The Warfare 3 update for Space Engineers introduces homing missiles and four types of torpedoes, enhancing tactical ship combat with guided weapons that require strategic launcher placement and coordinated attacks to overcome enemy defenses. These new weapons diversify combat roles, promote longer-range engagements, and shift ship design priorities toward effective point defense and target prioritization.
The Warfare 3 update for Space Engineers introduces homing missiles and four distinct types of torpedoes, adding a new layer of tactical depth to ship combat. Both weapon types guide towards a locked target grid, allowing players to prioritize disabling weapons, propulsion, or power systems rather than just aiming at the ship’s center. However, successful hits require careful launcher placement and approach, as these guided weapons need room to maneuver, especially the slower and heavier torpedoes. Players can also choose to fire torpedoes without target locks in a straight line, offering flexibility in combat scenarios.
Homing missiles are a new ammo type compatible with existing rocket launchers and turrets. They travel slower than regular rockets but offer course correction capabilities, making them more effective against moving targets. Although skilled pilots can evade them, homing missiles are harder for turrets to intercept compared to standard rockets. The update also adds homing capabilities to the PRO-1 handheld rocket launcher, allowing players to lock onto targets and fire guided missiles within an 800-meter range, enhancing versatility in both ship-based and personal combat.
Torpedoes come in four variants, each balancing speed, handling, and damage differently. The standard torpedo is a general-purpose explosive weapon, while the light torpedo is faster and more maneuverable but less damaging, suited for chasing smaller, agile targets. The heavy torpedo deals massive damage but is slow and less agile, making it ideal against stationary or damaged vessels. The armor-piercing torpedo travels at a moderate speed and penetrates through ships, damaging internal systems along its path, providing a unique option for targeting heavily armored enemies.
Effective use of torpedoes requires launching multiple salvos to overwhelm enemy point defense systems, as single torpedoes are often intercepted before reaching their targets. This necessitates strategic ship design with multiple launchers and coordinated attacks, possibly involving support from other ships or distractions like fighters. Defensive tactics also evolve, with new event controllers capable of detecting incoming missiles and activating dedicated point defense turrets only when threats are present, optimizing energy use and response times.
Overall, the update encourages more thoughtful combat strategies, emphasizing launch angles, timing, and target prioritization. Homing missiles and torpedoes diversify weapon choices, catering to different combat roles and enemy types. The new guided weapons are expected to shift ship design philosophies, making point defense a critical consideration and promoting longer-range engagements punctuated by torpedo exchanges. The creator expresses excitement about future builds and tactics that players will develop using these new tools and plans to explore ship designs centered around guided weaponry in more detail.