Skirmish / multiplayer Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak Guide

You can also fight outside of the campaign mode at any moment, on any map.

Skirmish and multiplayer are much different from what you learn during the campaign. First of all, there often are different prices and abilities of upgrades and units. Also, the scale of warfare is not as big: the initial amount of resources is low and you do not harvest them from the map as fast. You have to bear with a limited number of units that you can produce - the cap is 125, where each unit consumer 1 crew point (these are the ones by the unit production icon).

One game can be participated by up to 6 players (depending on the map). There are two basic modes available: "free-for-all" (everybody against everybody) and "team". In the former there is only one condition under which you win - defeat all opponents. In the latter mode, you can specify one or several conditions:

• harvesting the most artifacts - using Baserunner, you have to transport artifacts that appear on the map, within intervals of several seconds, into the marked area (different for each team);
• destroy all of the enemy units - Gaalsien has an edge here because they produce their units outside of the carrier also;
• destroy the enemy carrier - regardless of how many units and resources your opponent has, destroying their carrier means their immediate failure.

Nicknames of the best players appear on the leaderboard.

In multiplayer, you fight against other players. You can either create a game or find an already existing room, where you either invite your friends or wait for others to join in. For completing a multiplayer game, you can be decorated, for which you unlock new achievements.

Hints on multiplayer

While fighting other players, you can never predict the opponent's tactic. With time, you will define your own strategies using your favorite units. Below, there are several hints that you can use while constructing your own strategy:

• First, you have to decide whether you are better off as an assailant or as a defender. If attacking is your thing, try to attack the enemy with the very first LAVs that you produce and head towards wreckages - destroying Salvagers will provide you with a considerable edge, already at the beginning of the game. Keep in mind that the opponent is also trying to destroy your Salvagers - you should especially defend them against air attacks.
• If you prefer to play a defensive game, try to maintain a full number of units for the whole time. Take interest in upgrading them later on. This is because it is much easier to make the enemy retreat if you outnumber them, even if their units are stronger, but not as numerous.
• Try not to keep your army in one spot - scatter them around the area of your operation a little. At best, try to seize the central part of the map. This will ensure your Salvagers' security and you can attack sooner. At the same time, if you are closer to the enemy HQ (preferably with your carrier), they can feel the pressure and nag at you in smaller groups.
• Do not ever attack the enemy carrier straight away. Try to approach your opponent step by step, from all sides, while keeping everything under control, using long-range units with armored units in front of them.
• Try to keep your eyes open to what is going on on the map. Al of your sensors and scanners should reveal, at least, a half of them map - in the end, you can also deploy LAVs/Sandkimmers in key points, thanks to which you can be instantly informed of any enemy attack.
• It is a good idea to start mining for resources in two points simultaneously (you should not set your priorities to economy only, because you can lose right at the very beginning, while under constant pressure from the enemy). At that point, start mining for resources by the carrier and in the most remote point (alongside with Support/Production Cruiser). Thanks to this, you will have to defend one point less and the enemy will not steal your resources, which also happens.