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The Magnetron is a Yuri artillery vehicle in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge.

Official description[]

When deployed against vehicles, this unique weapon unleashes a powerful magnetic force that levitates the enemy vehicle, pulling it toward Yuri’s forces where it can be mind controlled with impunity. Additionally, the Magnetron can deal significant damage to structures by firing an intense magnetic beam at buildings. The main drawback of the Magnetron is that it is virtually defenceless against enemy infantry, having no effective weapon against them and no way to drag them closer.
- Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge manual(src)

Game unit[]

Magnetrons are effective in one way: tanks and ships levitated by it are vulnerable to anti-air attack, so it is wise to accompany Magnetrons with Gatling Tanks. Magnetrons can also be used, under certain circumstances, to move other vehicles over otherwise impassable gaps, such as cliffs, quickly.

Counters[]

The Magnetron is helpless against infantry and aircraft. Realistically, Magnetrons themselves cannot harm units. They may only attack one unit at a time, so swarming them with a group of tanks may also be effective. Guardian GIs and Tesla troopers are a particular threat to it, since they are both anti-tank specialists. Magnetrons are also incapable of crushing infantry.

AI behavior[]

Magnetrons controlled by the AI have the following attack patterns:

Medium/Hard[]

  • 1x guarding Psychic Towers
  • 4x targeting base defenses, accompanied by 4 Brutes, 2 Lasher Tanks, 2 Gattling Tanks and 1 Mastermind

Hard[]

  • 1x targeting vehicles, accompanied by 4 Lasher Tanks, 1 Gattling Tank and 2 Masterminds

Changelog[]

  • Yuri's Revenge patch 1.001:
    • when a Magnetron levitates and then drops a vehicle over a high bridge, the vehicle no longer falls through the bridge.
    • Magnetron will no longer become confused and continuously pick up and drop an enemy vehicle.
    • elite Magnetron's firing range is no longer shorter than that of a standard one.

Quotes[]

When selected[]

  • Magnetron on standby.
  • Magnetic field commencing.
  • Need a little force?
  • Generators ready.
  • Point me in the right direction.

When moving[]

  • Shifting polarity.
  • Opposites attract!
  • We need no compass!
  • My power is irresistible.
  • Moving within range.

When ordered to attack units[]

  • Reel them in!
  • This is a tow zone!
  • Coils powering up!
  • Let's bring them closer to us!
  • Maximum charge!
  • Enemy locked.

When ordered to attack buildings[]

  • Coils powering up!
  • Maximum charge!
  • Enemy locked.

Gallery[]

Cameos[]

The English, French, and German versions share the same cameos.

English Korean Chinese
RA2 Magnetron Cameo CNCRA2YR Magnetron Korean Cameo CNCRA2YR Magnetron Chinese Cameo
YR Magnetron Veteran Icons CNCRA2YR Magnetron Korean Veteran Cameo CNCRA2YR Magnetron Chinese Veteran Cameo

Trivia[]

  • The Magnetron is similar to the Disruptor that GDI used in the Second Tiberium War, only differences being the Disruptor fired sound waves, not psychic-"magnetic" waves that only lift target-vehicle, not anything and everything within range like regular magnetic waves would.
  • If a Magnetron lifts a landed NightHawk Transport or siege chopper, the pilots of those units will scream when dropped as if they were shot down.
  • A magnetron is actually the part of a microwave oven that heats up the food (by heating up the polarized molecules in the food; like water and sugar molecules, but not fat molecules since their very molecular structure, long chains of Hydrogen and Carbon makes them non-polar. The reason butter still melts (and may explode) via microwave oven is because of the water molecules in the butter).
    • By that logic, this tank should be cooking infantry, either burning them alive or heat them to the point where the water molecules go so hot they separate (like butter explodes in microwave when it stays too long) but be harmless to vehicles.
      • At most cause some sparking on tank chassis where it has pointy bits (arcing between protrusions; the higher the voltage/energy given by EM-waves the bigger arc) and/or deflect the EM-waves to the target tank's surroundings (flat metal surfaces reflect/deflect EM-waves, and if those surfaces are flat enough they even reflect back the visible part of the EM-wave and function as a mirror).
Only complete faith in Yuri can protect you! Yuri Third World War Arsenal Only total compliance will save the lives of you and your family!
Sheppard Tanks CNCTW Scorpion Tank Cameo
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