The presenter explains that in patch 4.7, cross-section missiles deliver the highest damage and are most effective against medium to large ships when fired immediately after pinging for a lock, while IR missiles are generally ineffective due to poor lock range and low damage. He recommends using EM missiles for long-range and stealth engagements and combining them with cross-section missiles for close combat, emphasizing that mastering missile use requires practice and situational adaptation.
In this video, the presenter discusses the effectiveness of different missile types in patch 4.7, focusing on how to use cross-section missiles correctly and effectively. He begins by clarifying that no tips can guarantee a 100% hit rate with missiles or torpedoes. He summarizes key changes from the patch, such as missiles no longer damaging ship components, a significant nerf to size one, two, and three missile damage, and a buff to size four missile damage. Despite the damage nerfs, explosion radii were increased, but this has limited practical benefit since components can no longer be damaged. Consequently, he prefers using size five missiles for testing.
The presenter explains that among all missile types—IR (infrared), EM (electromagnetic), and cross-section—cross-section missiles consistently deal the highest damage within the same size category, with EM missiles doing moderate damage and IR missiles the least. Using data from a game database, he highlights that IR signatures are generally very low across ships, making IR missiles less effective due to difficulty acquiring target locks at range. He demonstrates that IR missiles require close proximity to lock targets, which can compromise stealth and reduce their tactical usefulness.
Testing EM missiles, the presenter shows they can lock targets at much longer ranges compared to IR missiles, making them more versatile for engaging various ship sizes. EM missiles provide a good balance of tracking and damage, especially for smaller ships, though multiple missiles may be needed to take down larger vessels. He appreciates the visual effects and performance of EM missiles but notes that killing bigger ships often requires firing several missiles.
Cross-section missiles, while more challenging to use due to the need for active pinging to acquire target locks, offer the highest damage output and are particularly effective against medium to large ships. The presenter demonstrates the correct firing technique: ping the target to acquire a lock, then fire immediately to ensure the missile tracks properly. He also notes that cross-section missiles are harder to counter with flares and decoys because these countermeasures generate lower signature levels against them, making cross-section missiles advantageous in PvP scenarios.
In conclusion, the presenter advises against using IR missiles due to their poor effectiveness. He recommends using a combination of EM and cross-section missiles depending on the situation: EM missiles for long-range engagements and stealth builds, and cross-section missiles for close-quarters combat and higher damage. He encourages players to experiment with missile loadouts to improve their missile gameplay effectiveness, acknowledging that mastery requires practice and adaptation.