Shatter

Description
Shatter was the breakout (ha ha) favorite of the TACS 1.0 set of effects. An affordable and common "armor-breaker," Shatter deals reliable flat damage to the target's armor, then adds a little bit more based on the ranks of the attack that carries the Shatter effect. Armor damage dealt by Shatter only affects the armor of the mode the victim was in when they were hit, but the damage is permanent until repaired. At a premium of 9 energon, Shatter is inexpensive enough to use fairly often. It can represent any means by which one might progressively reduce an opponent's damage resistance over the course of a fight... typically acid or pulverizing blows.

Strategy
Shatter early on to get the most benefit out of it over the course of a battle, but beware of the energon cost creeping up on you and causing you to tire out before your opponent, who now has wrecked armor but is feeling fine otherwise while you are gasping for fuel. Don't let the ability to Shatter seduce you into the idea that Shatter is always the right thing, however. Each use of Shatter is 3 ranks of damage you can't produce because you just used its energon/ammunition on Shattering.

If you are hit by Shatter, try not to get hit so much as it will hurt more from then on. Alternately, transform; your other mode will be just fine. If you notice your opponent is starting to shatter you, consider transforming to a mode whose armor you don't mind losing. Shatter can't do much to you if your armor is already 10 because you're a car.

Related Effects

 * Disintegrate