Tanker's Essential Isida Guide

History

Isida first came out on September 28th 2009. Since the beginning of Tanki, only Smoky, Firebird, Twins and the Fear Machine (Railgun) were out, and Tanki knew that to increase their playerbase, a wide range of weapons and tanks were required. As a healing and damaging weapon, Isida significantly changed gameplay. Up to that point, it had been practically only Railgun-Dictator at high ranks, due to their massive advantage against the “Tier-1” weapons and tanks. However, Isida brought a whole new level to the game. Isida Mania didn't kick in however, the pros still preferred to use Fear Machine in general. However, the new weapon made sure that gameplay would never be the same again. Isida's history is surprisingly interesting. After it was brought out, the Isida weapon was re-shuffled to something that may sound completely absurd at the moment – but Isida used to be able to self-heal itself without attacking an enemy. Just by holding the Spacebar down, you could bring yourself up health, even with nobody in sight. This was removed two weeks later in the realisation that it was too strong, and not suited for Tanki's gameplay.

On December 30th 2009, Isida was shifted from healing in “Percentage” to healing in “HP”. To put it simply, Isida formerly healed by "HP in comparison to the full life of the tank". Its points were given by the percentage of the tank it healed. Afterwards, the points given to an Isida were given by the amount of health they actually gave back. So, previously, healing a Wasp was easier to get points than a Mammoth. However, now, a Mammoth would give you lots more if it was low on health due to its higher health to heal.

Also, a fact you may not know about Isida: the bringing of Isida into the game changed the drug name of “Double Power” - from “Double Damage” to the current name of “Double Power”; since Isida didn't only “damage” the opponent.

Unfortunately, a recent update also changed the ability of gaining points with Isida. You only get points once you let go of the spacebar. Thus, if you are in the middle of healing when you die, you do not receive any points, due to the fact you failed to remove your spacebar. As an Isida now, it is key to remember: “If you are on very low health, touch on and off your spacebar as you heal. This will mean you can get extra points you would not get, if you held on and were suddenly killed.”

Now, before I get too embedded in strategy in the “History” section, I think it would be time to move on. Before we get into combos, let's look at the basic layout of the weapon Isida.

Basic Stats

What is it and what does it do?

Isida is a short-ranged, high-damage weapon in Tanki. The special effect Isida has is arguably the most useful of all special effects. Whilst Firebird's burn and Smoky's Critical Hit are inherently useful, Isida's healing is its main asset. Only an idiot or a broke Tanki player would use it as an attacking weapon.

Isida's healing power is two-sided. It has the ability to heal team-mates at the same speed as its level of attack. As it attacks, it also has the ability to self-heal itself, with half of the damage it is extinguishing on its opponent. This gives Isida a deadly advantage in face-to-face battles. However, note that Isida's self-heal feature can only work when you are attacking an enemy, and not healing a team-mate.

Note, however, that an Isida's shooting effect can only connect to an enemy turret. Thus, when you are on the top, or underneath a tank and are pointing towards solely their hull and no range connection to the turret, then you will be unable to effect your enemy.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Self-Healing

• Healing Ability

• Adaptable Shooting

• Very Effective in CTF

Cons:

• Shorter Range than Freeze and Firebird

• Only can attack one person

• Poor Camping Weapon

• Common Protection Paints Against It

Strategic Tips

Since almost all Isidas use their weapon in CTF mode, my strategic tips in this article, will address, to put it bluntly, only the CTF mode.

• The most important factor of an Isida is to get the balance right between attacking and healing. Almost all the Isidas you meet on the battlefield are either too focused on healing team-mates or too focused on capturing flags. The key to capturing the essence of Isida in a CTF battle, is when you manage to support your team to capture a flag, whilst healing team-mates as you go. This includes healing team-mates as you have the flag. You need to make sure though that your focus is capturing the flag, rather than running round healing team-mates.

