Thargoid Attacks: Where, When and What you can do about it

I built this and want to fight Scouts. Should I fight in Incursion or Infested systems? Which one should be dealt with first? Thanks.

Incursion should be dealt with first to avoid further burning stations.
Without a Decon limpet/cargo space for the limpets, your stay in a Thargoid CZ might be shorter than you think. in the fray of the CZ, you can get hit by corrosion easily. Hence, Decon is a life saver.
If you do not have a lot of scout hunting experience, you might start testing the water in a lower threat level (3/4) USS of an infestation system first.
Also, losing either the Xeno Scanner (You hear the scouts dying at 0%) or the shutdown neutralizer (not that many chances to use it) will make room for at least another shield booster.
 
Incursion should be dealt with first to avoid further burning stations.
Without a Decon limpet/cargo space for the limpets, your stay in a Thargoid CZ might be shorter than you think. in the fray of the CZ, you can get hit by corrosion easily. Hence, Decon is a life saver.
If you do not have a lot of scout hunting experience, you might start testing the water in a lower threat level (3/4) USS of an infestation system first.
Also, losing either the Xeno Scanner (You hear the scouts dying at 0%) or the shutdown neutralizer (not that many chances to use it) will make room for at least another shield booster.


Oh thank you, I was plannin signal source scout hunting, that's why I didn't take dec limpet, but will do now. If neutralizer is not necessary guess I can ditch it.
 
It might have been luck, but I was able to get rid of the Interceptors (or avoid their generation) twice now in a Thargoid CZ. This left me and the fellow NPCs with an endless stream of Scouts to slaughter until my ammo ran out[cool].

As soon as the NPCs announced "Interceptor inbound". I boosted away from the CZ center around 15 km. I originally did this to avoid the shutdown pulse, as I did not bring the neutralizer. Somehow, the Interceptors never came in or vanished. The green NPCs followed me and scouts were generating around us. Even returning to the center did not generate Interceptors.

Anybody managed to do the same and collect numerous kills to fight back the Incursion and/or train an NPC fighter pilot?
 
It might have been luck, but I was able to get rid of the Interceptors (or avoid their generation) twice now in a Thargoid CZ. This left me and the fellow NPCs with an endless stream of Scouts to slaughter until my ammo ran out[cool].

As soon as the NPCs announced "Interceptor inbound". I boosted away from the CZ center around 15 km. I originally did this to avoid the shutdown pulse, as I did not bring the neutralizer. Somehow, the Interceptors never came in or vanished. The green NPCs followed me and scouts were generating around us. Even returning to the center did not generate Interceptors.

Anybody managed to do the same and collect numerous kills to fight back the Incursion and/or train an NPC fighter pilot?


Maybe because HIP 2843 was recently cleared, if you believe GalNet. I was there short time ago in the middle of the heat with lots of Interceptors spawning. Now the Combat Zone is still there but only spawned some scouts. Not sure about anything regarding those combat zones though, except that they are really exciting with others and deadly when alone.
 
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It might have been luck, but I was able to get rid of the Interceptors (or avoid their generation) twice now in a Thargoid CZ. This left me and the fellow NPCs with an endless stream of Scouts to slaughter until my ammo ran out[cool].

As soon as the NPCs announced "Interceptor inbound". I boosted away from the CZ center around 15 km. I originally did this to avoid the shutdown pulse, as I did not bring the neutralizer. Somehow, the Interceptors never came in or vanished. The green NPCs followed me and scouts were generating around us. Even returning to the center did not generate Interceptors.

Anybody managed to do the same and collect numerous kills to fight back the Incursion and/or train an NPC fighter pilot?

well, scouts in NHSS usually refuse to spawn when you boost away to far from their Witchspace-portals. could be the same for interceptors.
 
It might have been luck, but I was able to get rid of the Interceptors (or avoid their generation) twice now in a Thargoid CZ. This left me and the fellow NPCs with an endless stream of Scouts to slaughter until my ammo ran out[cool].

As soon as the NPCs announced "Interceptor inbound". I boosted away from the CZ center around 15 km. I originally did this to avoid the shutdown pulse, as I did not bring the neutralizer. Somehow, the Interceptors never came in or vanished. The green NPCs followed me and scouts were generating around us. Even returning to the center did not generate Interceptors.

Anybody managed to do the same and collect numerous kills to fight back the Incursion and/or train an NPC fighter pilot?

