Meta accurate as of Update 1.6.0 — 3 July 2025
Today's patch buffed Void Eye (+10% attack), nerfed Phoenix (3.2s→3.4s attack interval), and made Mountain/Farseer permanently unlockable. The Tarantula HP -5% and Sabertooth +5% HP changes remain from 1.5.1. ⭐ Start with S-tier; drop to 🟢 B-tier if shop RNG, tech, or supply block prevents the ideal pick.
Legend
⭐ S-Tier = highest win-rate responses 🟢 B-Tier = solid backups
| Unit → Scenario | ⭐ S-Tier Counters | 🟢 B-Tier Counters |
|---|---|---|
| Crawler (LR) | Fire Badger, Vulcan | Stormcaller, Arclight |
| Crawler (SR) | Wraith, Tarantula, Fire Badger, Typhoon | Mustang, Phoenix |
| Crawler Loose (LR) | Vulcan | Stormcaller, Mustang |
| Crawler Loose (SR) | Mustang, Tarantula (HE), Fire Badger, Wraith (AG + Range) | Typhoon, Steel Ball |
| Fang (LR) | Stormcaller, Vulcan, Typhoon | Fire Badger, Mustang |
| Fang (SR) | Tarantula, Mustang, Fire Badger, Wraith, Typhoon | Arclight, Steel Ball |
| Fang Shielded (LR) | Stormcaller🔥, Vulcan, Melting Point (EMP) | Mustang |
| Fang Shielded (SR) | Tarantula (HE), Mustang, Fire Badger, Wraith, Typhoon | Phoenix (multiple) |
| Arclight (LR) | Crawler, Fang, Mustang (rush) | Steel Ball, Rhino |
| Arclight (SR) | Mustang, Phoenix, Rhino | Crawler swarm, Stormcaller |
| Wasp (LR) | Mustang, Fortress (AA) | Farseer, Phantom Ray |
| Wasp (SR) | Mustang, Typhoon, Fortress (AA) | Wraith, Marksman |
| Mustang (LR) | Tarantula, Stormcaller🔥, Vulcan | Mustang (mirror), Scorpion |
| Mustang (SR) | Tarantula, Phantom Ray, Scorpion | Fire Badger, Fortress |
| Void Eye (Ground) | Marksman, Scorpion (Siege), Mustangs | Crawlers, Tarantula, Phoenix |
| Void Eye (Aerial) | Fortress (AA), Phoenix, Mass Air Units | Mustang (AA), Overlord, Melting Point |
| Unit | ⭐ S-Tier Counters | 🟢 B-Tier Counters |
|---|---|---|
| Marksman | Crawler, Fang, Shielded Fang, Mustang (flanks), Wasp, Wraith | Sledgehammer, Phoenix, Rhino, Sandworm |
| Sledgehammer | Phoenix, Steel Ball, Wraith (flanks), Scorpion | Crawler flanks, Vulcan (late), Melting Point, Overlord |
| Stormcaller | Arclight (outranges), War Factory (Interceptor), Phoenix (rush) | Crawler swarm, Mustang (Interceptor), Raiden |
| Steel Ball | Scorpion, Phoenix, Melting Point, Hacker | Crawler distraction, Farseer, Vulcan (Scorch) |
| Tarantula | Sledgehammer, Phoenix, Rhino, Hacker, Fortress | Crawler flanks, Steel Ball rush, Sandworm, Overlord |
| Sabertooth | Void Eye, Phoenix, Wraith, Hacker, Fortress, Overlord | Melting Point, Steel Ball, Scorpion |
| Rhino | Hacker, Phoenix, Wasps, Fortress, Overlord | Steel Ball formations, Chaff swarms, Melting Point |
| Hacker | Crawler, Marksman, Mustang, Phoenix, Stormcaller, Fortress | Fang, Sandworm, War Factory |
| Phoenix* | Fortress (AA), War Factory, Concentrated Marksman | Wasps (Aerial), Mustang (AA), Overlord |
| Phantom Ray | Marksman groups, Fortress (AA), War Factory | Phoenix, Mustang (Interceptor), Farseer |
| Wraith | Mustang (Aerial), Fortress (AA), Concentrated AA | Phoenix, Overlord, Abyss |
| Scorpion | Steel Balls, Medium clusters, Phoenix, Hacker | Fortress, Raiden, Air units |
