The new indie RTS Tempest Rising has caught players’ attention as a modern RTS that stays close to its roots, with distinct similarities to the original Command & Conquer in its units and army compositions. The game has its own take on this style, with active unit management, tech tree upgrades, and deep mixed-unit strategies.
There are two factions in the game (with a third planned as post-launch content). These two factions are the Global Defense Force (GDF) and the Tempest Dynasty. Each has their own unique units, strengths, and weaknesses. As players might expect from an RTS in this style, the game features a full single-player story campaign, as well as online multiplayer with 1v1, 2v2, and four-player free-for-all modes. For players who are just jumping into the game and want some advice for efficient multiplayer builds, this is the best build order to try for each faction.
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Global Defense Force (GDF)
Focusing Resource Expansion
Starting Build Order
- Power Plant > Barracks > Scouts
- Refinery > Engineers > Tempest Processing Centers
- Vehicle Bay > Sentinels > Drone Operators
The GDF faction is ideal for taking control in the early game, with access to fast scouting units and easy-to-construct basic units with useful abilities. Players will need to build a power plant first, then start constructing a refinery and barracks. Building a couple of scouts from the barracks straight away will allow players to control neutral defensive buildings by occupying them. This can be a good way to view and control valuable parts of the map, like resource nodes, in the early game.
A Vehicle Bay is essential for building more Harvesters for tempest resource collection, as well as building Sentinels. These armored humvee vehicles are fast, can win a skirmish against infantry, and can mark units so that GDF players can earn the all-important Intel resource for later unit construction. Drone Operators are one of the best infantry units to construct early, and a good mix of Sentinels and Drone Operators will win any skirmishes against early Dynasty troops.
This means that GDF players have the option of rushing early troop construction and taking out opponents early. This might win some one-on-ones against unprepared Dynasty players, but ultimately might leave players exposed in the mid-game against multiple players or bots. A safer option is to balance unit construction with resource expansion. This can be done by expanding and building more Refineries, but another option is to use engineers to capture Tempest Processing Centers, as these neutral buildings will passively generate tempest resources.
Expansion Build Priority
- Power Plant > Refinery > Vehicle Bay > Barracks
- Sentinels > Drone Operators > Hunter Tanks
Players can set up multiple main bases (Construction Yards) by capturing neutral Radar buildings. This opens up a new construction area in a radius around the radar center, and is a great way of expanding in mid-game to control multiple parts of the map. Bear in mind that opponents will also be trying to expand and control these territories, though. As GDF players will get access to Hunter Tanks relatively early, it’s advisable to add some of these to the mix of Sentinels and Drone Operators. This will help win mid-game skirmishes, especially if a Dynasty opponent has constructed their Pillager flamethrower tanks. The objective at this point will be to collect as much intel as possible for the construction of advanced units and support powers.
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Late Game Build Priority
- Satellite Uplink > Specialist Pod
- Air Control Tower
- Data Core > Tempest Pod
Building a Satellite Uplink not only generates Intel passively, but also gives access to new units and tech. Grenadiers are a useful option for new infantry, and the Satellite Uplinks can be upgraded with pods to unlock even more unit options. The specialist pod is a good first choice, as this will unlock snipers, comms officers, comms rigs, and shield maiden tanks, which can all be useful to augment mid-game GDF armies.
An Air Control Tower is essential as players move towards the later game, and the GDF has some good aerial options. With the specialist pod already built, players will have access to the Queller gunship, which is great at taking out both infantry and vehicles, and can be used to harass and destroy enemy resource-gathering units.
Finally, the Data Core is an expensive late-game building, but it unlocks some powerful advancements. The Tempest Path tech upgrade allows players to construct some powerful late-game units, like Trebuchet tanks and stealth bombers, which can be used to decimate enemy buildings and stifle their resources and construction abilities. If GDF players can stall to the late game, they can build an army advantage with both unit power and passive resource generation for upkeep, but players should keep in mind that they’ll need to carefully pick Doctrines to augment their armies.
Tempest Dynasty
Mobility And Survival
Starting Build Order
- Logistics Plan > Machine Shop > Tempest Rigs
- Power Plant > Barracks > Dynasty Guard
- Technician > Power Plants > Dynasty Guards
The early game for the Tempest Dynasty is about optimizing construction times through micromanaging building plans and abilities. Players can immediately activate the Logistics Plan to increase construction speed, then build a machine shop. Then, turn off the Logistics Plan and start constructing a Tempest Rig at the Machine Shop and building a Power Plant adjacent to the Machine Shop. The Power Plant will finish first, and players can use its ability to speed up the unit construction of the Machine Shop, at the cost of building health. This is a fast way to start generating resources and gain a foothold in the early game.
Once the Power Plant is on the board, players can micromanage their construction yard plans without going into low power state, to speed up construction times or aid units as needed. A Barracks is the next building to go for, as this will give access to early troops and technicians. Early game Dynasty troops can be squishy compared to GDF options, so it’s a good idea to keep a mix of infantry and light vehicles, and have a turret in the build order once available, using it to support troops within your construction zones. Technicians, meanwhile, can capture vital neutral buildings to use for defense and more.
Expansion Build Priority
- Tempest Rigs > Machine Shops > Pillagers
- Radar Station > Boar Tanks > Salvage Vans
- Specialist Bureau
Tempest Rigs are mobile refineries, and they’re great for harvesting resources around the map. The issue with this is that other players and bots can easily target them if they’re undefended. As Tempest Dynasty players expand, they’ll need to build Pillager tanks first, to gain an advantage against infantry and light vehicles, then build a Radar Station to get access to Boar tanks and Salvage Vans at the Machine Shop. Boar tanks can counter the GDF Hunter tanks effectively, and Salvage vans offer mobile construction and vehicle repair.
Salvage vans should not be ignored, as they offer a way to quickly build structures away from the main base, even in combat. Their healing effects on vehicles are useful too, especially when combined with the support ability Field Infirmary, which is a deployable building that heals infantry. To access further specialist units, players will need to work towards building a Specialist Bureau in the mid-game.
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Late Game Build Priority
- Specialist Units > Air Factory > Air Support Units
- Additional Bases > Bastion
- Voltaic Units > Tempest Spheres
Once players have their specialist bureau, they can construct three specialist units that will be a useful boost to their armies: the Operative, Line Officer, and Mechanist. That’s an anti-vehicle sniper, a troop buffing commander, and an exo-skeleton-using assault trooper, respectively. Each of these units is worth using to bolster a mid-game army. Players will also want to construct an Air Factory at this point, as air support will be needed to counter certain opponent units.
The point of having these highly mobile and self-sustaining armies is for expansion. Dynasty players can actively collect resources throughout the game for high income generation, and use their mobile construction options to fortify resource-heavy positions, or good defensive positions with new buildings. That includes new construction yards, which allow players to activate multiple construction plans at once.
Eventually, players need to upgrade one of their construction yards to a bastion, in order to access the higher tiers of Dynasty troops. Late-game Dynasty options can be powerful. Voltaic turrets, tanks, and troopers are especially deadly, as are the rolling-ball units known as Tempest Spheres. One of the most important things for Dynasty players to do throughout a match is to use their high resource generation to leverage support powers frequently.
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