| “ | We will be remembered! - Fanatics, willing to die for the cause |
” |
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The Fanatics are suicide bomber infantry squads of the Brotherhood of Nod, which appear in Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and its expansion pack of Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath.
Background[]
Members of the Brotherhood that are most devoted to its cause are called fanatics and with good reason - they are willing to sacrifice their lives to allow Nod's mission to succeed. Just before heading off on their mission, they perform their last rituals in the Hand of Nod. In forward battlefield bases, an Operations Center is required for the training of Fanatics, who come in squads of five.
Fanatics have Tiberium-based explosive charges strapped to their chests. Upon reaching their targets, they detonate them: vaporizing themselves, but causing heavy damage to the target as well as splash damage to everything within the area—and causing zero damage to their fellow squad members. However, if they are killed before they make contact with their target, they die harmlessly. There is one caveat though: if they are killed with flame weapons or explosives, their packs will still detonate.
It should be noted that such is their irrepressible and unconditional desire to lay down their own lives in honor of Kane, that Fanatics show absolutely no fear in the face of enemy fire, no matter how intense it might be. Because of this, they cannot be suppressed. For such unyielding bravery and zeal to their cause and the cause of Nod, as well as for many other reasons, fanatics were praised by Nod writers, particularly Confessor Marcion.
Abilities[]
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Call for transport | If an Air Tower is deployed, Fanatics can call in a Carryall for pickup for a small fee of $200. This ability has a 2 minute cooldown. (Ctrl+A) |
Upgrades[]
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Tiberium infusion | Tiberium Infusion improves the armor of Fanatics, changing their armor values to 25% Cannon, 25% Rocket, 75% Grenade, 100% Gun, 100% Sniper, while also conferring immunity to Tiberium, a 10% health increase, and a 25% speed increase. (Ctrl+S). | This upgrade costs $1000 and takes 0:30 to research. |
Game unit[]
Fanatics are expendable infantry that fill a unique battlefield role: they are not strictly anti-infantry, anti-vehicle, or elite troops. When a fanatic reaches their target they detonate, dealing a lot of damage to an individual vehicle or effective area damage against squads of infantry. If they are killed before reaching their targets, they simply die and do not detonate. They won't get blown up by their own squad members exploding, etiher.
Fanatics are effective against any unit that lacks strong anti-infantry firepower. They run very quickly - being some of the fastest infantry units in the game, and are completely immune to suppression. While at 700 credits they are fairly expensive - considering they deal damage through suicide, they can easily recoup their cost in many situations. For example, a squad of fanatics can take out a squad of Zone Troopers, or several light vehicles in a matter of seconds. They're also handy for creating windows of opportunity or exploiting brief gaps in an opponent's defenses. They can rush turrets and overwhelm them, and take out buildings in an opponent's base quickly. They can also chase down high-cost enemy units like Annihilator Tripods that are badly damaged before they can get back to base for repairs. In the unlikely event of a captured armory, surviving fanatic squads can be replenished at them at no cost, considering each man is worth 140 credits.
There are two simple ways to deal with fanatics: Lots of anti-infantry firepower or ground attack aircraft. They are very vulnerable to anti-infantry units. Anti-infantry infantry can effectively deal with them in large groups, and any losses sustained should be cost-effective, anti-infantry vehicles will dispatch them effectively, but can be easily overwhelmed if not monitored, and anti-infantry turrets are extremely effective against them. Fanatics are also powerless against airborne aircraft. In terms of cost-effectiveness, Fanatics remain as a precarious choice for dealing with tanks relative due to their high cost, and due to the heavy armor of tanks. Scrin vehicles combined with Buzzers by themselves stand as an already significant deterrent.
Typical ways to enhance fanatics are to use them in groups - attacking with many at once means more of them will get within detonation range. Tiberium Infusion is a great upgrade for Fanatics - as it not only makes them faster, and immune to Tiberium radiation—but it also makes them significantly harder to kill.
Assessment[]
Pros[]
- Extreme movement speed
- Immune to suppression
- Damage dealt is significant to both vehicles and buildings
- Detonates for even greater damage when "crushed"
- Tiberium Infusion bestows even faster movement and higher durability
- A nightmare for units with minimal anti-infantry capabilities such as tanks, T3 vehicles and epic units
- Can destroy even the most well-built structures quickly if left unchecked
- Can devastate clustered infantry squads
- Does splash damage
- Can still be replenished for free in a captured armory
Cons[]
- Expensive at $700 for a one-off suicide unit
- Extremely vulnerable to gunfire without Tiberium Infusion
- Helpless against aircraft
- Not cost effective when used against infantries
Quotes[]
Trained[]
- Our faith lies in Kane!
- Our lives for Kane!
Select[]
- One purpose!
- Honour in death!
- Warriors of Nod!
- Fear no enemy!
- Be clear of mind!
- Hear the words of Kane!
- We will be remembered!
Moving[]
- As it has been written!
- It is Kane's will!
- The Brotherhood has spoken!
- The great plan unfolds!
- Our purpose will be revealed!
- His will moves with us!
Garrisoning Structure[]
- We will await in there!
- It will serve our needs!
- It has Kane's blessing!
- Kane has opened these doors!
Attacking[]
- We are called!
- Our time is at hand!
- It is time!
- Kane requires it!
- For the Brotherhood!
- Kane lives!
- We must not fail!
- This is our test!
- Now!
- We will not be forgotten!
- See their weakness!
Retreating[]
- It is not our time yet!
- Kane calls us back!
- We're not ready!
When suppressed[]
- Kane!
- Protect us!
- They test our faith!
- Cover yourselves!
Trivia[]
- In the censored German versions of Tiberium Wars and Kane's Wrath, the fanatics are not a suicide unit but drop an explosive package and vanish. This was made only in the release rated for ages 16+ by the USK, but not in the 18+ releases (such as the Tiberium Wars Kane Edition). This does not affect the gameplay, however.[1]
- The faces of Fanatics are green from Tiberium-induced mutation, most likely due to the Tiberium-based explosives they carry.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
 Brotherhood of Nod Third Tiberium War Arsenal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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