Oh yes, I totally (ab)used that and something similar last month on one of my accounts;

Farming scouts is good for combat rank. :D
cXHn1Dv.jpg


[OBVIOUS DISCLAIMER: This worked for me in December, so it has likely changed in the last client or server update]
Apart from the occasional "run away from waypoint", I repeatedly did the following which worked every time;
1.- Enter AX CZ
2.- Start fighting scouts
3.- Immediately exit the AX CZ when the interceptor spawns
4.- Re enter the AX CZ as quickly as possible
5.- The next time you're told that the interceptors are inbound, they simply never arrive — regardless of how far away from the waypoint I was.
 
1.- Enter AX CZ
2.- Start fighting scouts
3.- Immediately exit the AX CZ when the interceptor spawns
4.- Re enter the AX CZ as quickly as possible
5.- The next time you're told that the interceptors are inbound, they simply never arrive — regardless of how far away from the waypoint I was.

Can confirm.
It still works.
Just jump out, turn around, jump in et voila.
 
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Can confirm.
It still works.
Just jump out, turn around, jump in et voila.

Well, if FD is unable to implement different level Thargoid CZs and instead make every one a high level one, we pilots have to find ways to make them easier. Not everybody goes in there in a full AXI wing.
I would have preferred, if the green NPCs at least were able to beat the Cyclops level Interceptors without the players help.
 
Oooh that was close! :eek: lol

It might have been luck, but I was able to get rid of the Interceptors (or avoid their generation) twice now in a Thargoid CZ. This left me and the fellow NPCs with an endless stream of Scouts to slaughter until my ammo ran out[cool].

As soon as the NPCs announced "Interceptor inbound". I boosted away from the CZ center around 15 km. I originally did this to avoid the shutdown pulse, as I did not bring the neutralizer. Somehow, the Interceptors never came in or vanished. The green NPCs followed me and scouts were generating around us. Even returning to the center did not generate Interceptors.

Anybody managed to do the same and collect numerous kills to fight back the Incursion and/or train an NPC fighter pilot?

I'd say that's because the CZ got bugged, I found that happened at least a few times for me, when it happens you get nothing but scouts.

Eckee
If I were you I'd ditch the xeno scanner & keep the SDFN, whilst it is a pig to use, once you get used to it (I haven't sussed it yet! lol, but I only built my AX Python last week) it's a more reliable way of avoiding getting shut down.
True it's easy enough to avoid the initial EMP when an interceptor drops in (AX CZ, or some of the NHSS threat 6 upwards), but if they EMP in the middle of a fight it can be trickier to avoid, especially in an AX CZ.
Whilst, so far I've either forgotten I have it :eek: lol, or I haven't been able to switch fire groups quickly enough, I'm getting close to successfully using it, I very nearly did yesterday, I just timed it wrong (I must read up on how to use it properly!).
Oh yea, & +1 for the decontamination limpet controller.

Oh, & in case you didn't already know, & you can't use the SDFN in time (or don't have it), if you're about to be hit by an EMP, boost & then immediately hit flight assist off, with FA off when hit by an EMP you'll just carrying on drifting away at full throttle speed, whereas with FA on you just grind to a halt even when you have full throttle on! Makes no sense really! :S
 
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Eckee
If I were you I'd ditch the xeno scanner & keep the SDFN, whilst it is a pig to use, once you get used to it (I haven't sussed it yet! lol, but I only built my AX Python last week) it's a more reliable way of avoiding getting shut down.
True it's easy enough to avoid the initial EMP when an interceptor drops in (AX CZ, or some of the NHSS threat 6 upwards), but if they EMP in the middle of a fight it can be trickier to avoid, especially in an AX CZ.
Whilst, so far I've either forgotten I have it :eek: lol, or I haven't been able to switch fire groups quickly enough, I'm getting close to successfully using it, I very nearly did yesterday, I just timed it wrong (I must read up on how to use it properly!).
Oh yea, & +1 for the decontamination limpet controller.

Oh, & in case you didn't already know, & you can't use the SDFN in time (or don't have it), if you're about to be hit by an EMP, boost & then immediately hit flight assist off, with FA off when hit by an EMP you'll just carrying on drifting away at full throttle speed, whereas with FA on you just grind to a halt even when you have full throttle on! Makes no sense really! :S
Yeah, I switched my lowest modules for cargo and dec limpet controller and using it. I use xeno scanner to see the remainin HP of Scouts, because if it's high I use 3x medium Guardian Gauss Cannons (deals ~40% damage only if I could hit lol), if it's low I let my MC's finish the job. Still not very good at tose fixed guns though, and delayed shot doesn't help. and I'm mainly an explorer in an Anaconda so I'm drifting and twisting around wildly with this G5 drty drag A rated thrusters :D but I manage, I get used to it.

