Stealth is the ability to remain hidden and be difficult to detect by the enemy. Stealth as a mechanic has appeared in all mainline Command & Conquer titles, not only in the form of optic camouflage (cloaking) but also disguising, submerging, burrowing and subterranean travel. Most stealth units maintain their stealth while idle or on the move, but lose it once they are attacking, are being attacked by, or have sustained heavy damage. To the controlling player, stealth objects are typically translucent.
Stealth can be countered by detectors, which are units, structures, or abilities that can detect stealth units or structures. This capability is especially critical when dealing with ambushes and base infiltration.
Game analysis[]
In games before Tiberium Wars, stealth enemy units and structures can be discovered by moving friendly non-detector units into their close proximity.
Tiberian Dawn[]
In the original Command & Conquer, the Stealth Tank is the only unit in the game that can be stealth while both idle and on the move. It will lose its stealth if it attacks or is fired upon. Other units can gain stealth by a rare crate pickup.
- Stealth Tank, by cloaking
Detectors[]
All base defences can detect the Stealth Tank within their attack range.
Red Alert[]
Red Alert introduces the Spy for the Allies and submerged submarine units for the Soviets.
- Spy, by disguise
- Thief, by cloaking
- Submarine, by submerging; also detects other submarines
- Missile Submarine (Aftermath only), by submerging; also detects other submarines
- Phase Transport (Aftermath only), by cloaking
Detectors[]
- Attack Dog, detects spies
- Destroyer, detects submarines
- Sonar Pulse, detects submarines
- All base defenses can detect the Phase Transport
Tiberian Sun[]
“ | Cloaked unit detected! - EVA when stealth tanks are detected |
” |
Subterranean units are introduced to Tiberian Sun, being able to travel to locations through the underground and thus can be undetectable by enemy forces above. Like in Tiberian Dawn, other units can gain stealth by a rare crate pickup.
- Chameleon Spy, by cloaking
- Stealth Tank, by cloaking
- Mobile Stealth Generator (Firestorm only), cloaks all friendly units and structures within its radius; also detects other cloaked units
- Stealth Generator, cloaks all friendly units and structures within its radius; also detects other cloaked units
Detectors[]
In Tiberian Sun and Firestorm, the Sensors value nominally enables a unit or structure to detect stealth units in the immediate vicinity. The same goes for the SENSORS attribute given to select units when gaining elite status. The mobile sensor array has a unique SensorArray value.
- Jump jet infantry (Firestorm only)
- Titan (when elite only)
- Juggernaut (Firestorm, when elite only)
- Mobile Sensor Array, detects cloaked and subterranean units
- Tick Tank (when elite only)
- Component Tower
- Electromagnetic Pulse Cannon
- Radar Station
- Temple of Nod
- Tiberium Waste Facility
- Core Defender (when elite only)
- Nod Pyramid
Red Alert 2[]
- Spy, by active disguise
- Mirage Tank, by passive disguise
- Dolphin, by submerging; detects other submerged units
- Typhoon Attack Sub, by submerging; detects other submerged units
- Giant Squid, by submerging; detects other submerged units
- Boomer (Yuri's Revenge only), by submerging; also detects other submerged units
Detectors[]
Units which can detect spies have the DetectDisguise value set positively.
- Attack Dog, detects spies
- Psychic Sensor / Psychic Radar, detects spies
- All mind control-capable units and buildings, detects spies
Units which can detect submerged objects have the Sensors value set positively, with the SensorsSight value determining the range.
Renegade[]
- Black Hand Stealth Soldier, by cloaking
- Stealth Tank, by cloaking
Generals[]
“ | They can't hide from me! - Troop Crawler |
” |
All commando units in Generals are cloaked. In Zero Hour, Kassad is a playable GLA general who has a stealth-focused arsenal. The GLA can also use the GPS scrambler to cloak its units.
- Comanche, with Stealth Comanche upgrade
- Rebel, with Caouflage upgrade.
- Listening outpost
- Attack outpost
- Pathfinder
- Sentry drone
- Stealth fighter
- Bomb truck
- Demo trap
- Advanced demo trap
- Hijacker (Generals 1)
- Camo netting
- Saboteur (Zero Hour)
- Land mine (Generals)
- Neutron mines
American detectors[]
- Pathfinder
- King Raptor
- Sentry drone
- Scout drone
- Spy Drone
- Patriot missile system / EMP Patriot system / Laser Defense Turret
- Spy satellite
Chinese detectors[]
- Black Lotus / Super Lotus
- Gatling cannon
- Helix (with gatling cannon)
- Listening outpost / Attack outpost
- Overlord tank / Emperor Overlord tank (with gatling cannon)
- Troop crawler / Assault troop transport
GLA detectors[]
- Radar van, can detect stealth via Radar van scan
- Stinger site
- Tunnel network / Toxin network
- Jarmen Kell (before Zero Hour patch 1.03)
Tiberium Wars[]
“ | We can use our sensors to flush out those snipers! - Venom, detailing their sensors |
” |
- Disruption tower
- Cloaking field
- Nod commando (Tiberium Wars)
- Shadow team
- Stealth tank (Tiberium Wars)
- Specter (Kane's Wrath)
- Avatar (Tiberium Wars)
- Vertigo (Tiberium Wars)
- Sniper team (Tiberium Wars)
- Assimilator
GDI detectors[]
- Anti-air battery
- Battle base
- Guardian cannon
- Orca / ZOCOM Orca (through pulse scan)
- Pitbull
- Pulse scanner
- Radar scan
- Sniper team
- Sonic emitter
- Zone trooper / Zone raider (through scanner packs)
- Watchtower
- Hammerhead (All That Glitters only)
Nod detectors[]
- Attack bike
- Avatar (only when commandeering an attack bike)
- Laser turret
- Mantis
- Obelisk of Light
- Raider buggy (Kane's Wrath Black Hand only)
- SAM turret
- Shredder turret
- Venom patrol craft
Scrin detectors[]
Other detectors[]
Red Alert 3[]
- Spy, by active disguise
- Dolphin, by submerging
- Akula Sub, by submerging
- Sudden Transport, by active disguise
- Yari Mini-Sub, by submerging
- Mirage tank, by passive disguise
- Sea-Wing, by submerging
Detectors[]
- Attack Dog, detects spies
- War Bear, detects spies
- Burst Drone, detects spies
Rivals[]
- Stealth Tank, by cloaking
- Shade, by cloaking
Detectors[]
All infantry units except Scarabs can detect stealth units.See also[]
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