| Fire Badger | Phoenix, Melting Point, Air units, Hacker | Long-range units, Steel Ball, Overlord |
| Typhoon | Phoenix, Melting Point, Air units, Fortress | Steel Ball rush, Scorpion, Sandworm |
| Farseer** | Direct assault (Rhino, Steel Ball), Phoenix | Crawler/Fang swarms, Mustang (rush), Stormcaller |
*Phoenix attack speed nerfed - more vulnerable to AA
**Now permanently unlockable in standard modes
| Unit | ⭐ S-Tier Counters | 🟢 B-Tier Counters |
|---|---|---|
| Vulcan | Melting Point, Fortress, Phoenix, Overlord | Steel Ball, Stormcaller, Scorpion |
| Melting Point | Crawler swarm + damage, Phoenix swarm, Rhino rush | Steel Ball flanks, Sandworm, War Factory |
| Fortress | Steel Balls, Melting Point, Overlord, War Factory | Stormcaller barrage, Phoenix (Charge), Scorpion |
| Sandworm | Air units (prevents burrow), Phoenix, Fortress | Steel Ball (Range), Rhino, Scorpion (Acid) |
| Raiden | Chaff, Shielded Fang, Marksman (AA), Mustang, Wasp | Phoenix, Abyss, Melting Point |
| Overlord | Marksman (AA), Phoenix, Wasp, Mustang (Aerial) | Farseer (deployment turn), Melting Point |
| Mountain*** | Coordinated air assault, Multiple Melting Points, Phoenix swarms | Crawler distraction + giants, Overlord, War Factory |
***Mountain attack buffed +10% - now available in standard modes
| Unit | ⭐ S-Tier Counters | 🟢 B-Tier Counters |
|---|---|---|
| War Factory | Direct assault units, Melting Point, Phoenix | Steel Ball, Scorpion (Acid), Vulcan (Ignite) |
| Abyss | Chaff, Phoenix, Wasp, Melting Point, Raiden (Ionize) | Marksman (AA), Mustang |
| Scenario | Key Counter Strategy |
|---|---|
| Loose Formation | Single-target damage (Marksman, Melting Point) - avoid splash |
| Mobile Beacon | Central anti-air, crawler screens on flanks |
| Photon Coating | 30% damage reduction - requires sustained damage |
| Missile Interceptor | Transforms Stormcaller matchups |
| Electromagnetic Armor | EMP disables first before damage (Void Eye buff) |
- Spot the enemy unit (e.g. Sabertooth + Farseer specialist opener).
- Field a ⭐ S-Tier answer if possible.
- If supply, tech, or shop RNG blocks you, swap to any listed 🟢 B-Tier option.
- Sabertooth + Farseer Specialist: Extremely strong - prepare air counters
- Void Eye Post-Buff: 10% attack increase makes it viable
- Phoenix Nerf Impact: More vulnerable to concentrated AA
- Ignite Mechanic: Units can't heal while ignited (new)
- [Quick Cooldown] Removed: Adjust tech card strategies
- Update 1.6.0 official patch notes (July 3, 2025) - Steam announcement
- Season 4 balance changes and unit availability updates
- MechaMonarch high-MMR counter list (community maintained)
- Tournament meta analysis post-Phoenix nerf
- Void Eye buff testing and counter strategies
- Mountain/Farseer standard mode integration data
- High-level player discussions on Sabertooth meta
- Electromagnetic Armor mechanic changes (EMP interaction)
- Fire Badger + Typhoon anti-chaff dominance reports
- Competitive scene adaptation to removed [Quick Cooldown] card
Monitor patch notes closely—Season 4 runs through October 2, 2025 with Update 1.7 planned.