I've never used SDFN yet, I only engaged at Scouts. I wanna try Interceptors but I have no tool installed on my ship to counter the swarm attack. I don't really know how it'd go.

Thanks for the answers!
 
Oh yea if you're fighting only scouts then you don't need a SDFN [up].
I found the fixed AX class 3 guns absolutely useless against the scouts, I emptied both guns & I think I only killed 1! I've ditched them now & replaced them with Gauss cannons (I don't use all 4 at the same time ;)). Scouts are still tricky with those weapons, but at least it's do-able!
Prior to AX building my Python I fought scouts with gimballed beams & MCs, that worked quite well :).
I see why you're using the Xeno scanner, and I would prefer to have it too to see the ships status, but TBH I think you'd be better off with another shld booster for stronger shlds, but whatever you're happier with :).

Ah yea, the flak launcher, I hate that weapon! lol, but it is needed to kill the swarm. I haven't been able to use it very successfully so far, the 2 problems I have with it are that I find it very hard to keep the ship stable with FA off (so that I can drift in reverse away from the swarm) & even when I do my ship's max speed (not boost) of 365 m/s isn't fast enough to stay ahead of the swarm for long. So I have to turn back round & boost again after a little while, then FA off, turn to face them & stabilise again, it doesn't really work TBH, so I'm giving up on swarm killing until I AX build my FDL. In the meantime, I find that when in a wing you don't need to kill the swarm really, at least for the lesser interceptors! Although of course everyone ends up taking more damage. [edit] In which case I should ditch the flak launcher & fit a beam for killing the scouts!
For solo though it is essential to kill the swarm, I tried twice to kill a Cyclops without killing the swarm, each time I got 2 hearts down & then had to bug out. Like someone said in these forums (I think) yesterday, kill the swarm or they kill you!

I get annoyed with fighting only scouts, having to nearly constantly decontaminate the hull does my head in! At least in the AX CZs you get a 100k bonus for fighting them, can't remember when you get that 100k though....

Btw, let's see your new build? :)
(My AX Python, the Raza, the 3D HRP is yet to be fitted).
 
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i wished the Field neutralizer would count as ECM
having to use a firegroup for it is really painful.

ECM, SCB, CHAFF, Heatsink - all got keybind options.

can someone start a petition please?
 
i wished the Field neutralizer would count as ECM
having to use a firegroup for it is really painful.

ECM, SCB, CHAFF, Heatsink - all got keybind options.

can someone start a petition please?

Can't agree more.

@Assimilator1; That's really a nice Python, I might copy that :D I just don't get why you didn't use Guardian MRP instead. But I like the idea of having a AX dedicated ship (lore says so), that has a good agility and tankyness, I'm kind of a RP sucker here, don't really care about the numbers unless the difference is too big. I'm currently running this, I'll ditch the SDFN for another shield booster when I'm not feeling lazy (too many jumps). And maybe switch to size 2 cargo rack and size 3 MRP. Also with the reasons said above, I'm thinking of using the same ship for bigger bugs, with this build, not really sure with the weapons though, especially small hardpoints.
 
I have played the game for ages - but I have never killed a Thargoid. It just doesn’t appeal to me.

However, since killing Scouts gives you the fastest combat rank increase I am going to begin :) .

So - is the Challenger considered as one of the best ships for Scout hunting?
 
Oh yes, I totally (ab)used that and something similar last month on one of my accounts;

Farming scouts is good for combat rank. :D


[OBVIOUS DISCLAIMER: This worked for me in December, so it has likely changed in the last client or server update]
Apart from the occasional "run away from waypoint", I repeatedly did the following which worked every time;
1.- Enter AX CZ
2.- Start fighting scouts
3.- Immediately exit the AX CZ when the interceptor spawns
4.- Re enter the AX CZ as quickly as possible
5.- The next time you're told that the interceptors are inbound, they simply never arrive — regardless of how far away from the waypoint I was.

That’s a pretty impressive rank increase [up]. What ship did you use?
 
I have played the game for ages - but I have never killed a Thargoid. It just doesn’t appeal to me.

However, since killing Scouts gives you the fastest combat rank increase I am going to begin :) .

So - is the Challenger considered as one of the best ships for Scout hunting?

IMHO Krait or Py are better... corvette is best for me :D
 
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