(1)   Ares Mothership

(1) Ares Mothership Ultra

(5) Vanguard

(2) Vanguard Elite

(2) Power Pod

(2) Marauder

(2) Saucer

(2) Hunter Elite Shadow

(2) Radar Array

(2) Nuclear Power Plant

(3) Downtown High-Rise

(2) Apartment Building

(2) Skyscraper

The concept of this army is simple: denial.

Specifically, you're denying your opponent the chance at an easy target. The primary objective at the beginning of the game is to take control of the Radar Array as quickly as possible, preferably on the first turn. Why? Vanguard.

The Vanguard, and the Vanguard Elite are the workforce of this army. Your average Vanguard has a Blast attack of 1+1 B-die with a Short range. When coupled with the Vanguard Elite, your Vanguard increases in value to equal the Elite, which is a Blast of 1+2 B-dice. I run the Vanguard in an echelon formation consisting of 1 Elite and 2 Vanguard in one group with a secondary group of 1 Elite and 3 Vanguard. This is a fairly standard tactic, with powerful effect.

If you're running against an opponent who has a high Defense monster, you might do better having a concentrated attack of all the Vanguard and Elites against the monster. Anything at 6 or lower Defense, however, is when this army has a fun time.

When facing a lower Defensive value monster, I run the two groups as wolf packs, sending the larger group after my enemy's monster, while the smaller group circles about the map, taking out power structures.

As an added bonus, not only will the wolfpack mentality send units off the map, but you’ll be generating better than average P-dice, as every hit from a Vanguard triggers Power Gorge.  Two P-dice per enemy unit killed is a thing of beauty.

The 2 Hunters in my list are actually Shadow Hunters, giving them Cloak. Granted, these guys cost 3 to bring out, but if you manage to hold onto an Apartment Building, you can have a much easier time in bringing these guys to bear. The tactic I use with the Shadow Hunters is to sit at range 7, thanks to the Radar Array, and snipe out enemy Elites or other important units. Dropping Meat Slaves from across the map has been a fairly enjoyable strategy.

My Marauders come into play as opportunists.  If my opponent should happen to absently leave a few units clustered together, he’ll soon realize the tactical error as the Explosive nature of the Marauder’s Blast attacks makes short work of the grouping.  I find that I don’t get to use this to my advantage often, as most people tend to remember losing multiple units in one strike.

The saucers are primarily in the army as ground control: they find themselves conscripted into combat duty for Abduction kills.  Most opponents will hesitate to close with Saucers, especially when there’s a Mothership within easy closing distance.  Overall, the Saucers provide more threat than action, but sometimes that’s all you need…

What ties all of this together is the Ares Mothership, specifically the Ultra form. The Ultra form grants Blue Force Fields, and that's going to keep your below-average Defensed units in the fights longer. Get the Ultra out as soon as possible, and use the Power Pods to keep him out of harm's way. If the Mothership doesn't need to be in combat, then don't.  With a steady stream of P-dice coming in from Power Gorged Vanguard units, I generally have the ability to Throw my opponent’s monster away as often as I need to.

Overall, this army is a lot of fun to play, and has a fairly easy time when you opponent has chosen a less durable monster. Wolfpack tactics, in combination with Force Fields and long range Shadow Hunter support will make your opponent split his focus, and that's a recipe for disaster for the less tactically minded foe. Just remember to keep your wits about you.