• The ultimate ability of being able to heal yourself as you attack, makes you an attack-born weapon. You are crucial to your team to attack in times of needing to capture a flag. It is key, to find a victim to heal yourself upon when running away.

• A crucial thing to remember if you are an Isida, is that you are the healer. It is almost always best to drop the flag off to another attacker, if you are together in an attack, so you can heal him as you return to base. Don't be selfish. It's a nice way to show you care about your team.

• Isida is one of those weapons where running back to your base with the flag gives you many options. You need to know whether you should take the risk of approaching an enemy to self-heal yourself on the way, or just hope you get very little more damage by running back with no “self-healing objects” in your path. To be honest, there's no strategic “Yes or No” question here, but there's just a general judgement of your own, on whether it's best to approach an enemy to self-heal, or avoid.

• It's key as an Isida to appreciate all the players around you, and not stick with a single player, only healing them (with exceptions made when your team-mate have the flag, and need healing). You need to be always on the look-out for those who “need a hand”.

• One of my most important points to stress as an Isida is to remember, that if both flags are grabbed, you need to go to the attacking flag, and help out your attacker, if you are in a middle ground. You are, or at least should be, an attacker. You can let the defensive weapons, such as Smoky, Railgun, Shaft or a defensive Freeze to clear out the threat with your flag. You are an Isida. And you heal people, such as attackers. Thus, go back up your team-mate.

• It is important to remember that if the enemy flag is in your base, and your flag in the enemy base, then at minimum one Isida should be sticking with the player who holds the enemy flag. Whether that be you or not, it is always useful to have someone healing him in times of need. If you see him alone, don't be afraid to stick with him. If you're getting bored, remember that you're doing your team a service by backing up your team-mate.

• As an attacker, you need some basic Tanki skills in attacking, so I'd recommend reading Ranger7's “Attackers guide”. Not only that, but you should try to learn basic attacking skills, so your focus in a CTF game is supporting the “cappers”.

• Isida should not be underestimated in its threat to kill enemies. Having a very high DPS, you need to know that, as an Isida, you are very likely to kill-steal if you change, right at the end, from healing your team-mate under fire from the enemy, to attacking him. There's a high chance you'll get the kill and also keep you and your team-mate alive. Don't be scared. Take the kills, and that's the move to an Isida's success. You need to realise that a solely healing Isida is not going to get you points – which will lead you to not getting crystals. However, as always, there is a balance with this – you need to know that healing is more important in general as an Isida, as that is your specialised effect.

• Final couple of things in this section that I want to stress on in particular: Remember that you're self-heal ability can save you, so make sure you use it to your full advantage when trying to heal yourself. And finally, just a reminder of what I wrote above in the History section, but is really supposed to be put in Strategy: You only get points once you let go of the spacebar. Thus, if you are in the middle of healing when you die, you do not receive any points, due to the fact you failed to remove your spacebar. As an Isida now, it is key to remember: “If you are on very low health, touch on and off your spacebar as you heal. This will mean you can get extra points you would not get, if you held on and were suddenly killed.”

A couple of actual Isida skills you can use that will help you in battle:

• Use your changeable shooting range to your advantage. You will be able to attack or heal people on levels above you or further away from you.

• When duelling other Isidas, let them shoot before you so you can self-heal yourself more than them by using your bar when they have run out of load. However, you must be careful not to use this technique to hinder your life in the end.

• As we close this section, I just want to bring up the use of mines. As with all short range guns, using mines on people is often a very useful technique. One of my most common ways of using mines, is when confronting an attacker who wants to come past you, mine – and then back off a touch. Most will follow you, and run straight into your loading mine. Also, of course, use mines when running away with the flag, or backing up the flag carrier in tight spaces, as your “hunters” will very possibly be at least slowed down by them; if not killed.

• Finally, Isida has no knockback. Thus, when you are jumping you often have to do what I call the “Twist and Jump” technique if you jump from heights and intend to land straight. Just turn as you leave the “height” (make sure you have suitable speed), and you should land straight up. A simple strategic technique that will help you immensely.