How to play as Colony - Halo Wars 2

Colony is one of my favorite DLC characters in Halo Wars 2. It's really cool that the Hunters get the spotlight with this leader. This guide focuses on a Goliath Rush build, though Colony has many viable strategies.

First Leader Point: Skitterers vs Living Barrier

Skitterers is the clear choice:

• Much better than Living Barrier
• Living Barrier isn't bad, but Skitterers provides amazing buffs

Goliath Rush Build Order

Base Setup

1. Harvester (first building)
2. Harvester (second building)
3. Power Extractor (third building)
4. Upgrade Harvester when done
5. Raid Camp (fourth building)
6. Raid Camp (fifth building)

Mini Base

• Get a mini base early (prefer protected locations in the back)
• Build another Harvester on the mini

Goliath Production

• Once you have 300+ power, upgrade the Power Extractor
• Start pumping Goliaths (150 supplies, 80 power each)
• Capture power nodes - they're crucial for this build
• You'll be power-starved until Power Extractor is upgraded and nodes are captured

Second Leader Point: Engineer Swarm

Engineer Swarm is fantastic:

• Insane healing ability
• Makes your Goliath rush very hard to stop
• Drop it on your Goliaths during attacks

Optional: Skitterers on Goliaths

You can attach Skitterers to Goliaths for more damage:

• Increases cost to 300 supplies and 100 power each
• Pretty expensive but powerful

Supplemental Units

• Build some Grunts between Goliaths when power is low
• Grunts help take out infantry during base attacks

Executing the Rush

Timing

Around the 5-minute mark is the latest you should wait:

• Opponents may have built up defenses
• They might be at Tech 2 with turrets
• With 11-12 Goliaths and 8 Grunts, you should be able to deal serious damage

During the Attack

• Destroy one Raid Camp and build your second Power Extractor
• Your opponent won't let this work twice - prepare for mid-game transition

Tech 2 Transition

Third Leader Point: Colony Drop vs Hunter's Brand

Both are excellent choices:

• Colony Drop: Drops 2 Veteran Goliaths - great for quick reinforcements
• Hunter's Brand: Good if opponents are making units easy to take out

The Hunter Captain

The Hunter Captain is an incredible hero:

• Extremely tanky
• Has siphon ability
• Can take on entire armies
• Requirement: Put 2 Skitterers on your Hunter Captain - the damage buff is huge

Leader Power Options

• Teleport: Great for getting slow Hunter Captain around
• Engineer Swarm 2: More healing
• Vehicle Symbiotes: Buffs vehicles AND buildings (people forget about building armor!)

Fourth/Fifth Points: Combat Repair vs Devastating Host

Combat Repair:

• Heals EVERYTHING (units AND buildings)
• Personal recommendation to get first

Devastating Host:

• Arguably the best drop in the entire game
• Can change the tide of battle or win matches
• Drop zone applies Vehicle Symbiotes to units in the area
• Great trick: Group Reavers together, drop Devastating Host to give them all symbiotes

Get whichever you didn't get first for your next point.

Pros of Colony

Tankiest Leader in the Game

• Hunter Captain gets veteran quickly
• With 2 Skitterers = huge damage boost
• Y ability Taunt is awesome
• Very fun hero to play

Skitterers

Don't add to every unit (reduces army count), but great on:

• Hunter Captain (2 Skitterers - mandatory)
• Scarab (3 Skitterers)
• Goliaths (early game)
• Reavers
• Even Engineers (can heal AND attack)

Combat Repair

• Heals all units and buildings
• Passive healing even in combat

Devastating Host

• Best drop in the game
• Drops grant Vehicle Symbiotes
• Can turn battles around

Cons of Colony

Slow Hunter Captain

• One of the slowest heroes in the game
• Get Teleport ability on large maps
• Use map teleporters when available

No Nuke Power

• No Eradication or Inferno equivalent
• Hunter's Brand is a substitute but won't wipe half a base
• Not as devastating as other leader nukes

No Mines

If you love dropping mines, Colony isn't for you.

Few Unique Units

• Colony was an early DLC leader
• Only unique unit: Goliaths
• Everything else is standard Banished

Tech 3 Army Composition

Standard Banished late-game works great:

Core Units:

• Wraiths - Excellent, upgrade them
• Hunters - Great anti-infantry, get infantry upgrades
• Reavers - Anti-air (5-6 unless opponent masses air)
• Engineers - Essential support
• Shrouds - Projectile blocking

This composition counters ground, air, and vehicles effectively.

Colony Scarab

Colony has one of the best Scarabs in the game:

Why it's great:

1. Combat Repair heals the Scarab
2. Can attach 3 Skitterers to Scarab
3. More healing AND more attack than any other Banished Scarab

Best Scarab leaders: Colony and Voridus

When to Build Scarab

• Not when you have no other units
• Build when you have ~76+ pop of existing army
• Map consideration: Great on smaller maps (Rift), not as good on huge maps

Example Composition with Scarab

• Scarab with 3 Skitterers
• 4 Engineers
• Hunter Captain with 2 Skitterers
• 3 Wraiths
• 6 Reavers
• 2 Hunter squads

Key Takeaways

1. Skitterers first - Always over Living Barrier
2. Goliath Rush is powerful early game
3. Engineer Swarm makes rushes hard to stop
4. Hunter Captain + 2 Skitterers is mandatory
5. Combat Repair heals everything
6. Devastating Host is the best drop in the game
7. Teleport helps with slow Hunter Captain
8. Standard Banished late-game army works great
9. Colony Scarab with 3 Skitterers is incredible
10. Colony is consistently ranked as a top-tier leader