Launch watchlist
| Core | Early read | Confidence | Test next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drone EMP | High-value control against elites and bosses | Medium | Uptime, which abilities count, boss immunity cases |
| Toxic-Drone Core | Promising only when Toxic Fog triggers reliably | Medium | Drone scaling and summon cap |
| Retaliation Core | Safety plus burst for close-range builds | Medium | Guard refresh, damage snapshot and 4m practical range |
How entries earn a real tier
A tier needs a patch version, difficulty, weapon, squad composition and repeatable result. A card that clears Standard quickly may collapse at a boss whose immunity switches off its control effect.
The first useful dataset is simple: ten comparable runs per candidate, completion time, damage taken, captures secured, downs and boss time. Until then, “watchlist” is more honest — and more useful — than invented certainty.
Cards in context
Patch-aware testing protocol
This protocol is for earning a test result, not manufacturing ranks.
- 01
Freeze the comparison
Record patch date, difficulty, weapon, squad, sector and candidate core before a run. AG-12 changed encounter difficulty and soldier-upgrade cost, so mixed-version results do not belong in one table.
- 02
Change one decision at a time
Keep the route and squad as stable as practical; record completion, damage taken, captures, downs and the target interaction you are testing.
- 03
Repeat before labeling
A single showcase run is context, not a tier. Keep “watchlist” language until repeatable, versioned results support a conditional conclusion.
Where these claims came from
Sources support the specific claims above; community posts are never silently upgraded into official facts.