Strider

US$ "This robot is a fast, unpredictable, perilous predator for any unlucky enough to become its prey"

Introduction
The Strider is a medium robot with 1 heavy and 2 light hardpoints. It is unofficially classified as a light robot based on wiki criteria.

Ability
The Dash ability gives it the capability of a quick burst of movement in any given direction. It shares this ability with the three Korean robots. The Strider is the only one that can store up to 5 charges, and shares the same cooldown time (12 seconds) with the Haechi. It also is tied with the Kumiho for the fastest speed of all the Dash robots.

Strategy
The extra charges aren't the only things allowing the Strider to many different tactics and play styles. The Strider is the first robot with the dash ability to contain a light and a heavy hardpoint. This makes its play-style quite different from the Korean robots.

When purchased, the Strider comes with the Pinata and Thunder weapons; both are known to be knife fighting weapons with high burst damage.

Play-styles can include beacon capturing, and playing with close, mid or long ranged weapons. The 5 Dash charges can facilitate capturing a beacon and moving on to the next, or moving towards cover. Perhaps, the Strider can be used like a hawk, to quickly pick off an enemy with low health, and then disappear just as quickly. However, its low health and lack of shielding means that it won't last long against sustained fire.

At the beginning of a game, it is possible to quickly capture the center beacon on any map if one uses all 5 dashes in quick succession.

Possible Setups
These are the recommended setups for the Strider:

Note: When "Opt." is next to a slot type, it refers to one of the multiple options that can be used in combination with the other weapon(s) slot type(s).

Each slot type is filled with only one particular weapon. For example, if a robot has 3 lights all three of those slots are filled with Pinatas, as mixing weapons of the different ammunition types is not recommended.

Overview
Using a Thunder or Exodus, with Gusts or Pinatas allows for high burst damage, which suits the Strider nicely, for both hit-and-run tactics and for the power to hold onto captured beacons. Mounting an Ember with Pinatas or Magnums, or a Redeemer with Magnums can be used in a similar manner with slightly less burst potential, but with the ability to pressure robots with energy shields.

The Strider can also make for a strong mid-range support unit. Using a Dragoon or Zeus, with Sparks or Gekkos, dashing out to attack and dashing in to cover style can work effectively. Using Sparks for the light hardpoints is helpful, as dashing and staying accurate at the same time can be difficult, however with this weapon you can still remain locked-on to the target.

Not Recommended

 * The use of long range weaponry, as they don’t fit the Strider's role very well as a beacon capturer and ambush unit.

Poll
Best setup for the Strider is? 1x Ember/2x Magnum 1x Ember/2x Pinata 1x Thunder/2x Gust 1x Exodus/2x Pinata 1x Exodus/2x Gust Other

Trivia

 * The Strider has the same hardpoints as the Vityaz and Mercury. Despite this, all three robots are played very differently.
 * While it shares the Dash ability with the Korean robots, the Strider is not a part of the Korean faction.
 * The term Strider means "to walk with long or extended steps" which cognate words from Germanic languages meaning “to fight or struggle.”
 * It appears the Strider's design was based on a gargoyle.
 * This robot is dubbed a "Dash Bot" due to its ability.