 · 35 OS↗Immort27/09/2026 · 57 OS↗HamoodLovesEstorage27/09/2026 · 49 OS↗Adeus27/09/2026 · 36 OS↗HamoodLovesEstorage27/09/2026 · 49 OS↗Crazydogg27/09/2026 · 37 OS↗

32 more of 582, the most recent

Adeus27/09/2026 · 36 OS↗Adeus27/09/2026 · 36 OS↗Alphacure27/09/2026 · 37 OS↗DRM27/09/2026 · 44 OS↗Fruit_27/09/2026 · 41 OS↗Gieds26/09/2026 · 46 OS↗Spreukenindekeuken26/09/2026 · 36 OS↗Crazydogg26/09/2026 · 37 OS↗Immort26/09/2026 · 56 OS↗Crazydogg26/09/2026 · 38 OS↗Pentry26/09/2026 · 36 OS↗Crazydogg26/09/2026 · 38 OS↗Lexosis26/09/2026 · 37 OS↗EXZoPrimer326/09/2026 · 37 OS↗Immort26/09/2026 · 56 OS↗Fakepilot26/09/2026 · 35 OS↗RitualMurder26/09/2026 · 38 OS↗Alphacure26/09/2026 · 36 OS↗Hummell26/09/2026 · 45 OS↗Hummell26/09/2026 · 45 OS↗Fruit_26/09/2026 · 41 OS↗Hummell25/09/2026 · 45 OS↗Pentry25/09/2026 · 36 OS↗Pentry25/09/2026 · 36 OS↗haaven25/09/2026 · 46 OS↗Adeus25/09/2026 · 37 OS↗MischievousDragonGF25/09/2026 · 43 OS↗Adeus25/09/2026 · 37 OS↗NFX_Scurvy25/09/2026 · 37 OS↗Hummell25/09/2026 · 45 OS↗Pentry24/09/2026 · 35 OS↗

Supreme Isthmus v2.1
Beyond All Reason test-31422-df3633c
Naval balance tweaks on

Standard air

Phase by phase

Up to the Aircraft Plant

Aircraft Plant to 5:00

5:00 to 10:00

Team trades

You hand over

You get

How it plays out

Metal produced

Enemy metal destroyed

Own metal lost

Crazydogg

Typical milestones

Played most by

Supporting games